Simply put, I devoured this book. It was just what I needed: a fun, page-turning story built around an engaging premise with both heart and humor. A mSimply put, I devoured this book. It was just what I needed: a fun, page-turning story built around an engaging premise with both heart and humor. A mix of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (which I loved!) The Midnight Library (which wasn't my favorite). This one falls squarely in the "solid read I can recommend to a wide audience" and "vacation read with a bit more heft to it" camps.
Lauren comes home from her friend's hen do (that's a bachelorette party, for us Americans) to find...she has a husband? She doesn't remember him, or being married for that matter. And soon she discovers he came from her attic. Then, when he returns to the attic, another husband replaces him. With each new husband she swaps out, her life looks slightly different, and thus she is off on a journey of self-discovery and determining what is it exactly that makes a spouse the 'right' one? What are you willing to look past and what are deal-breakers that have Lauren sending the husband back into the attic?
Obviously the premise is clever and so fun to see how it plays out. There are twists and turns, hilarious moments and suspenseful scenes that made this an incredibly engaging read. I got totally lost in the story while reading it and flew through it.
Plus, with so many new and differing experiences, Lauren examines many aspects of life (not just married life) that are relatable to a lot of people. What do we truly want out of life? Is that something we can get from another person? If not, are we willing to sacrifice our personal ambitions for romantic love? Is there such a thing as a soulmate, 'the one,' Mr. Right? Or is marriage about making it work with the person you've chosen to stick it out with?
Gramazio does a great job for a debut novelist. It's heartfelt, hilarious and a memorable story that I would highly recommend!...more
Set against the backdrop of the construction of the Panama Canal beginning in 1907, The Great Divide follows a diverse set of characters all seeking tSet against the backdrop of the construction of the Panama Canal beginning in 1907, The Great Divide follows a diverse set of characters all seeking their own fortune in some capacity.
Ada Bunting is a stowaway on a mail ship from Barbados who has come to Panama for a job to send money back for her sick sister, Millicent.
Omar is a Panamanian youth who rebels against his fisherman father, Francisco, and helps in the construction of the canal that his father sees as marring the face of their homeland.
John Oswald, a scientist, has come with his wife, Marian, from the U.S. to help eliminate malaria.
These, along with many other side characters—some who are only introduced in a chapter or two—fill up the pages of this beautiful and compelling narrative.
As you can probably tell, it's a very character-driven work of fiction. I've seen complaints from other reviews that there is no plot, and that is true to some extent. But I didn't mind because the characters felt so richly imagined and I was invested in their individual journeys that that felt enough like a plot to keep me turning the pages.
You can also tell the author did a lot of research for this novel; the settings felt richly imagined (pulled, likely, from her own childhood experiences visiting extended family in Panama) and the historical setting was informational but never bogged down in facts. The time period only serves to give context for the characters she has created, never to be the sole focus of the story.
I simply enjoyed spending time in this world and with these characters. Henriquez is adept at introducing you to a lot of characters with ease; I never found it laborious to keep track of who was who or lose focus as we switched perspectives.
This is a book I can comfortably recommend to a lot of people and one that will be on my mind for quite some time!...more
In the vein of Tommy Orange's There, There and Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing. A beautifully rendered collection of stories that weave together the life of oIn the vein of Tommy Orange's There, There and Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing. A beautifully rendered collection of stories that weave together the life of one man of Native American & Mexican descent, told through the perspectives of his relatives.
Each chapter, the whole book being told over the span of about 35 years, has a distinct voice told through a new character each time. Along the way we discover more and more about our main character, Ever, and his family tree.
Hokeah has an incredible ability to bring you immediately into a new point of view while still contributing to the larger story with each passing page.
I found, of course, that as these effectively function as 12 short stories, some were more interesting than others; but regardless, all have a meaningful contribution to the collection and are expertly told.
A wonderful blend of science, history and memoir. The audiobook was incredible (and only 5 hours!). Cannot recommend this one enough, to pretty much aA wonderful blend of science, history and memoir. The audiobook was incredible (and only 5 hours!). Cannot recommend this one enough, to pretty much any and all readers! ...more
This was so good I read it twice in a row. It's also quite short, at only 110 pages and told in about 40 or so short chapters, vignettes of a life.
