Follows Shek Yeung, a fierce pirate queen, after the death of her current husband as she figures out a way to hold onto her power and place in the world as a woman in a dangerous profession.
I was hooked at the description of this book as a 'riveting adventure novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen' and was eager to read it, but unfortunately it was a misleading description. It's a short and quick book and one of the rare times that I'll say a book should have been tripled in length. Chang-Eppig has engaging and fleshed out characters in a rich world tapestry with pirate alliances, the Chinese government, foreign parties, and Chinese myth and folklore that would have made for an incredible adventure epic. Instead it's cut up and chopped in a dissatisfying way. It's also more feminist tale of motherhood than it is seafaring adventure, most of the book focuses on this, which is all good, but definitely not what the book is portrayed to be.
There seems to be a lack of clear direction on what the focus of this book was meant to be - adventure epic or trials of motherhood and ends up being neither, interesting starts but never brought to their full potentials. I think this author has great potential given their ideas, world building, and characterizations, but needs a little more direction or time to let them come to fruition.
I was hooked at the description of this book as a 'riveting adventure novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen' and was eager to read it, but unfortunately it was a misleading description. It's a short and quick book and one of the rare times that I'll say a book should have been tripled in length. Chang-Eppig has engaging and fleshed out characters in a rich world tapestry with pirate alliances, the Chinese government, foreign parties, and Chinese myth and folklore that would have made for an incredible adventure epic. Instead it's cut up and chopped in a dissatisfying way. It's also more feminist tale of motherhood than it is seafaring adventure, most of the book focuses on this, which is all good, but definitely not what the book is portrayed to be.
There seems to be a lack of clear direction on what the focus of this book was meant to be - adventure epic or trials of motherhood and ends up being neither, interesting starts but never brought to their full potentials. I think this author has great potential given their ideas, world building, and characterizations, but needs a little more direction or time to let them come to fruition.
Set in suburban Los Angeles the story follows a pregnant eighteen-year-old and her exploits as a pizza delivery girl, creating a story that is blunt, relatable, off-putting, and a bit wild.
This is an extremely quick read and easy to get into, there is not much I can say about the story itself without telling it all so I will say it's a story where the protagonist is also the antagonist as a bit of an unhinged narrator and is ultimately about how even having the best support can't always protect you from yourself.
Quick, honest, and engaging - I did quite like this book and it works for it's length. This is a debut book from the author and I will be curious to see what else she ends up writing. Also, the cover art is quite good and definitely helped to draw me into picking this up.
This is an extremely quick read and easy to get into, there is not much I can say about the story itself without telling it all so I will say it's a story where the protagonist is also the antagonist as a bit of an unhinged narrator and is ultimately about how even having the best support can't always protect you from yourself.
Quick, honest, and engaging - I did quite like this book and it works for it's length. This is a debut book from the author and I will be curious to see what else she ends up writing. Also, the cover art is quite good and definitely helped to draw me into picking this up.
Taking place in 1950's Brighton this story follows the intertwining and trajectory of three lives - Marion, Patrick, and their policeman, Tom.
Admittedly this book did not start as I expected and there is definitely a long build-up before diving into what I had expected, because of this it does have a slow start and takes awhile to get into, but once I was invested it was easy to burn through. It is a moving story as much as it is frustrating, both from actions the characters take and the frustrations of a society and legal system that vilifies queer people. I have nothing to note as it is well-written and I liked the story and am glad to have read it, but I don't think it's one that will stick with me for long.
Admittedly this book did not start as I expected and there is definitely a long build-up before diving into what I had expected, because of this it does have a slow start and takes awhile to get into, but once I was invested it was easy to burn through. It is a moving story as much as it is frustrating, both from actions the characters take and the frustrations of a society and legal system that vilifies queer people. I have nothing to note as it is well-written and I liked the story and am glad to have read it, but I don't think it's one that will stick with me for long.
Three short accounts of various crimes, including; a lifelong bank robber and prison escapist, an author whose book reveals hints to a murder, and a man whose identity often changes.
