Very entertaining book for the most part. A few dull passages but overall I thought Eliza Clark’s writing brought the true crime genre and its associaVery entertaining book for the most part. A few dull passages but overall I thought Eliza Clark’s writing brought the true crime genre and its associated ugliness to life in an attention-keeping way. The novel follows, in a journalistic format, three girls who set a classmate of theirs on fire and kill her. There are some disturbing parts where Clark describes the violence so watch out for that if you’re squeamish. For most of the book though, Clark explores the problematically normalized bullying and aggression between teen girls, the effects of internet culture (i.e., Tumblr) in glorifying and condoning violence, and how class and trauma affects these girls’ lives.
The way Clark ended the novel was an interesting choice. I’m not sure exactly how I feel about it though it does invite critical thinking regarding the sensationalism of the true crime genre and how people exploit it, instead of really taking action to prevent violence from happening in the first place. I think Penance would be worth discussing in a book club or with friends....more
So I’ll start by saying this book definitely succeeded as a “thriller.” I was so wound up wondering what was going to happen that I literally could noSo I’ll start by saying this book definitely succeeded as a “thriller.” I was so wound up wondering what was going to happen that I literally could not read this book before bed; I stayed up today to read it so I could start a different, less unnerving book prior to my slumber tonight. Kia Abdullah does a great job creating punchy scenes and using straight-to-the-point language to keep the plot moving and to keep readers such as myself on our toes. I was *shaking* at the horrors that these white neighbors inflicted!
I also thought Abdullah did an excellent job of portraying the type of racist white person who’s nice to your face but who’s actually oppressive and unwilling to sit with their own white fragility. Abdullah’s characterization of Willa – the white woman neighbor – was so so accurate to the white women I’ve encountered in my life who act really sweet (and at times even espouse pro racial justice views) and the moment they’re confronted with their own racism, they turn on you and weaponize their fragility. It truly is terrifying and Abdullah nailed that feeling of knowing you’re being gaslit and condescended to but not having the social power to do anything about it. (As I write this I feel compelled to mention that I’ve also had some great white female mentors in my life, though I imagine even this is my reaction to potential white fragility in response to this paragraph… anyway)
Overall I liked this one. I wouldn’t say it necessarily deeply emotionally moved me, though it did do an excellent job of capturing a specific fear-based emotion and delivering on the “thriller” genre energy. I found our protagonist Salma an honest, human character who Abdullah rendered as sympathetic and strong, but not perfect, which makes sense. Thanks to my bestie Bri for the rec!...more
I liked and agreed with a lot of the feminist messages in this book: that male serial killers are often glorified and glamorized with little attentionI liked and agreed with a lot of the feminist messages in this book: that male serial killers are often glorified and glamorized with little attention paid toward female victims and survivors, that women are labeled as hysterical and overdramatic for their emotions, and that many men are complicit in rape culture even if they have not perpetrated a rape themselves. On a thematic level, I thus appreciated Bright Young Women for putting the women in these scenarios in the center of attention.
That said I found the writing on the sentence level quite monotonous and predictable, even though the topic itself is important. The book was thus a bit of a drag for me to get through. At the same time, I totally recognize and agree with what Jessica Knoll was trying to accomplish message-wise here....more
Interesting blend between thriller and realistic fiction that overall kept me engaged. In this novel we see the coming of age of Brooklyn Melody JamesInteresting blend between thriller and realistic fiction that overall kept me engaged. In this novel we see the coming of age of Brooklyn Melody James, starting from when a horrendous event happened to her as a child, to her late teenager and early adult years hustling on the streets. She goes from one tragic incident to the next, all with a fire in her eye to protect herself and get what’s hers even when dealt a horrible hand by life.
