This was a rather charming book and the Jenny Agutter narration was wonderful, but at the end of the day I just got bored and there's infinitDNF @ 77%
This was a rather charming book and the Jenny Agutter narration was wonderful, but at the end of the day I just got bored and there's infinite things I would rather be reading and I only picked this up in the first place because it was leaving the Audible Included Library. ...more
A true classic of a well written spooky ghost story and the most fun I've had with Dickens outside of A Christmas Carol. A true classic of a well written spooky ghost story and the most fun I've had with Dickens outside of A Christmas Carol. ...more
I absolutely adored this charming, ridiculous, phenomenally Scottish, Queer, and feminist novel. I gobbled it up in CN. Homophobia, Sexual Harassment
I absolutely adored this charming, ridiculous, phenomenally Scottish, Queer, and feminist novel. I gobbled it up in less than a day.
I have to say I was a bit wary of this series, after being rather disappointed with Atwood's Peneolpiad, which didn't quite stick the feminism or landing, but this was divine!
Having only read Autumn before, I'm still new to Smith, but I absolutely love her and the contemporary, immensely readable and human, myth and folk tale she has woven into this narrative.
I didn't know much of the original myth and I genuinely enjoyed just how much of an original story this was. It just felt so magical and charming, while having genuine heart and support for LGBTQIA+ folx and a hearty disdain for the nightmares of corporations and capitalism. What's not to love?
A hearty thank you to my major review crush, S., for this recommendation!...more
CN. Cancer, Deep Water, Homophobia and Transphobia (in one chapter from the perspective of a villain), Insects (Ants), Insects inside a Body.
This booCN. Cancer, Deep Water, Homophobia and Transphobia (in one chapter from the perspective of a villain), Insects (Ants), Insects inside a Body.
This book!
What an unexpected shock of a completely random book from a charity shop!
The premise of the book is telling stories using various philosophical thought experiments, with each experiment being outlined at the beginning of each chapter/ story, that coke together to create one powerful novel narrative and various metanarratives that run alongside.
That's an awesome idea, but definitely one that needs a certain kind of handling to be successful. Personally, I think Ward did an exquisite job and has created something that is instantly humble and inviting and human that grows and expands and explores the human condition and our universe in ways that are bold, audacious, and exciting!
I will say that this book is wild and you have to be willing to go with it and do some of that wonderful accepting silly and seriousness at the same time, or perhaps speculative and out there might be more accurate than silly. I think some readerrs may not feel the same way I did about the ant motif, but I genuinely adored it.
I also think this could be a really interesting way to introduce science fiction to someone who doesn't normally read it.
I genuinely laughed, got choked up, felt gross, was left open-mouthed, and excited and so much more.
I don't know if this is the 'best' book I've read this year, but it is easily one of my favourites and the one that has shocked me the most by coming out of nowhere and blowing me away, which is very similar to how I felt about Chorus of Mushrooms by Hiromi Goto. Hierarchies are inherently gross, so who cares? This is a beautiful book and I truly cherish it dearly.
I absolutely need to read more Sophie Ward!...more
CN. Animal Abuse/ Torture/ Death (Dog), Marital Abuse, Sexual Assault, Familial Abuse, Force Feeding, Trauma, Mental Health Facility
I feel absolutelyCN. Animal Abuse/ Torture/ Death (Dog), Marital Abuse, Sexual Assault, Familial Abuse, Force Feeding, Trauma, Mental Health Facility
I feel absolutely exhausted after reading this exquisitely tense and spartan novel.
It feels like the biggest small book I've ever read. I've definitely not read anything like it before.
From the off it had me by the throat in a deathlike vice grip.
Divided into there's parts, The Vegetarian is a bleak and haunting affair that (as far as I can understand it) blends reality, trauma, and obsession to create a surreal nightmare.
As someone with C-PTSD, this hit different.
This one is going to stay with me.
