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
I stumbled upon this quite by accident, so I didn't have a lot of expectations going into to it. I barely read the back teaser so I didn't really knowI stumbled upon this quite by accident, so I didn't have a lot of expectations going into to it. I barely read the back teaser so I didn't really know what the premise was supposed to be, outside of what I gathered from the title.
The Soul of an Octopus:... covers a surprising breadth of topics. While primary focused on octopuses, and humanity's relation to them, Montgomery also frequently covers other marine life, personal anecdotes, and the nature of animal philosophy and psychology. There's a lot in this book that's interesting (and, admittedly, a little that isn't).
Judging on the title, I anticipated this book would be a heavy science book for the commoner. However, it reads more like a memoir, with facts and scientific musings mixed in. I know a lot of readers didn't enjoy that but I did. This book made me cry, laugh, and wonder, and presented many fascinating chances to explore the watery world below me. I didn't expect it would also make me ponder my own existence, and give me a new perspective on my hobbies and identity.
However, for a book about ocean creatures, this book surprisingly lacked depth. No one topic was explored for very long, and when it was, it seldom submerged past the shallow and obvious. That said, the way it was presented, and Montgomery's clear knack for storytelling, made this fact trivial.
Overall, I absolutely love this, and would recommend it to anyone interested in non-fiction, science, the ocean, and (especially) octopuses, particularly if you like a good narrative! ...more
This should have been an easy five-star book for me and I'm very upset it wasn't. I love multiple perspective novels, grew up in Colorado, and almost This should have been an easy five-star book for me and I'm very upset it wasn't. I love multiple perspective novels, grew up in Colorado, and almost always enjoy books recognized by the National Book Award. Yet here we are.
I didn't enjoy this book for the first 60% or so. Then, I liked it more, but didn't really love it. The last, say, fifty pages, I absolutely adored it. The plot was the biggest reason for this and was Plainsong's weakest point. It moved so slowly that I honestly dreaded picking this back up to read. The characters were charming but wildly impulsive in their decisions. I don't understand the majority of why things happened in this book the way they did. Worse, I didn't care about them. It was only towards the end that I finally felt a connection with any of them. It seems as though the characters themselves were not interesting. I only cared about them once they interacted with one another and their stories intertwined. Generally, with novels like this, my love for the characters grows after their lives intertwine, but I care deeply about them from the first time I meet them.
The language Haruf employs is his biggest asset. It's so simple, yet it finds a way deep down into you, and I found myself more invested in how this book was written, than it what happened between the covers. That said, this is no The House on Mango Street. I didn't think the lack of quotation marks worked well here. It slowed down the novel's progression further.
I probably won't continue on with this series, but the ending of this book may make me reconsider. I finally enjoyed myself reading this, and really genuinely connected with the characters. Even in the end though, I didn't understand why things were happening, and what ultimately lead everyone together. ...more
Firstly, I'd like to commend Jon Krakauer for his bravery and commitment in writing this book in unflinching honesty. I wanted to for a while while reFirstly, I'd like to commend Jon Krakauer for his bravery and commitment in writing this book in unflinching honesty. I wanted to for a while while reading this, but knew it was necessary after reading about the backlash he received for it.
Now for the review...
Everest is a mammoth of a topic and Into Thin Air soars to fully address it. Not only does Krakauer vividly depict the scope of tragedy that decimated the 1996 season, he addresses Everest's political, religious, and social history as well. Mixed in with his own prose, Krakauer (or his publishing team) opened each chapter with an excerpt from other's works, most often from Everest literature, but deviating appropriately. This was an incredible and well executed decision.
Chapter illustrations by Randy Rackliff, combined with Krakauer's undeniable skill for storytelling, made this a haunting read. As the climbers pressed on toward the summit, and long after the perished on it, the sense of dread created over the course of this book remained, gnawing at every corner of my mind. Reading Into Thin Air is the literary equivalent of climbing a mountain - relentless, breathtaking, and harrowing.
The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 lies with Krakauer's prose. On multiple occasions, the diction became uncharacteristically pretentious, an annoying and out-of-place trend. He also suffers from pacing issues, surprising given the topic's nature. While I enjoyed, as mentioned before, the inserts of Everest's history and standing, they frequently drug on and Krakauer didn't seem to know when to linger and when to move on. Similarly, the main story itself occasionally got lost in minute, unimportant details and the action got stunted and sluggish after them.