The novel reads like a fast-paced slice-of-life thriller. I think Tracy Brown posed some deeper questions within these pages too, such as the extent to which early life trauma defines us as well as what it takes to interact with family and/or friends who’ve harmed us or when we’ve been harmed. A solid four star read and RIP to the author, who passed away two days after turning in this book....more
I enjoyed this novel about a Black musician whose violin gets stolen, leading into a whodunit blended with our protagonist’s backstory. I tho3.5 stars
I enjoyed this novel about a Black musician whose violin gets stolen, leading into a whodunit blended with our protagonist’s backstory. I thought Brendan Slocumb did an interesting job mixing the mystery/thriller genre with more of a literary fiction vibe. He writes honestly about our protagonist Ray’s love for his craft and the anti-Black racism he experiences along the way to achieve his dreams. I also appreciated Slocumb’s portrayal of the abuse Ray experienced from his family, especially the financial components. In the end I wouldn’t say the novel wow’ed me to the level of a five-star read – I thought the prose was okay to good and the blending of genres executed well but not amazingly. Still, the themes in The Violin Conspiracy are important and I’m glad Slocumb contributed his message to the world.
I'm a bit on the fence about whether to read Slocumb's second book. If you have feelings one way or the other feel free to share! ...more
I found the plot of this book super well-written. One of the first novels in a long time where I felt like I was on the edge of my seat; I flipped thrI found the plot of this book super well-written. One of the first novels in a long time where I felt like I was on the edge of my seat; I flipped through the pages quickly so I could figure out what happened. Happiness Falls centers on a half-Korean, half-white family in which the white father goes missing, leaving the two older twin siblings, their younger brother who has autism/Angelman syndrome, and their mother reeling. Angie Kim did an excellent job both on the sentence-level and on the greater plot level of keeping me on my toes with their father’s disappearance. Each twist and turn made sense and added to the development of the story.
I did want a bit more from other elements of the story. I actually don’t think the characters were too well-developed. They each had somewhat distinct personalities and features that distinguished them from one another, but I honestly didn’t get too much depth from them. There were some interesting themes about disability and disability justice, too. But other than that I left this book feeling more like I just finished a well-written thriller that excited me, rather than a novel that made me reflect more deeply about relationships, issues of justice and equity, etc. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I think Kim was both sensitive and electric in her writing, even if I’m not sure if Happiness Falls will leave too much of a longer-lasting impact on me....more
I liked this novel about three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. Their labor is generally unseen and their working conditions are often poor. ThI liked this novel about three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. Their labor is generally unseen and their working conditions are often poor. Then, a shocking murder accusation is made against one of their friends which disrupts their day-to-day status quo. Each of these women has secrets to keep and allegiances to maintain, though in part through their connection to one another they also gather the strength to challenge the structures that have silenced them for so long.
Balli Kaur Jaswal does a nice job of mixing aspects of different genres in this novel. On one hand, there’s a thriller element about the murder that runs throughout the plot. At the same time, Now You See Us thoroughly interrogates labor conditions of Filipina domestic workers in Singapore and the constraints imposed upon their autonomy. I liked that each of the three protagonists felt distinct in their challenges and desires and for the most part in their voices. I felt that Jaswal effectively captured their struggles while also highlighting their resiliency and capacity to support one another and resist their oppression. She doesn’t minimize their suffering though and how people with power mistreat them. I appreciated that she didn’t sugarcoat the workplace abuse they face. The final two pages brought me to near tears in relation to one of the protagonist’s journey with her grief.
I liked reading how she interviewed Filipina domestic workers in the acknowledgements section. While I didn’t love this book as much as Jaswal’s Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, I can’t deny that she has a talent for storytelling and can write a relatively complex set of plotlines smoothly. The book jacket describes this novel as Crazy Rich Asians meets The Help, and while I haven’t read the former, I’d say this book is definitely less problematic than The Help - so maybe a less problematic version of The Help blended with Big Little Lies....more
Read this one for book club and was pleasantly surprised. The novel follows a trans criminal defense attorney who represents a young Black tr3.5 stars
Read this one for book club and was pleasantly surprised. The novel follows a trans criminal defense attorney who represents a young Black trans woman accused of murdering a rich white man. I thought Robyn Gigl did a nice job of portraying the horrendous transphobic violence encountered by trans women, both in terms of grotesque physical assault as well as awful interpersonal jabs. At the same time, I liked how she represented a trans female lawyer doing her best to navigate life post-transition, across her job, family, and romantic relationships. There were a few passages where I could sense a, “this is here to educate cis people about this topic” vibe, though they were brief and didn’t detract from the book much in my opinion.