*** Minor Spoilers Below as I try to get my thoughts together***
At its core it seems to be a story about 'invisible' and 'forgotten' pain and trauma experienced by Yeong-hye as a child, compounded by the disregard her husband has for her, exemplified by the fact that, despite being the subject of the book she is only named on page 26. This potential Post Traumatic Stress Disorder presents itself in a haunting dream that casts a pall over Yeong-hye's life and drives her to become vegetarian. Rather than engage with her on any human level, everyone around her chooses to continue to abuse her through ignorance, neglect, violence, infatuation, fetishisation, and ultimately incarceration.
There's no care or concern for Yeong-hye as a person and why she is the way she is. Everyone simply wants her to behave 'normally' and they just want to force that change or take advantage of her.
A truly tragic story with a last rustling of bloody leaves....more
CN: Spiders, Rats, Snakes (Full on swarms and attacks), Moths, Bees
This is absolutely bonkers and not PKD's finest outing, what with their being a coCN: Spiders, Rats, Snakes (Full on swarms and attacks), Moths, Bees
This is absolutely bonkers and not PKD's finest outing, what with their being a couple of weird racial terms, some unfortunate imagery, and a too much fixation on the body-parts of an ostensibly thirteen year old girl...
However, it is a truly fascinating and immensely readable story I devoured in one day.
Originally a short story publisjed on Satellite Science Fiction Magazine in 1956 and then released as a short novel in 1957, The Cosmic Puppets is a story about a guy going back to his hometown and realising that everything is different and feels wrong. You'll never guess why...
I genuinely don't want to spoil anything, but the sheer scale, biomass, and clay involved are staggering.
I really went back and forth on what to give this with its faults and phenomenally bizarre concepts, but I have settled on a very low four with an acknowledgement that the issues I had with it aren't OK ever, but I am taking in the context of this novel with all it's faults, ideas, and concepts being published in the 1950s.
Edit:
Coming back to know this down to a decent three because the misogyny and stuff stayed with me.
I also can't believe I forgot to mention that it literally ends with a joke that the Naked Gun movies used when Frank is talking about his divorce lmfao....more
This is such a strange combination of cozy anti-billionaire more power to a determined, sweet, old lady fighting the power andI absolutely loved this!
This is such a strange combination of cozy anti-billionaire more power to a determined, sweet, old lady fighting the power and nightmarish and disgusting body horror and monstrous violence.
Never have a read something so cozy that also contains sexual violence, elder abuse, and many instances of the word "cunt".
This was just immensely readable and entertaining. ...more
I have been subscribed to Clarkesworld for forever and I have only ever actually read a few stories on there, all of which have been phenomenal, incluI have been subscribed to Clarkesworld for forever and I have only ever actually read a few stories on there, all of which have been phenomenal, including what is almost certainly my favourite sci-fi and short story of all time [Helicopter Story] by Isabel Fall, and this is no exception! What it is is a reminder to check out more new stories and try to get out of the AuDHD, gamified, subconscious second-guessing about whether or not a story may or may not have an entry on here, as if that means anything!
In a world where algorithms and things we call 'AI' that have phenomenal potential to do good, but are almost entirely used for nefarious, lazy, ugly, and exploitative capitalistic; anti-human, pro-profit, ends, a story like this is a tough sell, but the writing is so charming and the narrative is so elegantly told that I absolutely loved it and absolutely need to read more of this intriguing author.
I feel like broken record atm, but I've genuinely never read anything like it and I loved it. I feel like it has changed or unlocked soCN. Child Abuse
I feel like broken record atm, but I've genuinely never read anything like it and I loved it. I feel like it has changed or unlocked something in me as a reader, especially one with ADHD, to appreciate a different kind of novel. Really hard to put my finger on it, but there was just something magical about how everything and nothing it all was.
I am going to need some time to digest and process this, but I absolutely adored it. ...more
An ex-con, an ex-lepper, and a lonely schoolgirl walk into a confectionery...
This was a truly wholesome and unexpected treat!
A tale of bittersweetnessAn ex-con, an ex-lepper, and a lonely schoolgirl walk into a confectionery...
