I spent the last half of this month, and most of the holidays, sick so...let's just say I didn't get very far with my reading this month. Still, having read only four books means that I highly enjoyed 50% of the books I read!
December Book Reviews
Shrewed: A Wry and Closely Observed Look at the Lives of Women and Girls (Elizabeth Renzetti)
5.5/10 A collection of essays on feminism. Actually reading this kind of made me appreciate Women & Power more because honestly? I don't really like it when non-fiction feminist works get too personal. I know it sounds weird, but I'd rather read about a larger, more macro view on things, with data and research instead of personal anecdotes. And even when it is more micro examples, I prefer it to be about other subjects instead of the authors themselves. Still, this book really put the essay in collection of essay because it had a ton of references. I'd say it's a good book for people either wanting to expand more on their feminist bibliography, or someone who's already pretty well-read and can enjoy seeing someone putting it all together.
Circe (Madeline Miller)
9/10 "I cannot bear this world a moment longer." "Then, child, make another." I loved this book, and I loved Circe. The style of writing is absolutely my kind of thing, and mythology is even more my kind of thing. It was really great seeing all these famous figures of mythology and how they tied together. Honestly, it was really kind of amusing seeing just how related everyone is in Greek mythology when I had only heard of them in their separate stories. Unsurprisingly, I loved all the female characters. They were well-written, complex, with each their own stories and motivations. It kind of reflected on the real world, how even with all their powers, much of their world is also determined by men, usually with even more power. But the story goes on to show that women have their ways of living within that world, and outside of it too. I think my only complaints are kind of conflicting. On one hand, there were points where I wished she could show off her power a little more and do more, but on the other, the whole 'witch' thing felt a little like a special protagonist power. I understand why they use this trope but I can't help but see it as a trope. Still, I really enjoyed the story that came from all these different myths and the narratives it took. And above all, I was just deeply absorbed in Circe's life, this goddess witch who was daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, lover, wife and legend. "I will eat these herbs. Then whatever is truly in me, let it be out, at last."
Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship (Kayleen Schaefer)
3/10 This was a whole book of talking a lot but not really saying anything. I thought there was going to be a lot more focus on the title premise, of a society where women have to create their own support networks, where women do this naturally because there are real concerns that a woman might not get home safely. The book barely touched on this. Instead it was more about brunches and Sex and the City. Like it's fine as a short opinion piece or whatever, but an entire book about female friendships as experienced by young, upper middle class, white women?? It's pretty disappointing. In the first place, I was hoping for, again, a lot more empirical writing instead of anecdotes from various people that I could not care less about. This is even worse than "Shrewed" because at least the anecdotes were from prominent people that the journalist author was interviewing. This one was just people the author knew like, privately. The whole 'evolution' is just comparing her friends to her mom's friends. What is the point? This could make it as 280 word post on Tumblr but not as a published book thanks.
Strange the Dreamer (Laini Taylor)
8/10 This was a fairly long book and while the plot moved a bit slowly, I never got bored of it. I really enjoyed the world building in this. The idea of framing the city of Weep as a fantastical legend ironically made it seem more believable. It's easier to accept its strange features when the characters in the story also react in a believable way. Speaking of characters, I really liked the mix of them. I would've liked to see a little more of everyone else on both sides, but the main characters were fairly well developed. I liked Strange and Sarai but I also liked Thyron acting as a foil, though he seemed to be in a weird grey area of being a POV character but only a little bit? My least favourite part is probably the romance. It's just such a typical idea, and I know it had to be rushed and implemented in order to further the plot and eventually the ending/sequel but I felt like the book was just telling me they were madly, deeply in love. Like I get it...they're super into each other...they'd die for each other...they're soulmates...I GET IT. I enjoyed the overall story and mood of the book and I'm kind of interested in the sequel. Not so much for the burning mystery of those missing godchildren, but how the main godspawn and the rest of the outsider party react to Lazlo's new powers. Fingers crossed!
November was kind of weird for me. I read like four books in a row then barely read anything for the rest of the month. A kind of average month.
November Book Reviews
Pachinko (Min Jin Lee)
8.5/10 In all honesty, this should've been a 9+ book for me. It had everything I loved; themes of family and identity, a sweeping narrative that takes us through 70 years of history and four generations, thoughtful in-depth looks at social issues...and don't get me wrong. All of that was great. But unlike similar books like Homegoing, it didn't leave as much as an impact. The later generations failed to grab me as much as the earlier ones, and there were parts that seemed rushed or not elaborated on enough. Still, I really appreciated how it highlighted the social issues of the time, which still echo down today. The issues of race, identity and homelands is of course at the forefront, but also interesting to me was the casual way the misogyny of the times were portrayed. I really liked how natural it felt, that things were expected of women and no one really questioned it, especially the women. The ordinary way it was a part of the world made it even more extraordinary and I really appreciated the lowkey approach. While it still was a good book, it just lacked that extra factor for me to consider it one of my favs.
