**spoiler alert** This book was entirely different than I had expected. I had thought it would be a bit more existential horror or suspense a la Iain **spoiler alert** This book was entirely different than I had expected. I had thought it would be a bit more existential horror or suspense a la Iain Reid. Instead, this book began as a Reid-esque susepnse novel that quickly developed into a diametric tonal version of Station Eleven. The points of both books are ultimately the same: telling the accurate story of our present and past through the lens of the collapsed future. I was not at all ready for this book because it was not at all as advertised. But I ultimately enjoyed the journey, cradled in the uncomfortable nook of hope in the face of hopelessness and purposelessness in the face of calling. ...more
Beautiful prose and a fierce imagining couldn't salvage this one for me. The characters were impossible for me to connect to. and the plot waxed and wBeautiful prose and a fierce imagining couldn't salvage this one for me. The characters were impossible for me to connect to. and the plot waxed and waned in interest. Ultimately, this seemed almost too ambitious, trying to conquer and capture too much. If I had been better able to connect with the characters or the plot, I think I would have loved this. ...more
She knew - it was her job as a teacher of history to know - how many horrors of history are legitimated in public daylight, against the Rating: 4.5
She knew - it was her job as a teacher of history to know - how many horrors of history are legitimated in public daylight, against the will of most of the people.
Zumas' sophomore novel has been compared to The Handmaid's Tale, which is an unfair one. Atwood bolstered a work of science fiction but this one is real. But it's more than that. Atwood's tale is one that is first and foremost a cautionary tale against banning abortion and what it means to politicize a woman's body. Zumas' work is also about abortion and male political dominance, and if you've read Red Clocks' press, you'll see that for yourself. But it's also about witches and the blood we've shed from women. It's about being a good mother and wanting to be a mother. It's about wanting love and also rejecting it. It's about the American justice system and how it treats the bodies of women differently than men, and Black bodies worse than White. Yet Red Clocks is also about whales and ice, falling in love with nature and reconnecting with our family. It's about freedom. And ultimately, about how all of these are valid forms of feminine expression. Of human expression.
Zumas' characters are deliciously life-like. They bleed real blood and suck in real air. They feel real because they are, like lighthouses and dreams, not just one thing. They make good decisions and bad ones, piss people off and love them, and make you root for them as often as against. I, of course, had favorites: Ro and Gin, but I enjoyed reading about each of them the same. Eivør's story, told through rearticulated bits either directly from her hand or Ro's, was a fascinating way to deliver the narrative of a woman trapped under the weight of misogyny. It proved women have always been relegated as tools to men, and not allowed to stand on their own merits and opinion. And yet, the fact that she still captured the attention of Ro, all these years later, proves that even the women we burn still exist, boldly, in the ashes.
The only thing I took an issue with was the adoption law. I didn't fully understand its inclusion and I think the story could have been compelling without its inclusion. Single women already face a difficult battle with the adoption system, and it felt like a missed opportunity to highlight this. The world-building overall felt a little lazy and forced. Zumas trusted us masterfully to read into her prose and surrender to the journey of her words, but seemed to waver in that trust when it came to understanding the laws and rationale behind them. I almost wish that they had been left out entirely, and that we, as readers, could absorb the impact of the laws more than the implementation. Although, I suppose without it, Red Clocks would be less effective as a cautionary tale.
At a time when all feels lost, Zumas reminds us that hope is found after our wits have long since ended. She reminds us to turn to one another, and sense the blood coursing through each other's veins. Reminds us before it's too late to turn back....more
My latest trip to Powells was a doozy. I always feel so much pressure there to find exactly the right books. This was my small press pick of the trip My latest trip to Powells was a doozy. I always feel so much pressure there to find exactly the right books. This was my small press pick of the trip and I'm ecstatic I picked it.
In Wichita, Kansas, three friends navigate drugs, love, and rural America. Weaver's latest book is devastating and dark, apparently common themes for him. This novella sucked me in immediately and didn't let go until I turned the last, dismal page. It's a tricky thing to be good at devastating fiction. Few people manage to do so, but Weaver is one such talent.
