A memoir told in letters. Emezi ruminates on topics of identity, gender, humanity, fame, love, family and more in these missives to loved ones, heroesA memoir told in letters. Emezi ruminates on topics of identity, gender, humanity, fame, love, family and more in these missives to loved ones, heroes, gods, etc.
I found the candor with which Emezi writes, as they always do, to be admirable, if not a bit opaque at times. Because each letter addresses different people and covers different topics, I found some more interesting than others, and some more vulnerable than others which I appreciated. I think it's an interesting technique/approach to a memoir, but didn't coalesce into a complete narrative like I'd prefer.
I also struggled at times to understand their thinking because they write so beautifully it feels like it overtakes the message. Still, quite enjoyable prose to read, but I think I prefer their fiction. I'm glad I read Freshwater (which is *excellent* btw) before this to get a glimpse of the topics Emezi is interested in, and a bit more about their life through their storytelling....more
Not quite sure how this got nominated for the International Booker Prize, if I'm being honest. It's a 'mystery' (and I use that term lightly because tNot quite sure how this got nominated for the International Booker Prize, if I'm being honest. It's a 'mystery' (and I use that term lightly because the real mystery of the story doesn't start until well over halfway through the novel) set in 1919 Kyiv and follows a young man who, on the first page, witnesses his father's murder and loses one of his own ears. That ear comes into play in a sort of surreal/fantastical way that assists him in his new role as inspector for the police, a job he falls into unexpectedly.
It's not quite historical fiction focused solely on recreating a time period and examining its impact on the present day (though the tension of this unstable period in Ukrainian history is surely the best part of the novel), and like I said the mystery elements are quite weak. So I just don't see much substance in this story? I can't quite pin down what this book is trying to do and what the judges saw in it. If I were not trying to read the whole longlist, I probably would've given up on this one by the halfway mark......more
A harrowing account of a crime committed against a Palestinian woman in the wake of the Nakba. In precise language and vivid imagery, Shibli asks us tA harrowing account of a crime committed against a Palestinian woman in the wake of the Nakba. In precise language and vivid imagery, Shibli asks us to question what we choose to focus on in the midst of war and subjugation and what compels us to notice and take action. It's a brief but powerful story rendered in two parts that come together with devastating parallels and disturbing resonance. ...more
Set on a train bound for Vladivostok in eastern Russia, Maylis de Kerangal's economical novel follows Aliocha and Helene, a Russian conscript and FrenSet on a train bound for Vladivostok in eastern Russia, Maylis de Kerangal's economical novel follows Aliocha and Helene, a Russian conscript and French woman respectively, both on the run from inevitabilities.
Beautifully translated by Jessica Moore, the story unfurls over a few days on the train as Aliocha realizes his fate as a conscript will lead him to the barren wasteland of Siberia, and Helene abandons her lover Anton after following him from Paris to the middle of nowhere. Both bound for something they can call home, both literally or figuratively, they seek solace and support across language barriers and vast cultural differences.
I listened to this book for a local indie bookstore's book club and am so glad I did. While my initial experience listening left me wanting more, the discussion around this book completely altered and expanded my view of the story. It's quite impressive what de Keranagal can do in so few words and pages. I think if I were to revisit this book I'd have an even greater appreciation for it. ...more
When Marianne is eight years old, her mother disappears. Over the next few decades in various ways, Marianne tri[Longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize]
When Marianne is eight years old, her mother disappears. Over the next few decades in various ways, Marianne tries to cope with this loss, seeking solace in a medieval poem, wayward friendships, one night stands, and even the birth of her own daughter. But how does remembering the ones we loved, excavating the memories for potential answers of what happened, keep us from seeing what's right in front of us? And what happens when the answers you are looking for don't necessarily match up with the memories you've held so close for so long?
This was a beautiful and moving meditation on grief and loss written in a poetic, but still very grounded style. Laura Brydon narrated the audiobook I listened to which was fantastic. She performed that story, embodying Marianne's feelings so well. I swear near the end it sounded like *she* was getting choked up, and subsequently so was I.