The Adventure Zone: Here Be Gerblins (Clint McElroy)
8/10 A solid adaption of a well-loved (and well-deserved) D&D podcast! I've listened to the first arc of this podcast before, which is what this volume is based on. The two things I really appreciated about TAZ were the humor, and the unconventional ways they change up the typical high fantasy D&D environment. I thought this graphic novel managed to convey both rather well! I especially liked the colorful, almost casual comic style. It works for their style of humor by having comedic expressions and exaggerated scenes rather than detailed fantasy artwork. I also liked how they incorporated the fourth wall breaking DM comments. I'll be on the outlook for their next arc!
Women Talking (Miriam Toews)
4.5/10 I can definitely see where the value of this book comes from. The set up is a prime metaphor for women's issues as well as the role religion plays in those issues. There's a lot of discussion to be had about the characters, the choices they make and how that reflects on society today. But...I did not enjoy reading this book. Honestly, if I was forced to write on essay on it for a class I might have appreciated this book more. But as a reader, the writing felt unbearably tedious and rigid, the topics repetitive and dull...and all this with its short length too. The worst part of it is, (and this might too be a metaphor) the POV for this women's conversation is a man. And such an annoying one too, I really could not stand his random facts. I went back and gave Animal Farm a higher score after reading this because both of them seem like they'd be really good study topics but at least Animal Farm was way more engaging to read.
Women & Power (Mary Beard)
6/10 I feel like this book might have been way more compelling as an actual lecture or even better, a TED talk. It's an interesting angle she takes by comparing the treatment of women in Greco-Roman historical context to that of Western society today, especially with the influence that the culture had on Western civilization. Still, this book didn't really present anything mind blowing. There were some points that I thought were interesting and I still remember, such as points on Medusa and the fashion choices of women in power both in the past and today. But there were other points where I felt like the references she was making felt a little forced, or weren't as unique and memorable. Even the topics that I did like, the entire thing was a bit too short for her to go in-depth and expand on them. Overall, it was an alright read but not exactly epiphanic for me.
A Murder in Time (Julie McElwain)
5.5/10 Alright, so this book could've been half as long and it would've been twice as good. Honestly, it's not a bad concept: FBI agent slips back into time, solves a murder, flirts with a handsome marquise. What's not to love? But the book has so much goddamn filler. The intro and build ups take way too long. Like saying "and he'll murder again!" once as a chapter closing is fine but when they do it 5 times it just ends up with me going "bitch I hope the fuck you do". The protagonist is also way too much of a Mary Sue. It's not enough that's a top FBI agent in a male dominated world, she's also got some BS backstory about her being a superbaby (and therefore also parental figure issues? I don't know). She's got all the spunk and sass of a 21st century gal! While some of the characters are presented as having a 'modern' attitude, most of them are just there to make the protagonist look good by saying dumb, presumably historically accurate things. It's just too unbelievable sometimes. And speaking of unbelievable, the almost non existent build up for the main couple. Still, despite all my complaints, it was easy to read and good in a fanfiction standard kind of way. I'm sort of curious how the story will continue from this book. Like I said, it's a neat concept and it could be fun as a mystery series with the MC solving cases in the past. Now if all of them could just be...shorter.
Undead Girl Gang (Lily Anderson)
8/10 I actually really enjoyed this book! It does have all the trappings of a typical high school YA fic, the stereotypical cliques, the loner 'outcast' protagonist, but it also manages to turn some of them around. I really like the concept to begin with and I liked the blend of mystery novel with a hint of urban fantasy. What I loved most about the whole Wicca and spells element of the book was that it didn't try to push the idea that it was all real and everyone can do it as long as they buy the right ingredients from their local New Age/Occult shop. "Spells are just prayers with more steps and a name that scares people." I expected it to go the other way considering the premise is literally about a spell that succeeds in bringing people back to life, but I'm pleasantly surprised. I liked the cast of characters and the female friendship theme. At the heart of it, that's really what a lot of the appeal is with witches and Wicca and covens, especially for teenagers. We're all just trying to be a little less lonely.
PLUS I was actually surprised at the ending. I thought it gonna be a typical YA ending where they solve the case, grow up a little, and the girl gets the hot guy. But damn...that was hardcore. I mean, a little too crazy, especially with the whole setting a house on fire and dying in it, but still. Did NOT expect that.
The real terror is not reading a single book I definitively loved. That and my ever growing pile of books to read while I do anything but read them.
