I'm afraid I gave up at around 37%. Reading this, I felt like I was stranded inside the snowdrifts of the mind of a not very fleshed-out fictional character, ironically enough. It's very much tell, don't show, which I hate. I never managed to get a grip on the MC, which in a novel that is wholly centered and reliant on this one character's perception and thought processes is, of course, lethal. The whole Woodsman thing felt fairly hollow to me, the other passengers felt flimsy, the whole world of this novel just never felt real, or intriguing, or even just interesting.
This wasn't so much stream of consciousness as it was trickle, and of what, I don't know. I don't want to sound mean, I just could not connect with this book.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

DNF - i appreciate what this book what trying to do & the story the main character was trying to communicate but, I wasn’t of the right mind to be receptive. I very much liked the idea of this book. Ultimately, we just weren’t a good fit.

Excellent character study, but enjoyment depends on whether if you connect with the said character. There's nothing to fault quality-wise when it comes to Memorandum from the Iowa Cloud Appreciation Society, the writing is sharply observant, melancholic, and not afraid to be charmingly fantastical at times. Stylistically it has shades of Haruki Murakami and Fredrik Backman. The novel is intentionally plot-less; we follow the protagonist's stream of consciousness as he waits for his delayed flight. His train of thought bounces from architecture, human behavior, to personal relationship and childhood trauma. Unlike stories of Murakami or Backman, where the plot can be surreal and zany, or have a large cast of character to represent different perspectives, in Memorandum from the Iowa Cloud Appreciation Society, we are exclusively in the head of a middle-age, single, Midwestern White man with a corporate job; the specificity is perfectly rendered, but for reader (like me) who is in a different age bracket, and has a vastly different upbringing, there's very little element to resonate. Overall, a well-crafted piece of literature with some beautiful moments, but might not have the widest appeal.

Stuck in an airport in the middle of a blizzard, Jim Moore has plenty of time to people watch and reminisce on his own life. His life has been a little dull.
His ex-girlfriend Rosemary asked him all the time to tell her about his life and his short response was that “nothing happened”. He’s a successful salesman with a territory spanning the continental United States and that takes up all of his time - what does the past matter?

While waiting for the blizzard to abate, Jim meets a yoga instructor; a man returning home from burying his mother; and a philosophical woodsman. The conversations he has brings back emotions surrounding his father’s suicide and reflections on his intimate relationships, especially his failure to be truthful with Rosemary.
Memorandum from the Iowa Cloud Appreciation Society is a short novel with a long memory. Readers get the life story of not only Jim, but also his fellow travelers through strong yet succinct storytelling.

Thanks to University of Iowa Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Memorandum from the Iowa Cloud Appreciation Society is scheduled for release today, November 4, 2022.

This most fascinating book is being reviewed for On the Seawall...it should be coming out sometimes in the coming weeks...November for than likely.
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DOUG

I want to be honest and say that I DNFed this title at about 50%. I absolutely loved the title and cover. I was intrigued and eager to read it. But the pacing is slow. The main character is telling the story of his, as far as I read, average, mundane life. The description and the reviews promised some sort of touching resolution that provided meaning to the earlier part of the book. But I was not willing to put forth the effort to make it to that. I did not want to spend time with the main character as he reminisced about his life while waiting in an airport. Maybe this is not my kind of book, or perhaps it is not the right time for the book in my life.

I can clearly see the author's talent here thru very good writing. This is book I typically wouldn't pick up this book, but the high praise of his previous work and the description drew me in. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!

Memorandum from the Iowa Cloud Appreciation Society is an immersive look into the depths of one man's mind and his thoughts on life. This was a pleasant read, but a little bit too ramble-y for my taste. Definitely great for anyone who wants to really dive into a singular narrative over the course of a few hours.

At the first page this book drew me in. This was more of an emotional book than I first anticipated, but enjoyable none the less. I would recommend to anyone who wants to read a real feeling novel.

This was quite the emotional journey throughout the main characters thoughts on life. I thought that it was written well – although perhaps a bit too philosophical for my currently holiday wanting brain.

One thing I’ll take away from this is that there is a type of cloud called “mamma clouds”, that’s so adorable.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from University of Iowa Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.


Heartbreaking, heartfelt, captivating, all encompassing story about one man and others he meets.