I didn’t love the thriller aspect of By Way of Sorrow. I didn’t feel like the legal drama stuff was written in a particularly suspenseful or compelling way. I understand that Gigl is a lawyer herself so it makes sense to write what she knows. Overall, I found the book a pleasant read and a positive representation of transgender characters, and I appreciated this representation coming from an author who identities as trans herself....more
I feel super torn between three and four stars for this book, so even though I’m lowering to three please keep that in mind! The novel follow3.5 stars
I feel super torn between three and four stars for this book, so even though I’m lowering to three please keep that in mind! The novel follows Angie, a high school swimmer who comes across an affluent white boy, Henry, lying bleeding on a football field, stabbed and bleeding. She calls the police for help, and soon enough a young Black girl, Chiara, is accused of having hurt Henry. Angie is torn trying to figure out her place in the politics of what has happened, all while navigating dynamics related to her out of touch father and absent mother.
I’ll start with the pros. I found Our Best Intentions relatively well-written and a page-turner. I was invested in knowing what would happen next both on a plot level and on a character development level (e.g., how will Angie come more into her identity or politics or not?) The book does a nice job of conveying themes related to Indian Americans’ place in the racial hierarchy of the United States, the pull between assimilating to white supremacy and wealth versus taking a stand against anti-Blackness and racism. I liked how Vibhuti Jain exposed the toxicity and the power of white privilege and how she didn’t let Angie off the hook for her silence. The novel also had some interesting themes about generational divides between Asian immigrant parents and their children.
My main critique is that while the book was a good read for sure, I didn’t feel like it particularly excelled in any area. First, while I liked the relationship between Angie and her father and how they grew, I felt that the characterization or the writing about their dynamics could have gone even deeper (perhaps this could have manifested if Jain did not include so many different points of view in the novel.) I also felt odd about the Black girl’s suffering being used in a way to advance the Indian American character’s self-growth? While I don’t think Jain wielded that plot device in a horrible way, something about it didn’t feel completely satisfying or unproblematic to me. I’m still mulling it over! Overall, an okay novel that kept my interest even if it’s not one of my top books of the year....more
A stunner of a novel! In All That’s Left Unsaid, we follow Ky Tran, a young Vietnamese American woman who returns to her hometown of Cabramat4.5 stars
A stunner of a novel! In All That’s Left Unsaid, we follow Ky Tran, a young Vietnamese American woman who returns to her hometown of Cabramatta after her younger brother is brutally murdered. After attending his funeral and learning about the ineptness of the police who handled his case, Ky takes matters into her own hands and seeks out the people who witnessed her brother’s death. Through this pursuit Ky realizes truths about herself, her brother, and others from her past that shakes her foundation of right and wrong, as well as the expectations she placed both on her family and the people around her.
One strength of this novel that stood out to me from the start was Tracey Lien’s ability to write from multiple perspectives effectively. Usually books that include more than two or so points of view do so in awkward or stilted way where the multiple voices detract from the story instead of adding to it. However, Lien does an excellent job of giving each perspective a distinct voice, and she focuses each one so that they all ultimately add to the suspenseful and thrilling elements of All That’s Left Unsaid. Thanks to the multiple perspectives, we also get to see how the heroin epidemic of the 90’s in Australia affected various Vietnamese community members, furthering our empathy and understanding. This is a novel about race, class, and injustice, though Lien foregrounds her characters so it feels more like we’re learning about and developing concern for them, instead of solely ingesting lessons about social justice.
I could tell that I was going to give this book at least four stars from early on in my reading experience, though some plot and character events that occurred in the second half bumped it closer to a five star for me. Namely, I love how Lien developed Ky and Minnie’s friendship and showed where both characters were right and where they messed up. I love when an author creates a situation where characters are messy and human and there’s a conflict that feels well-earned with both parties doing their best and still failing, instead of a conflict that comes across as cheap (e.g., characters fighting primarily because of repetitive miscommunication). I felt that the dynamic between Ky and Minnie served as a powerful vehicle to communicate broader themes about intergenerational trauma in a subtle way. By the end of the novel there’s growth from these characters too, which I deeply enjoyed witnessing.