Overall, however, Into Thin Air deserves the title as the greatest adventure narrative non-fiction. It does not flinch at the difficulties of character's (Jon himself included) failures, while also taking pride in their successes. It's a book to get lost in and which is, as The Washington Post accurately writes,"reported within an inch of it's life." ...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
I really wanted to like this more than I did, and I feel like more than anything, I built it up too high. I didn't dislike it by any means, but I didnI really wanted to like this more than I did, and I feel like more than anything, I built it up too high. I didn't dislike it by any means, but I didn't particularly like it either. Perhaps if I had read the edited version first, I would've like it better, as I think I found this version difficult to swallow.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed the frivolity of this and most of the time it was an engaging and fun read. However, i also felt myself becoming bored frequently, with the same basic events and cities being repeated over and over again. The biggest issue for me was pacing. Kerouac FLEW through events I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to yet, and yet spent an excruciatingly long time on events I was more than over with.
I liked Jack and Neal's relationship most of the time and seeing how it progressed, but it felt a bit faked in that the highs were very high and the lows were bitterly so. And that they constantly fluctuated between hating each other and loving each other grew tiresome. I think not really liking either character made it difficult as well.
Speaking of.. There was just too much that happened in this book, and too many people, that I felt I could never get attached to the characters or really appreciate all the excitement.
I don't know... I'm just disappointed. I did like it, I did. But I guess I was just expecting something different. In a few years maybe I'll try the edited version and see if I like that any better. ...more
This was my first encounter with Rainbow Rowell and I've been promised from other readers great and thorough characters throughout her books. I'm happThis was my first encounter with Rainbow Rowell and I've been promised from other readers great and thorough characters throughout her books. I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed on this front. It was really refreshing to see, not only developed teenagers in Eleanor and Park, but also fairly complex adults parenting them. The development of the title characters, Eleanor and Park, is what made this love story sweet and compelling. Beyond these two points, however, I can't speak highly of this.
I wish I could adequately mention how horrendously this book was written but I can't. Honestly, if you told me this was written by a twelve year old girl trying to be "grown up" by cursing, I'd believe you. It was just bad. Laughably, egregiously, bad. I rolled my eyes, verbally "ugh'd," and retched while reading this several, several times.
The bad writing didn't aid a sinking, cliche, and hole-filled plot, though I'm not sure even beautiful prose could have salvaged this. Read (or watch) any high school story, and you'll encounter the entire plot of Eleanor & Park with few surprises or changes. Yes, there were some unexpected moments, but they were short lived. Bullies we're all too familiar with were ruthless in ways we knew they would be, and the racism Park experienced was both historically inaccurate and hollow. Park's biggest brush with racism was dealt to him in the way Rowell wrote him and his family. Eleanor's struggles felt like caricatures due to their wide scope and insufficient depth.
Was this a cute love story with likable main characters? Yes. But it didn't add anything to the genre that I hadn't already encountered, and the bits that were new were poorly handled. ...more
This was so charming! I loved it!! I really enjoyed learning where Cinder came from and it does an excellent job foreshadowing the events in Cinder. TThis was so charming! I loved it!! I really enjoyed learning where Cinder came from and it does an excellent job foreshadowing the events in Cinder. This definitely gives me hope that the series will continue to get better! ...more
I found this book at Target and bought it when I was sad and needed a friend. My grandfather was a drunk and died much too young. His death has hung wI found this book at Target and bought it when I was sad and needed a friend. My grandfather was a drunk and died much too young. His death has hung with me for years and I don't think I ever really dealt with it. This book was beautifully written, and incredible in all the ways books should be, but it's more than that to me. I cried when I read this many times, not quietly or softly, but sobbed with my whole body screaming. I am very thankful that this ended up in my hands. I am very thankful. ...more
I was very lukewarm about Kaling before I read this. I didn't much like The Office (or, at least Rating: 3.5
A disclaimer before I get to into this:
I was very lukewarm about Kaling before I read this. I didn't much like The Office (or, at least the five or so episodes I saw of it) and hadn't really had much exposure to her outside of that. I feel like that's important only because I had no expectations one way or the other. (The only reason I read this, if you're wondering, is because I'm doing a reading challenge and had to read a book by a comedian. This happened to be on sale).