I've been caught in a really bad reading pattern and haven't liked too much of what I've been reading as of late. Temporal helped me remember why I love reading. The WiFi was down at school so I couldn't work on homework. It's been a terrible couple of months and what I really needed was an escape. This gave me that and I'm beyond grateful. I'd tell everyone I know to read this book, but it's one of those I'll have to be careful in recommending. For the right reader, though, this could be everything. ...more
This had everything I loved in a book: literary prose, odd multi-character POV, cults, and a strange story. Kwon's style reminded me of Th DNF @ 50%
This had everything I loved in a book: literary prose, odd multi-character POV, cults, and a strange story. Kwon's style reminded me of The Vegetarian which I loved (review here) Perhaps that's why I didn't like it - I compared it too closely to everything else. I found the characters wholly unlikable, and not in the fun, love-to-hate kind of way. There also wasn't enough of an intriguing mystery to me to hold onto. For as short as this was, it shouldn't have taken me more than a day or two to get through. But I couldn't. Every time I had time to read, I found myself reaching for something else, even if it was longer, even if I wasn't in the mood. The writing was lovely, but the plot and the characters just weren't enough for me.
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: A book set on a college or university campus ...more
I don't doubt this novella's brilliance and I'm always glad to connect with the homeland, but this was just too strange for my tastes. I found the diaI don't doubt this novella's brilliance and I'm always glad to connect with the homeland, but this was just too strange for my tastes. I found the dialogue really off putting and the abstraction made it too difficult to follow for me. This was just a classic case of the right book for the wrong reader. ...more
What can be said of Clay and his bridge that rescues and saves him from all that has happened? Or, that at least tries?
What can be said of 6 stars.
What can be said of Clay and his bridge that rescues and saves him from all that has happened? Or, that at least tries?
What can be said of the other four Dunbar sons, or more accurately, brothers, who love with bleeding knuckles and pound each beat of their love into the other’s flesh?
And what about the Dunbar parents, long since gone or disappeared?
In a story that sweeps from grandfather to grandchild, Bridge of Clay is as complex as it is captivating, violent as it is gentle, and full as it is empty. I began with an airy form of discontent - to the characters and their lives - to deeply enraptured, heartbroken and healed. Zusak ultimately asks “how hard do you have to break your family before you can heal it?”
I read 90% of this but listened to about 10% of it and I much preferred the paperback to the audio. Zusak’s narrative is stunning but his narration leaves a lot to be desired.
Though Zusak has often remarked this book doesn’t seem finished, and doubted it ever would, it’s hard to imagine how it could be improved. The story was tightly wound, making it a feat of epic proportions, and masterfully executed by a writer hiding out for a decade. The characters were palpable and electric. I miss them already. The message was clear and elegant; the prose was delicious. I will remember these words long after they leave me, and keep them close for the same.
What can be said of the Dunbar boys, their zoo, and the muscles that bulge from their backs? Nothing worthy enough I could offer, so I leave you only with the recommendation to pick this up. Immediately....more
*Some spoilers (including major ones) for book one: Beartown. NO spoilers for Us Against You*
It's so easy to get people to hate one another. That's *Some spoilers (including major ones) for book one: Beartown. NO spoilers for Us Against You*
It's so easy to get people to hate one another. That's what makes love so impossible to understand.
The sequel to Beartown is every bit as heartbreaking as it is healing. Backman wrestles with the question: How do towns heal after tragedy? How do people unite their community? In a word, hockey. But it's a lot more complicated than that. And, of course, it isn't. Hockey after all is just a few sticks and two teams: us against you.
Beartown was fine. I didn't hate it, but I felt about the next furthest thing from love for it. It felt a bit forced and shallow. Heavy and slow. While every mistake from Beartown has not been fixed, Us Against You is leagues above its predecessor. If you've been reading my reviews long enough, these two books provide evidence against my argument for why I hate series. The first book is always great; the subsequent ones suck. Yet, like all good rules, exceptions exist.
What makes Beartown so exceptional is its use of its pages. While the first book struggled to make proportional, pages to plot, the second book utilizes each sentence for the stunning conclusion that had me weeping and cheering in equal breaths. This book is expertly translated, composed, and structured. Backman holds you in suspense, plays your heart like a cajon, and quietly reveals mysteries big and small over and over again. In a word, this book is overwhelming.