Overall, a powerful novel I would recommend to fans of contemporary novels focused on family/community drama as well as fans of mysteries/thrillers/books about race and class and immigration. Congrats to Lien for a wonderful debut....more
Oh, this book kept me on the edge of my seat for sure. In Mad Honey we follow Olivia McAfee, a beekeeper who moves from Boston to her New Hampshire hoOh, this book kept me on the edge of my seat for sure. In Mad Honey we follow Olivia McAfee, a beekeeper who moves from Boston to her New Hampshire hometown to escape a marriage that turned toxic. Olivia’s son, Asher, finds young romance with Lily Campanello, a girl in her senior year of high school who also moved to Adams, New Hampshire for a fresh start. All seems to go well until one day Olivia gets a phone call: Lily is dead, and Adam is being questioned by the police. Over time we see how this situation unfolds at Asher’s trial as well as how the characters’ lives developed to get to this juncture in the first place.
This is the first novel I’ve read by Jodi Picoult in seven years; I used to read her books all the time and then paused when she went the YA route and after seeing some mixed reviews of some of her most recent works. I will say she still definitely has that addictive quality to her writing, especially with the courtroom drama. The whole time I was like, omg, *what* is going to happen next. She and Jennifer Finney Boylan did a great job structuring the plot of the novel, and their writing felt fluid and effortless enough that I kept flipping the pages, eager to know what would happen next. What I find interesting is that when I finished the book, I did wonder if Picoult’s tried and true method of the courtroom drama eclipses some potential for even deeper emotional character growth in her work. However, I flew through this book and enjoyed the reading experience nonetheless.
On the note of her characters, I did find myself compelled by their stories. It’s hard to write about without spoilers, though I’ll say that Lily’s identity development and hard-won search for herself did make me emotional and tear up a bit. I know it’s the bare minimum for men, and at the same time Asher’s love for Lily including every part of her identity did move me. There were a few scenes where the book definitely slipped into (view spoiler)[now it’s time to educate cisgender people about transgender identity (hide spoiler)] though I suppose given the range of Picoult’s audience, that content may be necessary? Especially with everything repressive going on in the United States right now. The authors also do an excellent job of portraying the consequences of male rage/patriarchy and repressive gender roles in a show and not tell way.
Overall, an entertaining and moving read. Picoult knows how to write and she knows how to write a lot, and I respect her for that!...more
This book was a wild ride! I felt immersed in our protagonist Katrina Kim’s story. She’s stuck in a lukewarm office job, barely making ends meet, whilThis book was a wild ride! I felt immersed in our protagonist Katrina Kim’s story. She’s stuck in a lukewarm office job, barely making ends meet, while nursing an obsession with her co-worker Kurt. When Katrina receives a cryptic message from Kurt that implies that he knows about Katrina’s lurking, she takes desperate measures to reclaim control in her life even when everything has already spiraled out beyond her wildest imagination.
I liked the mental health components of Liar, Dreamer, Thief as well as the thriller components. I felt a lot of empathy for Katrina in relation to her mental health struggles; Maria Dong does a nice job of showing Katrina’s symptoms in a vivid and realistic way. Similarly, Dong’s writing is fast-paced and entertaining enough that I felt compelled by the more suspenseful parts of the story. I finished this book last night in my apartment and literally felt creeped the heck out, in a positive way, as I learned more and more about the revelations underlying Katrina’s obsession with Kurt.
Unfortunately I’m giving this book three stars because I didn’t feel like the mental health storyline or the thriller storyline were properly resolved? There was a lot of buildup to both parts of the novel though the ending kind of felt like a copout to me. The ending took this approach that almost came across as magical realism to me where certain things fell into place that were either too convenient or too nonsensical, to the point where I couldn’t fully emotionally connect with the narrative anymore.