This is a short and quick little read that is intriguing and keeps you engaged, but is overall a little forgettable. Not because of the writing, but more so the stories themselves that have more interesting anecdotes or 'fun facts' in them than anything actually worth a full story on or at least not how they are presented here. So, an entertaining quick read if you like true crime, but nothing noteworthy.
This is a short and quick little read that is intriguing and keeps you engaged, but is overall a little forgettable. Not because of the writing, but more so the stories themselves that have more interesting anecdotes or 'fun facts' in them than anything actually worth a full story on or at least not how they are presented here. So, an entertaining quick read if you like true crime, but nothing noteworthy.
"Only after disaster can we be resurrected."
Tossed into the mind of our chronic insomniac narrator, the story spirals on his new acquaintances Marla Singer and Tyler Durden and his sudden need to escape the confines of his own regularity in life.
This book wastes no time in tossing you right into the narrators mind and it reads at the same dizzyingly fast pace that it feels like the narrator's mind is racing at, leaving everything just slightly out of touch and focus before it drops something new for you to pay attention to. It also holds no punches in the often blunt language and disturbing images and notions it conjures it's main characters participating in.
Now this is the rare book that I saw and knew of the movie adaption well before I ever found out it was a book and I remember the movie becoming an instant classic and favorite of mine when I first watched it. I will say I think the movie does an excellent job of capturing this short novel and don't think one is missing too much if they skip the book, but it was a good, quick read anyway. Take it or leave it. The author's updated endnotes at the end discussing the book and how its leaked through pop culture outside of his work and how in some aspects it is not that far from reality was interesting.
Tossed into the mind of our chronic insomniac narrator, the story spirals on his new acquaintances Marla Singer and Tyler Durden and his sudden need to escape the confines of his own regularity in life.
This book wastes no time in tossing you right into the narrators mind and it reads at the same dizzyingly fast pace that it feels like the narrator's mind is racing at, leaving everything just slightly out of touch and focus before it drops something new for you to pay attention to. It also holds no punches in the often blunt language and disturbing images and notions it conjures it's main characters participating in.
Now this is the rare book that I saw and knew of the movie adaption well before I ever found out it was a book and I remember the movie becoming an instant classic and favorite of mine when I first watched it. I will say I think the movie does an excellent job of capturing this short novel and don't think one is missing too much if they skip the book, but it was a good, quick read anyway. Take it or leave it. The author's updated endnotes at the end discussing the book and how its leaked through pop culture outside of his work and how in some aspects it is not that far from reality was interesting.
Following an older gentleman that seems a bit removed and put off from those around him and seeing how new neighbors and some insight can both melt a seemingly hard exterior and reveal there's more to every story than what appears.
This is my second Backman and I am pleased, I liked this one more than Anxious People but both go to show how well he writes people and relationships, able to cut to the core of human emotions and the human plight. I'm not an easily emotional reader, but this one got to me and there's just something about a book that'll make your heart hurt and tear up while making you smile and laugh at the same time. This was the perfect book to get me out of a little reading slump.
Easily recommended to any and everyone.
This is my second Backman and I am pleased, I liked this one more than Anxious People but both go to show how well he writes people and relationships, able to cut to the core of human emotions and the human plight. I'm not an easily emotional reader, but this one got to me and there's just something about a book that'll make your heart hurt and tear up while making you smile and laugh at the same time. This was the perfect book to get me out of a little reading slump.
Easily recommended to any and everyone.
In a dystopian future where the water has run dry and led to a Tap Out in southern California, a world of anarchy and chaos soon explodes for a young group of teens who have to find a way to survive.
This book was a struggle for me, simply because it is very stressful and I had to keep taking breaks because my anxiety was on frayed edges. Shusterman did a great job of making these characters very real, with a human range of morality that kept them interesting and layered. I tend to not like younger POV's but that was never an issue for me with this book and despite writing mostly YA none of the setting or real aspects of the world seem sugarcoated.
If you like dystopia's or books that explore people when pushed to their limits this is a great one. It is very easy and quick to consume, but also highly stress-inducing, like a wildfire.