After the rape that tore apart Beartown Hockey, and Beartown as a community, it seemed doubtful anyone could love again - love themselves, love their trauma, love their street corners or teenaged hockey players. But slowly, like the winter snow, things begin to thaw and light begins to seep through. No, of course everyone isn't okay, but things begin to heal for the residents of Beartown as mysterious forces emerge from the shadows to unite - and possibly destroy - the town for good.
Benji was by far my favorite character and I'll never forgive Backman for his twisting, harrowing turns (but I'll always love him for his vision and talent), but I loved everyone and felt genuinely sad to see them go, moving on their lives without me with them.
While their are plenty of strong, formidable opponents, if this book went Against any of Backman's others, it would come out as my current favorite, again and again and again.
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: A book set in Scandinavia ...more
Steinbeck's novella is a thoughtful meditation on greed and the price of poverty. It's also a slightly sexist portrayal of marriage. The length of theSteinbeck's novella is a thoughtful meditation on greed and the price of poverty. It's also a slightly sexist portrayal of marriage. The length of the story hinders its ability to do anything radical, but it doesn't need to. Steinbeck's imagery is luminous, his plot is quick, and his characters are shallow but endearing. This isn't the best example of a novella, but it is an interesting story. ...more
There will undoubtedly come a time when Backman loses his power of me; it's simply the way of things. Today isn't that day. I found myself immediatelyThere will undoubtedly come a time when Backman loses his power of me; it's simply the way of things. Today isn't that day. I found myself immediately drawn into the streets of Helsinborg. Though this is brief, I truly believe Backman's greatest strength is in the short form. Both this and And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer are some of his finest pieces.
In this novella, Backman tackles yet another cliche through fresh eyes. What are the lengths you would go to save another person's life? His characters, though we meet them only briefly, immediately demand our full attention. We break with them and love with them and awe at their brief but powerful developments.
While I thought the text itself was perfect (or, as close to perfect as possible), I did have a few issues with the publishing. I hate the title. It makes this book feel way more campy and shallow than it actually is. And the Christmas tree cover is tired (Alan Dingman). It also, in my opinion, cheapens the novella's worth as projecting an image of lightheartedness that is unwelcome. Carly Loman's interior design is well done overall. The font is nice, the numeration is clean, and most of the illustrations are lovely (though I can't quite guarantee these were all done by her - I just couldn't find any other specific name). A few of the illustrations, however, felt hurried and I felt there was a stark difference between some of them as a result. This was a minor detail though. The illustrations overall really enhanced the plot, and gave me a longing to visit Sweden when I finally get myself to Norway.
If you want to cry this holiday season, or think deeply, I would strongly recommend picking this one up. ...more
Only Human is an illuminating conclusion of Neuvel's undeniably talented trilogy. While Sleeping Giants and Waking Gods were science fiction books with philosophical undertones, the conclusion puts science fiction on the back burner and turns its attention almost exclusively to an Earth of fear. In most ways, Neuvel is successful, but his novice hand and style still leave some things to be desired.
Let's first discuss the log formatting, since that was a focus and issue in my first two reviews. There are many battle scenes in Only Human that are incredibly difficult to understand what was fully happening. I was disappointed in that, but the formatting is more to blame than Neuvel is. The strength of that form, in my opinion, does outweigh the cost of it, though the cost is an expensive one.
While Neuvel's sophomore deepened characters and distanced itself from relying on stocks, Only Human found comfort in the familiar. The rebellious teenager, the good cop/bad cop government official, the heroic father story-line. In some ways, this is forgivable. There is so much to digest in this novel, too-deep characters could have pushed it over-the-top.
And yet, was there too much to digest? While Neuvel made excellent points, and did something incredibly thought-provoking with this story line that bled true for our current age, he was a bit too on-the-nose in his philosophy ramblings. One of my biggest critiques of writers is when they don't trust their readers to pick up on what they're saying. I hate feeling like I'm being spelled out things I could pick up on my own.
Now that the critiques are out of the way, we can discuss more of why this series, and this conclusion, was so good, and a true must-read for everyone in this political climate.