TheThis was so good I read it twice in a row. It's also quite short, at only 110 pages and told in about 40 or so short chapters, vignettes of a life.
The story follows Esparanza, a 12-year-old Chicana girl growing up in the Hispanic quarter of Chicago. Her observations, her friendships, her family life, her dreams of something bigger than herself: these things make up the short novel in eloquent, poetic language.
Each chapter is truly a prose poem. Every word is so deliberately chosen.
Cisneros describes her characters and their surroundings with such precision. From feet "fat and doughy like thick tamales" to three elderly sisters who "smelled like Kleenex or the inside of a satin handbag," she is vivid and succinct in her imagery.
The author also explores the plight of a young woman in mid-20th century America, especially in an environment that may not foster success as easily as others. Esparanza dreams of a home of her own, of possessing a space where she can create, liberating herself from her upbringing. But by the novel's end she's also understood her place on Mango Street, the inextricable hold that her neighborhood has on her life.
It's a simply told but complexly rendered story about home, how it may look different from person to person, but also in the rearview mirror. It's tender and touching and filled with so much love....more
Lots to unpack here! Definitely read the short story and then go back and read Zadie Smith's introduction. I might even re-read the short story portioLots to unpack here! Definitely read the short story and then go back and read Zadie Smith's introduction. I might even re-read the short story portion after having read Smith's commentary! She is very insightful.
I love what Morrison is doing here. A sort of experiment where the reader never knows the racial identity of either of the characters—but we do know one is black and one is white.
Twyla and Roberta lived together for a short while when they were 8 years old in a children's home—Twyla, because her mother 'danced all night' and Roberta, because her mother was sick. Eventually they part ways, but over the years they run into each other again and again, and we see these vignettes in their life and how they've grown and changed, but also how they interact on a social and political level. Their shared history, however, is something they cannot reject, as much as they may want to reject the labels, and the effects of those labels, that are put on them by society.
It's easy to want to parse out which character is black and which is white, and I suspect readers may be very split based on their own biases and life experiences. But Morrison doesn't want you to waste your time trying to decipher the 'puzzle' but instead observe, consider, re-consider, and interrogate your own perceptions.
I loved what Zadie Smith said about a shared history must be acknowledged before it can be examined. How can we move forward if we don't see eye to eye on where we've been? This is just one of the many themes in this excellent, clever, and arresting short story from Morrison....more
A must read book! This will absolutely be my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for an engaging, thought-provoking, informational non-fiction booA must read book! This will absolutely be my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for an engaging, thought-provoking, informational non-fiction book.
Clint Smith takes us through various institutions, memorials, and sites that have some relation either to US history or the history of slavery in this country. From Monticello to the Blanford Cemetry, to Angola Prison and New York City, across the Atlantic to Goree Island and the infamous 'Door of No Return.'
What I loved about this book is its not only a look at a nation's history but a personal reflection from the author. At each location he speaks to and interviews various people, whether they are tour guides, employees or other guests present at the time. He inserts himself into the narrative in a way that felt beneficial to what he is trying to say with this book. Rather than making it about himself, he simply shows that history does indeed affect the individual; that we cannot ignore history or 'forget' it simply because its upsetting or inconvenient, because the effects of history are still felt today.
Clint Smith details the history of these places concisely but with enough context to make his points clear. It's part memoir, part history, part sociological examination. Genre-wise, it's quite unlike anything I've read before.
I highlighted a million passages in this book. I will share a few but would encourage everyone to pick up a copy of this book for themselves and discover a new way to look at US history, particularly as it relates to the enslavement of millions of people. Truly a one-of-a-kind, powerful read!
"But in order for our country to collectively move forward, it is not enough to have a patchwork of places that are honest about this history while being surrounded by other spaces that undermine it. It must be a collective endeavor to learn and confront the story of slavery and how it has shaped the world we live in today."
"'History is written by the perpetrators,' he said. And his goal is to be a part of writing something that challenges that."
"In the nineteenth century, Black people lived in fear that at any moment a slave catcher could snatch them or their children up, regardless of status or social position. In the twenty-first century, Black people live in fear that at any moment police will throw them against a wall, or worse, regardless of whether there is any pretense of suspicion other than the color of their skin."
