This is my second Vonnegut book and while I didn't love either of them, he has such an interesting mind so it probably won't be my last.

I learned that when I was about 80% through that this was originally Stucky fanfic and suddenly a lot clicked into place. Like my biggest question was “Why now? Why this guy? Scott has been closeted for years and he meets a random guy in a smoothie shop and that’s it he’s all in??” But it was because it was Bucky and he was Steve and in fanfic there’s an implicit “these people are soulmates who have a special draw to each other” vibe so of course it’s not something that the author feels the need to dwell on.

Also- not to brag but I could tell that Scott was supposed to be Steve Rogers even before I knew. I didn’t think it was fanfic, but I assumed Reid was a marvel fan who used him as the blueprint because cmon- big beefy blonde in NYC with a mom who died when he was a teen (and a mysteriously absent dad)?? That’s Steve Rogers! Also he’s literally the captain of the team. Tbh I think knowing who the characters are helps bolster the story because without it they feel a little underdeveloped. Also makes a lot more sense why everyone has to comment on how hot Scott’s new Finnish teammate is (he’s Thor) which stuck out as really weird.

I think the rest of the series is totally original so I’m very interested to contrast the character dynamics and development when Reid doesn’t have an existing canon/fanon to rely on. Overall a good time, there are definitely worse published fanfics out there.

Public transit enjoyers rise up!! This one is for us!!

Madeline Miller is a master craftsman and to no one's surprise this book is sweeping and brutal, lovely and delicate. It ducks every feminist trope, and instead creates a complex portrait where women are centered in all their capriciousness and constancy, their victimization and strength, their soft touch and hard edges. This is a book about women, about how they navigate a world that gives them little power and few choices, treated with all the seriousness of a classic Greek epic.

Thank you Madeline Miller, as always you are in a league of your own.