October Book Reviews
Meddling Kids (Edgar Cantero)
5.5/10 This book had its highs and lows for me. I liked the concept of a Scooby gang-esque group reuniting after they grow up and re-investigating an old case only to discover that there was real supernatural forces involved. The kids themselves though...didn't really grow on me. Andy especially, her whole character was built around her crush on Kerri, to the point where it was getting kind of overbearing. Like girl, you're not a teenager anymore, keep it together!! My favorite character was honestly probably the dog. The beginning took way, way too long and I really struggled to keep going. The high point was definitely the last few chapters when they returned to the house and the action really kicked in. While it had plenty of nods to Lovecraft canon, the vibe itself was nowhere near actual Lovecraft stories. I was also thrown off by the writing style changes but really loved the twists at the end. Overall, it was fine but it could've been better.
Split Tooth (Tanya Tagaq)
1.5/10 Um. Let's just say I'm not a fan of this style of writing. I get that it's supposed to be poetic, but it just threw me off. The random events, the random poetry, the random New Age spiritualism, the random animal sex, listen...I just. It's just not my thing. You could call it 'a mystical journey of the relationship between man and nature, a look at the shamanistic rituals of the past' and I could call it 'a woman giving a fox a blowjob'. You could call it 'weaving a line between reality and invention, an ancient myth reborn in the present' and I could call it 'a bad acid trip'. Let's agree to disagree and never speak of this book again.
The Perfect Girlfriend (Karen Hamilton)
4/10 I'm not a fan of domestic thrillers and unfortunately this book didn't change my mind. It wasn't exactly bad, it was just more of a genre I'm not particularly into. There were some parts, especially in the beginning, where I was interested in where the plot was going or what the protagonist was going to do next. But after the climax, I felt that it had less direction and the main character didn't impress me as much, instead growing more far-fetched and crazy in a mental kind of way than realistically sinister. While the ending with the 'twist' reveal was fun, I wasn't so much surprised at her final actions as I thought she would've done it sooner. It was easy to read through, I'll give it that, but it didn't do too much for me.
Lovecraft Country (Mat Ruff)
7.5/10"But even the talk of magic wasn't that peculiar, for most of them spoke of it as they would of money, or politics or any other means of bending the world to their will." It was an interesting read, and there were definitely some high points, but overall it failed to really pull me in and the story seemed vaguely disjointed. Rather than an overarching story with a clear focus, it kind of jumps around POVs (albeit with the same underlying plot), and I had a hard time really getting in and focusing on finishing the book. Still, it had some neat ideas and great moments. The Lovecraft part of the title is more of an homage to his themes than anything stylistically or tonally similar. Still, I'll give it props because it touched upon the one theme that so many other works inspired by Lovecraft have failed to address: the racism. It really added an unique quality and the setting of the American Midwest during the Jim Crowe era isn't a common location for horror which was great too. A story with its highs and 'meh's but it wasn't bad.
Also I almost want to give it a 8 score just for Letitia managing to strongarm a grumpy old white man's ghost by threatening to haunt him if he kills her. Like what a BAMF, chilling with ghosts, casually playing chess with him. I'd be down just to see more of her, hopefully the TV show gives her the screentime she deserves.
How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings (Sarah Cooper)
7.5/10 A hilarious, fun to read, but not anything groundbreaking or fresh. It's pretty much what the internet has said and pointed out countless times, the sexism that women face in the workplace. There's multitudes of similar stuff on social media that talk about double standards and man-splaining. None of the things she says is particularly standout but it was still funny to read. The layout and formatting of the book was great, the stuff it talks about is definitely real and I like that it didn't try to go too heavy. It was light on subsistence but sometimes that what you need, just some humor to help point out the ridiculous. It's definitely a fun book and I think it'd make a fantastic present for all the HBIC.
Monstress, Vol.1: Awakening (Marjorie Liu)
5/10 Monstress has some amazing art, incredibly detailed, the world is beautifully imagined and the character designs are gorgeous. I like its mix of Western and Eastern art style, so it doesn't come off as completely one or the other. However, it falls short in terms of introducing you to the setting itself. It's a pretty high fantasy world, with various factions, races and histories. But the story just throws you in media res, there's no time to fully grasp what's going on at all. There seems to be two groups fighting a war? People with animal ears? The main character has some monster thing inside her? There are two kinds of talking cats??? While mildly intriguing, it's way too confusing for me to actually be invested in the story.
Alice (Christina Henry)
4.5/10 Ehhh...so this book is supposed to be dark, gritty re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland. First of all, like there isn't enough of those but I'm the one who decided to read it so we'll let it pass for now. But even with that common premise, there's nothing too much to differentiate it. Like we start off with Alice in an asylum! Wow! Groundbreaking. The characters in the story are humans in this one, like okay. There's some random love interest who's older than her and she like loves him immediately with almost zero buildup? A lot of the 'darkness' feels like it comes from a need to be edgy rather than actually making it sinister. The ending was so anticlimactic
like okay getting rid one of the Big Bads with zero effort but both?
but I guess it added a mild bit of individuality. Like I want to say that this book had good ideas but didn't go anywhere with them but...did it even have any good ideas? Ehh....
