The Gifts: A Novel
by Liz Hyder
very satisfying in most respects (4/12/2023)
I really enjoyed the early parts of this novel: interesting characters and setting, paranormal/inexplicable goings-on that were nonetheless extremely believable in context, and a time period I generally enjoy. What I didn't personally find as appealing was the descent into depravity and cruelty of one of the characters, to the point where it was hard for me to finish the novel. It speaks to the quality of the writing that I did make it through, as I wanted to know what happened to the characters I did enjoy. As always, your mileage will likely vary, so if you feel drawn to the concept or time period it is certainly worth reading.
The Lost English Girl
by Julia Kelly
interesting story (2/16/2023)
I quite enjoyed this story and learned a few things about wartime Britain and the child evacuations I hadn't known before (always a plus in my opinion). For the most part I found the characters interesting, and several of them quite relatable and/or likeable. My only quibbles were with the sheer nastiness of some of the characters, and a few plot points that were too unbelievably coincidental for my taste. There's definitely a fair bit of heartstring-tugging, so be prepared for that possibility if you read it. If you're interested in and prepared for the themes (WWII Britain, child separation, religion causing distress) I recommend it.
Ghost Season: A Novel
by Fatin Abbas
intense, challenging, excellent read (12/29/2022)
This was a rough one for me, content-wise, but certainly worth reading in my opinion. Unsurprisingly given the setting (civil war in Sudan), this was an intense read, with much challenging content. I learned a lot about the cultures written about, appreciated windows into many lives so different from mine, cringed at the "white savior wannabe" behavior of one character, and was horrified by the careless viciousness and cruelty of so many acts and actors. I had to take several lengthy breaks from reading due to the latter. It wasn't unrelenting, as there were also lovely portrayals of kindness and care, and much of the writing itself was really beautiful - I more than once found myself going back to read a sentence or phrase several times for the sheer enjoyment of the author's language, especially word choices. Highly recommend, but be prepared for a close up view of the horror and stupidity of war.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
twists and turns, quite funny at times but ultimately unsatisfying (10/13/2022)
This story has humor, and some good writing, but for me the plot had too many highly improbable twists and turns, including some that were too far beyond misdirection for me to enjoy. I can't really explain without spoiling some plot points, but I went back and reread several times to see if I really had just missed, or misread, something, and no, it clearly said spoiler fact, not totally different spoiler fact. It's one thing to cleverly misdirect readers so that they make incorrect assumptions, but to clearly say A when it turns out to be B doesn't work for me, certainly not as often as it happened in this book. Maybe it is a new form of humor writing? Perhaps the ARC I read was released in too draft-y a form? Maybe, given the title, it's meant to be a huge joke on the reader? Regardless, it definitely did not work for me, and unless you can let go of that big issue, and are able to suspend disbelief about many things in the actual world (in which case you may enjoy an amusing few hours with this book), I recommend spending your valuable reading time on something else.
Dinosaurs: A Novel
by Lydia Millet
sweet, somewhat spare, thought provoking, enjoyable (10/3/2022)
I quite liked this book, though it wasn't my usual kind of read. I think it spare in dialog and exposition, such that I sometimes found myself unsure of exactly what was going on. This was likely reader error, as I'm not used to the style and unfamiliar with the (sub)culture and milieus involved. I don't think I missed any important plot points, but did find myself having to go back and reread at times. By the end I came to enjoy wondering/guessing what it might mean, and very much loved the nature facts and appreciation throughout. Several characters were interesting, even if I never came to care very much about most of them. Certainly worth a read, especially if you enjoy skilled (if spare) writing, bird references, and/or a desert setting.