Okay, now for the review... I really really enjoyed this book! It's sort of a collection of essays and sort of a memoir, and it's all written very endearingly, so much so that when I finished I felt a sort of emptiness - the sort of emptiness one feels when a good friend leaves for an extended period of time.
I thought Kaling (or her editor) did a great job of organizing the chapters and sections. The majority of it flowed well and I was always excited to see what rant or memory she would tackle next. Despite the fact that many of her themes (Hollywood, body image, The Office, etc.) were repeated numerous times throughout her work, it never felt laborious. Each viewpoint was fresh, and the repetitive themes only helped to give her readers a sort of foundation for each new thought she had. She also incorporated a lot of lists which was a fun, fresh, and personable way to convey what she was thinking.
My biggest issue with it was that several times, particularly in the middle, her transitions from memoir to essay-style were jarring and not executed well at all. It honestly felt like an identity crisis, and I felt bad that Kaling didn't seem like she knew where she was or what was going on. But she seemed to regain her footing because the end was well put together. Another issue I had was that a few (probably less than 15 total) of her jokes felt forced. Most, however, were funny and well timed.
In the end, this was a delightful summer read and I'd gleefully recommend it to anyone looking for something feel-good and easy!...more
**spoiler alert** I was horribly disappointed with this book. The only good thing I have to say about it is that Maguire was able to create a crisp, v**spoiler alert** I was horribly disappointed with this book. The only good thing I have to say about it is that Maguire was able to create a crisp, vivid, and sprawling world of Oz, complete with religion, politics, race relations, and even nursery rhymes. Every other facet of the book, however, was an utter failure. The plot didn't really kick in until about halfway through the book. The first half was largely used to build the world of Oz, and introduce us, sloppily, to the characters. The plot was disjointed, tried far too hard, and was almost entirely disconnected from the previous world of Oz (either in the movie or the book). Maguire also lingered too long on moments that were unimportant, and flew too quickly through moments that I would have liked to see more development. Elphaba's dissent into wickedness felt like an afterthought, ironic given the premise (and title) of the book. It came far too late and was half-assed and unbelievable at best. Glinda was a shell of a character, and the periphery characters felt cumbersome and unimportant. The Wizard was perhaps the only decently written character, and even he felt stunted in his wickedness. For all Elphaba's conspiring and concern, the Wizard's evil doings and corrupt politics came up short in comparison. Most disappointing, however, was how easily Elphaba folded when confronted with Fiyero. She was such a strong willed character, it seemed a bit sexist she was so malleable and revealed so much of her "secret" works to Fiyero strictly in exchange for sex. That, to me, felt like a cliché woman written by a man - strong, except in the presence of a prince. Overall, this was a huge letdown. ...more
I thought this book was VERY predictable but I liked it nonetheless. I am disappointed, as the premise was phenomenal but the work itself fell flat. MI thought this book was VERY predictable but I liked it nonetheless. I am disappointed, as the premise was phenomenal but the work itself fell flat. Much of the story seemed to be setting up the series. For this reason, I thought a lot of it was boring. That said, I am excited to see where the series goes from here, as I hope it will pick up more now that we're familiar with the world and the overarching story....more
Plath's haunting classic has been written about plenty so I'll keep this review short. The Bell Jar is a wise, unflinchingly honest, and beautifullyPlath's haunting classic has been written about plenty so I'll keep this review short. The Bell Jar is a wise, unflinchingly honest, and beautifully crafted examination of depression and archaic psychological practices. It is beautiful in the way Esther Greenwood'd dilapidation is revealed and in the language Plath crafts her with.
