I really didn't want to like a book called Where The Crawdads Sing, a title that makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth every time I hear it. But I really didn't want to like a book called Where The Crawdads Sing, a title that makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth every time I hear it. But the amount of 5-star reviews and recommendations made me feel like I was short-changing it some, so I queue'd up for the audiobook last year (it was a long wait; I was like #386 or something).
As soon as the story began, I knew I had been very wrong about this one. It's such a heart-warming read from the get-go. You learn about "the marsh girl" Kya Clark, and how everyone in her life has abandoned her. How she survives on her own in Barkclay Cove, North Carolina, selling mussels and smoked fish to a local supplier in order to buy grits, gas for her boat, and matches. Her only companions are the gulls at the beach, which she feeds daily. The marsh eventually becomes a part of her. She's feral, scrappy, but also deeply shy and sensitive.
While the town views her as an oddity and an outcast (she drops out of school after one day to avoid bullying, and easily dodges visits from truant officers), she does make a few very strong connections in her life--two of which play a huge part in the plot. There is also a murder mystery interwoven from the start (the book jumps between 1970 and 1950). And herein is my only real "issue" with the book - I don't know if I needed the mystery and subsequent courtroom case - it felt a bit rushed, like author Delia Owens didn't want to focus on this part of the story either. Even at Owens "worst" however, the story is still a pleasure and incredibly compelling. 5 stars because I flew through the first half, but as a whole, this is still a highly recommendable read....more
What a phenomenal read. Very rarely does a book as hyped as this live up to said hype.
It started as a slow burn (heh); I dutifully read a chapter hereWhat a phenomenal read. Very rarely does a book as hyped as this live up to said hype.
It started as a slow burn (heh); I dutifully read a chapter here and there, not giving my Kindle a second thought once I had set it down for the evening. The writing was good, but I felt very removed from the whole cast of characters up to about the 30 percent mark.
Then things began to get complicated, and layered, and brilliant. ...It became unputdownable. I just finished the remaining 50 percent in one marathon reading session. And yeah, I’m still a bit choked up. What a marvelous book about mothers and their children, identity, and family. The section on Mia’s past cemented this as a 5-star read for me.
I knew nothing going in, other than it won Goodreads Best Fiction, 2017. Well, it’s bloody well deserved. Will definitely be going on to read Everything I Never Told You, and anything else Celeste Ng creates, because this novel ended up being pretty much everything I ever wanted in a book. Bravo....more
There were no 5-star reads for me in January, which got me wondering If I was getting jaded or extra curmudgeonly. Then this dear, dear novel came aboThere were no 5-star reads for me in January, which got me wondering If I was getting jaded or extra curmudgeonly. Then this dear, dear novel came about, and I can honestly say that from page 1, I knew I was reading something special. (Thanks Maureen, for loaning it to me!)
Min Jin Lee's writing flows gently and gracefully as she tells the story of Sunja, a young girl growing up in a remote fishing village on a small Korean island, in early 20th century when Korea is already under Japanese rule. As the story progresses and moves to mainland Japan, eventually--and effortlessly--spanning four generations, Lee’s writing also transforms: the story-telling quickens, years and major events are covered in a span of a page or two, and newly-introduced characters are briefly given their time in the spotlight. This is a slow, purposeful read, yet at the same time, it's a pageturner. Unputdownable, even.
I wish I had come up with the A Fine Balance comparison, because it's on the money, in terms of setting an endearing, honorable, struggling family in the midst of political and social turmoil.... but I believe it was on the book jacket. Like AFB educated me, Pachinko opened my eyes to the trials faced by Korean immigrants in imperialist Japan. This is a truly ambitious and captivating story about family, acceptance, belonging, identity, luck, integrity, loyalty, circumstance, and survival. (LOL: etc, etc, etc. Yes, it’s about everything! This book is literally about everything.)...more
I've thrown heaps of praise at Tana French, going so far as to call her my favorite contemporary author. While this still holds true, Jhumpa Lahiri isI've thrown heaps of praise at Tana French, going so far as to call her my favorite contemporary author. While this still holds true, Jhumpa Lahiri is the sleeping giant (I mean, for me. Not for America. America already knows and loves Jhumpa Lahiri). This marks my third read by Lahiri (the first, The Namesake is one of my favorite novels of all time, and the second, Interpreter of Maladies, a collection of short stories--not normally my thing--was also delightful. With Unaccustomed Earth, I'm back to the short story format, and I'm left scratching my head as to why I've mostly avoided the genre for so long. The stories are that good, and that absorbing. And while there is often an unsettling undercurrent throughout Lahiri's work, there is also something immediately comforting about her precise language and grammar, and her celebration of ordinary moments.
