Book Reviews (3)

 1. The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

This story follows two people, Annika and Jonathan, and I guess I'm a sucker for love stories where two people feel like they really belong together, like they are their best selves with the other person, because I'm pretty sure I read this book straight through. The chapters fluctuate back and forth inconsistently but its easy reading. Love stories where two people get together, then separate, and then get together again as wiser and stronger adults are kind of compelling and cute, like a modern day fairy tale. The title is sort of misleading because at least half the book is written from the girl's point of view but whatever. Any book that has a character with social anxiety or some kind of medical problem is also really cathartic. 

In a word: sweethearts 

2. The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

This book is about a very contagious sleeping sickness taking over a small American town and with the world in corona-mode right now, I think the timing of this book is great. The story also is interesting, as are the characters. It's a quick and very interesting read, and very relatable especially in the current climate. I like to think we're nearing the end of the book where the sickness mysteriously disappears on its own accord. I really liked the writing. It creates the right sort of tensiony atmosphere that fits well with this theme. And I love a touch of magic realism. 

In a word: contagious

3. The Farm by Joanne Ramos

This book is about a surrogacy program, though its actually about much more than that. It explores the financial imbalance in America, mainly between Philippinos and whites, and how a woman in certain circumstances makes decisions that determine, well, life. It was weird, I've never really thought about this topic, and it even ended with the questionable surrogacy program continuing, which I didn't expect. Is this a picture of the near future? Uncomfortable, but interesting.  

In a word: payment 

4. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This book is based on boys reform schools in US from back in the day. I was expecting scandalous things, but instead the whole whipping and death as punishment just felt sad and heavy. It was eye opening I suppose. It had a surprising twist. And, its very well written. 

In a word: historic

5. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I did not know this was going to be a dystopian novel, as silly as that sounds. So I had to google what was happening. The writing is very pretty but the novel becomes so boring so often, I read most of the plot on Wikipedia and as much as I could of the actual book. The sex is not sexual and that's part of the idea but its so unfortunate, the total lack of scandalous things. This novel deals with questions about gender roles and identity that don't feel relevant in my life at all. What kind of world disregards love? Not my cup of tea.  

In a word: tedious

6. Women Talking by Miriam Toews

This book was incredible, and its even crazier that its based on something that actually happened. The women come across as incredible strong and witty and close. The discourse on religion and doing the right thing and our duty to God and to our husbands and our children, runs close to my heart. Not that I know anything about rape, but the reasoning of it, figuring out the right thing to do, I found it very interesting. There's a splash of love as well, and women who are tough as hell and yet tolerate abuse from their husbands is weird but real. This is just such an interesting read, and I wish it didn't end where it did, I want to know what happens next. The frame is also engaging. 

In a word: discussion

7. Normal People by Sally Rooney

I think I've written about this book already but I actually read it again, I was so into it. It's a love story, a couple comes together, breaks up, comes together again, and meantime various emotional growth takes place and their lives change and so on. The thing about this book is the dominant-submissive stuff, and it's deep, it's not simple, its not Fifty Shades. In a way, both the guy and the girl find redemption and peace and it's lovely. 

In a word: love

8. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini

Here's a sci-fi fantasy book in a list of 'real life' books but this was an absorbing read, and it had way more drama than I expected. There wasn't a ton of sci-fi, there was so much human-ness to it, that it fits well in this list, despite aliens and outer space and unidentified foreign objects. There's great characters, and lots of adventure and even love, and its easy to follow. It's a long novel, but I love getting the full story, details and all.  

In a word: fun

9. You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

This is a young adult novel, set in a high school, about prom. Its good, well written, easy reading. Lots of books have lesbians these days and this is one of them. And our main character sticks it to the man. 

In a word: high-school

10. Orange World and Other Stories by Karen Russell

This is an insane collection of short stories, each weirder than the last, and damn. Way to mess with the world. The writing also is excellent, and the settings are unique. This book is seriously worth reading. It's a little heavy, meaning it's not easy, but every story is something to talk about. Magic-realism-horror-comedy? Loved it. 

In a word: weird

11. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The writing is vibrant, of course, since it is Maya Angelou. I'm glad the man is caught in the end. And wow Maya Angelou is brave. 