This book was a struggle for me, simply because it is very stressful and I had to keep taking breaks because my anxiety was on frayed edges. Shusterman did a great job of making these characters very real, with a human range of morality that kept them interesting and layered. I tend to not like younger POV's but that was never an issue for me with this book and despite writing mostly YA none of the setting or real aspects of the world seem sugarcoated.
If you like dystopia's or books that explore people when pushed to their limits this is a great one. It is very easy and quick to consume, but also highly stress-inducing, like a wildfire.
A retelling of the story of Achilles and Patroclus, that follows them from childhood to the legendary Trojan War.
I put this one off for a long time because I was savoring having it on my TBR, knowing I would most likely love it and that it would break me at the same time. The writing is beautiful and it would be a challenge for me to find anything to critique as the story is well told and despite a number of Greek references to Gods or heroes it was easy to follow along with who was who within the context of this story. Additionally, I was surprised initially when I realized this story was told from Patroclus' POV, but I think it is the better for it as it allows for a relatable perspective and an aloofness or level of godliness kept to Achilles that might have been harder to portray if one was inside his head.
Overall, it is both a heart-warming and heartbreaking read, that has left me with the rare desire to both reread it multiple times and to never go through it again. Highly recommend if you have yet to read this beautiful work.
I put this one off for a long time because I was savoring having it on my TBR, knowing I would most likely love it and that it would break me at the same time. The writing is beautiful and it would be a challenge for me to find anything to critique as the story is well told and despite a number of Greek references to Gods or heroes it was easy to follow along with who was who within the context of this story. Additionally, I was surprised initially when I realized this story was told from Patroclus' POV, but I think it is the better for it as it allows for a relatable perspective and an aloofness or level of godliness kept to Achilles that might have been harder to portray if one was inside his head.
Overall, it is both a heart-warming and heartbreaking read, that has left me with the rare desire to both reread it multiple times and to never go through it again. Highly recommend if you have yet to read this beautiful work.
From a childhood of war, a young Nigerian girl grows up at odds to the religious ideals of her country and family. Leading to a life fraught with sadness and difficulties.
A word of warning that the synopsis on the back of this book of being a 'coming of age' story and about 'young love' is misleading. The young love plotline is treated as a matter-of-fact stepping stone summed up in 25 pages of a 300+ page book and as a flashback. There is more focus and time spent in the book quoting biblical stories and sayings and rhetoric that pushes anti-queer love.
All that being said, I understand the strong sense of religiosity portrayed as Nigeria is a highly religious country and the story itself was well written with a good pacing structure to keep the reader moving despite the heavy content.
It is a beautifully written book, but also incredibly disheartening and ends with a sense of hopelessness. A strong impact to remind others that queer love is something still illegal, highly victimized, and punishable by death in some places.
A word of warning that the synopsis on the back of this book of being a 'coming of age' story and about 'young love' is misleading. The young love plotline is treated as a matter-of-fact stepping stone summed up in 25 pages of a 300+ page book and as a flashback. There is more focus and time spent in the book quoting biblical stories and sayings and rhetoric that pushes anti-queer love.
All that being said, I understand the strong sense of religiosity portrayed as Nigeria is a highly religious country and the story itself was well written with a good pacing structure to keep the reader moving despite the heavy content.
It is a beautifully written book, but also incredibly disheartening and ends with a sense of hopelessness. A strong impact to remind others that queer love is something still illegal, highly victimized, and punishable by death in some places.
Thanks to a no good pig stealing ancestor and a family curse of bad luck and being in the wrong place at the wrong time the young Stanley Yelnats finds himself at a twisted correctional camp of hundreds of holes in a dried up lake.
I remember watching the movie adaptation a few times as a kid and liking the movie, but it's been well over a decade since then and I had no real collection of what it was about besides snapshots in my head. Therefore, I wasn't expecting much going into the book but was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it and how good it is. It weaves together like a good mystery novel and despite it being a kids book, the reveals and links are not made blatant at first, allowing time to appreciate how all the strings tie together yourself before it's laid out. It's a well-crafted story and a pleasure to read.