"What would it take—what does it take—for you to confront a false history even if it means shattering the stories you have been told throughout your life? Even if it means having to fundamentally reexamine who you are and who your family has been? Just because something is difficult to accept doesn’t mean you should refuse to accept it. Just because someone tells you a story doesn’t make that story true."...more
An eerie, compulsive read from thriller master Iain Reid! As with his first two novels, the latest tale from Reid makes you uneasy. It’s not explicitlAn eerie, compulsive read from thriller master Iain Reid! As with his first two novels, the latest tale from Reid makes you uneasy. It’s not explicitly scary but it is unsettling and that tension builds. But this one is his most emotional and personal novel, focusing more on questions many people have including, “What does it mean to age?” and “What does it truly mean to live a fulfilling life?”
I loved this reading experience, but I imagine this would be such a good audiobook too. Maybe someday I’ll revisit it in that format! Highly recommend to my literary fiction friends who want to dip their toe in horror/thrillers.
This will be one of my go-to recommendations for people looking for quick, engaging reads to pull them out of a slump or who are looking to get into reading....more
Michelle Zauner writes so beautifully about her family and food and how these things are so intimately connected and tied to our identity. She especiaMichelle Zauner writes so beautifully about her family and food and how these things are so intimately connected and tied to our identity. She especially focuses on her relationship with her mother via the Korean food she grew up eating and shopping for at H Mart. Sadly, her mother passed away from cancer, and Zauner chronicles the difficult journey of a daughter coping with the process of losing her mother. So if you have lost or come close to losing a loved one, especially a parent, this book, at times, may be hard to read. But the reward is well worth it.
I was moved by Zauner's narration (the audiobook is great), and though my experiences are far from hers, there was still a relatability embedded in the narrative.
She writes so tenderly and with such affection for her mother and Korean culture, yet at the same time is grappling with what it means to be half-white and in a very real way, having grown up in the US, at a slight remove from her Korean side.
I see why so many people are raving about this book. It's a must-read for memoir fans and readers who like food-based writing. Elegiac, touching and nostalgic, Crying in H Mart will rip out your heart and feed it right back to you with beautiful prose, sepia-tinted memories, and a balance of sadness and optimism we all inevitably face when coping with loss....more
Reading this reminded me a lot of my first time reading Never Let Me Go in 2013. I inhaled that book. [4.5 stars]
Longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize
Reading this reminded me a lot of my first time reading Never Let Me Go in 2013. I inhaled that book. I was so compelled by the world Ishiguro created and how he slowly doled out information. Klara and the Sun is no exception.
This novel has a quiet, almost nostalgic atmosphere that gently guides the reader into a simulacrum of our world, but with something slightly off. That dissonance kept me turning the pages wanting to not only find out more about the characters' environment but about the characters themselves.
Klara, especially, as an AI narrator felt so human. But what even does it mean to be human? This is probably Ishiguro's most pressing question at the heart of both of these novels.
I think I'll need time to continue pondering my feelings about this book and what I made of the plot itself. It seems to me that it's a story that will only impact me more the longer I sit with it, so for that I feel hasty in writing a review immediately upon finishing it. But nonetheless I wanted to share that I really loved this book and understand the hype. For me, it was engaging, heart-breaking, intriguing, and so many other adjectives. I can definitely imagine myself returning to it again in the future....more
What a strangely fascinating read. Piranesi is a labyrinthine tale of memories and minotaur statues. It's the story of a man and an Other, of a house What a strangely fascinating read. Piranesi is a labyrinthine tale of memories and minotaur statues. It's the story of a man and an Other, of a house filled with the sea, and a mystery that's answer will undo everything we know about the world—or at least this one. Susanna Clarke has created a compelling narrative with fantastic writing and a world all its own....more
The comparisons to Black Mirror are apt. This is a story about a man and the choices he has to make. But it's much more than that. I listened to the aThe comparisons to Black Mirror are apt. This is a story about a man and the choices he has to make. But it's much more than that. I listened to the audiobook in one sitting—would highly recommend it! A fun, twisted little novel that will keep you hooked from the start....more
Went to find myself, she wrote. I’m safe. Don’t worry about me. The language bothered Stella most of all. You didn’t just find a self out there wai
Went to find myself, she wrote. I’m safe. Don’t worry about me. The language bothered Stella most of all. You didn’t just find a self out there waiting—you had to make one. You had to create who you wanted to be.