Only Human is really just that: only human. Despite our getting a journey to an alien planet, this is a book that is entirely about the human condition. The ramifications of an alien war and infected gene pool is so authentic and hopeless, you'll think it a history before you'll think it fiction. The characters that I came to love, particularly in Waking Gods are back in their full color. Getting to explore the cliffhanger alien world at the end of WG was thrilling and surprising. The end was a bit too happy for me. I really enjoyed where the direction was heading and the last page ruined it for me. At the same time, it's hard to complain too deeply about a happy ending.
In all, I have to say that I hate series, particularly the books that end them. They can rarely live up to the hype of the universe created, and often leave me either wanting more or needing less. I'm thrilled to say that Only Human stands firmly in the rare camp of near-perfection. Neuvel gave me everything I had hoped for, while still finding ways to surprise and delight me. While it is an imperfect novel and conclusion, perhaps it was the fault of my eagerness, rather than anything Neuvel did. Either way, I can't wait for the next world Neuvel brings to us, and will be among the first in line to immerse myself into it. ...more
Toni Morrison has made her career out of speaking into unspeakable spaces. In her 2012 novel, Morrison turns a focus to the housing crisis and veteranToni Morrison has made her career out of speaking into unspeakable spaces. In her 2012 novel, Morrison turns a focus to the housing crisis and veterans. Frank Money is a modern day Odysseus, returning home after a devastating tour in the Korean war. When he gets a mysterious, threatening note about the little sister he's always protected, Frank must get to her before it's too late.
Grappling with what it means to be family, defining the concept of home, and navigating the experience of fighting for a nation you don't have a home in, Morrison's novel is as successful as it is ambitious. My only issue was it's length. While the novella length fit the plot, it was just short enough to not connect with the characters in any meaningful way before it was time to say goodbye. Home shines in quiet whispers of brilliance. Morrison's strength here is the same as in Beloved - the composition and thematic exploration is what makes this. She may not be for everyone's tastes, but her words are an undeniable gift to the American literary canon. ...more
I'm strongly of two minds with this one. 3 stars feels more accurate as a result, but I loved the ending too much to snub it of a star. I can see whatI'm strongly of two minds with this one. 3 stars feels more accurate as a result, but I loved the ending too much to snub it of a star. I can see what people mean when they say Cruz's voice echos Gabriel García Márquez. My biggest criticism of this was similar to that in One Hundred Years of Solitude. The plot feels very tired and repetitive. After a while, the events in the book become predictable, and the "shock" value wore off fast. I felt like reading it was a chore as a result.
That said, I loved this for the same reason as One Hundred Years... . The literary merit is phenomenal. I loved what Cruz did with gender roles and how she fleshed out the complexities of her characters so that I didn't so much know if I loved or hated Miraluz. Do I think Esperanza is an idiot or doing her best? I love when I can't pin a character to the ground. Her musings on memory - at the micro, mezzo, and macro sense - was also fascinating and compelling.
Overall, I'm really glad I was forced to read this, because I don't think I would have otherwise. It definitely wasn't my favorite novel, but I think it's value is in what it says, not how it says it. ...more
Ceremony is a beautiful and healing ceremony in and of itself. Silko writes within the circular time of many indigenous cultures, which is disorient Ceremony is a beautiful and healing ceremony in and of itself. Silko writes within the circular time of many indigenous cultures, which is disorienting but impactful, both as a tool of paradigm, and as a tool of imagery. We're placed directly into both Laguna culture and Tayo's own trauma shocked psyche.
Silko's novel is a simple one in terms of plot. Aside from the interwoven timelines, and the insertion of poetic legends, there's not much going on. Ceremony is a better fit for the literary reader than the entertainment one. But for the reader who picks this up, Ceremony promises to reach into the darkest parts of you, and cleanse it back to life.
I loved this novel and the healing journey it took me on. While I appreciated the circular mode of storytelling as a theme, in practice, it was a bit overpowering of the plot for my personal tastes....more
Ng's sophmore novel is one of those rare books that are difficult - if not impossible - to rate so, for now, I'll be leaving the rating blank.
After tNg's sophmore novel is one of those rare books that are difficult - if not impossible - to rate so, for now, I'll be leaving the rating blank.