Favorite stories include "Unaccustomed Earth" and "Hell-Heaven" and basically all of Part 2. 5 shining stars....more
Essentially, it's about a crazy missionary who moves his family from Georgia to the Congo in the 60s. He's all like, This book was pretty magnificent.
Essentially, it's about a crazy missionary who moves his family from Georgia to the Congo in the 60s. He's all like, "Jesus Saves!" And his children are all like, "...Daddy, I have malaria."
The Price Family: Nathan (crazy missionary), Orleanna (the wife and mother, who is not quite sure how she came to be in the Congo) and their four daughters: Rachel, Leah, Adah and Ruth May. All have a turn at first-person narration except for Nathan.
The strength of the book lies in author Barbara Kingsolver's complete and utter commitment to each woman's unique voice: the guilt-ridden Orleanna, the strong and outspoken Leah, the vapid and materialistic Rachel, the brilliant hemiplegic Adah, and the young, spirited Ruth May.
Kingsolver weaves the political turmoil in the Congo throughout the novel, and uses the family's narrative voices to illustrate the differing views to such a complicated plight: e.g., you have the objective observer, the ugly American, the conscious participant, etc.
There are symbols and themes galore in here, enough to have a field-day and write pages and pages. When I started to have an inkling at what Kingsolver was going for, I was pretty much in awe: the book is a scathing indictment of American colonialism: our superiority and blind arrogance, best embodied by pretty much anything Nathan does throughout the book. But the writing never felt overdone, or show-offy. It's above anything, just a brilliant, solid story.
This is the kind of book that makes my heart soar. Quirky characters with soul. Think A Man Called Ove meets The Rosie Project meets the wonderful lilThis is the kind of book that makes my heart soar. Quirky characters with soul. Think A Man Called Ove meets The Rosie Project meets the wonderful lil indie movie The Station Agent (starring the fantastic Peter Dinklage pre-Tyrion days). This novel may not have been Faulkner, but it's exactly what I wanted (and needed, if anyone is familiar with my Shogun rut).
Oh Eleanor: Your way of looking at the world is so wonderful. As Raymond so eloquently puts it, "You just don't give a f*ck." Except you do. You do, and you desperately want to know the right way to navigate through this messy world. And through actions you don't even quite understand, you are pulling yourself out of the ashes.
Raymond: Who doesn't want a Raymond in their life? (Does anyone else cast a movie while they're reading it? I immediately cast you as Chris O'Dowd--the cop with the heart of gold in the movie Bridesmaids). You grounded the book and held your own in every scene against Eleanor's batshit crazy.
Glenn: You scene-stealer, you.
Cathleen McCarron: Bravo for your marvelous audiobook performance.
To give this little book less than 5 stars would be the epitome of unfairness, based on how it made me feel. This book sent me on a 3-hour walk, just so I could keep listening to it: I laughed. I cried. I know people say this all the time and it's cliche, but I truly wished it would never end....more
I'm a sucker for books about the triumph of the human spirit. This is "that" triumph. Thank you, Goodreads. Not only did I finally win a giveaway, I wI'm a sucker for books about the triumph of the human spirit. This is "that" triumph. Thank you, Goodreads. Not only did I finally win a giveaway, I won what turned out to be one of my favorite books of all time.
At around 3 am last night, my husband picked his head up from his pillow, and witnessed me huddled under my small light, tears streaming down my face, book in hand. "Seriously?" he said.
Seriously. This is my first John Boyne, and what an absolute powerhouse. Can't wait to read the rest of his work. Given the high rating, and some stellar reviews from peers on this site, I had pretty high expectations going in (yet still managed not to know much about the plot). The book delivered immediately: the setting, 1945 Ireland, where our narrator, Cyril Avery, recounts the heartbreaking story of his own birth. It's one of the strongest openings I've read, and, I'll admit, the next few sections paled in comparison. (I found Cyril's odd relationship with adoptive parents Charles and Maude a tough juxtaposition to the sombreness of the previous section; any attempt at humor fell flat here.) However...