There was just enough flower language to impress me but not to detract from the heart of the story, and how much heart there is in this book. I find when poets turn to long-form fiction, it can be hit or miss. This was a hit, for sure. Sian Hughes' prose was phenomenal, playful, inventive, and invigorating. But the story didn't suffer for that. I loved how it came full circle. I think the use of first person narration here was extremely powerful and effective.
I can't say enough good things about this one! I was tempted to start over right after finishing it, if that says anything about how I enjoyed it. Definitely one I can see myself reading again in the future. ...more
Shawn Matthews is a Black man living in Los Angeles in 2019, still reeling from a tragedy that struck his family almost 30 years before.
Grace Park isShawn Matthews is a Black man living in Los Angeles in 2019, still reeling from a tragedy that struck his family almost 30 years before.
Grace Park is a 27 year old pharmacist living with her parents in the Valley when a violent crime upends her world and causes her to learn hard truths about her family that will leave her questioning everything.
In alternating chapters, Steph Cha's Your House Will Pay explores the effects that both Shawn and Grace experience as their worlds collide.
This is a powerful, tautly written narrative about the injustices of the United States legal system, racism, and the lingering effects of trauma as it trickles down through generations. It's a messy, complicated and realistic portrayal of radical forgiveness, but also anger and frustration at how wrongly certain people are treated for crimes they never committed.
I'd highly recommend this, especially for a book club! It would make for a really interesting discussion with many avenues to explore....more
This was pitched to me as 'novel through short stories' but really I'd say it's not quite novel OR short story c[Longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize]
This was pitched to me as 'novel through short stories' but really I'd say it's not quite novel OR short story collection. The stories nearly all are told from our main character Trelawny's perspective. Out of the eight 'stories' in this collection, we get three told from other POVs: his father, brother, and cousin. The stories mainly deal with father/son dynamics, as well as race and nationality, particularly for immigrants and their children.
I really enjoyed all the separate elements of this book. The writing was strong; the characters felt real (though I wanted more from each of them, a trade-off of writing a novel in short stories rather than focusing on developing one or two of the characters deeper); and the themes/ideas explored were interesting.
Sadly, it all just didn't quite come together for me as a cohesive piece of fiction. The chapters didn't so much feel like standalone stories when they focused on Trelawny because his story pervades the entire novel. The individual characters (his father, brother, and cousin) who get their own stories felt more complete and enjoyable on their own. But mixing them into Trelawny's story randomly didn't always feel effective or necessary. I would've rather each chapter be told from a different POV except Trewlany, to craft a chorus of voices speaking to his experiences; or I would've rather only focused on his story and his perspective. I will say, I did enjoy the use of the 2nd person perspective in Trelawny's stories a lot. That's hard to pull off well and Escoffery managed to make it feel really engaging and personal.
All in all, my feelings about this one are mixed. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I would recommend if you are looking for stories that focus on father/son dynamics in literary fiction and books that discuss race, nationality and immigration....more
Drawing inspiration from the the true history of Malaga Island, Paul Harding's third novel, This Other Eden exam[Longlisted for the 2023 Booker Prize]
Drawing inspiration from the the true history of Malaga Island, Paul Harding's third novel, This Other Eden examines what happens when societal standards, driven by the rise of eugenics, phrenology, and social Darwinism, are forced on a rural post-Civil War integrated community.
Apple Island off the coast of Maine is inhabited by a lively and diverse mix of people. Esther Honey, the matriarch, and her son Eha seem to lead the community. His son, Ethan, a talented artist and daughters, Charlotte and Tabitha, also reside on the island along with Zachary 'Hand to God' Proverbs, an elderly man who lives in a hollowed out tree trunk. There's Theophilus and Candace Lark, brother and sister who happen to also be husband and wife, raising their children alongside the McDermott sisters, Violet and Iris, and the three Penobscot children they've adopted.
The story starts in the early 1800s when a vicious flood devastates the island inhabited by the founder, Benjamin Honey, a freed Black man, and his Irish immigrant wife, Patience. Esther and Eha are descendants of the founding family, and over the decades between them the island has become populated with the above mentioned mix of families.
Harding's writing is lyrical and flowing. It seems to stream from the land itself and the character's inner thoughts. Listening to the story via audiobook made this a very immersive and interesting, if not at times a bit confusing, experience. I did have to rewind occasionally to keep track of the sentence and where it was headed.