In sum, Liar, Dreamer, Thief kept my attention for sure, even if it’s not a novel I would recommend right away....more
I give this book four stars because, one, it’s highly entertaining. For maybe the first fifty pages or so the writing felt a bit dry, though when the I give this book four stars because, one, it’s highly entertaining. For maybe the first fifty pages or so the writing felt a bit dry, though when the plot picks up, I found myself so curious to know: will this white woman who stole an Asian American woman’s work get caught?? Will she confront her own insecurities that led to this? Is Athena actually dead?? R.F. Kuang creates a selfish, self-absorbed main character in June Hayward, with a consistent voice that kept me engaged in Yellowface’s story.
I also think this book does open up important conversations. Yes, at times it makes its point bluntly/crudely and in an obvious way, though through this satire Kuang raises deeper questions too, such as whether anyone can remain truly ethical or generous in a brutally capitalist publishing industry. I liked how Kuang didn’t make Athena a perfect character because by doing so, she highlights how people of color can engage in problematic and oppressive practices too.
So even though I didn’t agree with all of Kuang’s satirical commentary in Yellowface (e.g., I think Asian Americans should be asked hard, critical questions about glorifying whiteness both in dating partners and in other areas of life), I respect that she seized a popular topic in the publishing industry and made a novel out of it. The exaggerated nature of satire doesn’t always lend itself to a deeper emotional connection with the characters or the story, though I don’t think a deep emotional connection is necessarily the point of this novel. Overall, while I don’t see this novel breaking into my top ten list at the end of this year, I found it an interesting read and one that may be fun to discuss.
*also, just to add, this type of thing is still happening all the time, including in other industries. Recently I saw a white woman publish a research paper on Black and Latinx mothers and when I emailed her and asked about her research practices with these communities, she literally just ignored me. And, as I've written about in at least one other review, one time I gently called in a white woman for doing her dissertation on Asian American women (with no Asian American women as coauthors) and she called me aggressive and "untrusting." sigh!...more
An unusual literary thriller that starts out with a series of grotesque murders in a rural Mississippi town. The murders follow a pattern of white vicAn unusual literary thriller that starts out with a series of grotesque murders in a rural Mississippi town. The murders follow a pattern of white victims, though at each crime scene the townsfolk and detectives also find a dead Black man’s body, who resembles Emmett Till.
I think this novel does an effective job of addressing the racist history of lynching within the United States. I didn’t love it primarily because it felt plot-driven instead of character-driven, so we follow a lot of events as they unfold but don’t get too much interiority from the characters. It was interesting! The book includes relevant and biting satirical elements, and even if I found the writing dry I appreciate and support the overall message of The Trees....more
A really well-intentioned novel! I loved the all Asian American cast, the critique of Western imperialism, and the romance between Asian Americans. UnA really well-intentioned novel! I loved the all Asian American cast, the critique of Western imperialism, and the romance between Asian Americans. Unfortunately the writing itself just didn’t deliver for me. I found the prose repetitive, dry, and unable to fully render the vision I think Grace Li sought to realize. I’m in full support of this novel’s themes, though....more
I felt immersed in this story about a serial killer, Ansel, and the women in his life – a mother, a sister, and a homicide detective. We lear4.5 stars
I felt immersed in this story about a serial killer, Ansel, and the women in his life – a mother, a sister, and a homicide detective. We learn about Lavender, Ansel’s mother who gave birth to him at the age of 17 at the brink of desperation, Hazel, twin sister to Ansel’s wife who bears witness to how her sister’s romantic relationship escalates in dangerous ways, and Saffy, the detective determined to bring Ansel to justice with a troubled past of her own.
I loved Danya Kukafka’s take on gender and trauma in Notes on an Execution. She weaves in several great themes about toxic masculinity, complicated relationships between women, and contemporary society’s morbid and problematic obsession with serial killers through showing instead of telling, so the characters come first and the messages never feel heavy-handed. Her prose felt fluid and rich with detail, while still concise and clipped enough to keep the suspense churning throughout the novel. I liked how she cultivated empathy for all of her characters, even the atrocious male serial killer, while firmly and justly positioning patriarchy and the restriction of women’s autonomy as core issues that negatively impact both the women and the men in this book.