The Immortal King Rao: A Novel
by Vauhini Vara
not like other books, definitely worth a try (4/27/2022)
Very interesting book, and I've thought about it quite a bit since finishing, though I'm still not sure where I land on it overall. I found it quite well-written and very wide ranging in content, though the latter sometimes led to some disorientation for me. Part dystopian science fiction, part immigrant "success" story, part capitalism/corporatism/consumerism critique, part dive into Indian culture, part child-parent dynamic story, etc., some of these I enjoyed more than others. There were many earthy details that were sometimes fascinating and sometimes off-putting, but given the good writing, if any of these kinds of stories are of interest to you, I suggest giving this one a try.
I Want You to Know We're Still Here: A Post-Holocaust Memoir
by Esther Safran Foer
heart-rending and powerful (12/16/2019)
I found this post-Holocaust memoir a challenging but fulfilling read. The subject matter is often intense and horrifying, yet the book also has some heart-lifting and even humorous moments. I would have loved a list of names and places and their relation to the author and one another - I wasn't always able to keep them all straight - and a few stories and facts were repeated unnecessarily, but overall I found this a compelling and thought-provoking book I'm glad to have read.
You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley
well-written, not for me (9/11/2019)
Though I found it well-written enough, and I did keep reading to the end, I think I am not the target audience for this book and didn't enjoy it much. I found several of the main characters unappealing and I struggled to feel sympathy for the POV character's struggles. I imagine young women wrestling with fertility issues who are interested in psychic phenomena and enjoy tension-filled stories—or anyone who thinks those things sound interesting to read—would enjoy it.
Sounds Like Titanic: A Memoir
by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman
Intriguing, touching, and deeper than it seems (1/16/2019)
I found this book a very interesting read. At first I thought it was going to be only a comic novel (and it was quite funny at times), but it ended up also being a reflection on growing up female in a misogynistic culture, as well as touching on regional and class issues. The people she interacts with in her strange music job are odd and fun to read about. In sum, highly enjoyable.
Golden Child
by Claire Adam
interesting, had hoped for arresting (10/26/2018)
This book was well-written, and introduced me to a place and culture I was unfamiliar with, which I quite enjoyed (as well as the time I spent down a number of internet rabbit holes about Trinidadian food and vocabulary.) Other than the non-golden child Paul, however, whose perspective we are eventually shown when he becomes a POV character later in the book, I did not find myself able to relate to the characters, or like them much either. I was also taken aback by the casual corruption and violence. I assume this is an accurate portrayal of the place and time, and so not necessarily a bad thing, but it did impact my reading experience. After one particular scene, in fact, I had to take a long break from the book. Despite these issues I found it a very interesting read, and definitely worth the time.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
by Hiro Arikawa, Philip Gabriel
heartwarming, and heartbreaking (5/23/2018)
I love cats and travel, and greatly enjoyed my one trip to Japan years ago, so I truly enjoyed much of this book. I particularly appreciated the sections depicting the story from the cat's perspective, which I found touching and hilarious (despite my usual discomfort with the anthropomorphization of animals). I found the subject matter personally difficult, but do not how to say more without spoilers. I do wish I had known the major plot twist before reading, as I would likely have chosen to not read it at this time, as that issue is fresh in my own life. Cover text calls the story heartwarming, which it surely is, but for me at this time it was heartbreaking as well. Despite that, I'm still glad to have read it.
A Place for Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza
heartbreaking, touching, excellent read (3/21/2018)
I found this to be an excellently written, educational, and deeply moving read. I was not very familiar with the culture and religion of the family portrayed in the book, and I enjoyed learning more, even undertaking quite a few internet side-journeys into Islamic culture, history, and religion. The family at the center of the book is similar in some ways to my own, making my compare-and-contrast exercises eye-opening as well. I found their interactions engrossing, sometimes amusing, and often heartbreaking. I was often brought to tears, in the very best way. Highly recommended.