Brit Bennett has created something so beautiful and messy in this novel. We follow twin sisters, Desiree and Stella, from their small town of Mallard, Louisiana. It's a town of light-skinned black people, where lightness is revered and darkness is vilified. As they grow up and grow apart, the sisters take different paths—one marrying a dark-skinned man, the other marrying a white man and spending the remainder of her life passing as a white woman.
The repercussions of their decisions will reverberate into the generations following them, particularly their respective daughters, Jude and Kennedy.
What I loved so much about this story was how vivid the characters were. I'll admit the first few chapters were a bit slow-going, but once you get accustomed to the cast of characters and see the various perspectives, you won't want to put this book down. You will have to keep reading to learn more about why characters make certain decisions, and the answers aren't always, if ever, clear-cut.
People lived in bodies that were largely unknowable. Some things you could never learn about yourself—some things nobody could learn about you until after you died.
I debated giving this book 4.5 or 5 stars, but ultimately my enjoyment of this reading experience mixed with how powerfully told this story is bumped it up to a 5 star read for me. Needless to say, I'd highly recommend this book....more
I literally gasped at one of the big moments near the end (if you've read it, you probably know the one). Any book that can make me get so invested—evI literally gasped at one of the big moments near the end (if you've read it, you probably know the one). Any book that can make me get so invested—even at times not even realizing I was that invested—deserves 5 stars.
There is so much to unpack in this novel, it would make a great book club read. Whether you are reading through the lens of gender, race, what generation you are part of, or some other POV, Reid has managed to pack a lot into a relatively short novel without it ever feeling cluttered or forced.
A wild ride of a debut. Reid is definitely one to watch....more
Everything about this book amazed me. I will not stop thinking about this book for a very, very long time. I don't think I can even do this proper jusEverything about this book amazed me. I will not stop thinking about this book for a very, very long time. I don't think I can even do this proper justice in a review other than telling everyone to go out and READ THIS BOOK! Easiest 5 stars ever. Loved it....more
This book was probably the most difficult one to read of all of Backman's books for me. It deals with rape, so if that's not something you want in youThis book was probably the most difficult one to read of all of Backman's books for me. It deals with rape, so if that's not something you want in your literature, I would suggest avoiding this one because it deals very heavily with the subject. That being said, it handles the topic really well, as frustratingly accurate as it can be at times. My only criticism of the book is that it felt a bit long; it's mostly the reader watching events unfold along with the lives of these characters, but I really enjoyed nearly all of the characters in this book so I was ok with the length in the end. Backman is definitely one of my go-to authors and I'll read anything he writes. It's got a lot of heart, a good message, and manages to make you laugh and cry, sometimes in the span of a single page. ...more
I can't NOT give this book 5 stars. There's truly nothing I didn't like about it. It's one of those special books that completely captured my attentioI can't NOT give this book 5 stars. There's truly nothing I didn't like about it. It's one of those special books that completely captured my attention—while I was reading it, I was lost in the characters' lives. And that's one of the things that makes this book soooo good: the characters. Moriarty is a master at crafting vivid characters from the first page. I felt like with each introduction of a new character, I had a grasp on their personality pretty quickly. But they weren't boiled down to that single moment of characterization; they were complex, flawed people who you could root for and empathize with. On top of that was a well-crafted, engaging and suspenseful plot that kept you turning the pages. I was never bored. And her writing style was substantial and had a lot to say about real issues. This book isn't afraid to go to some dark places, but it brings with it a bit of comedy and sometimes even a little sappiness that satisfies your appetite for a little bit of everything in one book. It's definitely a book that compelled me to read on, and also to want to read more from this author...and I'm sure it'll be one that stays in my mind for a long time....more
An absolutely stunning debut; one of the best I've read. Yaa Gyasi captures so many stories and handles them beautifully. We need more novels like thiAn absolutely stunning debut; one of the best I've read. Yaa Gyasi captures so many stories and handles them beautifully. We need more novels like this. And it's only her first! I can't wait to see what she does next....more