Fascinating world-building and imagination. I would recommend listening to the audiobook. Not the smoothest and most immersive narrative and dialogue,Fascinating world-building and imagination. I would recommend listening to the audiobook. Not the smoothest and most immersive narrative and dialogue, but I felt for characters and really wanted them to succeed....more
There's so much more to this book than I expected! There's questions of Punjabi culture, feminism and a whole background mystery, in additional to theThere's so much more to this book than I expected! There's questions of Punjabi culture, feminism and a whole background mystery, in additional to the titular erotic stories...more
Not a fairy-tale retelling per se, but has that flavour, about a town myth used to scare children...that may or may not be true. It took a little bit Not a fairy-tale retelling per se, but has that flavour, about a town myth used to scare children...that may or may not be true. It took a little bit for me to get invested but once I did I absolutely wanted to see it through to the end. Has a similar vibe to The Ocean at the End of the Lane or parts of Uprooted....more
A very enjoyable prequel book to the Phantom Menace that focuses on how Queen Amidala and her handmaidens came together, and worked to protect her andA very enjoyable prequel book to the Phantom Menace that focuses on how Queen Amidala and her handmaidens came together, and worked to protect her and Naboo. There were even some Star Wars sound effects incorporated into the audiobook....more
This was a good road trip audiobook, but the main character is soooo determined to be independent that it was a bit difficult to get into. I don't thiThis was a good road trip audiobook, but the main character is soooo determined to be independent that it was a bit difficult to get into. I don't think the Harry Potter comparison was accurate. This is much more of a horror obstacle course that happens to be a school....more
A short story collection with a cast of clear, strong characters and grounded narratives. I liked the stories I've gotten through so far, but still neA short story collection with a cast of clear, strong characters and grounded narratives. I liked the stories I've gotten through so far, but still need to finish it....more
A rather pessimistic collection of connecting narratives about the inhabitants of a remote part of Russia, after a couple girls go missing. On a senteA rather pessimistic collection of connecting narratives about the inhabitants of a remote part of Russia, after a couple girls go missing. On a sentence by sentance basis, the writing was well done....more
This is a difficult books to read and review. First, it is an important book, regardless of its readability. It delves into the authors experience of This is a difficult books to read and review. First, it is an important book, regardless of its readability. It delves into the authors experience of incarceration, after trying to reach Australia as a refugee. What I was expecting going in was a more journalistic style account of this story. Instead, each chapter of the book tends to focus on an aspect of the prison, whether that's the toilets, the food lines the telephones, and how the rules surrounding all of them was used to control the prisoners and dehumanize them. For that reason though, the text itself is hard to read. It's repetitive and slow moving, with numerous poetic insertions which didn't work well in the audiobook form. So I believe that it is a valuable on contribution to prison literature, but I wouldn't recommend it for a book club again. None of us were able to finish the book. ...more
Loved this book! But I am a sucker for almost any Pride and Prejudice retelling. This audiobook though is narrated cuttingly by the author, who has a Loved this book! But I am a sucker for almost any Pride and Prejudice retelling. This audiobook though is narrated cuttingly by the author, who has a lot to say about modern day Pakistan, and how comparable it is to the themes Jane Austen wrote about in her classic....more
This book is slow, and I probably wouldn't have gotten through it if I hadn't been listening to it as an audiobook. But it's just such a thorough jourThis book is slow, and I probably wouldn't have gotten through it if I hadn't been listening to it as an audiobook. But it's just such a thorough journey of self-discovery in the truest sense, as the main character strikes out on her own, with only a pair of very nice boots, to figure out what the world has to teach her and whether the things she was taught by her family hold true....more
I listened to this as an audiobook, otherwise I think it would have taken me a bit longer to get through than it did. It's the perfect audiobook thougI listened to this as an audiobook, otherwise I think it would have taken me a bit longer to get through than it did. It's the perfect audiobook though, narrated by a master Chant, who has been imprisoned for suspected black magic. Starting with his court trial at the beginning, he can't hold his tongue, and spins everything from yarns to insults as he tries to survive his trial, imprisonment and the politics of the realm. ...more
There's a subtlety to this book that I really enjoyed. It's slow paced, without a lot of action, so I'm glad I listened to the audiobook. It meant I wThere's a subtlety to this book that I really enjoyed. It's slow paced, without a lot of action, so I'm glad I listened to the audiobook. It meant I was a lot more along for the ride rather than trying to push through slow sections. Neil Gaiman has some strong commentary on the immigrant society of the US, and the intersection of values that run through the whole country, which is really interesting. And he says it all with gods and magic, which of course makes it all a lot more fun....more
This was a surprisingly political book, and I learned a lot about Cuba and it's people. There are strong elements of romance in both the grandmother'sThis was a surprisingly political book, and I learned a lot about Cuba and it's people. There are strong elements of romance in both the grandmother's and granddaughter's narratives that I sometimes found to be a lot, but at other times are dealt with using a strong dose of realism....more
A really interesting novel that parallels some of the historical conflict between China and Japan. I'm just a bit unsure about the treatment of mentalA really interesting novel that parallels some of the historical conflict between China and Japan. I'm just a bit unsure about the treatment of mental illness within the story....more
I'm not sure I've ever listened to an audiobook as quickly as I listened to this one. It grabbed a hold of me and I loved it the whole way through. ThI'm not sure I've ever listened to an audiobook as quickly as I listened to this one. It grabbed a hold of me and I loved it the whole way through. The author does a very good job of giving every character their own motivations, even if they're on the same side or part of the same family, so that you're never quite sure how things are going to go. I was guessing most of the time, which was a pleasure when I'm used to seeing the ending coming. I looking forward to the next one.
It's a complicated world that the author has built, with a lot of terms and names that I was unfamiliar with, which made it particularly confusing to follow by audio. However, the main characters are distinctive, which is really what matters....more
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