PULITZER PRIZE WINNER: 2024 === I found this a somewhat baffling Pulitzer pick, to be honest. Set at the end and in the aftermath of the Civil War, the PULITZER PRIZE WINNER: 2024 === I found this a somewhat baffling Pulitzer pick, to be honest. Set at the end and in the aftermath of the Civil War, the book started off strong for me. Twelve-year-old ConaLee, who's spent her recent memory caring for a mother who refuses to speak due to trauma and her three infant siblings, while dealing with the rages of the man she thinks is her father, was a compelling character and story. I enjoyed the bits of magical realism, particularly driven by Dearbhla, ConaLee's unofficial grandma with origins as an Irish indentured servant. The book starts in the "present", 10 years after the end of the war, with ConaLee and her mother being dropped off at the Assalym, and then we get a shift in narrative for about a 1/3 of the book that that takes us back to the very end of the war, before we come back to the present.
I was still quite enjoying the book through most of the flashblack, though I found the very detailed and explicit rape scene to be gross and totally unnecessary -- the point would have stood without the very detailed account, especially one that felt like it was written almost like an actual love scene. I found it really horrendous.
That was enough to give me major pause, but where the book really fell off for me was when we came back to the present. The plot begins to verge on the slightly ridiculous with the return of "Papa", amnesia as a plot point, love triangles, mysterious mute children, shootouts, etc. It had all the makings of a campy gothic romance with none of the styling, and the combination of these sort of OTT tropes and what is clearly meant to be "real literature" just did not work for me. And I was disappointed that I thought would be a poignant reuniting ends in tragedy. Certainly subverted my expectations, but I'm left wondering... why? I think it boils down to the fact that the author made several plot choices that just don't make sense to me and didn't really resonate, and in the end I'm not entirely sure what the message or point of the book was. ...more
Super fascinating concept, but the execution wasn't for me. The dialogue here was really clunky and awkward, leading to conversations 2.5 rounded down
Super fascinating concept, but the execution wasn't for me. The dialogue here was really clunky and awkward, leading to conversations that didn't feel very natural. The characters didn't captivate me, and I often found myself incredibly frustrated with them. I've felt very similarly about several other Japanese works I've read, so I suspect there is something about cultural norms and their approach to literature that I doesn't quite work for me. I did think the last two stories were stronger than the first two, and there are some really interesting dynamics and issues the author explores here, but I couldn't get into the writing. I think the awkward dialogue was probably exacerbated by the fact that I listened on audio so it felt super apparent that the flow was off for what I would expect coming from an American lens....more
This was a fascinating concept--told primarily in second person, it centers on "The Reader" who just wants to finish a damn book, but 3.5 rounded down
This was a fascinating concept--told primarily in second person, it centers on "The Reader" who just wants to finish a damn book, but printing errors, book bans, and various shenanigans keep getting in the way. The previous sentence makes it sound both more and less madcap than it felt while reading. Certainly quite experimental and philosophical--I'm endlessly impressed with what Calvino was trying to do here and the way he breaks the fourth wall and ruminates on the act of reading and what it means for people. A heavy dose of magical realism bordering on fantasy, and a convoluted plot that really doesn't feel like it can even rightly be called one. I appreciated the cleverness and experimental style, but it didn't always entirely work for me--I not-infrequently found myself lost in the labyrinth of the various twists and turns and people with multiple identities to the point of throwing me out of the story. I also just can't say I found The Reader all that compelling and there was a particular dissonance given the second person POV because I really couldn't relate to The Reader's motivations at all. I found this an impressive work, but for me to really love a book, it needs to appeal to my emotions as well as my brain, and despite the obvious ode to reading that drives this entire book (which clearly appeals to me massively) the writing style here didn't connect enough to resonate as deeply as I'd have liked!...more
Around the World Reading Challenge: JAPAN === 3.5 rounded down
I knew I wanted to read a short story collection by Murakami for Japan, as I've been meaniAround the World Reading Challenge: JAPAN === 3.5 rounded down
I knew I wanted to read a short story collection by Murakami for Japan, as I've been meaning to give him another go after the unbearble slog that was The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I'd heard good things about the female protagonist in Sleep (as in, unlike all of his other female characters, she came off like a complex being), so I figured I'd give this collection a go. While I can't say I'm in love with his writing style, these certainly worked much better for me than the long book of his I read. Which I think is mostly because they were shorter. I find all of his characters to be sort of vague, apathetic, untouchable creatures, entirely divorced from reality--as in, they don't feel real to me, and it's almost impossible for me to connect with or empathize with them. That's not so bad in a short story, but it's brutal with a 600-page one. There were a number of stories here that I found fascinating and compelling, all the more so for their open endings. I continue to feel disappointed with the vast majority of the female characters he writes, who feel even more insubstantial than the men, as their primarily purpose is entirely in relation to men. I also find his obsession with sex, and the way that he writes it/alludes to it, to be sort of gross and uncomfortable--I can't quite place it, but it's very off-putting to me.