I'm so glad this book found me, as it's one of my new favorites, and will be reread, I'm sure, for years to come. I truly can't think of a single thing I didn't like about this!...more
I originally picked this book up because I loved The Kite Runner. Quickly though, A Thousand Splendid Suns surpassed it as one of my favorites. HosseiI originally picked this book up because I loved The Kite Runner. Quickly though, A Thousand Splendid Suns surpassed it as one of my favorites. Hosseini, only as he could, paints a simultaneously ugly and beautiful picture of a war torn Afghanistan, and the people who call it home. The ending was by far my favorite as Hosseini tied up all the loose ends. His characters are some of the richest and well developed in literature, and the plot knows when to move and when to linger. It is, dare I say, perfect, and should be required reading for the entire human race. ...more
This book is an absolute must read. Vanity and morality have not, as far as I'm aware, been so beautifully and hauntingly examined as they are here. WThis book is an absolute must read. Vanity and morality have not, as far as I'm aware, been so beautifully and hauntingly examined as they are here. Wilde writes in a beautiful and engaging way. I have never been so engrossed in a classic literature work before, but I sat at the edge of my seat flipping every page, unable to do much more. It started off a bit slow but quickly became irresistible. ...more
A masterpiece in every sense of the word, Richard McGuire's Here is unlike anything I've encountered before. Less of a book, and more of a portable A masterpiece in every sense of the word, Richard McGuire's Here is unlike anything I've encountered before. Less of a book, and more of a portable art gallery, Here address a single space over millions of years, spanning from Earth's day as a catastrophic ball of gasses, to thousands of years in the future, and touches almost every point in between. When I first heard of this, I was awestruck at the concept, but skeptical of its deliverance. The end product exceeded even my wildest hopes.
McGuire's attention to detail and mastery of his craft is evident on every page, noted by his vast ability to create stunning forests, oceans, houses, and people donning their time period's uniqueness. Nothing seems off limits to McGuire's skill and creativity. The book, if we can call it that, is littered with simple characters and observations, mixed in with profound, and often haunting, nuggets of brilliance.
This work resonated deep within me as I've often found myself wondering what the land around me used to look like, back before people consumed every square inch of nature. But my imagination had never let me wonder the land's more recent history as well.
I had checked this book out from the library because I didn't want to spend so much money on something, but I'm going to buy it soon because I can't imagine life without this treasure on my bookshelf. ...more
Greenwell finds a way of nestling down into your marrow and disrupting in you that which is most comfortable. This remains a Reread: August 4th 2020
Greenwell finds a way of nestling down into your marrow and disrupting in you that which is most comfortable. This remains a devastating, memorable, fully engrossing narrative that is painfully poetic and wise in its undressing of our biggest mistakes. Garth Greenwell is a master, plain and simple.
Original Review: August 2016
What Belongs to You is so good - so intimate and memorable - it's hard to believe this is a debut novel. The premise is a tired one that feels fresh in Greenwell's hand. The prose's style (long winded sentences) is hard to get used to, and initially feels out of place, but quickly fits right in and elevates the novel to a higher standing.
I read somewhere that this was loosely based on Garth Greenwell's actual life, and regardless of whether or not that's true, it feels like it could be. This book is honest, and yet there's a certain tone in the narration that feels as though the unnamed narrator is hesitant about telling his story. There is a dread in his voice as he understands his mistakes as he tells them and a longing for something he has lost. This hesitation and dread is what makes the novel so intimate and realistic. From a literary standpoint, the choice to remove all names but that of Mitko, dramatized him as the center of this novel, of which all things happened in direct proportion to him.
On the downside, this novel felt pretentious and detached occasionally, which was a jarring transition from the homeliness we grew accustomed to. Also, the characters of Mitko and the unnamed narrator were somewhat one sided, with little growth or deviation from their norms. With the link to reality so abundant, lifeless characters felt a bit out of place....more
(Disclaimer: I wrote this very late at night. I'll go back and edit this more tomorrow)
I hesitate to give any middle grade or YA fiction book a highe(Disclaimer: I wrote this very late at night. I'll go back and edit this more tomorrow)
I hesitate to give any middle grade or YA fiction book a higher rating than a three (unless I read it while I was a part of said age groups) but I truly feel Andrew Peterson's fantasy deserves all four stars.
While this book was as whimsical and silly as every good child's book should be, I was (pleasantly) surprised to discover how dark and terrifying this book was as well. The juxtaposition between the world's whimsy, and the horrors that occurred there was awkward at first, but quickly became part of this book's charm.