I remember watching the movie adaptation a few times as a kid and liking the movie, but it's been well over a decade since then and I had no real collection of what it was about besides snapshots in my head. Therefore, I wasn't expecting much going into the book but was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked it and how good it is. It weaves together like a good mystery novel and despite it being a kids book, the reveals and links are not made blatant at first, allowing time to appreciate how all the strings tie together yourself before it's laid out. It's a well-crafted story and a pleasure to read.
Following a young woman from a pagan village, Evike, and her journey as she is forced from her home village to a one-eyed Woodsman; this story is a culmination of how various faiths and mythos clash.
This is a complicated one to rate as it is both fantastic and awful at the same time. A first for me reading wise, Reid is masterful at world building which is often the hardest part about writing a fantasy world, she brings in many real-life reflections of religions from pagan beliefs to Jewish mythos and Christian practice in a way that is well-done and still unique and interesting to the world that's been created. The depth of the world felt tangible and flowed in an easy way that kept me intrigued. On the other hand, the actual story and plotline were, quite frankly, awful. A hundred pages could have been cut from convoluted plot progressions and it is almost sad to say you could remove almost all of the actions of the main characters and end up with the same ending and outcome of the story.
So for world-building and those interested in reading fantasy stories inspired by real-life religious mythos and history than the book is great, but if you're looking for a good story this is not it. This is Reid's first book, and she certainly has a skill to support a great story once she figures out how to plot one.
This is a complicated one to rate as it is both fantastic and awful at the same time. A first for me reading wise, Reid is masterful at world building which is often the hardest part about writing a fantasy world, she brings in many real-life reflections of religions from pagan beliefs to Jewish mythos and Christian practice in a way that is well-done and still unique and interesting to the world that's been created. The depth of the world felt tangible and flowed in an easy way that kept me intrigued. On the other hand, the actual story and plotline were, quite frankly, awful. A hundred pages could have been cut from convoluted plot progressions and it is almost sad to say you could remove almost all of the actions of the main characters and end up with the same ending and outcome of the story.
So for world-building and those interested in reading fantasy stories inspired by real-life religious mythos and history than the book is great, but if you're looking for a good story this is not it. This is Reid's first book, and she certainly has a skill to support a great story once she figures out how to plot one.
This is a nonfiction novel that traces a single artifact of 'Ashley's Sack' and through tracing it, reveal a history rich in the importance of material keepsakes and a look into the lives of enslaved black women.
Miles clearly undertook quite the project when writing this book, as the artifact in question is only a small fraction and a jumping off point to the topics she approaches and covers. From looking into the possible origins of the sack and how it travelled from woman to woman in a family that is heavily obscured by the poor and purposefully broken documentation of enslaved families to the broader applications of material keepsakes of fabric or even the pecan. I am quite impressed with the level of research that went into this and just how much was explored in meaning from something that seems so scant on the surface. That said, there were a few passages that I felt dragged on a little longer than necessary and started to lose meaning, but overall a well-done historical dive and reflection.
Additionally, I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator, Janina Edwards, did an excellent job and is one of my favorite voices I've listened to.
Miles clearly undertook quite the project when writing this book, as the artifact in question is only a small fraction and a jumping off point to the topics she approaches and covers. From looking into the possible origins of the sack and how it travelled from woman to woman in a family that is heavily obscured by the poor and purposefully broken documentation of enslaved families to the broader applications of material keepsakes of fabric or even the pecan. I am quite impressed with the level of research that went into this and just how much was explored in meaning from something that seems so scant on the surface. That said, there were a few passages that I felt dragged on a little longer than necessary and started to lose meaning, but overall a well-done historical dive and reflection.
Additionally, I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator, Janina Edwards, did an excellent job and is one of my favorite voices I've listened to.
In a close Brooklyn community that has found itself in the center of a gentrification process, the changes that are happening take on a more sinister and darker meaning for long time resident Sydney Green, and new neighbor, Theo, is soon wrapped into this ominous world with her.