After the first eight electric pages, Little Fires Everywhere kicks the pace down twenty notches. We're slowly but surely introduced to the quiet and orderly Cleveland suburb, Shaker Heights, particularly as it surrounds two families. Pearl and her eccentric artist of a mother, Mia, are new to the town, and, for the first time, are looking to stay. Their landlords, a rich, no-nonsense family named the Richardsons, quickly find themselves entangled with this strange, new family. As the two matriarchs move closer together, and a whole town is upended over a custody trial, the residents of Shaker Heights will learn that not even a meticulously planned community can prevent tragedy.
As I mentioned before, though, Ng's first half almost kills her entire novel. It's just too slow. Consequently, the last 20 pages are forced to fly too quickly through. In short, Ng's greatest weakness is her pacing. While her story is a slow-burn, and necessarily so, much of the first half could be cut out entirely. Lucky for her and her readers, however, Ng's deep understanding of the nature of secrets, of the complexities of families, and of humankind itself, is powerful and unflinching enough to sting the deepest parts of you. This is a devastating novel, in large part because it feels so true. Our lives are a series of choices we make in the heat of the moment that often, if not always, bring consequences we carry with us for the rest of our days. They make us who we are.
As Ng sets her little fires, you'll be reminded of all that's flammable in your own life, of all that you have to lose....more
I've never read Steve Erickson before so, like most readers, I expected something very different from what I got. Thankfully, however, d Rating: 3.5
I've never read Steve Erickson before so, like most readers, I expected something very different from what I got. Thankfully, however, different isn't always bad.
The twin towers reappear in the Badlands of South Dakota, 20 years after their fall. They play strange music and lure people from around the country, including two siblings (one black and one white). Meanwhile, Jesse Presley, stillborn twin of Elvis, wakes up on the 93rd floor of the South Tower. Through lyrical prose and sweeping tones, Erickson attempts, generally successfully, to fully capture the so called "American Century." It's an ambitious novel, and a strange one, that builds its plot through lyrics, sci-fi, family drama, and more.
I wish I had entered this novel with more knowledge and passion for jazz, rock and roll, and blues, as well as a larger knowledge of American cultural history. I think readers with those backgrounds will appreciate this novel more than I was able to. What I was able to appreciate about this, I did. Erickson writes beautifully and strangely, with a fierce eye to detail and scope. And the novel, when the plot makes sense, is compelling and, when it doesn't, is interesting.
While I don't think Shadowbahn was entirely for me (as the content missed the mark), I'm interested to read his other books (as his style was spot on). If anyone has an idea of where to start, I'd love to hear it. :) ...more
Miles Hyman, grandson of literary legend Shirley Jackson, presents a worthy, if stunted, graphic adaption of his grandmother's most famo Rating: 3.5
Miles Hyman, grandson of literary legend Shirley Jackson, presents a worthy, if stunted, graphic adaption of his grandmother's most famous work. While the adaptation was beautifully illustrated, and masterfully structured, it simply isn't as powerful as the short story. This is unsurprising, however, as short stories and graphic novels are two very different mediums with very different goals. As someone who read The Lottery in elementary, middle, and high school, I really enjoyed this, and I think fans of Jackson will too. Just know it can't quite compete with the original, nor should it have to. ...more
This book was very triggering so I'm not quite sure how to rate it. Looks like this will be another no rating. Sorry!
I’m a huge Backman fan, but thisThis book was very triggering so I'm not quite sure how to rate it. Looks like this will be another no rating. Sorry!
I’m a huge Backman fan, but this one ranks towards the bottom. It’s a bit too on-the-nose for me and, though it’s packed with great insights and proverbs, their insertion feels a bit forced. It’s difficult to say whether this is a fault of Backman or of Smith, as Smith has never translated for Backman before. It’s not quite a slow burn as much as it is just slow. The novel (my copy was about 400 pages) doesn’t pick up until about page 200, which is far, far too long in my opinion. And, unlike, slow-burn novels, there’s not much of a reason for the slow. You get to know the characters and the town, but not in any way I couldn’t in much less pages. It’s almost as though Backman, in trying something deeper with this book, didn’t quite trust himself to do the it justice. You should read it though....more
It seems fitting, in more ways than one, that I would finish this as the first raindrops of an afternoon shower dripped against the windowpane. The thIt seems fitting, in more ways than one, that I would finish this as the first raindrops of an afternoon shower dripped against the windowpane. The theme of holy release, of cleansing, seemed appropriate for the last moments of this novel. I also feel it necessary to express gratitude, not necessarily to any one person in particular, but rather outwardly, to a great many activists, for the privileged opportunity to read female characters who are complex and dizzying in their portrayals of non-linear morality. While such characters have always existed, it’s a rather recent invention to be able to learn from them in popular spheres.
