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booksamongstfriends's reviews
750 reviews
His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie
3.0
Marrying into rich family sounds great at first… but marrying into rich family so you can dissuade the son from the woman he loves…. Not so much
Recitatif by Toni Morrison
5.0
This story will challenge your way of thinking! And what better author than Toni Morrison to do so. Starting from their time in foster care, reading their experiences into adulthood and motherhood, Morrison has you wondering which one is black, and which one is white. Twyla or Roberta. It’s up to us as the reader to decide which is which, never exposed to the truth. Is it the names, their actions, their responses, their mothers…. How do you identify a person?
I have been suggesting this book and boy has it sparked interesting conversation. My godmother and I have been coming back to this for the last few days. My godmother quickly looked at the differences in their mothers, but just as quickly questioned if that was really a telling point. At every page you realize that what is considered “black” or “white” for one person could be argued for southern in certain context. Or religious in another. Just as I knew Twyla was black…. by the end it was clear to me Roberta was instead. At every conversation my mind changed but one in particular stuck out. The Hendrix talk.
I have been suggesting this book and boy has it sparked interesting conversation. My godmother and I have been coming back to this for the last few days. My godmother quickly looked at the differences in their mothers, but just as quickly questioned if that was really a telling point. At every page you realize that what is considered “black” or “white” for one person could be argued for southern in certain context. Or religious in another. Just as I knew Twyla was black…. by the end it was clear to me Roberta was instead. At every conversation my mind changed but one in particular stuck out. The Hendrix talk.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
3.0
I can definitely understand why ratings on this book seem to fall in the middle. I was without a doubt intrigued and curious throughout the entire book, and I will even say I didn’t necessarily mind when the pacing felt a little slow because I was still motivated to find out what was going on and what the cause of all this was. This is why I felt so deflated and frustrated by the end.
Initially, the pacing did not bother me, but it did feel like the story was giving you the bare minimum to drag it along, only to ramp up in the end—and the ending wasn’t even fulfilling. It reminded me of those 10-course menus where every course is so small and just enough to feed that little ounce of hunger. You really think you’re building up to something big, only for them to rush out the final meals and leave you still needing to eat afterwards. So, just like those 10 courses, I ended up leaving unsatisfied at the end of this read.
Initially, the pacing did not bother me, but it did feel like the story was giving you the bare minimum to drag it along, only to ramp up in the end—and the ending wasn’t even fulfilling. It reminded me of those 10-course menus where every course is so small and just enough to feed that little ounce of hunger. You really think you’re building up to something big, only for them to rush out the final meals and leave you still needing to eat afterwards. So, just like those 10 courses, I ended up leaving unsatisfied at the end of this read.
No Place to Bury the Dead by Karina Sainz Borgo
3.0
This was a book I had really high hopes for, but unfortunately, it fell short. I truly appreciated the parallels the author created and the exploration of culture and identity in connection to death, survival, and so much more. However, it felt like the book bit off more than it could chew. While the description and synopsis were captivating, I found myself losing interest as I read. Sadly, none of the characters really stood out, except for the cemetery caretaker.
What could have been a poignant and meaningful narrative about grief, identity, and loss didn’t fully take off until the final third of the book. I think the story would have been much more engaging if it had focused on the initial premise outlined in the synopsis. For instance, the concept of a virus causing memory loss was incredibly intriguing, but it wasn’t explored deeply enough.
While I was let down by the execution, I believe many readers will connect with the heartbreak and despair this story portrays. The author excels at transporting readers to the metaphorical, grim environment they’ve created. But for me, the atmosphere alone wasn’t enough to carry the story. I will still be on the lookout for more from this author as I always appreacite originality and taking risk with concepts and themes.
Thank you to NetGalley & HarperVia for this e-galley.
What could have been a poignant and meaningful narrative about grief, identity, and loss didn’t fully take off until the final third of the book. I think the story would have been much more engaging if it had focused on the initial premise outlined in the synopsis. For instance, the concept of a virus causing memory loss was incredibly intriguing, but it wasn’t explored deeply enough.
While I was let down by the execution, I believe many readers will connect with the heartbreak and despair this story portrays. The author excels at transporting readers to the metaphorical, grim environment they’ve created. But for me, the atmosphere alone wasn’t enough to carry the story. I will still be on the lookout for more from this author as I always appreacite originality and taking risk with concepts and themes.
Thank you to NetGalley & HarperVia for this e-galley.