I will admit that when I started this book the language usage kind of turned me away, with a grown woman referring to her mom as 'Mommy' and an excessive, almost random use of foul language - not that I have a problem with cussing, it just seemed a bit obnoxious at the start. I think this later gets blended into the character and becomes normalized. On the whole this book focuses on a lot of racial discussion and experience, often jumping between the two main characters who are respectively black and white to give their differing perspective and thoughts. It also uses oppressive racism as the building factor of horror and unease, which work really well to make one feel ill at ease and there were times I had to put the book down and walk away out of disgust at certain interactions, but also I couldn't stop reading after the climax of the book and didn't want to put it down. The thriller part of this novel actually hooked me, which is rare, and made it exciting.
I don't think I loved the characters or thought this book really stood out - it has some faults, but it was a well done concept and definitely delivered on the feeling of a psychological thriller.
I will admit that when I started this book the language usage kind of turned me away, with a grown woman referring to her mom as 'Mommy' and an excessive, almost random use of foul language - not that I have a problem with cussing, it just seemed a bit obnoxious at the start. I think this later gets blended into the character and becomes normalized. On the whole this book focuses on a lot of racial discussion and experience, often jumping between the two main characters who are respectively black and white to give their differing perspective and thoughts. It also uses oppressive racism as the building factor of horror and unease, which work really well to make one feel ill at ease and there were times I had to put the book down and walk away out of disgust at certain interactions, but also I couldn't stop reading after the climax of the book and didn't want to put it down. The thriller part of this novel actually hooked me, which is rare, and made it exciting.
I don't think I loved the characters or thought this book really stood out - it has some faults, but it was a well done concept and definitely delivered on the feeling of a psychological thriller.
An autobiography about comedian Trevor Noah's childhood and coming-of-age in South Africa during the tumultuous time of apartheid and it's end.
This book is not that long, but it still managed to feel even shorter than it is with writing that flows and brings you in immediately. Noah reveals his life in a way that brings you into his world and yet one can feel the distance from him and his setting, a reflection of his own placement growing up. I really can think of nothing to note or hold hesitance on, as it was a wonderfully well told story and it's clear to hear Noah's voice in the work.
My only recommendation would be to get a chance to listen to the audiobook read by Noah in order to hear how the African languages and phrases he uses throughout the book sound. Highly recommended.
This book is not that long, but it still managed to feel even shorter than it is with writing that flows and brings you in immediately. Noah reveals his life in a way that brings you into his world and yet one can feel the distance from him and his setting, a reflection of his own placement growing up. I really can think of nothing to note or hold hesitance on, as it was a wonderfully well told story and it's clear to hear Noah's voice in the work.
My only recommendation would be to get a chance to listen to the audiobook read by Noah in order to hear how the African languages and phrases he uses throughout the book sound. Highly recommended.
A compilation of a few poems and various retellings of classic fairy tales with a twist; including 'The Little Mermaid', 'Red Riding Hood', and 'Snow White'.
This is my second Kingfisher read and it was quite enjoyable, she really has a knack for retellings. Being able to take the original content and keep it's essence while making it unique in her take on it, there were a few that I almost enjoyed her version of the story over the original and would have read a full, proper novella on.
They are quick, engaging, and some of my favorite versions of retellings I have read. Some quick mentions - 'Peter Pan' has always been dull to me but her horror twist on it actually made the story interesting, the take on 'Snow White' felt very original and uniquely her own, and my favorite might have been the 'Red Riding Hood' story. Easily recommended.
This is my second Kingfisher read and it was quite enjoyable, she really has a knack for retellings. Being able to take the original content and keep it's essence while making it unique in her take on it, there were a few that I almost enjoyed her version of the story over the original and would have read a full, proper novella on.
They are quick, engaging, and some of my favorite versions of retellings I have read. Some quick mentions - 'Peter Pan' has always been dull to me but her horror twist on it actually made the story interesting, the take on 'Snow White' felt very original and uniquely her own, and my favorite might have been the 'Red Riding Hood' story. Easily recommended.