I discovered Peterson first through his music, and I couldn't be more thrilled to report he is just as skilled of a writer, as he is a lyricist. My biggest issue with YA and middle grade books is how sloppily they're written. Peterson shatters that stereotype, as I often found myself lured into the story through no other means than the way in which it was written. The characters were deeply rooted and developed, the world of Skree was compellingly imagined, and the creatures found within and around the story were haunting and enchanting. I also really liked the cover and the illustration throughout. My one wish was that they had been in color, as I feel like his work got a bit washed out with the greyscale.
My two concerns with this book were one, the repetition and two, the awkward insertion of Christian themes. The plot of this book was overall well crafted and revealed but in execution it was a bit sloppy and dry. The same basic events happen over and over and over again (particularly toward the end). While I appreciate that audience this has in mind, I don't think more variation would have been too complicated for early readers. This greatly concerns me moving forward, as I hope the other books in the saga differ enough from his one to hold my interest. I also appreciated the Christian themes. While some references were integrated into the story well and cleanly, the majority of them felt cumbersome, awkward, and overt. I would've liked to see more subtly ingrained themes.
Nevertheless, those points are just nitpicky. I would gladly recommend this to anyone interested in a fantasy series! ...more
I've often said things like "this is the best thing I've ever read" or "if you read nothing else in your life, read this." Sincerely, I apologize. NonI've often said things like "this is the best thing I've ever read" or "if you read nothing else in your life, read this." Sincerely, I apologize. None of it was true. This is, hands down, the book to beat for me. The characters that Yapa draws are deeply rooted. Their struggles seem to manifest in believable ways, which is impressive considering their magnitude. The city of Seattle is tangibly described and the riot's energy deeply felt. Most impressive, however, was how much Yapa was able to cram into this novel. He tackles large issues like police brutality, American ignorance, politics, homelessness, and core-periphery relationships just to name a few. Under most author's hands, this would become bogged down and messy but someone Yapa is able to adequately and seamlessly address some of the biggest concepts in the new millennium, while still surrounding them with a good and well executed story. All around a breathtaking debut, and a novel you're sure to have difficulty putting down....more
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is the perfect beach read - light, romantic, and readable. The characters are shallow and so is the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is the perfect beach read - light, romantic, and readable. The characters are shallow and so is the plot, but it's still a delicious treat. It's one of those books you know isn't good, but can't help loving it.
The epistolary form felt a bit awkward at times. Juliet would begin her letters by stating something that was obvious to her addressee in order to inform the reader of what had taken place in between letters. However, this is a compromise authors must make in order to build an entire novel only using letters, so too much emphasis shouldn't be placed there.
Another weak point was the shallowness and perfection of the characters. Except for possibly Dawsey and Mark, each primary character was infallibly lovable. Even among great friends and neighbors, conflicts arise, and certain aspects of our personalities are annoying to others. Yes, there were side characters that were downright rotten, including one that provided a supposed twist betrayal, but overall the core of the characters were an unimpeachable joy - very unrealistic. Further, the plot itself lacked much meat and flare.
Nevertheless, the characters are an absolute bookshelf delight. I can't think of a more charming or all around feel-good book. Even the moments of heartbreak were light and non traumatic. For lovers of classic literature, Guernsey's literary and potato peel pie society will register deep within you. Books have a magical quality to find us when we need them, lighten our load, and befriend us when we are at our weakest. Chopin's The Awakening was that for me.
For lovers of world war II literature, this novel will grant you a new perspective on life after the war, a time period less often covered in the genre, and a wholly new idea of the humanity those who were occupied fought for.
Is Mary Ann Shaffer's book a particularly good one? No. But it is in every way delightful and the true definition of a treat. If, like me, you find yourself on a beach this summer, do yourself a favor and bring this along. I promise you'll enjoy yourself! ...more
I liked the majority of poems in here but not all of them, and only one really connected with me in the way poetry should. I didn't real Rating: 3.5
I liked the majority of poems in here but not all of them, and only one really connected with me in the way poetry should. I didn't really understand the way they were assembled and think the layout could have been a lot stronger. ...more
I would be grateful to watch a bonfire burn every copy of this book up. The light that it would generate could serve as a guide 2018 Expanded Review
I would be grateful to watch a bonfire burn every copy of this book up. The light that it would generate could serve as a guide forward to what’s coming, and serve as a reminder to burn away what’s past.
