Reviews

Los peces no existen by Lulu Miller

trin's review against another edition

2.0

This is not a bad book, but it just didn't work for me, on almost any level (exception: I liked the illustrations). The voice falls flat of true humor, skates just above twee. I don't think the memoir elements meshed well with the biographical ones -- Miller's obsession with scientist, Stanford president, and eugenicist David Starr Jordan should feel like a driving force, but instead it just seems to peek its head above water for awkward transitional moments. And the book is oddly if not poorly paced: it doesn't really build to anything, not even Miller's -- plausible! -- accusation that Jordan may have murdered Jane Stanford.

I am always happy to be cornered to hear about someone's special interests, but this felt more like a series of party anecdotes and less like a book.

luckyonesoph's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

I really love this blend of popular science and memoir, and I appreciate the author's attention to problematic beliefs and theories that often underlie scientific discovery. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Xenophobia

Minor: Death, Animal death, Child death, and Rape

abhen's review against another edition

hopeful informative mysterious

4.5

denisever's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

benfranke's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this book... I wish I had the words to express how much.

kthrnsully's review against another edition

I got about half way through and my library loan cancelled. :( I’ll finish it eventually 

teleporting_pickle's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

Fish don’t exist that’s all I need to say.

Just kidding

fuck all eugenics scientist and America for keeping that shit under wrap and especially Jordan spoiled little bitch who thinks he’s better than the unfit

Well I wasn’t sure were it was gonna go from the description I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learned and hated reading at the same time.  Anne’s story about her life broke me and then the fake baby doll got me again. 

But I truly loved seeing the journey the author went through uncovering both the real truth towards one of her idols and her truth to living her life. ❤️Bisexual queen❤️

Fav quote: 
“The longer we examine our world, the stranger it proves to be. Perhaps there will be a mother waiting inside a person deemed unfit. Perhaps there will be medicine inside a weed. Salvation inside the kind of person you had discounted.”

shelbymarie516's review against another edition

3.0

I liked it but it also made me realize how much I have to live for practicing Christianity. God is my anchor in this chaos. Also this was really informative on topics that are surprisingly still relevant today.

eamcmahon3's review against another edition

5.0

Sometimes you can just tell when eugenics are going to come up. And this was one of those times.

Beautiful writing and interweaving of the author and David Starr Jordan's lives. And he was an IU president! Who knew! (It may be best to leave that one to history)

kimmaloo's review against another edition

3.0

3.5. I think this book is thought provoking and I’m looking forward to discussing it at the next book club.