Set into a world like our own and yet not this book follows an intersection of lives in one California neighborhood. That of a young transgender girl whose a runaway and talented violinist. A renowned violin teacher whose made a deal with a demon for seven souls. And a starship Captain on the run with her family from a galactic war that set up in a donut shop.
There is a lot I could say about this book and oddly, the longer I sit with it the more it grows on me. Even in the set-up it sounds like an overwhelming amount of storylines and elements but somehow they never feel this way, all these complex systems or detailed ideas are delivered in perfect bursts to keep the story engaging, moving, and easy to follow. There is an incredible amount of detail and research that went into this and it shows without feeling boring or convoluted. Additionally, there are a lot of deep and serious subjects addressed that could make for a depressing read - as well as a lot of silly or outlandish concepts that could make for a cringe-y read, but somehow these elements are perfectly blended to create something that is touching and real. I must also mention that the author does an excellent job of giving an authentic perspective on what it can be like living as a transgender individual.
There's a few editing errors throughout the book, but that is a rather trivial complaint in an otherwise well-executed and wholly unique story. I don't think I loved this book or am compelled by it, but it show more certainly deserves my appreciation for the story it manages to tell and the way it is told. show less
There is a lot I could say about this book and oddly, the longer I sit with it the more it grows on me. Even in the set-up it sounds like an overwhelming amount of storylines and elements but somehow they never feel this way, all these complex systems or detailed ideas are delivered in perfect bursts to keep the story engaging, moving, and easy to follow. There is an incredible amount of detail and research that went into this and it shows without feeling boring or convoluted. Additionally, there are a lot of deep and serious subjects addressed that could make for a depressing read - as well as a lot of silly or outlandish concepts that could make for a cringe-y read, but somehow these elements are perfectly blended to create something that is touching and real. I must also mention that the author does an excellent job of giving an authentic perspective on what it can be like living as a transgender individual.
There's a few editing errors throughout the book, but that is a rather trivial complaint in an otherwise well-executed and wholly unique story. I don't think I loved this book or am compelled by it, but it show more certainly deserves my appreciation for the story it manages to tell and the way it is told. show less
About two guys who went to the same high school, but were opposites in that Junpei is easily sociable and gets along with everyone, whereas Leo is outcasted and generally struggles to make social connections. They wind up at the same university and Junpei helps Leo become more comfortable socially.
Really is just a nice story of someone who is more socially awkward trying to navigate how to make friends in university, with a small hint of a possible romance at the end. And it has lots of great artwork of cats, which is always a bonus. A good, quick, feel-good manga.
Really is just a nice story of someone who is more socially awkward trying to navigate how to make friends in university, with a small hint of a possible romance at the end. And it has lots of great artwork of cats, which is always a bonus. A good, quick, feel-good manga.
A short, retelling of the Greek myth about Pygmalion, who carves an ivory stone woman and dotes upon the statue until he receives a blessing from the goddess Aphrodite that brings the stone carving to life, there named Galatea.
This is a snippet of a tale, though very intriguing to be brought into the mindset of Galatea and her positioning in life after she has been alive for over a decade now, the possessiveness of Pygmalion and the difference between an idolized statue and the nature of a real woman, with her own mind. I thought it was a fine short story, not particularly outstanding, but worth the time. I was more intrigued by Miller's author note at the end, discussing the inspiration for her retelling and her reference to the particular writing of the original myth by Ovid. Overall, I think it's worth the quick read.
This is a snippet of a tale, though very intriguing to be brought into the mindset of Galatea and her positioning in life after she has been alive for over a decade now, the possessiveness of Pygmalion and the difference between an idolized statue and the nature of a real woman, with her own mind. I thought it was a fine short story, not particularly outstanding, but worth the time. I was more intrigued by Miller's author note at the end, discussing the inspiration for her retelling and her reference to the particular writing of the original myth by Ovid. Overall, I think it's worth the quick read.
Follows the tumultuous relationship of Marianne and Connell from late high school through most of college.
