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boogsbooks's reviews
191 reviews
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell
funny
informative
reflective
4.0
We Were the Universe by Kimberly King Parsons
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Let’s just call this my favorite 2024 release so far.
WWTU centers on Kit, a young mother in Texas who is trying to keep her shit together. She spends her days at home with her exuberant kid, navigating playground politics and trying to find pockets of time for a little adult distraction and relief. She’s screening phone calls from her hoarder mother who has always been a strained, less-than-stellar parent. She’s constantly haunted by memories of her dead sister, Julie.
On a trip to Montana to help her best friend get over his recent heartbreak, a little psychedelic chemistry fuels a full-blown trip of Kit racing back in time to see where it all went wrong with Julie. In the second half, the previous glimpses of the past become all-consuming as Kit can’t escape thoughts of her sister. They are recklessly intrusive, bombarding her mid-thought. In a life of dabbling in drugs and vices, this is one she can’t give up.
WWTU is filled with sex, drugs, and music, but also grief, shame, and exhaustion. Kit is juggling the frustrations and joys of motherhood as she navigates parenting when she never had strong parental figures growing up and so clearly still has an acute desire to be mothered herself. Kit is one of the best characters I’ve read in a minute. She’s messy and makes questionable choices but she’s raw and tangible. I don’t necessarily relate to her specific desires and thoughts, but I fully empathized with the tone of it all.
WWTU centers on Kit, a young mother in Texas who is trying to keep her shit together. She spends her days at home with her exuberant kid, navigating playground politics and trying to find pockets of time for a little adult distraction and relief. She’s screening phone calls from her hoarder mother who has always been a strained, less-than-stellar parent. She’s constantly haunted by memories of her dead sister, Julie.
On a trip to Montana to help her best friend get over his recent heartbreak, a little psychedelic chemistry fuels a full-blown trip of Kit racing back in time to see where it all went wrong with Julie. In the second half, the previous glimpses of the past become all-consuming as Kit can’t escape thoughts of her sister. They are recklessly intrusive, bombarding her mid-thought. In a life of dabbling in drugs and vices, this is one she can’t give up.
WWTU is filled with sex, drugs, and music, but also grief, shame, and exhaustion. Kit is juggling the frustrations and joys of motherhood as she navigates parenting when she never had strong parental figures growing up and so clearly still has an acute desire to be mothered herself. Kit is one of the best characters I’ve read in a minute. She’s messy and makes questionable choices but she’s raw and tangible. I don’t necessarily relate to her specific desires and thoughts, but I fully empathized with the tone of it all.
A Kind of Madness by Uche Okonkwo
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
This debut collection explores the complicated emotions of family, friendship, and cultural expectations in modern-day Nigeria. From trying to climb the social ladder through marriage or ministry or ignoring the class differences between two young friends, Okonkwo uses grace and care to highlight human error and attempts for progress, even if misguided, that drive so many forward in the pursuit of a better life.
This collection fits the tradition of other Nigerian fiction I’ve read. The culture does shine through in practice, though I would have liked a stronger sense of the environment. Based on the title and description - hinging so heavily on madness - I went into this expecting a collection going for the fringes while exploring the raw elements of humanity. You know, one of those "weird" story collections that's a wild ride. This is not that. The “madness” is light and subtle.
The majority of the stories are driven from the perspective of children and I found this an interesting choice. I had a harder time getting into their narratives. There’s something that is almost too precious with them. The stories that weave in adults and their more complicated problems are more memorable.
I’m happy to have experienced Okonkwo’s as a new literary voice and look forward to her future work, hopefully with a bit more meat on the bones. I do think plenty of readers will find this collection enjoyable. If you vibe with books that take a more tender approach to tension and trauma, like PURPLE HIBISCUS, consider picking this up. Thanks to Tin House for the ARC!
This collection fits the tradition of other Nigerian fiction I’ve read. The culture does shine through in practice, though I would have liked a stronger sense of the environment. Based on the title and description - hinging so heavily on madness - I went into this expecting a collection going for the fringes while exploring the raw elements of humanity. You know, one of those "weird" story collections that's a wild ride. This is not that. The “madness” is light and subtle.
The majority of the stories are driven from the perspective of children and I found this an interesting choice. I had a harder time getting into their narratives. There’s something that is almost too precious with them. The stories that weave in adults and their more complicated problems are more memorable.
I’m happy to have experienced Okonkwo’s as a new literary voice and look forward to her future work, hopefully with a bit more meat on the bones. I do think plenty of readers will find this collection enjoyable. If you vibe with books that take a more tender approach to tension and trauma, like PURPLE HIBISCUS, consider picking this up. Thanks to Tin House for the ARC!