Idaho is, like its two main female characters, wonderfully complex. The novel is slow, quite boring and unremarkable in many ways; as well as awkward, as you’re forced to understand a love story that feels very akin to abuse. It’s healing, like kissing a child’s owie, and yet devastating, like getting one. Ruskovich is undoubtedly a skilled writer, both in prose and in composition, and yet, it’s as though the beauty of her approach softens the impact. I wrestled, a great many times, in how I should react to this novel, even as I was reading it: whether I should throw it out, unfinished and abandoned, or keep it on my shelf of favorites back home. I can’t quite conjure up a recommendation as to whether you should read this, but you should if you’re hungry for something that, good or bad, will linger in corners of you you’d rather forget....more
The Circle is a foreboding utopian commentary on the dangers of blindly following technological conglomerates. In Eggers' world, a Facebook/Amazon/G The Circle is a foreboding utopian commentary on the dangers of blindly following technological conglomerates. In Eggers' world, a Facebook/Amazon/Google company called Circle runs most of their user's lives. Mae, a typical 20 something, lands a job in the company thanks to her high profile friend Annie. As Mae climbs the ladder, she becomes increasingly wrapped around the Circle. What she find will permanently change her, and the world around her.
Eggers biggest advantage is his plot, which continuously builds and develops, one breath taking twist after the other. It's a consistently engaging plot, which is necessary for its length. His world building, too, is excellent and engaging. While his characters don't always translate well to the real world, they do make sense in the scope of the Circle's world. Mae makes for a great protagonist because she's so easy to love and so lovely to hate. The Circle is also the best kind of manipulative - dragging you around every which way, to always put you right where it has he best chance of hitting you.
As for the downsides, I would have liked to have done without the love triangle, a device I almost always find lazy and painful. There was also a bit at the end in which Eggers spelled out Mae's character. I always hate when authors don't trust us (or themselves) enough to pick up their point. I understood who Mae was; I didn't need to be explicitly told.
I can't exactly say how his stacks up to other utopian/dystopian novels, because I just haven't read many. But I will say The Circle is an entertaining journey, with a bold real-world prophetic proclamation. ...more
Claire Danes' narration is really what makes this classic so good. While I enjoyed Atwood's diction and imagination, I thought a lot that happened in Claire Danes' narration is really what makes this classic so good. While I enjoyed Atwood's diction and imagination, I thought a lot that happened in this was strange and broke the fantasy for me a bit. I enjoyed the time shifts but I think the audio narration made it hard to follow. Overall, I enjoyed this but I don't know it quite lived up to the hype it has resparked. ...more
Modern classic? Really? Sorry, friends, I hated this. The Alchemist is a fine story if you haven't read anything else before. It pulls almost its enModern classic? Really? Sorry, friends, I hated this. The Alchemist is a fine story if you haven't read anything else before. It pulls almost its entire plot from other lore, religions, and the like. Good literature should pull from other stories, but it should be more discrete about it. There should be an allusion, not plagiarism. Further, where was the conflict, the obstacles? And, no, running into a bad guy and easing your way out doesn't count as conflict. I'm all for feel good books, I am, but feel good books should feature no conflict, not silhouettes of it.
The Alchemist was also boringly written. There was nothing in the way of prose. It was all very simple, which I guess fits a simple plot, but simple and simple just doesn't add up to great.