Seeing as how its almost time to Inktober, it makes me think about last year's Inktober, which I didn't finish, which then makes me think what a miracle it was that my reading goal lasted this long.
September Book Reviews
The Lost City of the Monkey God (Douglas Preston)
6.5/10 A fairly interesting read about an archaeological expedition into Honduras' jungles to find evidence of a 'lost city'. While the draw and basic premise is centered around journeying into this lost city, said expedition only took like two days and was over in less than a third of the book. That being said, the rest of the book wasn't bad. I enjoyed learning about the world of archaeology, whether it was cultural debates or technological progresses. The book also devoted a significant chunk of time to a disease the author contracted, which for me was still okay as he went into the history of the devastating effects of European disease on the Americas. He also offered this explanation as to why the city was abandoned in the first place. In short, this book did go off on tangents that I didn't sign up for but at least the tangents were still informative and engaging enough to read.
Sleeping Giants (Sylvain Neuvel)
8/10 What might have been an otherwise standard sci-fi premise, it was elevated by the writing style the author chose to tell it in. The story is told entirely through various interview logs and personal journal transcripts entirely. Usually for high concept writing styles it's either great or the worst. Luckily for this book, it was the former. Although all the information and events are presented to us through conversations, I felt like I could easily pick up on what happened without their dialogue seeming forced. The characters all had very distinct personalities that made it easy to differentiate as well. The story, mixing mystery and sci-fi while showing off an interesting array of character dynamics, solidly kept me reading. While I never got a sense of anticipation for what happens next, I did manage to enjoy the events that were happening.
Shadow of The Wind (Carlos Ruiz Zafron)
4.5/10 Listen, I don't know what it is about well-rated books named [Blank] of the Wind that just don't seem to have good affinity with me. This book is super highly rated and the premise seemed interesting enough so I was excited to read it. But upon actually reading it I was just...bored. The language, while it can be incredibly evocative and spellbinding, also felt overly effusive and flowery. The purple prose made it hard to concentrate on the plot of the book and made it feel like it was moving really slowly. Although the little bits of mystery was alright, in the end everything was cleared up through one woman's unbelievably novel-like, chapters long letter and several flashback scenes. The protagonist barely felt like a protagonist and every time he, or any of the other characters, started talking about ONE romantic love like it was the be all and end all it just made me frustrated. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, and laid bare of the elaborate language, the plot fell rather flat. I mean, the book ends was nice? Idk maybe I should just stay off books talking about the wind for now.
Annihilation (Jeff VanderMeer)
8/10 So apparently opinions are pretty divided about this book, but I have to say I enjoyed it. I liked being dropped in the middle of the story because the confusion just added to the atmospheric, almost maddening darkness. I liked the surreal yet scientific ways the main character reacted to thinks. Most of all, I liked the mystery of it. I liked having no true explanation, how at no point in the story did I feel like I knew completely what was going on. It made the imposing setting of Area X that much more...more. But at the same time, I can tell why people didn't like it. There wasn't too much of a coherent plot, with the character's motivations being just as incoherent as the random words. Some parts could've been shorter, some reveals less jarring. Not everyone is a fan of Lovecraft, whose brand of cosmic horror this story embraced and transformed for a modern era. Still, that sense of unease, that overwhelming mystery of the beginning without any answers, I loved it.
Museum of Broken Relationships (Olinka Vištica, Drazen Grubisic)
8/10 Literally better than any modern poetry book I've read (or flipped through). I think the problem I have with lots of those is that they sound pretentious. When reading endless poems about love and life, but in the voice of a young adult who wrote some sentences without punctuation then added paragraph breaks, I just can't take it seriously (part of this is ironic reflection on myself). But with this book, the proof is real. Tangible, real objects that seem to ground each story behind it. It becomes more than a random person hinting at a vague relationship. And the diversity of it! How in subtle ways the geographic origins of an item changes both it and our understanding of it. The multitude of relationships with different kinds of love. The many ways they end and the many ways their stories are told — proving that sometimes life is a better writer than any published author. A museum to "the rich and chaotic variety of the human experience" (Terry Pratchett, 1996)
Beartown (Fredrik Backman)
9/10 Listen....this book destroyed me. I honestly had only heard the vaguest of things about this author and I thought it was going to be some touching yet whimsical feelgood tale about communities coming together and bonding over a sport. I was really fucking wrong. The stark and unapologetic portrayal of people in response to what happens is gut-wrenching, and all the more so because you can picture it happening anywhere. While the POV jumps around with almost no warning, you never lose track of anything and the writing continually lays out and subverts your expectations. The themes of community, of loyalty and bonds, are pulled apart and laid bare for what it is: both good and bad. Hockey is the focus of the story but the things the author tells with it goes beyond the sport itself. It becomes reflection and study of society today, of the underprivileged, of minorities, of women. Much like the game, this book was intense, powerful and vividly absorbing.
Ah yes the Sunday of summer, it's only fitting that I only somehow read the last three books in like a week.
