The Five-Star Review: A Collection of Cat Ellington's Top-Rated Book Reviews from 1981-2021

Reading reviews from the eighties feels like a time capsule. It shows how much our taste in stories shifted as the world changed.

“If I don't like it, I'll say so.”

Honest criticism is a lost art. These notes show that being critical can actually be a sign of deep respect for literature.

Some stories stay relevant for forty years while others just vanish. It made me wonder which of my current favorites will actually survive.

There is a real skill in judging a book on its own terms. You have to meet the writer exactly where they are.