A couple of elements that further stood out to me: Kukafka’s effective and emotionally affecting portrayal of Ansel’s childhood which contributed to his horrendous actions, as well as the complex sister dynamic between Hazel and her sister Jenny (one of the last passages in which Hazel reflects on Jenny made me tear up.) While I found the book a little overwritten on a handful of occasions – like moments when the vibe of darkness throughout the book felt a bit obvious or much as well as an early scene in which Hazel eats one of Jenny’s hairs which felt a bit drastic in regard to characterization – I still enjoyed the speed of the plot and felt connected to the characters. There’s a lot to discuss in Notes on an Execution and I’m grateful to Kukafka for encouraging us to think and feel critically about how we often normalize women’s suffering at the hands of men, when we, especially men, should take action to prevent violence against women from happening at all....more
I’ve seen so many rave reviews of this book so I wanted to love it though I ended up liking it. The novel is about two fathers who essentiall3.5 stars
I’ve seen so many rave reviews of this book so I wanted to love it though I ended up liking it. The novel is about two fathers who essentially are on a mission to avenge their dead gay sons, who were ruthlessly murdered. Even though I agree with other reviewers that the messages of LGBTQ+ acceptance were a bit heavy-handed, I did appreciate them and I felt like these messages may have even more impact within the thriller genre where they may not have as much airtime. As someone who isn’t super masculine and doesn’t spend much time with more masc folks – in part perhaps because of homophobia and femmephobia in masc spaces – it was nice to read themes related to accepting queerness and femininity even if in a heavy-handed way.
As for the rest of the book, perhaps my preference for genre clashed with what Razorblade Tears had to offer. The writing was easy to follow and I flipped through the pages effortlessly, though there was a ton of violence described in great depth, which wasn’t hugely appealing to me even though others may not mind it. I also just didn’t find the thriller/mystery elements that engaging – not sure if that’s because of how it was written or just me not enjoying the genre too much. Regardless, though, I’m overall glad that this book has received positive attention given its themes and messaging....more
Such a thrilling young-adult novel, I second the descriptions of Gossip Girl meets Get Out. Ace of Spades follows two Black teenagers, Devon Richards Such a thrilling young-adult novel, I second the descriptions of Gossip Girl meets Get Out. Ace of Spades follows two Black teenagers, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, attending a predominantly white high school, both who have ambitious dreams that start to fall apart when a mysterious entity titled Aces begins texting all their peers secrets about their personal lives. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé wove suspense so well into this novel, such that I found myself flipping the pages nonstop to figure out the mystery behind Aces. At the same time, the novel includes relevant yet subtle commentaries about class, the costs of ascending in a white capitalist society, and whether we should try to succeed at someone else’s game or if we should make our own. Similar to other reviewers, I felt that the big reveal at the end came across as a bit rushed. Still, I applaud Àbíké-Íyímídé for a well-written, gripping debut with solid queer representation as well....more
I appreciated a lot of this book’s themes: nuanced relationship with family, colorism, substance use within a small community, and more. I loved the pI appreciated a lot of this book’s themes: nuanced relationship with family, colorism, substance use within a small community, and more. I loved the protagonist’s deep investment in her Native heritage and culture. Unfortunately I found the writing style a bit clunky and certain elements of the story made it hard for me to feel invested (e.g., the main love interest being kind of like a one-dimensional perfect person). Still, if you’re interested in Firekeeper’s Daughter’s synopsis, check out some of the positive reviews and see if the book is worth picking up for you....more
I liked this book’s message about how members of marginalized communities – in this case, Black women specifically – have the potential to turn againsI liked this book’s message about how members of marginalized communities – in this case, Black women specifically – have the potential to turn against one another to aid white supremacy. I think it’s important to recognize that representation in and of itself isn’t always positive if the people doing the representing actually hurt their own communities. I also thought Zakiya Dalila Harris did a nice job of building the thriller element of The Other Black Girl.
Drawing inspiration from the thoughtful reviews of Shanell, Ariana, and Gabriella – I found other portions of this book lacking. I felt that the characters weren’t actually well-developed and served more as representations of the points Harris wanted to get across (e.g., Nella as someone doubting one’s Blackness, Hazel as someone betraying one’s race). Several parts of the book also felt unexplained, like the flashbacks in time and those who served as part of the resistance. Overall an interesting little roast of the publishing industry though I still wanted more from this novel....more
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