In an age of #MeToo, it no longer feels valid to keep my thoughts about this book to myself. The issues I mentioned in my previous review are still valid, but I side-stepped the real sources of my hatred for this book. Here’s what they actually are.
Victims of sexual violence are portrayed in this book as dreary, hopeless, inescapable victim. People who have been sexually assaulted or raped cannot find love or intimacy in their relationships. They are burdens to their friends and virtually worthless to society. This mentality not only revictimizes survivors of sexual violence, it continues to place the power in the hands of their perpetrators. The fact that Jude is a male only makes the matter worse. Male victims have to fight for visibility in many of the empowerment movements of today. The same forces of toxic masculinity that empower male abusers silence male victims. Jude presents as a visible male victim, and Yanagihara submits him to a regressed state of boyhood where other male victims can not only view him as a demasculinized adult man, but as a victim enslaved to his trauma.
I mentioned in my original view that the almost comical inclusion of multiple assaults by a myriad of people harms Yanagihara’s world-building, but I left out the effects of it on a social front. The hierarchy that trauma victims face is reinforced. Some traumas are worse than others, therefore I need to not feel so ____ about my own. Further, in order to justify Jude’s reactions to his trauma, Yanagihara makes it clear that his case is not a “simple” one, but a vastly complex one. It wasn’t enough to say that just once can fundamentally alter a person, multiple violations are needed to scar a person appropriately.
It’s true that this is one of the most tragic books written in this century. The tragedy, however, does not rest with Jude’s abusers, but with his creator, who refuses him growth, and enslaves him to the forces of his abuser.
I genuinely hate this book with every fiber of my being. I hate who it stands for and how it manipulates victims into the ultimately form of tragedy. Stop seeing our people as incapable of healing so that we may view our own bodies the same.
Original Review 2016 2 stars to 1 star, reason is at the bottom.
I brought a lot of baggage to this book and I’m willing to admit that that prevented me from enjoying this at all. I’ll also add that I stopped reading around page 600 due to said baggage. But, still, I have thoughts.
What Yanagihara does well is to create an accurate and deep portrayal of the long lasting effects of trauma. She also fiercely captures and details friendships in its many forms and under the ever-changing stresses of life. Most impressive though, is her ability to vividly describe multiple, very different worlds. She perfectly captures life as an artist, as an actor, as a mathematician, and a lawyer. She’s able to hold nothing back in the tangible expression of her character’s mundane life and interests. This incredible gift is no small feat, and its magnitude and impressiveness isn’t lost on me. Unfortunately, and much to my dismay, this is where the buck stops.
The characters in A Little Life are shallow; they are entirely white or entirely black. In situations that are so compellingly imagined, it’s an awkward juxtaposition to encounter such fabricated and lifeless characters living them. Behind these situations and lifeless characters is a cliché and romanticized New York, a Big Apple we’re all too familiar with. Anyone (and possibly everyone) is an artist of some sort and easily passes from rags to riches. It’s a dreamy cliché that, compared to the tragedy and realism inside it, makes it feel all the more faked and predictable.
Stylistically, Yanagihara’s prose gets in her own way. It’s sloppy and confounded, and the plot gets tripped up on it on every page. Her (or her editor’s) choice of organization is terrible and really is a disservice to the rest of the work. The books and chapters are awkward, together and as a whole, and, every so often, Yanagihara decides to shift perspective, a move that isn’t successful and is, at best, jarring. Maybe I would’ve understood that choice at the end of the novel, but I doubt it. Her layering in of Jude’s past is also unpredictable in quality. Sometimes, when we find pieces of Jude’s story, it’s welcome and flows easily in and out of the present tense, but just as often, it’s an awkward inclusion and it isn’t clear why we’re being presented with it.
I also hated (and this may be a result of my baggage) how hopeless and never-ending the journey was. Again, we’re presented with highly realistic situations, and the depressing bits mixed in couldn’t be further removed from reality.
I didn’t get a lot of this book, and I don’t feel like it was horribly well written. However, I will say it kept me reading late into the night, and I easily found myself within A Little Life ’s world. It took a lot of convincing from friends and myself that I needed to stop reading this. I hated a lot of this book as I was reading it, but I loved passages of it as well, and fluctuated often and dramatically throughout.