So, on the whole, I did enjoy reading this, and I'd read more of his short stories, but it confirmed for me that I'm not really interested in reading any more of his novel-length stuff....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: CABO VERDE === 2.5 rounded up
I'm always excited to find another magical realism book, and I thought this was interesAround the World Reading Challenge: CABO VERDE === 2.5 rounded up
I'm always excited to find another magical realism book, and I thought this was interesting, though it didn't totally work for me. I liked the narrative style and the concept had me engaged, but the ending didn't really tie everything together the way I wanted. I was left without clarity on the Madwoman's purpose or how it connected to Filipa. I liked this one and there were a lot of interesting threads, but I left the book feeling like they hadn't all been connected effectively....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: INDONESIA === 1.5 rounded down
I was so excited for this one, but I could not understand a thing that was happening. Around the World Reading Challenge: INDONESIA === 1.5 rounded down
I was so excited for this one, but I could not understand a thing that was happening. Surreal to the point of nonsensical, with no discernible plot. I have no idea what was real or dream, the POV shifted from first to second with no apparent reason, and I truly could not tell you what happened in this far-too-long-for-what-it-was book. Baffled....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: GEORGIA === I was recommended this book by a friend for my reading challenge, who said it was well worth the length,Around the World Reading Challenge: GEORGIA === I was recommended this book by a friend for my reading challenge, who said it was well worth the length, and after reading, I absolutely agree. A stunning saga that spans six generations of a Georgian family, with events of the Russian Revolution playing a central role. There's a dash of magical realism (my favorite!) and a whole host of really fascinating character and complex relationships. I loved the time spent with this family, and even though there are no shortage of horrors experienced across the generations, it never felt unrelenting or without hope. I appreciated the inclusion of queer characters, though I'd say my primarily issue with this book was that I did feel there were times where the author was drifting into problematic trope territory when it came to those queer characters, though it wasn't egregious enough to prevent me from enjoying the book immensely on the whole...more
Around the World Reading Challenge: ZAMBIA === 2.5 rounded up
Debut novel that takes place over three generations of three different families whose pathsAround the World Reading Challenge: ZAMBIA === 2.5 rounded up
Debut novel that takes place over three generations of three different families whose paths and fates are intertwined. The writing was lovely and the concept was interesting, but I just didn't connect with it at all. I was drawn to it for the magical realism aspects, which start off strong in the first generation and then are nowhere to be found in the rest of the book, which eventually turns into a sort of futuristic/dystopian-type concept, despite not being set in the future. I just didn't personally find the genre mashing here to be all that successful. I also just... didn't like any of the characters, save for one or two, and them mostly in retrospect. Partially I think the characters are very realistically drawn, flaws and all, but the flaws are so very pronounced and unpleasant that I just truly didn't enjoy reading about them and just wanted the book to be over. The ending was unsatisfying and I remain unclear on the themes/don't think they were really woven together successfully. Everybody else seemed to love this one, but I was underwhelmed....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: UGANDA === Really interesting cross-generational story, told in six parts, each focusing on a different member of a Around the World Reading Challenge: UGANDA === Really interesting cross-generational story, told in six parts, each focusing on a different member of a "cursed" family. The author covers a lot of ground, and there's a large cast, though for the most part I didn't find it too difficult to keep track of. There's a lot of difficult content in here, but somehow the author manages not to make it feel overly heavy or bleak. An impressive debut....more