Once Cyril reaches early adulthood I found the 600-page novel unputdownable. It's an odyssey through Ireland, the cruelty and hypocrisy of the Catholic Church, and the AIDS crises in America. Despite the grave subject matter, the book manages to strike multiple humorous notes thanks to Cyril's witty dialogue (especially between him and Alice). God, I loved Cyril. Seventy years with him was far too short.
I'd recommend this book to just about anyone with a pulse. Believe the hype, folks....more
No interrogation scene in the history of interrogation scenes has anything on Tana French. Lt. Kaffee? May haFair play to ye, Tana French. Fair. Play.
No interrogation scene in the history of interrogation scenes has anything on Tana French. Lt. Kaffee? May has well have been asking Colonel Jessup if he ordered a burger. Mr. Blonde? Clipping his fingernails. Verbal Kint? That annoying guy at the party you innocently ask about the weather and two hours later he's still talking. Sharon Stone? Got her doctor appointments mixed up again, bless her heart. Yawn.
While I'll always have a soft spot for In the Woods, this may be French's best work to date. I know; I'm basically a groupie at this point. Six books, 5 stars for each one. But I can't stop drinking the kool aid. Each of Tana's novels is a powerhouse of precision, thoughtfulness, passion, craft, etc., etc., etc., Each finds a new way to suck me in. Each makes me really feel. (Sometimes, uncomfortably so.)
It comes as no surprise that Tana’s next book, the already-hyped The Witch Elm, will be a departure from her Dublin Murder Squad series. Both French's fourth novel, Broken Harbour (the creepiest of the lot), and her fifth, The Secret Place, which flirts with the supernatural and unfolds impressively over the course of one day, hint at the author looking to flex her writing chops, and refusing to be pigeonholed into a one-note detective series. (Let's be clear, though: Nothing about the Dublin Murder Squad would ever really be considered "one-note." I'm merely stating that I appreciate her efforts to branch out.)
The Trespasser is French’s biggest departure thus far. The novel is narrated by Antoinette Conway, who was featured heavily in Book 5, as then-narrator Stephen Moran’s partner. But while Conway now has her turn at the helm, this is a “partner” book, through and through: you get glimpses of what makes Conway tick and glimpses of what makes Moran tick. But there’s never that shining trademark spotlight on Conway. In some ways, given what we learn motivates Conway—the case, the work, the facts—it’s no surprise: Screw introspection, the past, the future, friends, personal life, not to mention help of any kind; let’s fucking solve this fucker and be done with it.
The importance of sticking to the facts and solving this fucker means that this book is also about 90 percent dialogue. Which made for slow-going initially, slogging through police procedural (the murder of a young, pretty blonde in her home, next to a dining room table set for two), the gathering of evidence, and interviews that often turn up diddlysquat. But the dialogue builds so beautifully and intensely, with interrogations getting more and more exhilarating as the duo hones in on the killer, the payoff—oh, the payoff—is nothing short of earth-shattering....more
I happened upon Octavia Butler last year with The Parable of the Sower. Was just looking for some post-apocalyptThe first 5-star read of 2017. Easily.
I happened upon Octavia Butler last year with The Parable of the Sower. Was just looking for some post-apocalyptic fiction; didn't know what Earthseed was and didn't know that the novel was written by one of the most prolific, acclaimed science fiction writers of our time (and an African American woman, pretty rare in the sci-fi genre). I gobbled up Sower, went on to Parable of the Talents, and then sadly, had to take a moment to mourn the brilliant Ms. Butler, when I discovered she passed in 2006, before writing the last novel in her Earthseed trilogy.
As I've become more involved in the Goodreads community, I was delighted to discover Butler's books on almost every list of my fellow respected Goodreaders; one in particular kept coming up over and over: Kindred. And I can see why now.
Kindred is so much more than sci-fi. It's more than time travel. It was much more than The Underground Railroad was able to get me to feel. First published in 1979, the present day narrative still resonates; the time travel to 1815 Maryland is still scary as hell. The characters are still rich and complicated. I found myself completely engrossed in the story and wondering if/when Dana would ever be able to return to her present day--in one piece. ...and at what cost.
Wonderful book, told masterfully by Butler....more
There are books. And there are books. And then there are masterpieces.
Despite my ever-growing reading queue, on the last page of this novel, I flippedThere are books. And there are books. And then there are masterpieces.
Despite my ever-growing reading queue, on the last page of this novel, I flipped back to page 1, starting over again.
