There’s some really great historical elements here with the Japanese occupation of China, the ideological battle between the Nationalists and CommunisThere’s some really great historical elements here with the Japanese occupation of China, the ideological battle between the Nationalists and Communists, and how these things spilled over into both Taiwan and the United States. There are interesting themes of acceptance and forgiveness, and it’s all wrapped around the questions of what storytelling is and who our stories are for.
There are two stories here: Monica’s happening in present day and her grandmother’s from when she was a girl. They’re both compelling.
I provably would’ve given this five stars if it hadn’t been an epistolary novel. Having perfect recall of conversations that happened earlier in the day let alone decades ago just isn’t a thing that happens and isn’t how people generally write journal entries. It kept taking me out of the story.
I liked this: the world-building was excellent, and the writing was good. The story propelled forward: I always wanted to pick it back up to find out I liked this: the world-building was excellent, and the writing was good. The story propelled forward: I always wanted to pick it back up to find out what would happen next.
Four rather than five stars because, while I found the characters compelling, I didn’t find them compelling together. I was rooting for them to solve problems together, but I wasn’t really rooting for them to be together.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster!...more
I’ve always been a fan of Murakami, though not all of his books have been home runs for me. His writing, especially when he leans into magical realismI’ve always been a fan of Murakami, though not all of his books have been home runs for me. His writing, especially when he leans into magical realism, resonates with me, but I haven’t loved his more absurdist books.
The City and Its Uncertain Walls really hit the mark for me. It's more introspective, with just the right amount of mystery to keep me intrigued the whole way through. The story begins with a nameless young couple, but it quickly becomes more than a love story.
The porous boundaries between reality and an imagined world blur, exploring themes of memory, loss, and truth.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoyed 1Q84. It has that same elements of mystery and surrealism, but it’s a bit more introspective and emotionally grounded.
From Lee Boudreaux, VP & Executive Editor, Doubleday: “Is The Husbands a rom-com about finding the perfect partner? Is it a quirky thought experiment From Lee Boudreaux, VP & Executive Editor, Doubleday: “Is The Husbands a rom-com about finding the perfect partner? Is it a quirky thought experiment about the paralysis caused by navigating endless options? Is it a cheeky critique of dating apps? Is it all of the above?”
I agree: it’s all of the above. And it was also fun and quick and super creative. Four rather than five stars because Lauren, our heroine, makes some completely bizarre, out-of-character, kind of horrific choices that really took me out of the story, but 95% of this was amazing.
Kelly Barnhill has a new fan—this was an excellent novella. It was dark and unsettling, made more unsettling with its subtle commentary about motherhoKelly Barnhill has a new fan—this was an excellent novella. It was dark and unsettling, made more unsettling with its subtle commentary about motherhood and relationships and parentification.
Our protagonist is a teenage girl living in a small town in a creepy near future. Before her dad passed away, he taught her to care for her mother and little brother, taking on all the practical responsibilities of the house so her mother could focus on her art. It’s six years later: she has been cooking, cleaning, managing the household’s money, managing her mother’s art business, and raising her much younger brother. Cracks are beginning to show. Then suddenly, a crane appears in their life, and their mother is taken with him. The relationship breaks their tenuous day-to-day existence.
Everyone has secrets they’re hiding. Zoey moves into the Dellawisp, a small apartment complex on Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina. Her neEveryone has secrets they’re hiding. Zoey moves into the Dellawisp, a small apartment complex on Mallow Island off the coast of South Carolina. Her neighbors all have their own stories that we learn over time.
This is a sweet book filled with magic. I liked the found family and the ghosts. I felt for the first, say, 80% that nothing happened, and I’m mostly okay with that. Then the end came very quickly, and I’m mostly okay with that too. Overall, I would’ve liked a little more even pacing, but I’d recommend this to folks looking for a wholesome, comforting read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press!...more
I saw this at a bookstore and assumed it was realistic contemporary fiction with a metaphorical title and said out loud to my husband: “I wish this weI saw this at a bookstore and assumed it was realistic contemporary fiction with a metaphorical title and said out loud to my husband: “I wish this were actually a book about women turning into dragons.” So I was *thrilled* to discover that I was wrong and it was!...more
Nora mysteriously takes off, leaving behind two teenagers, Zadie and Finn. Both girls have a secret: Zadie gets flashes of premonitions and Finn feelsNora mysteriously takes off, leaving behind two teenagers, Zadie and Finn. Both girls have a secret: Zadie gets flashes of premonitions and Finn feels “echoes” of other people’s memories. Years after Nora’s disappearance, her daughters set off on a journey to find her.
This is a story about family sprinkled with a healthy dose of magical realism, and it’s really well done! Zadie is full of secrets and distrust while Finn rushes headlong into adventure, and watching them grow closer over their adventure is heartwarming.
I found the first third the most engaging: it read a lot like a Seanan McGuire book. I did think it meandered in the middle and then rushed slightly at the end, but overall, this was a great book, and I’ll definitely read more from this author.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
I'm from Hawaii and my dad grew up in Hilo: Hilo is the only place we'd go on vacation when I was a young kid, and I have so many fond memories of it.I'm from Hawaii and my dad grew up in Hilo: Hilo is the only place we'd go on vacation when I was a young kid, and I have so many fond memories of it. This book was so comfortable and warm, and I'm excited to read more that Ryka Aoki has written. ...more
I thought this would be a quirky, fun light novel, but it was so (I think unintentionally?) depressing. I’ve been reading kind of a lot of cozy coffeeI thought this would be a quirky, fun light novel, but it was so (I think unintentionally?) depressing. I’ve been reading kind of a lot of cozy coffee shop speculative fiction and thought this would fit right in. It did not.
The underlying concept was interesting, and I cared about the characters, but there was no joy in it, not even a smidge, and that made it frustrating to read. To be clear: I neither need nor want my fiction to be all sunshine and rainbows, but there have to be some moments of joy. This was melancholy until tragedy and more melancholy until more tragedy....more
I picked it up because of the title and the magical realism. I wanted something fluffy, but this was a little too silly for me. It was very cute, and I picked it up because of the title and the magical realism. I wanted something fluffy, but this was a little too silly for me. It was very cute, and I liked all of Vanessa’s family dynamics, but I had a tough time with the writing.
That said! I’ve recommended this to a couple of friends because it’s easy and wholesome: it just wasn’t for me. ...more