2.5 rounded up because I give grace to translated works, on the assumption that it may be improved by a better translator in the future.

This didn't work for me. It's in that genre of books like Tuesdays with Morrie, The Shack, etc, that want you to reflect on your life and remember what's important. Perhaps if I had read it when I was in my 20's, it would have had the intended impact, but I don't think so. The unnamed main character wasn't someone I could care about. He gave one day of his own life more importance than things that mattered deeply to his friends, things which give comfort and/or make the world accessible to millions of others.

But it was a quick read, kind of cute, and I liked the cat. So it wasn't completely devoid of charm.

This is a hard one to rate. It wasn't particularly well-written, but memoirs often aren't. I was fortunate, I believe, because the audiobook came available at the library before the physical copy. If I had read the physical copy, I'm certain that the short, child-like sentences would have driven me bananas. But I listened to Michelle Williams read... no... perform the audio version, and she did a phenomenal job.

I was never a fan, as when Spears was becoming famous I was discovering artists like Steve Earl and Tom Waits, so would was MUCH too cool and artsy to deign to listen to POP music. But her impact on the music and culture at the turn of the century is undeniable. I recall hearing about her troubles and judging her exactly how the media intended us to back in the day. But those were pre-social media times, so if she wasn't in the news, I didn't see or hear about her. She didn't come back on my radar again until the "Free Britney" movement.

Once I became aware of tidbits of this story, I knew I was going to have to read it. And I knew it would make me mad. Having worked in mental health facilities and having been caseworker for clients under guardianships, that system is so scary, and even when well-intended, not really designed to let people get away from it. Britney's family and team were NOT well-intended. The abuse was hard to read about/ listen to. So much so that if SHE had read the audiobook, it would have been way too difficult to listen to. The strength it has to have taken to change her circumstances, let alone write a book about it is profound.

I wonder if we will get another, longer memoir in a decade or so, after she's had time to really process and receive care for the trauma described in this one.

Whoof. This was bad. I don't know what he was trying to do here. The best thing about it is that it's over, and in a couple of years, I will have forgotten all about it. Fortunately, this review will remind me not to accidentally read it again.

The first act was 70% of the book, just the main character running and running, while improbable stuff repeatedly happens to keep him running more.

Finally, the Time Corps show up. That could have been interesting, but it wasn't. Heinlein used it to parade out characters from the other books, which didn't drive what plot there was forward at all. He set up our protagonist in either antagonistic, sexual, or both relationships with them. Between 70-75% through, the cat finally showed up but was just there to give a character an excuse to spout some philosophy. It was completely unnecessary, so I'm not sure why the book it named for it.

I stuck with this because I know Heinlein was capable of turning it around. He didn't. The ending was rushed and dissatisfying.

1.5 stars for a strong start. Rounded up out of nostalgia for several of his other books, which I loved.

Sweet story. For me, it was probably more of a three, but it's not meant for adults. My fifth-graders loved it. It had a little silliness, a little adventure, a little mystery, a fair piece of history, and a lot of heart.

2.5 rounded down because of the misleading title.

I enjoy histories. I enjoy memoirs. I enjoy travel books. Heck, I enjoy cook books. I enjoy humorous anecdotes. This book should have worked for me. It didn't.

I think maybe I wasn't a fan because Troost comes across as a bit smarmy. It's hard to like a story when you don't like the person telling it. Troost seems smug about his life before travel. He makes the people of the island the subject of derision (I think he intended dry humor, maybe). He's just so much better than all this. Even when he's poking fun at himself, it comes across as humble-braggy.

You know that dude who forgot his wallet and realized it only after he ordered a round for everyone, then tried to make up for it by entertaining everyone, but really just centered himself in everything? That's this guy. Spend a few hours with him if you want.

I wish he'd talked more about the location. Or bothered to really get to know any of the people. Everything was a caricature.

The first time I read this, I didn't like it as much. First, I felt like the ending came out of nowhere, like he needed to turn something in, so just ended the story. I also felt like the townsfolk didn't behave in ways I believed humans choose. I couldn't get behind people supporting or believing someone like Jim Rennie for more than a moment. I miss that younger, more naive version of myself.

This time 'round I caught some of the ways we were told what the ending would be, so it didn't feel as abrupt. I actually liked the ending this time. And now I know that many many people will support tyranny, particularly when they are scared or disillusioned. They will follow despots, plug their ears to all warnings, and villainize anyone who tries to slow the slide into autocracy.

So yeah... the story is a lot more plausible to me in 2025 than it was in 2010.

Holy Hell.

I suppose the only way to brainwash a few generations of US school kids into thinking that the US is any kind of moral authority in the world was to make sure we didn't learn about sh*t like this in school.

Have you noticed how when horrors created by systems of oppression finally draw too much attention for people in power to keep pretending nothing is happening, they find one or two "bad guys" to come down on (but not TOO hard) so we can all rest easy that Justice Has Been Done and move on with all of the terrible systems still in place?

The last few chapters of this book made me want off this planet.

Gotta wonder how her kid's doctor feels about not getting credit for the chapters that are almost entirely her telling us about what the doctor told her. Also gotta wonder how the other parents in her parenting group feel about their stories being shared and picked apart here. Then gotta wonder how her kid feels about everyone reading this knowing all of his worst moments.

It isn't that the information or advice was terrible. It's that there was only one, poorly defined strategy, and there are so many better books, written by people who know the science, even written by people who know the science AND are parents of kids with ADHD. And most of those books aren't just quotes from and judgment of other people. I'm kind of horrified that this author has somehow managed to make a career out of this kind of book.

I was going to give this book a two star because at least it was short, but reading my thoughts on it myself, I think it's gotta be a one star.