Beautifully written, lush, evocative, and a spell-binding world that effortlessly blends magic into 1920s New York. Queer POC protagonist, offering a Beautifully written, lush, evocative, and a spell-binding world that effortlessly blends magic into 1920s New York. Queer POC protagonist, offering a retelling of The Great Gatsby, which I wish had been made clearer in the blurb. This definitely felt like a fresh and innovative take, but I'm not personally wild about retellings, particularly when it's been over a decade since I read the original, as I am always filled with the sense that I'm missing things and it bugs me. Though, on the other side of the coin, I also found myself wishing Vo hadn't stuck *so* closely to the original. Though it's been a long time since I read Gatsby, this is a really faithful following of the book, and I think there were places were this would have been stronger if the author had taken further creative license and been a little looser with the inspiration--she already was altering the original, and there were times when the focus seemed to skew more heavily onto Gatsby and his storyline than I wanted. But overall this was beautifully crafted, with some really wonderful twists, and a gorgeous sense of atmosphere. I'm pretty obsessed with Vo's writing......more
Around the World Reading Challenge: INDIA === 3.5 rounded up
Beautifully written book told in five parts, each from a different character that showed up Around the World Reading Challenge: INDIA === 3.5 rounded up
Beautifully written book told in five parts, each from a different character that showed up in the previous POV section. The first section was both the longest and the strongest of the lot, with my interest in the other sections somewhat diminishing. The first story in particular felt quite beautifully and tightly written, but as the novel progressed, I did feel like there was somewhat of a lack of purpose, and that she didn't necessarily tie all of the different POV sections as cohesively into one narrative as I'd have liked. Still, a solid debut, and an author I'll be keeping an eye on....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: PORTUGAL === Really interesting book with a pretty unique structure. Set in 18th-century Portugal, it follows the liAround the World Reading Challenge: PORTUGAL === Really interesting book with a pretty unique structure. Set in 18th-century Portugal, it follows the lives of several interconnected people, focusing primarily on Baltasar and Blimunda. The magical realism aspects were fascinating, and I very much enjoyed the blend of historical fiction. Still unsure how I feel about the ending, but overall I thought this was a really intriguing read and I'm glad to have picked it up!...more
Around the World Reading Challenge: ROMANIA === 3.5 rounded down
Set in 1970s Communist Romania, this story is told in a series of chapters that essentiaAround the World Reading Challenge: ROMANIA === 3.5 rounded down
Set in 1970s Communist Romania, this story is told in a series of chapters that essentially function as flash-fiction vignettes. It blends in magical realism, which I love, and though was really interesting here. The story was quite quick and certainly engaging, though I did find it a smidge bleak overall. Glad to have picked this one up, even if it wasn't my absolute favorite....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: SLOVAKIA === This was a very strange book. Clearly quite an experimental style, with aspects of magical realism and Around the World Reading Challenge: SLOVAKIA === This was a very strange book. Clearly quite an experimental style, with aspects of magical realism and a general sense of unreality. I'm sure it was all very clever and smart, but it mostly just left me scratching my head. I'm starting to learn that I really don't connect much with these experimental books that don't really seem to be telling any particular story. Short and a relatively quick read, which is good, because I don't think I could have handled anything longer....more
Around the World Reading Challenge: BURKINA FASO === 3.5 rounded up
Really interesting memoir detailing the early years through initial young adulthood oAround the World Reading Challenge: BURKINA FASO === 3.5 rounded up
Really interesting memoir detailing the early years through initial young adulthood of the author. The writing was really excellent and captivating, and he did a great job attempting to capture and convey a set of spiritual and cultural beliefs and practices that are incredibly different to the way most Western people view and experience the world. This isn't necessarily the kind of book I gravitate towards and I didn't fully connect with the story, but I appreciated it, and I'm glad I read this one for Burkina Faso....more