EDIT: I finally managed to find how this book ends and I'm angry and shocked all over again. This book is terrible in how its written and how its portrayed and I genuinely believe that no one should read it....more
In a sort of love letter to humanity, Heller's novel captures his reader from the first page and doesn't let go. In a perfect combination of literary In a sort of love letter to humanity, Heller's novel captures his reader from the first page and doesn't let go. In a perfect combination of literary merit and marketable storytelling, there's almost no downside to this beautifully written story of a man, his dog, and a best friend, desperately trying to survive (and perhaps even thrive) in an apocalyptic wasteland. While the writing style takes a bit to get adjusted to, the overall effect of a grammatically incorrect cluster, is paramount to appreciating the work as a whole. Being made up of part love story, part adventure novel, part poetry, and part something entirely fresh, would lead one to believe that the novel would manifest a sort of identity crisis. That isn't the case here. As you'll come to find out, parts of a whole can make a whole, when one only dares to believe it. A true winner - I cannot recommend this book highly enough. ...more
**spoiler alert** I wasn't a huge fan of this. I found Kondo to be very, very repetitive. I feel like her tips were all the same, just applied to diff**spoiler alert** I wasn't a huge fan of this. I found Kondo to be very, very repetitive. I feel like her tips were all the same, just applied to different situations: hold it in your hand to feel the energy, weed out what you don't want, organize what's left to maximize energy flow. Over and over and over again. I wound up skimming a lot of chapters because it felt like I was reading the exact same paragraph I had read less than 10 pages ago. Also, a lot of her tips felt impracticable and a bit too compulsive. Cleaning out your purse every single day? I'm not sure that's for me.
That said, it isn't a one star because there were a few really helpful tips! I liked her attitude about letting things go. She said a lot about how sometimes an item's purpose is to be half used, or just to bring us the joy of buying it. I thought that was a really effective way to weasel out of the guilt of getting rid of something you feel like you HAVE to keep. Another thing she did well was to cover a wide breadth of tidying.
While I understand a lot of readers' concerns about the "oddity" of object's energy, I don't necessarily think that's a fair criticism. The author worked a lot in (and was maybe from?) Japan. Culturally, her approaches made a lot of sense. They were a bit impractical for Westernized readers, but it doesn't seem, to me, like a fair argument to complain that you read a self help book from a culture very different from your own, and were surprised it varied from your culturally held beliefs....more
Utterly perfect. Equally humorous and heart-wrenching, this beautiful book is the simple tale of a man called Ove. But things are not always as they sUtterly perfect. Equally humorous and heart-wrenching, this beautiful book is the simple tale of a man called Ove. But things are not always as they seem. Grouchy old Ove may not be as bad as he seems, and this simple story will leave you wallowing in profound musings on life, death, and growing old.
Backman's characters are vivid and compellingly drawn. Even the mangy neighborhood cat is more developed than most literary characters. His story is no less impressive. Most impressive is Backman's use of flashbacks. A general weak point in literature is when authors feel the need to insert a few chapters of "backstory." It always feels forced and isn't quite as developed as the present. Not so here.
A Man Called Ove is everything you want in a story. It's funny and sad and leaves you better than it found you. It's charming and clever. And, if you've recently lost an old man in you're life, you may just find it saves you....more
This book was incredible!! It presented math and science as not only a mode of entertainment, but also in a way I could understand. Watney was a hilarThis book was incredible!! It presented math and science as not only a mode of entertainment, but also in a way I could understand. Watney was a hilarious and lonely character, that was developed and handled very well in Weir's capable hands.
It got off to a bit of a slow start, but after the first 30 pages of so, the action was well paced, and took necessary breaks in the form of perspective shifts. The pacing wasn't always what it should've been (Watney's logs could have been shorter in several places) but overall The Martian was an exciting and genuine science fiction novel, with charming characters, and a well executed plot. ...more
Fiercely compelling, Ready Player One is an impressive, if problematic, debut.
My biggest issues with this were the heavy descriptions, Rating 3.5
Fiercely compelling, Ready Player One is an impressive, if problematic, debut.