I also noticed lots of popular highlights in my book and I can see why. There's a lot of great quotes in here, but they're not well inserted. Let's say two authors want to make a point about the Universe conspiring to reward those who work hard. Where almost any author would convey this through her or his art, say through a story or something, Paulo Coelho would write a character as a general who met our main character on the road and say "The universe conspires to reward those who work hard." I absolutely hate reading something that the author doesn't trust me to understand. You don't have to spell out your intentions in order to prove your point. Anyone can do that. If you want to write, you should try to convey your opinions in an artistic way.
Much more trivially, I never understood the little illustrations on a few of the pages. They were awkward and a poor choice. I will also never understand why we can't have chapters. We get that it's a continuous story just put a chapter in every now and then. It's so dumb but I literally hate reading books without chapters.
Anyway, this book wasn't the worst thing I've ever read but it had very little redemptive qualities....more
This was my last undergraduate read which is crazy to think about! I loved returning to literary Nigeria and the title is incredible. I really enjoyedThis was my last undergraduate read which is crazy to think about! I loved returning to literary Nigeria and the title is incredible. I really enjoyed the blog entries (though not necessarily their insertion in the plot). The love story between Ifemelu and Obinze is wonderfully complex and interesting. I also enjoyed the cultural distinction of non-American Africanness and what that meant for Ifemelu and everyone around her.
So, I enjoyed this by and large. However, we have to enter into a conversation, first about what I didn't enjoy, and secondly about a larger issue afflicting Adichie and how it's reflected with nuance in Americanah. Some minor things I didn't like: the supporting characters are all incarnations of stereotypes with a lot of insertion and little development; the plot was a little muddy and drug a bit in places; and neither of the protagonists are all that likable, but neither are they people we love to hate.
The larger issue that tainted my reading of this was Adichie's infamous interview in which she claimed that trans* women were women who benefited from male privilege for most of their life. On a binary circuitry of logic, this makes total sense. Women who were born and conditioned as men begin life benefiting from male privilege, true. This creates distance between trans* women and their cis sisters, without question. But privilege does not operate solely on the dual axes of race and gender. What about heteronormativity? The privilege of being born the gender you are? Your socioeconomic status? Whether your parents are divorced or together? Being neurotypical?
The issue in Americanah is that, for all Adichie's wonderful musings on privilege and race, she comes with blind spots to her own privilege, and the damage she has afflicted on others. Make no mistake: this is not an Adichie issue. This is something that affects, and will always affect, every writer attempting to use their pen for good. It's the burden of every truth-teller to speak light into dark places, but the reality that we all fail to see what we cannot, by our own biases and realities, see. It makes Americanah complicated in the same way all of us are complicated, which is subtly brilliant in its own, accidental way. But it does make it difficult to love without ceasing.
Popsugar 2019 reading challenge: A book written by an author from Asia, South America, or Africa ...more
Chaim Potok's classic The Chosen is as entertaining as it is moving. Two American Jewish boys begin a very unlikely friendship after a baseball gameChaim Potok's classic The Chosen is as entertaining as it is moving. Two American Jewish boys begin a very unlikely friendship after a baseball game goes terribly wrong in the middle of the second World War. Potok not only captures our minds with an engaging story, he engages our hearts too, challenging our notions of faith, Americanism, parental guidance, and identity. His prose is beautiful and his characters are crafted masterfully. Lovers of literary fiction will appreciate the work's subtext, and lovers of WWII fiction will gain a new understanding of how the war shaped the lives of Jewish men and women across the sea. At once heartbreaking and inspiring, The Chosen asks us what it means to find yourself in a world pulling you in different directions....more
Exactly one year ago I first read Blackass . In the days since, I've seldom gone a week without thinking of this book. It remai Second Read Review:
Exactly one year ago I first read Blackass . In the days since, I've seldom gone a week without thinking of this book. It remains the only book to have had such a long-standing effect on me. Having read it a second time, it paled slightly to my memory. I suppose this is normal, seeing as how I hyped it up to myself. Still though, the writing drew me in and the strange plot and narrator sucked me down. I really love this book and it means so much to me.
Original Review: I hesitated to give this five stars because of the numerous bad reviews it got. Then, I realized I didn't want to be a person who edited his opinion of something due to another's.
I absolutely loved this book. I had anticipated liking it, but not nearly to the extent I did. The premise - a black Nigerian awaking one morning to discover he's now white, was intriguing, and the end product, in my opinion, was better than I could have hoped for.