August Book Reviews
The Dead Husband Project (Sarah Meehan Sirk)
5.5/10 Another series of short stories, although I liked this one more than The Dark and Other Love Stories. The titular short story was probably my favorite and the one that made the most impression on me. I really liked how the whole thing played out. For the other stories, the ambiguity of many of them were interesting. Some were just vague enough to be intriguing but others just pushed it to confusing. I'd say my other favorites would be 'Ozk', 'Inters ection' and 'Moonman'. Overall, I feel that while I did like reading it, especially because of the easiness of consuming short pieces, I don't really feel like you would miss out on anything major if you didn't read this.
Coraline (Neil Gaiman)
7.5/10 I really loved the Laika movie based off this book and happened to pick this one up and I'm glad to say I wasn't disappointed! I love the classic fairy tale vibe of the story, less Disney princess and more Hansel and Gretel. Think deep dark woods and cautionary tales. I really loved Coraline's character and I actually really loved the cat too (to no one's surprise). It's a short novella, but it's perfect for kids. I also liked it because it made me appreciate the movie a lot more too. The stylistic choices were super on point, and I even liked some of the changes they added in. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for just a bit of dark fantasy.
Soundless (Richelle Mead)
5/10 It was average at best. I've seen fanfiction that are about this quality, with no disrespect to fanfiction at all. The setting is at least somewhat different and the premise sounded great but the story took far too long into getting into the real action. The idea that everyone in this isolated village is deaf and one day this girl suddenly hears sound for the first time is intriguing but the explanation as to why was a weird mix of science and fantasy that seemed at odds at each other. The resolution of the story seemed a bit deus ex machina and many actual problems weren't completely resolved or seemed rushed through. I might as well have read fanfiction, at least they'd have characters I'm already invested in.
A Tale for the Time Being (Ruth Ozeki)
9/10"If you do decide to read on, then guess what? You're my kind of time being and together we'll make magic!" It was a story that slowly eased you in but once inside, it seems almost impossible to put down. Interweaving two POVs yet the switch is seamless. The length and style is just engaging enough that you pick up the two threads without a stutter. I absolutely loved the way they talked about themes of philosophy, death and time without seeming overly pretentious or forced. I cared about both timelines — both Ruth's drifting, isolated existence and Nao's battered, crowded fate. There was just enough mystery and a hint of the supernatural that made it intriguing without losing the sense of realism to either of their stories. The little details about both of their lives grounded them but the larger story lifted them into something bigger. A tale for not only the time being, but the time to come as well.
The Mars Room (Rachel Kushner)
2.5/10 A story centered around lives in California prisons, this failed to meet expectations. While it certainly seems that the author did her research while writing this piece, I felt like that research would've been better served by a different kind of writing style, or even a nonfiction book instead. The themes and topics it concerns is undoubtedly important: the state of incarceration in the United States, morality and the justice system, transphobia and gender issues in prison. Yet this book fails to deliver the due gravitas to any of them, due to its nonlinear timeline, shifting perspectives, multiple POVs, and stream of consciousness style of writing. None of the characters failed to capture my attention, and the fictional element made it seem like the darker themes were gritty for the sake of being gritty rather than a reflection on some of the realities of imprisonment. It was hard to get through not because it was depressing, but because it was boring. It had potential, but ultimately went nowhere.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Mark Haddon)
6.5/10 I can see why this book would be assigned reading. The writing style, done in the point of view of its autistic protagonist, didn't feel forced or theatrical at all. Every thought and action felt natural and logical when seen in the protagonist perspective, a feat that should be appreciated. I also enjoyed the dynamics of the family, managing to portray the complex factors involved in a family whose child is autistic. More importantly, it kept both parents as flawed, human characters. There was no clear choice, at least from our understanding, which parent is better and that in turn made the characters seem more real. However, while it is a good book and I can see the value of it, I wouldn't say I loved reading it. The ending felt a little rushed but overall it's just not my type of book. Still, I'm glad I did read it.
What a lethargic summer...I barely read any compared to last month and none of them I really liked.
July Book Reviews
Hidden Figures (Margot Lee Shetterly)
4.5/10 I wanted to like this book, I really did. The history it's recounting and the message it's trying to say are all really great. But unfortunately those are the only things that kept me going through this book. The writing was just so dry to me. It felt like reading a Wikipedia article except without editing out the superfluous descriptions. It was hard to keep track of the primary figures in the book, which wasn't helped by their intertwining storylines. The book also starts out in the middle of WWII and while I agree it's important to set down the precedent for the birth of NASA, it took much too long to actually get there. I felt like I was almost near the end of the book before NASA actually came into existence. Even when the women were making history, the writing style ironically seemed to mute the emotional impact of it. Still, there were a couple of moving moments and I enjoyed the ending. I'd recommend just watching the movie though.