Stay with Me
by Ayobami Adebayo
Interesting in some ways; wanted to like it more than I did (8/22/2017)
This was fairly well written, and included interesting details of a society and culture I am not familiar with. Most intriguing to me was the sense of what it might be like living in a politically unstable country under military rule. Remarks about elections and continued lack of results were powerful in their understated-ness. Generally, though, I wanted to like this book much more than I actually did. I got the sense that I was missing a lot due to not being familiar with the culture. I did not enjoy reading about or relate to the intense pressure to have a child, the patriarchal aspects of the culture, or (what looked to me like) a great deal of lying and cruelty. Family seemed to be all-important, but the caring for its members did not seem genuine, done for show rather than actually caring. Perhaps if I understood the culture better I would have enjoyed the book more.
The Essex Serpent
by Sarah Perry
excellent intriguing read (3/3/2017)
This book wasn't quite what I expected, but I really enjoyed what I got: a well-written, intriguing, sometimes creepy, feels-real story. It is very much written for an English audience-- there were many historical, place and other references that I as an American didn't get. This may be a feature or a bug for you, but I found that it didn't get in the way of my enjoying the story.
Mercies in Disguise: A Story of Hope, a Family's Genetic Destiny, and the Science That Rescued Them
by Gina Kolata
heartbreaking, interesting (11/26/2016)
This was a compelling read that definitely kept me turning pages. It was also heartbreaking in many ways, due to the nature of the disease it portrays and the lack of a cure. I was surprised at how strong my opinions were about the choices the different people in the book made: about getting tested or not, and having children or not. So I learned something about myself as well. Recommended to folks interested in genetics, health and medicine, and ethics.
The Tea Planter's Wife
by Dinah Jefferies
melodramatic and unfulfilling (7/22/2016)
Your mileage may vary, but I found the plot overly melodramatic and the characters (for the most part) unlikable, clueless and racist. I had hoped to learn about the culture of a country I know little about, but instead I learned colonial attitudes toward the culture. I particularly disliked how the author chose to conveniently (for the main character at least) wrap up her major plot point. Not including the spoiler here, but I found it appalling.
The Railwayman's Wife
by Ashley Hay
Interesting and touching story of trauma and recovery (2/16/2016)
I really enjoyed this book, I think particularly because I have emotional ties to Australia (where the story takes place) and have a trauma history (as do many of the characters). Something about the writing felt fresh and different to me; it wasn't a standard "chick lit" book, which I'd wondered about from the title and summary. Though it struck me as odd at first, I also liked the changing point of view, from omniscient to very much not. Finally, I found the collection of characters engaging and interesting.
The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir
by Ruth Wariner
painful to read (11/12/2015)
I've seen this book called heartwarming. I can understand that for others it might be, but my heart was hurting so much I wasn't able to feel much warmth. Terrible things done to women and children out of misguided faith, ignorance, or stupidity are still terrible things. Knowing the events recounted were all true made it all the more painful. My heart goes out to the author and her remaining family members.
I would suggest survivors of abuse give this a miss, unless they are specifically interested in the socio-cultural and/or religious aspects of the book.
Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Well done, moving, engaging read (6/11/2015)
I was expecting the plot device (following two parallel stories branching out from a single decision a woman makes) to feel contrived or difficult to follow, but the author did a lovely job of it. I was engaged, interested, surprised, and moved. Excellent job with something that could have been horrid. Highly recommended, especially as a fun-but-deep summer read...
Make Your Home Among Strangers
by Jennine Capó Crucet
painful at times, but worth it (5/2/2015)
I was quite affected by this book, and glad I read it. The similarities to my own experience were often painful to read, but also affirming. Even more painful was witnessing the main character's cultural "clash of worlds" in Miami during the thinly-fictionalized Elian Gonzales affair. I am not Cuban American, nor from the same level of poverty as the main character, but I was the first person in my family to go to college, and to a "fancy" school that no one in my family had ever even heard of. The parts I didn't relate to as closely were sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes infuriating, rather like watching someone driving very slowly off a cliff. The fact that I more than once found myself screaming at the character in my head, "Why would you do that?!" made clear to me how deeply this book hit me.
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