It’s such a pleasure to know that in 40 years—probably 35 of them with my nose in books—I’ve never come across a character as joyful, charming, or clever as the Count. A man of taste, of principle, of appreciation; someone who learns to master his circumstances before they master him.
Every sentence is a gem. When the Count is sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow, the first thing he discovers upon his arrival back to the hotel is that the staff have moved his belongings from his suite to “new quarters” on the sixth floor, a 100-foot room. (’So that’s their game,’ thought the Count.)
An hour later, the Count bounced twice on his new mattress to identify the key of the bedsprings (G-sharp)....
I mean, nothing gets this guy down.
There are a vibrant cast of characters within the Metropol’s walls, all dear friends of the Count and his partners-in-crime: Andrey, the maitre de of the Boyarsky (the restaurant in the Metropol), Emile the moody chef, Marina the seamstress, and Vasily the concierge. Of course, there is also Nina. Anna. Sofia. There are wonderfully-described meals, like the bouillabaisse that takes three years to finally execute (the amount of time it takes to appropriate the ingredients), or the Latvian stew and bottle of Mukuzani the Count ends up ordering for himself after he suggests it to a couple dining next to him (who are being offered the wrong wine pairing—the indignity!) and then becomes enchanted by his own suggestion.
With the Count, every day is to be savored, every inconvenience or interruption an opportunity for congenial company and conversation, every uncertainty a moment “for a bold new life that we had meant to lead all along.”
To the Count: I salute you, sir.
To Amor Towles: Thank you for such a beautiful book.
Man. HELLO Tana French, my newest girl crush. You sure can write.
I was up until 2 a.m. finishing this book. I knew I had to finish it, because during Man. HELLO Tana French, my newest girl crush. You sure can write.
I was up until 2 a.m. finishing this book. I knew I had to finish it, because during work earlier that same day, I was constantly thinking about it, and beyond tempted to Google how it ended. I knew I wouldn't last another work day.
Around 2:30 a.m. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, mourning the end of such a great read, and the soul-crushing journey of Rob and Cassie. I had such a feeling of loss at the end. I never got into HBO's "True Detective," but I saw a few clips of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson looking drained and shells of their previous selves in flash-forwards, talking about the case that did them in years before. This book did a great job of similarly showing the effect of working a murder case. Rob's narration was spot-on for "the murder detective with baggage," but French never lets things get cliche: he is often funny, occasionally unreliable, and when things really starts hitting the fan, reminiscent of Raskolnikov.
I've taken care to keep this spoiler-free; I like to go into books with as little knowledge about the actual plot as possible: but I will say that the section where Rob returns to the woods in the hopes of gaining new insight to his case, left me with actual goosebumps.
Can't wait to see what French will do with the rest of the The Dublin Murder Squad series....more
I'd give this book six stars if I could. A real page-turner, couldn't stop reading it. I read it over the course of a few days, and all I could think I'd give this book six stars if I could. A real page-turner, couldn't stop reading it. I read it over the course of a few days, and all I could think about while I WASN'T reading it, was what was happening with Isabelle and Vianne. Reading this book was exhausting, stressful, satisfying, entertaining, gut-wrenching. All of that. Haven't felt so drawn to two made-up literary characters this intensely since Henry and Clare in "The Time Traveler's Wife" and Dex and Emma in "One Day."...more
Wow. Just plain wow. I read this 700+ page book in about 24 hours. I was warned by the many reviews (along with the not-so-subtle cover) that it was dWow. Just plain wow. I read this 700+ page book in about 24 hours. I was warned by the many reviews (along with the not-so-subtle cover) that it was depressing and yes, while "The Happy Years" were especially horrifyingly depressing, the first quarter of the book painted such a wonderfully vivid and sweet picture of friendship and loyalty, it was easy early on to forgive the sad parts and even feel optimistic. As the "sad" got sadder and more depressing, however, there was a point where I started to get angry with the book. In the end, not an easy read (I had to stop at one point, just to collect myself, and then realized happy or sad, I wouldn't be able to focus on anything else until I knew how the book ended). The writing was so intense, so raw, I'm sure I'll never forget Jude or Willem or Andy or Harold. I felt exhausted reading this story, similar to how I felt while reading Donna Tart's The Goldfinch. (As an aside, the attention to detail-law, art, architecture, math theory--was also similar to reading Tart.)...more
I remember once, fresh out of college, telling a former boss that the music he listened to just didn't do it for me. I said I liked my music "tidier."I remember once, fresh out of college, telling a former boss that the music he listened to just didn't do it for me. I said I liked my music "tidier." I saw the disappointment/pity wash over his face.