I have heard so much praise for Sally Rooney, as had my cousin, and we decided it was finally time to give one of her books a read. I express this set-up because if it was not for reading this with my cousin I would have DNF'd it almost immediately. My first annoyance being the lack of quotation marks for any conversational dialogue, which made me shut the book on page one, but eventually this style choice becomes tolerable. What proceeded next was a book that felt like it was trying too hard to "say something" to be thought-provoking while also being blasé about it. It has all the cliché marks of 'quiet, damaged girl' and 'popular, confused boy' that are both wildly intelligent and everything felt like a story I already knew but being told as if it were fresh and insightful, which just left me with a chalky feeling in my mouth and annoyed at the pretentiousness of it all.
After forcing my way through the first three-quarters of the book, it finally started to say some ideas that felt genuine, but too little too late I feel, and not good enough to excuse the first majority of the book. I felt peaked when a chapter starts to address some mental health concerns of depression and suicidal ideation, but the chapter wrapped up with an immediate recommendation to prescribe medication and then never deeply addressed again besides that the character is now on meds, which is show more a poor take on such a serious topic when the whole book is trying to be dark and insightful, not even mentioning how abuse and hints of BDSM are addressed.
This book clearly has a lot of love and praise, even my cousin had a completely different reaction to it than I, so my thoughts towards this book are most likely in the minority, but even so I am hesitant to recommend it to anyone. show less
I have heard so much praise for Sally Rooney, as had my cousin, and we decided it was finally time to give one of her books a read. I express this set-up because if it was not for reading this with my cousin I would have DNF'd it almost immediately. My first annoyance being the lack of quotation marks for any conversational dialogue, which made me shut the book on page one, but eventually this style choice becomes tolerable. What proceeded next was a book that felt like it was trying too hard to "say something" to be thought-provoking while also being blasé about it. It has all the cliché marks of 'quiet, damaged girl' and 'popular, confused boy' that are both wildly intelligent and everything felt like a story I already knew but being told as if it were fresh and insightful, which just left me with a chalky feeling in my mouth and annoyed at the pretentiousness of it all.
After forcing my way through the first three-quarters of the book, it finally started to say some ideas that felt genuine, but too little too late I feel, and not good enough to excuse the first majority of the book. I felt peaked when a chapter starts to address some mental health concerns of depression and suicidal ideation, but the chapter wrapped up with an immediate recommendation to prescribe medication and then never deeply addressed again besides that the character is now on meds, which is show more a poor take on such a serious topic when the whole book is trying to be dark and insightful, not even mentioning how abuse and hints of BDSM are addressed.
This book clearly has a lot of love and praise, even my cousin had a completely different reaction to it than I, so my thoughts towards this book are most likely in the minority, but even so I am hesitant to recommend it to anyone. show less
An unexpected crossing of a young, low-level journalist and an Old Hollywood actress that is both fated and tragic, with the addition of an equally tangled love story.
I am hesitant to jump on all the books that are suddenly praised and bestsellers and based on the cover and brief description of this book I thought it was fine for me to pass this one over. I am incredibly grateful that I did not miss this one. The story Evelyn Hugo tells of her life is beautifully real and tragic and inspiring, and it is easy to be captivated as the timeline - and husbands - unfold. Speaking of, the camouflage the seven husbands play to both the expectations of the book itself and to the true heart of Evelyn's story is wonderfully crafted.
There is a major element to this story that really makes it, but I feel it's best if one goes into the book unknowing. Very easily recommended.
I am hesitant to jump on all the books that are suddenly praised and bestsellers and based on the cover and brief description of this book I thought it was fine for me to pass this one over. I am incredibly grateful that I did not miss this one. The story Evelyn Hugo tells of her life is beautifully real and tragic and inspiring, and it is easy to be captivated as the timeline - and husbands - unfold. Speaking of, the camouflage the seven husbands play to both the expectations of the book itself and to the true heart of Evelyn's story is wonderfully crafted.
There is a major element to this story that really makes it, but I feel it's best if one goes into the book unknowing. Very easily recommended.
Set into the perspective of a young girl, January, who is considered unique to those around her and cared for by a Mr. Locke, who is a collector of the rare. A story of a girl searching for answers in the 1900's as well as the story of how she came to be.
