Gorgeous, heartaching horror novel about grief, loss, and the strength of family bonds. I'm genuinely awestruck at this debut novel.Gorgeous, heartaching horror novel about grief, loss, and the strength of family bonds. I'm genuinely awestruck at this debut novel....more
LaRocca's novellas continue to surprise and impress me, this was no exception. Incredibly original, horrific, and intriguing, and such an interesting LaRocca's novellas continue to surprise and impress me, this was no exception. Incredibly original, horrific, and intriguing, and such an interesting protagonist that you both feel heartbreak and deep disgust for.
**spoiler alert** I think maybe Abby Jimenez books are not for me... I guess I can see why people like them so much, but they're so formulaic. They al**spoiler alert** I think maybe Abby Jimenez books are not for me... I guess I can see why people like them so much, but they're so formulaic. They all feel eerily similar - ending in pregnancy, the way the men talk about the women, etc. It just feels a little too copy and paste for me....more
Well, I liked this more than The Friend Zone, but the bar was very low.
This read like fan fiction to me, especially the 2nd half of the story. Which iWell, I liked this more than The Friend Zone, but the bar was very low.
This read like fan fiction to me, especially the 2nd half of the story. Which is fine, just not for me.
I also think as a gay person this may have just been a little too straight for me. A lot of it felt very "traditional" men and woman roles, etc. However, how they met with the dog was really cute, and honestly the first half was much more enjoyable than the 2nd to me....more
The plot was a little blah but I do love an unlikeable, unreliable narrator. Don't think I'll continue with the series.The plot was a little blah but I do love an unlikeable, unreliable narrator. Don't think I'll continue with the series....more
I think this is the best novel I've ever read about the queer experience. Very difficult content to get through at points, but an absolutely crucial rI think this is the best novel I've ever read about the queer experience. Very difficult content to get through at points, but an absolutely crucial read for anyone and everyone....more
This was breathtaking. An absolutely beautiful story full of rich metaphorical plot about how illness changes you, your spouse, the generations beforeThis was breathtaking. An absolutely beautiful story full of rich metaphorical plot about how illness changes you, your spouse, the generations before and after you. Just a lovely book....more
Troubling and captivating story filled with beautiful prose and very thought-provoking questions at the beginning of each chapter.
This world describeTroubling and captivating story filled with beautiful prose and very thought-provoking questions at the beginning of each chapter.
This world described in Cairo was so unlike anything I've personally ever experienced. Additionally, I loved the intense, jarring contrast between the boy and the girl's thoughts, actions, and perspectives throughout the story....more
This was definitely my least favorite of the Kristin Hannah books I've read so far. While the first half was incredibly vivid and interesting to read This was definitely my least favorite of the Kristin Hannah books I've read so far. While the first half was incredibly vivid and interesting to read (during the protagonist's time in Vietnam), the second half was almost the opposite for me. The story fell flat and there were too many twists and turns for it to feel realistic towards the end.
I did really like the premise focusing on women in Vietnam. Honestly, I thought it could have been much better than it was, but I did appreciate the focus on mental health and ptsd....more
I cried an ungodly amount of times throughout reading this. As always, Kristin Hannah kills it with the incredibly sad, riveting fiction.
My issue witI cried an ungodly amount of times throughout reading this. As always, Kristin Hannah kills it with the incredibly sad, riveting fiction.
My issue with this book, and the other books I've read by her, is just about the pacing. It seems like some sections are more drawn out and very little happens, and then within three pages we'll have several huge plot points all at once....more
I love Satrapi's work. While I didn't enjoy this as much as her Persepolis series, it was an amusing, insightful, short read.I love Satrapi's work. While I didn't enjoy this as much as her Persepolis series, it was an amusing, insightful, short read....more
Some of the stories were really intriguing and others were just not as interesting to me. The last story in particular was a really neat one, whereas Some of the stories were really intriguing and others were just not as interesting to me. The last story in particular was a really neat one, whereas the first story was both disgusting and boring....more
This book was incredibly anxiety-inducing without having too much of a plot until the very end. Very character-focused, but I almost felt like we didnThis book was incredibly anxiety-inducing without having too much of a plot until the very end. Very character-focused, but I almost felt like we didn't go deep enough with some of the more interesting characters....more
I loved how rich and detailed this was, even if the story was incredibly bleak and heart-wrenching from beginning to end. This is the 1st novel of KriI loved how rich and detailed this was, even if the story was incredibly bleak and heart-wrenching from beginning to end. This is the 1st novel of Kristin Hannah's I have read, and I will certainly be trying out some of her more well-known ones now as well.
My one qualm with the novel was with the pacing of her storytelling. There were some events (or multiple events!) that happened SO fast. Like within 5 pages of the novel so much would happen, and it felt like the story didn't have a chance to actually develop with a lot of the insane events of the plot. ...more
TW: sexual assault, sexual violence, physical violence, infidelity, eating disorders.
2.5 stars.
I do love an unreliable, completely unlikeable femaleTW: sexual assault, sexual violence, physical violence, infidelity, eating disorders.
2.5 stars.
I do love an unreliable, completely unlikeable female protagonist. It's one of my favorite types of contemporary fiction. I do wonder, though, in this case, if this book is simply trying too hard to create this.
The main character is unlikeable, and there is SOME nuance to her character. However, every character feels very one-dimensional/black and white. There's not a lot of depth or reason or even variety, everyone is just evil in the same way. ...more
TW: sexual assault, rape, pregnancy, domestic violence, death, discussion of suicide, abortion, and miscarriage.
2.5ish stars.
I am not a huge fantasy TW: sexual assault, rape, pregnancy, domestic violence, death, discussion of suicide, abortion, and miscarriage.
2.5ish stars.
I am not a huge fantasy and/or magical realism person unless it's realllllllyy well done. This was not horrible, and I thought it was an entertaining read.
With most books that show multiple perspectives throughout multiple periods, I felt more connected to some characters than others. The chapters with Kate and Violet were much more interesting to me than Altha's. Not necessarily because of the writing, but I just felt like Kate/Violet's storylines were much more engaging.
Also, again, I understand that magical realism is just typically not for me, but I felt like the "empowering" moments for these women were not by their hand...like, ever. When these women had moments of strength and fought back (because all of them needed to, there wasn't a woman in this story who wasn't treated like actual dogshit by the men in their lives), they could ONLY do so with the help of magical realism - the birds, the bugs, etc. It felt much less like an inspiring, strong female character moment, and more like their mystical family lineage was saving them. Not the worst thing ever, but it was not empowering to me.
Additionally, I know that misogyny and abuse ran rampant, and always has in society. But for every single storyline, plot point, and character trait to center around physical/sexual/emotional abuse, misogyny, and male rage? It feels a little lazy to have all of these women's strengths simply stem from that.
The writing was OK, but I did feel like there were a ton of cliches, on-the-nose symbolism, and metaphors. Aspects of the story that were supposed to be deep or surprising fell completely flat....more