I wish I could tell him now, 20 years later, that I appreciate less produced, less polished tracks. And that I adore the deliciously messy world of Lionel Shriver.
If you want to read about my girl crush on Lionel, it's documented here, an ode published shortly after reading one of Shriver's more challenging novels.
Let's just say that after The Post-Birthday World, my fifth read by Shriver, my crush is cemented, alive and kicking, right beside Tana French and Jhumpa Lahiri.
Shriver paints an uncomfortable world, with flawed, unlikable characters: ones you are ashamed you can relate to. And while her books are sometimes longer than they need to be, or you don't agree with a turn here or there, they are all so original and brilliant, I can't bring myself to nitpick at anything.
I'm surprised it took me so long to get to this one, as the premise is probably the most mainstream and accessible of all Shriver's subject matter: infidelity (well, infidelity and the decidedly less mainstream British cue sport snooker) - the choices we make, and the choices we live with. Ultimately, what is the right choice? Can we ever know, or be satisfied? What if we went back to the pivotal moment and we followed both branches, like that Sliding Doors movie, so we can see the future out?
Well, that's the ride that Shriver takes us on, and what a meandering, bumpy, crazy ride it is. You'll get carsick, the cops might even pull you over, but ultimately it's a joyride, and a profound one at that.
5 shining stars, but be forewarned: Shriver doesn't play it safe enough to please everyone. Read it, don't read it, do what you want. I won't be blamed if you're offended by Shriver's balls (the snooker balls, you pervs)....more
So, so good. Some of the cheesy '70s stuff is why this wasn't 5 stars. If you think of this as a 4-part read, part 1 is good, 2 and 3 are amazing, andSo, so good. Some of the cheesy '70s stuff is why this wasn't 5 stars. If you think of this as a 4-part read, part 1 is good, 2 and 3 are amazing, and 4 loses a little steam. Part 3 reminded me of early "Walking Dead" with 4 a little too much like Walking Dead when that guy with the eyepatch showed up: still: sci-fi, pre and post apocalyptic fiction. Good, solid stuff. The authors obviously REALLY thought about all the what-ifs. Didn't want it to end. Excited to try Ringworld and The Mote in God's Eye....more
I loved this book so much. Norman! Was reading this at the airport and had to put it away when I realized I was crying (happy and sad tears in numerouI loved this book so much. Norman! Was reading this at the airport and had to put it away when I realized I was crying (happy and sad tears in numerous places). This would make an adorable movie. Especially whoever they cast as Norman....more
This heartwarming (albeit somewhat predictable) gem cannot be awarded any less than five shining stars. Because I have a soul, goddamit. It has an “ouThis heartwarming (albeit somewhat predictable) gem cannot be awarded any less than five shining stars. Because I have a soul, goddamit. It has an “outcast figure” (in this case, a curmudgeon) who learns to love again. It made me feel. It made my eyes water. I finished it in two nights.
Outcasts that undergo transformations are always a winning formula (Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Accidental Tourist, A Man Called Ove, The Rosie Project, Wonder, She’s Come Undone: If these books warmed your heart as well, A.J. Fikry is going to be your jam. (If, on the other hand, you threw up a little bit in your mouth, I’m going to wager you can safely give this one a pass.)
Was this the perfect read? Nah. I found the first half a little stronger than the second (there’s an unneeded, distracting contrivance surrounding Maya’s past, and certain sections felt a bit rushed). But I adored the story as a whole. Some of the one-liners uttered by AJ (said curmudgeon/widow/owner of an off-the-map bookstore) made me laugh out loud. All of the supporting characters, especially Lambiase, the well-intentioned cop who always found himself entangled in A.J.’s drama, were memorable. And while I can understand why some might be turned off by the ample literary references, I loved them all (some were obscure, too; I appreciated that author Gabrielle Zevin didn’t pander): The Book Thief reference was hysterical, as were A.J.’s thoughts on Infinite Jest, and all of the A Good Man is Hard to Find mentions were unbelievable sweet (like a nail polish: A Good Mandarin is Hard to Find).
Ultimately, this was an ode to books and the special place they have in our lives....more
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