The Dark and Other Love Stories (Deborah Willis)
5/10 I have mixed feelings about this collection of short stories. I feel like I can see why other people might enjoy it, but for me it doesn't quite manage it. There are some stories where I appreciated the premise, especially 'Girlfriend on Mars'. I also appreciate that it's set mostly in the Lower Mainland. The ambiguity of many of these stories, there are some that I felt worked well, other's that fell short. While reading this I just couldn't shake the feeling that the writing style seemed constructed to try and elicit some emotional reaction from me rather than doing so organically. I can't tell if it's because I'm too young (and not experienced enough) or too old (and experienced in the wrong ways). It's like one of those popular 'tumblr-style' poetry books; I can see the appeal in it but it's not for me.
Name of the Wind (Patrick Rothfuss)
6/10 Okay. So, this book was highly recommended to me by two different people, not to mention a plethora of 5 star reviews. So what I'm about to say might be controversial. It was alright. It was...an adult high fantasy novel. The protagonist is a dude who's really good at stuff. He's a child prodigy with a tragic backstory. The antagonists are bullies and mean teachers. He embarrasses them in public. Two women are interested in him. The main one is an incomparable, mysterious beauty who despite the multiple men she dates, enjoys his companionship the most. He slays, a dragon. CAN I MAKE IT ANYMORE OBVIOUS. I don't really care for any of the characters right now, Bast is kind of interesting? But the protagonist is a dumbass like oh my god. The story is moving at a snail's pace and most of the pace seems to be spent on talking about the various ways he tries to secure student loans. Now, I gave it a 6 because despite my disappointed expectations, it's not a bad novel. It just wasn't a mindblowing one. I liked the format of the story and how it interweaves two timelines. (Although I have to say, they keep using the format to set up 'I was so happy...little did I know how wrong I was' type endings. Like it's fine and ominous the first few times but when they keep fucking doing it holy shit it's so annoying like I get it!!! Life sucks!!) Although it's typical fantasy novel dense, most of the time it kept me interested enough to keep reading. While they use all the usual fancy fantasy descriptors, there were a couple of lines that were nicely written and quite memorable. Still on the whole, I have to say it's really not my cup of tea. Don't @ me.
One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter (Scaachi Koul)
4.5/10 I was intrigued by the summary of this book, promising a humorous book dealing with personal experiences in a 'land of ice and casual racism'. Because of my personal experiences in said land, and also because it's a pretty funny line, I checked it out. Unfortunately, the editor who wrote the summary deserves an award because that single line is pretty much the only memorable one. The author talks about her experiences as an overweight woman, a woman working on the internet and the child of Indian immigrants. While those can make for interesting anecdotes, there was nothing about any of the stories that seemed to stand out. Adding insult to injury, the purported razor sharp humor was either nowhere to be found or not my style because I didn't really find the entire thing to be funny. I could tell it was written in a 'comedic style' but not one that made me laugh. Overall, a fairly forgettable book.
Halfway!!! Dare I believe it? Will I actually finish this goal?? Also...I don't even know what was up with this month. I don't even have school anymore and I read so many books this month it's like I was in a summer reading program.
June Book Reviews
The Girl With All the Gifts (M. R. Carey)
9/10"And then like Pandora, opening the great big box of the world and not being afraid, not even caring whether what's inside is good or bad. Because it's both. Everything is always both. But you have to open it to find that out." I loved this book and I was more surprised than anyone. I read this on a recommendation so I had no idea what the premise of this book was other than 'science fiction'. Turns out it's actually zombie story, which quickly becomes apparent, but I never would've otherwise picked it up if I knew because I'm just not a fan of zombies or apocalypses. But like the above quote says, you'll never know unless you open it and I'm really glad I did this time. The main character is a force unto herself, a worthy representative of Pandora, of Eve, of Sophia, of the myth of the first woman and her disobedience that gave birth to knowledge. The supporting cast that make up the usual 'last band of humans' is by no means bland either, with believable goals and developed personalities. Both the premise and ending was a unique and refreshing twist on the zombie genre. Anyone inclined to avoid it because of its horror tag, I strongly recommend you giving this a try.
Salvation of a Saint (Keigo Higashino)
7.5/10 The second Detective Galileo I've read and it was a pretty decent one. Honestly, I don't think anything will quite match up to the setup and resolution of "The Devotion of Suspect X" but I liked reading this one too. The setting is much more mundane and the final solution is at once more commonplace as well as more fantastical than in Suspect X which is kind of strange. As a standalone story though, I really enjoyed the two main detectives especially Utsumi, as well as trying to figure out the complicated motives of the main suspect. There were some parts that surprised me a little, and other hints that I managed to catch on correctly, but nothing quite like the rollercoaster ride from Suspect X. Still, it was an enjoyable read, definitely a solid deduction style murder mystery.