I found the social concepts and themes as well as the religious/biblical allusions fascinating. Harding draws a lot of parallels between Esther and Moses, the island's inhabitants and the Hebrews in the wilderness, the great flood and Noah's ark to the floods and the island itself, etc. Beyond that, though, I felt the story lacked a bit. Thankfully the book itself is quite short, just over 200 pages, so the plotlessness never dragged it down too much.
I can see from the writing itself which is very masterful and the ideas this book explores why this book was selected by the Booker committee. I think this is one perhaps that would be rewarded with a re-read, and I'm eager to discuss it with book club. Perhaps, like Hernan Diaz's Trust last year, I will walk away from that discussion with even more appreciation for the text....more
Set in the early summer of 2020, Ann Patchett's ninth novel once again tackles the messy nature of family life and how our hold of the past can shape Set in the early summer of 2020, Ann Patchett's ninth novel once again tackles the messy nature of family life and how our hold of the past can shape or mar our present experience, depending on our point of view.
Lara is a mother of a three and married to a cherry farmer in Michigan. She spends a week or two recounting the summer she spent performing in a production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town and falling in love with Peter Duke, who would go on to become a famous movie star, at the eponymous Tom Lake.
Patchett expertly weaves together the past and present, having the daughters interject and question their mother, and then pulling as back into Lara's recollections.
The prose is cozy, warm and rose-colored. But Patchett doesn't sit in that space for too long, letting Lara give the reader's more information than she does her daughters. It's in the telling that the story is shaped and asks: can we be happy with a life when we know there is another one we might have lived?
I laughed out loud many times during this story, and also got chills from its sobriety. We all can remember how it felt in the early days of the pandemic, how fragile life seemed, like a wispy cherry blossom falling from a gnarled branch. And yet there isn't despair in this story. Like in Our Town, life ends in a cemetery, and so too does this story; but not, perhaps, how you think.
I perhaps struggled a bit with the ending, as I do sometimes with life and its cliches. But they are cliches for a reason, and while it could have felt avoidable, I choose to believe Patchett, in her many years of living, loving and writing, chose to end things as she did simply because some things in life are unavoidable. It's simply what you choose to pay attention to that ends up feeling, at times, inevitable....more
This started strong but tapered off a bit at the end for me. I think Stiefvater has only gotten stronger since this series in not only her writing (evThis started strong but tapered off a bit at the end for me. I think Stiefvater has only gotten stronger since this series in not only her writing (evidence of which you can definitely see here) but also her character development. I liked but didn't *love* any of the characters in this series, and her characters are usually what make me fall for her stories. So in this one I kept reading because I was intrigued by the plot and it was enjoyable enough. While not a series I see myself ever returning to, I'm glad I have finally read it!...more
I enjoyed this book a lot and I think it all makes sense for the arc of the trilogy but it definitely veers into middle book syndrome at times. IsabelI enjoyed this book a lot and I think it all makes sense for the arc of the trilogy but it definitely veers into middle book syndrome at times. Isabel & Cole are far more interesting than the main characters, Sam & Grace. But the ending!! I am intrigued. Will be diving right into the last book immediately. ...more
I fully recognize that if any other author’s name was on this book I probably would never in a million years pick this up. A YA werewolf romance from I fully recognize that if any other author’s name was on this book I probably would never in a million years pick this up. A YA werewolf romance from 2009?? Absolutely not in my wheelhouses. BUT it’s Maggie and it has her quintessential wit, atmospheric writing, obsession with painting and poetry and cars, and that magical quality she has that just pulls me in.
I’m not even gonna bother recapping the story in this review because so many people have read this book (like more than a decade ago lol). I will say I found the first 25% or so to be kind of slow but once I realized this was basically an intro to the world and had a minor plot and was more character-focused, I started to get more into it.
Also the audiobook narrators are SO, SO good. They performed this story and their voices fit the characters so well. There’s one narrator for Grace (Jenna Lamia) and one for Sam (David Ledoux) which I really liked as well. Dual perspectives with two narrators is the best.