I found Furo to be an exceptionally well developed character, one that surprised me and challenged me. His voice and struggles were unique, and his arch, shocking to me in the end, was masterfully crafted. While I agree with readers that the plot was full of unbelievable events and irresolution, they enhanced the novel for me. On the first page Barrett invites his readers to, like Kafka's, believe without questioning, a commitment I made that paid off.
Speaking of Barrett, his writing is utterly delicious. Like any good creator, Lagos is breathtakingly captured on the page and I so enjoyed walking the streets alongside Furo. His prose is beautiful and stunning. I was hooked from the very first page, a rare occurrence for me, and the credit lies equally with the story as it does with the way in which it is told.
Blackass is challenging, breathtaking, honest, and necessary. Who are we, any of us, really? A. Igoni Barrett sets out to find the answer, and its both less and more surprising than we would ever think it was....more
It's been a little over four years since this book first found me, and it's crazy to think of all that's passed since then. I don't entirely remember It's been a little over four years since this book first found me, and it's crazy to think of all that's passed since then. I don't entirely remember what I thought of it back then, only that I know I loved it more the second time around.
Deeply profound, but never seeing so, The House on Mango Street is a story that leaves no stone unturned. Childishly, but not naively, Cisneros covers a breadth of topics: racism, nostalgia, belonging, growing up, sex, home, and more. The vignette style and breathtaking prose add volumes to her message, and, as a reader, it was easy to get lost among the houses and characters found on Mango Street.
It's a book you finish and feel empty afterwards, longing for something you know you have lost, but can never quite find the words to articulate. This is something to carry with you when you move, or feel loss, or experience one of life's numerous and unstoppable changes and rearrangements. Cisneros' novel is a treat, and yet, something so much more. ...more
This book will undoubtedly be hailed as a classic work of 21st century American Literature - and with good reason. In the same vein as To Kill a MockiThis book will undoubtedly be hailed as a classic work of 21st century American Literature - and with good reason. In the same vein as To Kill a Mockingbird, and yet being able to forge its own unique path, William Kent Kruger has penned a worthy bookshelf addition to the literary fiction genre.
But as much as I enjoyed it, and as good as I think it was, there were several problems that caused it to lose a star.
The most superficial issue I had with Ordinary Grace was how Frank (the protagonist and narrator) was privy to just about every conversation that happened in New Bremen. I found this way of communicating information to be lazy and, despite how dumb it is, it really, really bothered me.
The book also has major pacing issues. I understand the effect Krueger was aiming for, but for me it felt like the plot just drug on and on and on (until a little over halfway through). It was obvious what the text was building to, and I just wanted to get there so I could see what happened after. The sort of dreadful agony Krueger seemed to be aiming for fell flat, at least for me personally.
The biggest disappointment, however, was how Krueger was able to so beautifully master and command his prose, only to, on more than one occasion, fail to trust his reader to pick up on it. He crafted haunting and profound metaphors, inserted them perfectly into the text, and then spent time explaining literally what he meant. Not only was I incredibly disappointed, it also left me feeling a bit insulted as well.
Nevertheless, I throughly enjoyed reading this! (And, man, that ending!!!) It was really exciting to see a book that was both profound and compelling in a literary way, and yet also suspenseful and genuinely entertaining.
And, like I mentioned above, Krueger truly is a master of his craft. The imagery was crisp without feeling unnecessarily cumbersome (as in The Grapes of Wrath). His metaphors were haunting and his syntax was the best example of how sentence structure can elevate your writing. I really wish my English teachers in high school would have pulled excerpts from this book when discussing syntax; I would've learned more.
Most impressive, though, was Frank's voice. He sounded exactly how a thirteen year old would, when filtered through the reflections of his fifty-three year old self. In fact, Frank was such a compelling and authentic narrator, that I often found myself tricked into thinking I was reading a memoir. I can't remember the last time, if ever, I've read fiction that felt so tangibly real. Nothing that transpired over the 300 pages felt fake or doctored, and it was truly refreshing to read something so genuine.
I highly recommend Ordinary Grace, but understand that it is in no way perfect. ...more
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