In a word: autobiography

Book Reviews (2)

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I don't know anything about rock n' roll but I loved reading this quick little book. It's so honest. I could really imagine these people in my head, and the way the story is told, through conversation, switching points of view, getting all the different points of view, is brilliant. It's so funny at times. Loved it. The frame is so good I thought this was a real band!

In a word: dope

Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
I tried getting into this book a few times but I just couldn't. It's about an old, married couple going to a funeral. On their trip you start seeing the problems they're having in their marriage. It's such a sad beginning. I felt tired reading the first few pages. I'm not going to go back to this book.

In a word: death

Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
This was a weird book. I was getting confused about what was happening while reading it, so I Googled it, and it turns out this is a course book! People study it. There were study notes. I had no idea. I read the summary on Google, and then went back to the book and started reading it from the middle (It's a slow book). I didn't get far. It's a fairytale. Fairytales are weird. More so when you're not expecting them and they're disguised as grown up books.

In a word: weird 

Book Reviews (1)

Golden Child by Claire Adam
I absolutely loved this book. It broke my heart. This novel is about twins, one bright, the other autistic (but no one in the novel knows this, they describe him as slightly retarded). It's set in Trinidad and I loved the bits of Indian-ness that come up as a result. This novel follows a family, relatives and so on, and builds up to a scary-difficult choice. Its rare to see money so openly in a story, I mean, the story hinges on money in a way that I haven't ever read in fiction, and its so real, the whole money issue. I can't recommend this book enough.

In a word: powerful


City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Really good, entertaining read. This novel isn't written like high art but I couldn't stop reading it. The frame is interesting, although sort of not that convincing because who would write such a long and detailed personal letter? But the story is great. This book is about a girl's life; she moves from a small town to New York and she's good at sewing. The story mainly concerns women and their lives so the title seems appropriate, and the book tries to be feminist so that's something.

In a word: fun


Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie
I didn't like this book. Too much nonsense. It's all How does he/she think of me. Its all How do I want to portray myself. How am I defined, by county, by interests. Its so full of shit. The whole American-London thing is meh. I started it twice and left it because honestly, I couldn't give a damn. Given the title, I was expecting something a lot more exotic. This book is about two couples, American/London mixes and their stupid moaning and whining.

In a word: whiny


As Long As We Both Shall Live by JoAnn Chaney
Totally gripping. I couldn't stop reading this book, literally. It's a crime fiction novel about a couple. It starts off with Husbands, you can't get away with murdering your wife. heheh. And then it turns out the wife is insane, and she's in control, and they're both evil so you don't feel bad for anyone. Its crazy how this story unfolds and the good guy changes half-way. It has a nice feminist finishing with a line about gender and what we expect. I loved it. What a thrill, for a book with such a long and clunky title. To think that I could relate to characters that were crazy murderers...

In a word: thrilling


American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
This was a really good book, and one of the good things about it was that it was interesting without being ridiculously addictive. It is about an FBI agent, sexism within the force, and a mission she goes on where she falls in love with the President of Burkina Faso, who she's supposed to kill. It's a bit about politics too. Brilliantly writen, it's framed as a letter to her kids in case she dies in pursuit of someone trying to kill her.

I love entering this agents mind, its so direct, like a cop, and a woman! Her life is about her finding her identity as an American even though she's black, from Trinidad, and works in the FBI which is full of sexism and racism. Super interesting. Sad that this stigma against female officers, especially officers of colour actually exists.

In a word: spy


The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields (1993)
This book is old but gold. It is very well-written. I only skipped some of it, while reading. It's long. The characters are very well portrayed, I especially liked the women, the variety of people across time and space, and how their lives unfold. Sometimes things just happen, and its somehow comforting to come across a book that shows this.

In a word: real


Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
I could only read this book in bits and pieces. This book doesn't have the satisfaction of giving you answers but there are lots of heavy things to think about. Gay takes media seriously, while I don't. But media does have an affect, especially on children's perceptions, especially in this day and age when kids spend a lot of time with books and movies. So it felt good to be made a bit more aware of where feminism is at. And yes, I am a feminist, especially after reading this book. I'll lump myself in and call myself a bad feminist. Or worse, an okay feminist.

In a word: woke


I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron
A book about the experiences of an old, rich Jewish playwright in New York. I couldn't relate, but it started off quite funny, and I somehow read the entire thing.

In a word: gross