This was a truly wholesome and unexpected treat!
A tale of bittersweetness that brings genuine heart, humanity, and suffering to an ultimately gloriously cozy tale.
There's just something truly special about the way this story promotes understanding and empathy for those who feel and have been thrown away by society.
I don't always get on with cozy, but this was sublime....more
I'm just going to be honest. I didn't get it and I didn't like it.
I'm not squicked out by the bodily fluid details, but they don't do anything for meI'm just going to be honest. I didn't get it and I didn't like it.
I'm not squicked out by the bodily fluid details, but they don't do anything for me either. I genuinely thought it was going to build up some actual fetish and water sports stuff, which might have actually made more sense to me.
I wonder how much of lyrical nature of the metaphor and imagery is lost in translation as I'm finding it a bit...I'm not sure how to express it, but a bit blatant and spelled out.
If it wasn't for the fact that some of the writing is interesting and I know this is very much a me problem, I would have given this a two.
Honestly, I love that this really means something to some. It's just not for me.
Hell of a way to be introduced to a new author, but I am so happy that I caught a random recommendation and then came across a collection in a charityHell of a way to be introduced to a new author, but I am so happy that I caught a random recommendation and then came across a collection in a charity shop the next day!
I truly don't know how to respond to this, but I absolutely loved it.
Such a bizarre, but brilliant approach to language and storytelling that feels like it's simultaneously drawing you in and keeping you at arm's length, which is gloriously disorientating and makes the end seemingly inevitable end remain a question and still have a horrifying impact.
A blistering and beautiful epic narrative poem aboutSealy Challenge Day 9: Nature Poem by Tommy Pico
My first borrow from the Queer Liberation Library
A blistering and beautiful epic narrative poem about being a Queer Native American and having a complicated relationship to nature poems, and so much more.
This was an one of five incredibly kind and generous additional poetry books an eBay seller added to my package as I had bought a bunch of things fromThis was an one of five incredibly kind and generous additional poetry books an eBay seller added to my package as I had bought a bunch of things from them. Read as part of the Sealy Challenge.
I actually dozed off on the couch reading this last night, whixh was actually lovely and not a negative reflection on the writing at all.
I definitely enjoyed this acerbic send up of both the classics and the classic forms. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I were more familiar with the classics and those being aped and roasted, but this was definitely a fun read.
The title poem being the last in the book and being purely about the title is very funny....more
Another random charity shop find and read for the Sealy Challenge, but, hooley dooley, did I enjoy this so much more than the last one!
This is a phenoAnother random charity shop find and read for the Sealy Challenge, but, hooley dooley, did I enjoy this so much more than the last one!
This is a phenomenal collection that marries a love of poetry and natural science through a focus on Darwin's travels and work, as well as Swain's own passion, experience, and studies.
I absolutely loved the concept, though I will admit to being somewhat trepidatious as to how well Swain was going to pull this off, but I am happy to report that I found this to be an absolute triumph; beautiful poetry covering all manner of natural science, various creatures (with a focus on the aquatic), elements of Darwin's work and journeys, and Swain's personal experience.
The scientific mind compliments the poet's heart, enabling Swain to render down technical details and hone in on specifics with exacting and emotive language without falling prey to suffocating meaning on sterile slides.
I felt genuine joy and wonder reading this gorgeous collection!...more
CN. Body Horror, Gore, Worms/ Snakes/ Eels, Drug Overdose, Domestic Abuse/ Abusive Father
This was a random pickup from a display at my local library oCN. Body Horror, Gore, Worms/ Snakes/ Eels, Drug Overdose, Domestic Abuse/ Abusive Father
This was a random pickup from a display at my local library on a whim. I pretty much read this whole thing at the beach today.
I don't really have much to say about this beyond really enjoying it as pulpy eldritch horror that is kinda The Mist on a boat with a little Annihilation thrown in.
Nothing too deep (beyond the ocean), but a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner!...more