I will be diving into the rest of the series ASAP. Continuing with the audiobooks for sure. ...more
I don't know how to rate this book because my experience of this book and enjoyment of it does not reflect on the quality of the book itself. I listenI don't know how to rate this book because my experience of this book and enjoyment of it does not reflect on the quality of the book itself. I listened to this for a specific reason and otherwise would have probably given up after a few chapters because it wasn't what I expected. That being said, if you love 1970s cinema as much as Tarantino, and you care to read essays about some of his favorite films from that time period, then you might enjoy this a lot. He's clearly passionate about the subject, but for me it was like listening to an expert talk about something you really have no concern for or no understanding of, and so most of it was met with my reaction of "...and?" That's why I don't want to be critical of the book because it definitely does a good job at what it sets out to do. I just was not the intended audience. I would not pick this book up just because you like the author. If you do want to read it, take a look at the table of contents and see if you have seen any of the films it mentions. I, unfortunately, don't think I'd seen a single film he talked about so a lot of it was just lost on me. Also the audiobook says its narrated by the author and one other person, which is true, but he just narrates the first and last chapters, and the other narrator reads 90% of the book which was a bit disappointing....more
If you've ever been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you've likely been overwhelmed by its size and coverage of so much of human history through theIf you've ever been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you've likely been overwhelmed by its size and coverage of so much of human history through the lens of art and artifacts. In this memoir recounting his tenure as a guard at the Met, Patrick Bringley presents a story of grief and healing through the mundane and miraculous experience of being: being alive, being a human, being an observer of art and other humans. Through the everyday occurrences to the once-in-a-lifetime moments, Bringley takes us behind the curtain of working at the Met, while showing how his work there helped him process the death of his brother.
I really loved this book. Not only because I love art and art history, and having visited the Met a few times in my life, love it as well. But also because Bringley brings such a gentle passion for art and humanity in a way that makes places like the Met feel more accessible and intimate. He doesn't have a snobby approach to art one might expect from someone who spent nearly a decade working at one of the world's most renowned museums. He provides examples and instructions for how to have a personal experience in such a crowded place. He recounts his own precious moments in the museum, with the other guards, and with guests he encounters over his years there.
Plus, his writing is beautiful and the audiobook narration which he does himself feels so personal. I only wish I had the physical book to see the works of art he constantly references, though I did some of my own Googling along the way.
This is for fans of people watching, those seeking a little dose of inspiration, anyone who needs a reminder that life is short but precious and worth living fully, anyone struggling to balance stillness and productivity, and lovers, of course, of the Met and art history.
--- Quotes:
"Much of the greatest art, I find, seeks to remind us of the obvious. 'This is real,' is all it says. Take the time to stop and imagine more fully the things you already know."
"A scene of this type is called an 'adoration,' and I held the rather beautiful word in my mind. How useful a name for a kind of tender worship that arises in such a moment. We are silenced by such a vision, softened, made penetrable by what is vibrant and unhidden, but felt only weakly amid the clamor of everyday life. We need no explanation of our adored object. Adding context could only obscure it's plain and somehow unmysterious mystery."
"When we adore, we apprehend beauty. When we lament, we see the wisdom of the ancient adage, 'Life is suffering.' A great painting can look like a slab of sheer bedrock; a piece of reality too stark and direct and poignant for words."
"On and off I have been reading a book about Egyptian history, and I am reminded again how different are the experiences of reading books and looking at art. The book's information has pushed my knowledge of Egypt forward. By contrast, coming into contact with an actual fragment of Egypt seems mostly to hang me up. This is an essential aspect of a work of art. You can't empty it of its contents and patly move on. It seems to scorn a world where knowing a few bullet points of a subject is counted the least bit impressive. Indeed, bullet points are what it won't spew. A work of art tends to speak of things that are at once too large and too intimate to be summed up, and they speak of them by not speaking at all."
"In time I develop a method for approaching a work of art. I resist the temptation to hunt right away for something singular about a work, the big deal that draws the focus of textbook writers. To look for distinctive characteristics is to ignore the greater part of what a work of art is."
"I believe we take art seriously when we try to discern at close quarters it reveals."