Settling on my overall thoughts on this book took me a fair moment, because it is quite likeable in some areas and engaging, while falling flat and a bit contrived in others. The book is set up as if the author had all the time in the world to write this complicated idea and world, creating an array of intriguing characters and settings and stories, but then a midpoint hits and suddenly this delicately intertwined story is streamlined to an ill-suited conclusion.
I liked the book, and found it enjoyable but also felt let down, like it could have been so much more than it was. It's worth the read if it sounds interesting to you, but it has it's faults.
Settling on my overall thoughts on this book took me a fair moment, because it is quite likeable in some areas and engaging, while falling flat and a bit contrived in others. The book is set up as if the author had all the time in the world to write this complicated idea and world, creating an array of intriguing characters and settings and stories, but then a midpoint hits and suddenly this delicately intertwined story is streamlined to an ill-suited conclusion.
I liked the book, and found it enjoyable but also felt let down, like it could have been so much more than it was. It's worth the read if it sounds interesting to you, but it has it's faults.
A psychological crime drama following the imprisonment of a kidnapped woman and her son, told through the five-year-old son's eyes.
This book is fairly well-known and has generally positive sentiments around it, but upon reading it I think this stems from the story being told and the impact that has. Telling the story through a five-year-old's perspective is both crucial to how this story is told and the impact it's meant to have, while also being a bit annoying and gimmicky in areas. I had a difficult time falling into a reading rhythm in the beginning because of the structuring in the writing and the young perspective, but once the realness of the dark situation the mother and son are in is presented to the child it becomes much easier to get wrapped up into the story and lessen some of the childish, gimmicky notes in the set-up.
If you can get past the set-up of the novel then the story ends up being enjoyable and an interesting reflective read, to think about the effects that being raised in strict captivity would have on a person.
This book is fairly well-known and has generally positive sentiments around it, but upon reading it I think this stems from the story being told and the impact that has. Telling the story through a five-year-old's perspective is both crucial to how this story is told and the impact it's meant to have, while also being a bit annoying and gimmicky in areas. I had a difficult time falling into a reading rhythm in the beginning because of the structuring in the writing and the young perspective, but once the realness of the dark situation the mother and son are in is presented to the child it becomes much easier to get wrapped up into the story and lessen some of the childish, gimmicky notes in the set-up.
If you can get past the set-up of the novel then the story ends up being enjoyable and an interesting reflective read, to think about the effects that being raised in strict captivity would have on a person.
Setting the scene with a kidnapping of two young girls, this book has an ominous beginning and the suspense of the story grows as months pass and the story jumps to the perspective of many girls and women's stories across the Kamchatka peninsula.
This story sucks you in from the start and then kind of leaves you questioning as it cycles through a variety of perspectives and stories that can on surface seem almost unrelated. When the kidnapper appears in the book it's obvious, even though it's not directly acknowledged, but it doesn't take away from the suspense of the story as that is driven through trying to connect how all these women's stories are interwoven and connected to this crime.
This book accomplishes something rarely seen in crime dramas in taking the focus away from the perpetrator to the point of irrelevance and instead focusing on how it effects those left behind and the community. It also does an excellent job of portraying this heartbreaking story without ever being dark or descriptively traumatic, allowing the reader to fill it in for themselves or avoid it if that's too much for them.
Really interesting tactic of writing for this type of story and I quite enjoyed it, easily recommended.
This story sucks you in from the start and then kind of leaves you questioning as it cycles through a variety of perspectives and stories that can on surface seem almost unrelated. When the kidnapper appears in the book it's obvious, even though it's not directly acknowledged, but it doesn't take away from the suspense of the story as that is driven through trying to connect how all these women's stories are interwoven and connected to this crime.
This book accomplishes something rarely seen in crime dramas in taking the focus away from the perpetrator to the point of irrelevance and instead focusing on how it effects those left behind and the community. It also does an excellent job of portraying this heartbreaking story without ever being dark or descriptively traumatic, allowing the reader to fill it in for themselves or avoid it if that's too much for them.
Really interesting tactic of writing for this type of story and I quite enjoyed it, easily recommended.