One of my best friends and fellow lovers of magical realism recommended this book to me and it was quite interesting! It seems to be a 3.5 rounded up
One of my best friends and fellow lovers of magical realism recommended this book to me and it was quite interesting! It seems to be a theme with a lot of the books I'm reading lately that first 1/4 or so of the book starts quite slowly and it takes awhile to build my interest. I read the first 25% on the first day and was feeling a bit ambivalent towards it, but my day two I was hooked and ended up reading the rest much quicker than I had planned. The characters were all well rendered and complex, and I loved how vivid Hawai'i and her legends are throughout. One of the first books in ages that well and truly shocked me with the ~twist~ that happens about halfway through the book, and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it, but the direction the book ended up taking is certainly something I'll be thinking about for a while....more
PULITZER PRIZE WINNER: 2021 === I was really excited to read this one because it seemed super interesting and right up my alley, but in the end I just dPULITZER PRIZE WINNER: 2021 === I was really excited to read this one because it seemed super interesting and right up my alley, but in the end I just didn't love it. It felt like it was really telling two different stories--that of Patrice and that of Thomas--and I didn't totally feel like they melded together well. It felt heavily weighted towards Patrice's story, which I did feel more invested/interested in, but something in the storytelling just didn't quite fully capture my interest. This felt like a longer book than it was, and I think part of that is the writing style. Some people will (and clearly do!) love it, but I found it a little cumbersome and something about it prevented me from immersing myself in this world. All that said, I did think the characters and relationships were interesting, as was the content, and I can definitely see why it won the Pulitzer....more
The concept of this was super interesting and I thought the author did an excellent job capturing Nora's headspace and her struggle with depression. OThe concept of this was super interesting and I thought the author did an excellent job capturing Nora's headspace and her struggle with depression. Overall I quite enjoyed it, but there was something missing. The story felt like it lacked some depth, which is perhaps inevitable given the premise of skimming through various ~lives~ but though the concept was interesting, I knew exactly how the book was going to end and the ~message~ that would be conveyed the moment I started reading. There was no twist, and not every good book needs to have one, but something about this book following the exact pattern one would expect it to made it feel almost moralistic and a bit simplistic (like I was reading a traditional fairy tale with a "lesson" being imparted to me), and it prevented me from really being wowed....more
There's certainly no doubt that Morrison can write, and this was a fast-paced and engaging read. Indeed, I found the pacing, at times, t3.5 rounded up
There's certainly no doubt that Morrison can write, and this was a fast-paced and engaging read. Indeed, I found the pacing, at times, to be almost too fast, with large jumps in time glossing over important events that had me wondering if I'd somehow skipped a chapter. This was a change for Morrison, writing from a male perspective as opposed to a female one, and I think she did an effective job, but I can't say I particularly liked any of the characters. Which isn't necessarily a problem, though I did have a hard time empathizing in particular with the main character, which did somewhat curtail my enjoyment overall. Still not totally sure how I feel about the ending, but it's sticking with me, that's for sure, and the symmetry and symbolism were gorgeous....more
This was a fascinating read. We've got a blend of magical-realism, beautifully symbolic language, an unreliable (and possibly unstable) 4.5 rounded up
This was a fascinating read. We've got a blend of magical-realism, beautifully symbolic language, an unreliable (and possibly unstable) narrator. It's the kind of book I can see reading again and again and finding new things to take out of it. Truly stunning....more
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