"It occurs to me that it isn't enough to learn from finished works of art in all their apparent perfection. I should keep in mind the toil these works entail. One good reason to look at someone else's creation is because you are studying how you might build something yourself. And for the first time in my life, really, I feel as if I am building something. In a terribly inelegant, ad hoc process I am building two little humans, and I am making the little world I would wish them to live in, a project that can't be perfected or finished."...more
I absolutely loved Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, especially listening to her read the audiobook. So I was excited to listen to another book from I absolutely loved Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, especially listening to her read the audiobook. So I was excited to listen to another book from her which is more of a self-improvement, non-fiction rather than a personal history. Though I will say I was pleasantly surprised that a large portion of this book is still memoir-esque. She takes the reader through 10 different lessons or ideas for how we overcome obstacles in life and embrace the messiness, while relaying stories of her life and using her own experience as examples. I enjoyed this book a lot but I didn't love it, mostly because self-help isn't really my thing. I absolutely would never have read this book if anyone else had written it, but because I enjoy hearing her wisdom and perspective so much it really made the book enjoyable for me. All in all, this is one I'd recommend to people who are looking for a motivational, inspirational self-help with a touch of memoir in it. ...more
A wonderful blend of science, history and memoir. The audiobook was incredible (and only 5 hours!). Cannot recommend this one enough, to pretty much aA wonderful blend of science, history and memoir. The audiobook was incredible (and only 5 hours!). Cannot recommend this one enough, to pretty much any and all readers! ...more
A compelling, harrowing memoir of child stardom and abuse. Jennette McCurdy holds nothing back in this examination on her relationship to the monstrouA compelling, harrowing memoir of child stardom and abuse. Jennette McCurdy holds nothing back in this examination on her relationship to the monstrous industry and mother that made her the star she is today—but at what cost?
I found myself far more interested in the times when McCurdy took a step back and reflected on the effects of these experiences, far more than simply describing what was going on. I wish there had been more of that.
I’d recommend the audiobook for sure if you pick this one up. Her reading of it is engaging and quite emotional at times. ...more
So my biggest issue with this book is that it made me feeling NOTHING. I got to the end and thought, "Okay...?" I really have no review for this. She'So my biggest issue with this book is that it made me feeling NOTHING. I got to the end and thought, "Okay...?" I really have no review for this. She's not a bad writer, but the characters meant nothing to me, the plot was not interesting at all. It feels like a story/idea I've read many times before but just not unique or excellent enough to stand out. It feels harsh giving this 2 stars, since I didn't actively hate this book, but for me there was nothing about this that made me particularly like it either. I get why the average rating is 2.8 stars. ...more
Kind of underwhelmed by the ending. Very unsure what the author was trying to say with this story. I kept reading expecting some sort of subversion ofKind of underwhelmed by the ending. Very unsure what the author was trying to say with this story. I kept reading expecting some sort of subversion of expectations. But nope. It oddly enough felt like a white savior story? And I was anticipating some sort of dismantling of that, but it never went there. I have to think about this one more! I’ll be interested in talking about it with book club for sure. Might have to update my review once I’ve resolved some of my feelings about it. ...more
Lots to unpack here! Definitely read the short story and then go back and read Zadie Smith's introduction. I might even re-read the short story portioLots to unpack here! Definitely read the short story and then go back and read Zadie Smith's introduction. I might even re-read the short story portion after having read Smith's commentary! She is very insightful.
I love what Morrison is doing here. A sort of experiment where the reader never knows the racial identity of either of the characters—but we do know one is black and one is white.
Twyla and Roberta lived together for a short while when they were 8 years old in a children's home—Twyla, because her mother 'danced all night' and Roberta, because her mother was sick. Eventually they part ways, but over the years they run into each other again and again, and we see these vignettes in their life and how they've grown and changed, but also how they interact on a social and political level. Their shared history, however, is something they cannot reject, as much as they may want to reject the labels, and the effects of those labels, that are put on them by society.
It's easy to want to parse out which character is black and which is white, and I suspect readers may be very split based on their own biases and life experiences. But Morrison doesn't want you to waste your time trying to decipher the 'puzzle' but instead observe, consider, re-consider, and interrogate your own perceptions.
I loved what Zadie Smith said about a shared history must be acknowledged before it can be examined. How can we move forward if we don't see eye to eye on where we've been? This is just one of the many themes in this excellent, clever, and arresting short story from Morrison....more
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