My biggest issues with this were the heavy descriptions, laboriously explained references, and implausibility of events. While the worlds (real and virtual) Cline created were deeply imagined, I had the same problem with it as I did with McGuire's Oz in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. While impressive, the imagination of the world seemed to overshadow the plot, and the reader is subjected to long narratives explaining every detail about the world, most of which don't aid the story and bore the reader. It didn't help that Cline also felt the need to stop the narrative and explain multiple 80's references, in painstaking detail. That said, I absolutely applaud Cline's depiction of the Oasis and integration of the past culture. I've never wanted to visit a fictional place as badly as I wanted to visit it.
Inside the vividly drawn world, were situations that, in compassion, greatly dwarfed in authenticity. With only minor setbacks, our heroes flew to meet every challenge. Their knowledge and skills had no limits, and when they did, magic artifacts happened to be found at exactly the right moment to give them the extra oomph. I simply cannot believe that a group of people were so lucky every step of the way. (Literally EVERY step).
This isn't to say Ready Player One is all bad. I want to kiss Ernest Cline for giving me a love story I've been waiting my entire literary life to read. Finally, FINALLY there's a love story that understands its relative position in life. Too often, when a writer adds a love story, the characters seem to magically forget what's at sake in order to pursue their love (The Hunger Games anyone?) BUT NOT SO HERE!!! I was so excited to see how he handled it!
I also loved the characters. They felt so tangibly real, and the evil characters in here have to rank in my top three most evil villains of all time. The social commentary on here was excellent and well integrated, and I can't deny the fact I couldn't put this down. Aside from some atrocious (and I mean BAD analogies, this book was very, very well written.
Overall, I really enjoyed this, I was just bummed it couldn't have been a little better. ...more
Walls writes a beautiful coming-of-age novel in The Silver Star. It's a perfect, if somewhat shallow, depiction of two sisters on the verge of adulthoWalls writes a beautiful coming-of-age novel in The Silver Star. It's a perfect, if somewhat shallow, depiction of two sisters on the verge of adulthood, trying to navigate a world they don't yet fully understand. Walls draws inspiration from her own life (as told in her bestselling memoir "The Glass Castle") but diverts enough from it to give The Silver Star its own voice and place on the bookshelf. While her periphery characters are a bit underdeveloped, Bean and Liz themselves are solid. The plot is the main draw here and it succeeds brilliantly, if somewhat predictably. My one big issue with it was that Bean, at times, sounded a lot younger than she was. While there are several books that do a much better job explaining the transition to adulthood, The Silver Star has a unique perspective and plot, and is as charming as it heartbreaking. ...more
A few months after finishing this, I think I've finally managed to figure out how I feel about this beaUPDATED - Read in April, Updated review in July
A few months after finishing this, I think I've finally managed to figure out how I feel about this beast of a book. In many ways, the goodreads rating system is inadequate, but this is probably the best example of why. From a purely literary standpoint, this book is an easy and unquestionable 5 stars. García Márquez paints a beautiful picture of humanity, with particular attention to the history that belongs to him and his people, in such vivid and heartbreaking ways that you're forced to rejoice with the characters and sob with them. As far as classic literature goes, this is probably the best out there, and I hope that someday I can truly set aside a few months to really dive into each and every symbol and truly digest what it is he's saying.
However, from an entertainment standpoint (which is why I read it this time around), the book gets maybe 1.5 stars, if that. I can summarize the entirety of the book's plot by saying: someone falls in love in a really disturbing way, a war is fought, and someone dies. These three events happen over and over and over again in truly nauseating ways. I eventually grew tired of having the same exact thing happen ten years later. It's very boring in that regard, which made it hard to finish.
I also don't think this was the best example of García Márquez's talents for magical realism. I felt like this, despite it being a cornerstone of the genre, wasn't really worthy enough to hold that title.
If you decide to read it (and I think you should, at least at some point in your life) I highly recommend mapping out each character as you go. Almost all of the characters have the same name, and it will become quickly confusing as to which character is being referred to. Also, pay attention to the events of the war and try and map those out as well, as that can quickly become confusing. I wouldn't recommenced reading this purely for entertainment value, as I don't think you'll like it. I have thought of this book often since I finished it, and even though I didn't really enjoy it this time around (again, because I didn't read it for the right reasons), it still managed to leave quite an impact on me, which I always think is a strong testament to a book's quality. ...more
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