Death Notice (Zhao Haohui)
6/10 I picked up this book for one reason and one reason only, the summary said it was set in Chengdu, Sichuan. I almost never get to see Chengdu featured in any English media, it's usually Beijing or Shanghai or Hong Kong. So that one singular feature made me borrow this book, the first translation of a trilogy of crime thrillers that are apparently super popular in China. So imagine my letdown when, after reading the book, I found out that in the original Chinese, it hadn't been Chengdu; they only changed it to a bigger city for the English release. No wonder, because the city itself only barely featured in the story. It named some places but the ones I recognized could've been pulled from any city and the ones that were unique I couldn't recognize. Thanks for nothing. Anyway! The story itself. Unfortunately not amazing enough to soothe the disappointment. A fairly typical police suspense thriller. It started off ok, but some of the murders towards the end got a bit too convoluted and edgy/gruesome. It did keep you guessing at some parts which was nice (at least you're always thinking) but as the first of a trilogy they don't even provide the ultimate solution. Who knows if the rest of the series will even get translated? As a crime thriller, I would've given this a decent 6.5 but because the genre isn't even my cup of tea, it gets docked half a point. 不好意思.
A Midsummer's Equation (Keigo Higashino)
6.5/10 Although the second novel, Salvation of a Saint, had a more mundane setting and premise, it felt more interesting than this one. This one had multiple players to keep track of and stretched across two cities, but it just made it harder to get into. Even though some parts of the resolution and the 'unrelated red herrings' gave it a Suspect X feel (there was, I think, even a small throwaway line referencing it: Yukawa knew better than anyone else how willing the truly devoted were to assume guilt in order to protect the ones they loved), ultimately it fell short. This book expanded a bit on the actual personality of Detective Galileo himself, but for me it was a bit of a mixed reception. I did enjoy his interactions with Kyohei, especially with the ending. I felt like the ultimate solution, especially in regards to the culprit, could've been expanded on but at least I was surprised by the final reveals.
The Library at Mount Char (Scott Hawkins)
7.5/10 I quite liked this book! It's got a female 'protagonist', mysterious powers and eldritch horror — my favorite combo. There were some twists and turns here and there, but the ending was pretty satisfying for me. I would've like them to spend less time on Steve (even his name sounds boring) and more time on the other siblings, but overall it was a varied and interesting cast of characters. The eldritch horror was juuust unobtrusive enough not to feel confusing, or at least I took it in stride. There were parts were I didn't quite like the tone but the general narrative kept my attention and there were parts where I absolutely loved it. Still, it's got the kind of tone to it where, while I liked it, I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. If you're a fan of eldritch horror though, definitely take a look.
Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng)
9.5/10 Domestic fiction is usually not my cup of tea. But there are some books in a genre that are so good it doesn't matter what your usual preferences are and this book was it. It was a bit slow to get started, but once it started moving, I couldn't take my eyes away from the lives of these people. They were so vivid, so complex in their wholeness, in all of their imperfections and humanity. The clashing of different people from different walks of life, not just the main characters, but the secondary plot line as well, was so well done. I loved the running theme of 'fires' and the different ways it was brought into the story. But I especially loved the ending, because that's just how life is. It doesn't always come to a perfect conclusion, instead it's tangled threads, pieces you've left behind, pieces that others have given you, the limitless possibilities of a future both good and bad, and of course, little fires everywhere.
On Tyranny (Timothy Snyder)
5/10 It's a decent enough little book, talking about some of the political problems facing Europe and the United Status today. It mostly presents concepts and using examples from history, such as discussing the rise of fascism. While I get that it's supposed to be brief, I didn't like the overwhelming Western focus. There were some interesting notes on WWII but I would've preferred examples from other events as well. It's also presented in part as a guide on how to act in order to combat some of these problems. Although I agreed with what the book was saying here, I didn't really like the tone of it. It's all well and good to say that people should act this way, but realistically it seems improbable and tonally it sounds patronizing. There was one quote I did like though, even if it was a tall order (and frankly can be misused in a different light): "Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom."
The Screaming Staircase (Jonathan Stroud)
5.5/10 It's not a bad book, but there were areas that I felt were lacking. The basic premise is fine, even if it's just that, basic. The 'rules' of the fantasy setting were well put and easy to follow along. The plot was alright, I called the ending but it was a fairly decent ending. I liked the teaser at the end hinting at the protagonist's hidden abilities. I liked the protagonist well enough, but honestly I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters. They're just alright. The plot was just alright. It wasn't anything terrible, it just didn't make a really deep impression on me.
Beautiful Blue World (Suzanne LaFleur)
4.5/10 This book had potential but was way too short. It was kind of weird actually because when reading it, I didn't really feel like I was slogging through a lot of filler, but in the end I also felt like I only read the beginning of a story. I realize that because this is the first book in a series, they do need to leave something but also at least give me something to begin with. The protagonist's character also feels lacking, like I see the point of her 'special skills' but they don't seem to stand out as particularly extraordinary. The whole thing didn't really make much of an impression on me.
