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I saw this on Jeff VanderMeer's list of climate fiction recommendations in the New York Times. It's focused on Frankie, a MacArthur genius grant recipient who is studying bonobos. Her experience with endometriosis is an important part of the book. I appreciated the unsettling dystopian aspects of the novel (e.g., E-musement screens that won't turn off, malfunctioning "bodyware" implants, etc.), and the climate elements were well done also (e.g., a massive dust storm). The bonobos are truly fascinating and are significant characters in the story. In the second half, it started to feel like more of a thriller, but then it began to drag a bit and get somewhat repetitive. There were also few times when I thought that certain thoughts or dialogue didn't ring true or quite make sense in the context (same with some NY vs. Midwest tropes), but those are minor complaints. Overall it was very interesting and engaging.

It took me a while to catch up to the rhythm of this book, with its quick word play and fragmented storytelling, but after that I really enjoyed it. As with Autumn, it covers a lot of ground, from the political (e.g., Brexit and the Greenham Common protests) to the personal (e.g., long-estranged sisters reconnecting but still butting heads). There's also some absurdity, like the busload of birders chasing Canada Warbler sightings. The shenanigans with Art and the woman he hires to pose as his girlfriend, Charlotte, are hilarious.

After seeing Ron Charles mention this book in his newsletter ("a work of illustrated nonfiction that will awaken and haunt anyone who reads it"), I decided to check it out to mark the 4th anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is powerful and very timely, providing important background on Russia's long history of aggression and also highlighting aspects of the authoritarian playbook in general.

A+ storytelling and a great Chicago book. Very well written - and warmly written, too. By the end of the first chapter, I felt like I knew these characters as real people. The part focused on the 1990 AIDS demonstration was really moving. I'd had this on a back burner for a while but decided to dive in after seeing Mick Herron recommend it recently in The Guardian ... and after reading about the Republicans' infuriating funding cuts for global HIV/AIDS programs.