The Wrath & the Dawn (Renee Ahdieh)
7/10 Another YA novel that I enjoyed, but not as surprising as Three Dark Crowns. I liked that one based off all the new takes they had on the genre whereas I liked this one based off all the old classic tropes of the genre. I came in with expectations of a typical 'girl falls for enemy because he isn't as bad as he seems' romance and my expectations were fully met, but not in a bad way. Yes, they fall in love with an unrealistic speed, yes many things would've been resolved had they just talked about it, yes the girl turns out to have some magical powers she never knew about. The usual suspects, although luckily they weren't too overbearing. There's also the usual pros, like the girl being the 'honest, witty' one that surprises the system of tradition, her holding her own against enemies, etc. Of course the guy is dark and brooding and yes when he gets angry only the girl can calm him down but that's what I came for. Some pleasant pluses was I liked the B couple sideplot, there was a second love interest but they didn't tease a triangle at all, and I didn't hate the protagonist (always a surprise in a YA novel nowadays). But what I liked most about it, and what I'm disappointed they didn't spend more time on, was the Arabian Nights setting and theme. Any YA setting not in a European medieval fantasy world (even if it's still royalty themed) is always worth a second glance.
The Moth & the Flame (Renee Ahdieh)
2/10 A short story set before the first novel and good thing it was a short story because it added nothing to the actual story. It mainly details the B couple development, as well as some backstory. The backstory part I was fine with, it deepened the initial premise but definitely would've felt unwieldy if forced into the main book. But the large part of this story was on the girl of the B couple and first of all, an uninspired romance. Whatever, they could've worked some actual chemistry in for the main book. But the fact that they didn't actually work in the most interesting about the girl? I guess they didn't want to spoil the surprise in the sequel but damn, at least drop some meaningful hints. Maybe this short story could've been interesting then. (Also I read the summaries for some of the other short stories and they actually seem interesting but like ? why didn't they include them? It sure would've made the sudden romance and scene changes a lot easier to deal with.)
The Rose & the Dagger (Renee Ahdieh)
4.5/10 Alright, looks like this continues in the well honoured tradition of YA fantasy sequels always being 10x worse. They threw away what little remained of the Arabian Nights setting for some war camp scenery that could've been anywhere. They threw in even more magical power nonsense that was even more convoluted than the initial bits in the first book, including characters that literally only appeared for a paragraph before disappearing. One of the new characters had his relationship barely developed with the protagonist before he became one of her forever friends. They showed even more of the side male lead's POV even after well establishing he had no chance. Added in some manly gesturing while the protagonist lies unconscious. Added in another bland C couple while the B couple not only splits up for completely unforeshadowed reasons but also has the guy completely flip his loyalty for a girl when their relationship was barely developed. And despite all the message about the protagonist finding her wings or whatever, she had almost no agency in the events that really mattered. Oh YA fantasy romance novels, for each one that surprises me another one never fails to let me down.
Thanks for adding in that bland C couple just to kill the guy off for dramatic purposes. I know you just wanted some narrative stake but couldn't actually kill off any one really important. Also reduced the villain to someone who wasn't even a threat. Like, no tension at all for all he was built up in the first one. None of the villains were good. Also...the last battle (which wasn't even a real battle) had a winged serpent. Like just........fuck you.
The Death of Mrs.Westaway (Ruth Ware)
6.5/10 Now this might be because I was recommended this book by two separate people who claimed they didn't like her other novels but really enjoyed this one...but I didn't find it outstanding. It was a decent mystery story, don't get me wrong. I liked the twist at the end, a lot actually. But that was really the only highlight for me. The characters didn't make too much of an impression on me, especially the elderly caretaker who's only impression was that I totally called her reveal. I didn't enjoy the snippets of letters from the past, it seemed to make it too easy for both the protagonist and the reader. I didn't dislike the protagonist but I didn't love her either. The story took much too long to get to the actual meat of the story and the bit of thriller action towards the end felt average. It also felt like there was too much symbolism, like convenient tarot cards and magpies — pick one and stick with it, please. Overall, ok but underwhelming.
#NeverAgain: A New Generation Draws the Line (David Hogg, Lauren Hogg)
7/10 An absorbing read from the front lines of America's gun control debate. Written by its newest champions, young survivors of school shootings, it tells the story from an engaging first person perspective. I enjoyed the separate sections that the siblings wrote, each with their own POV of the events and especially of the other person. It's a fairly short book and it felt more like an essay or a long article but it was interesting enough that I wanted to read more, possibly from other students or survivors. The list of school shooting victims at the end of the book was a chilling surprise — I had no idea there were that many. While I liked that they listed ways to get involved, it's hard not to feel cynical looking at the stalled state the debate is still at. Still, it's definitely a must read for anyone interested the ongoing issues of gun control in the US (and it should be everyone in the US).
