Scan barcode
caseylikekc's reviews
20 reviews
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After having finished the entire series, I think I'm finally ready to review The Poppy War. As the first installment in this trilogy's fantastical alternative retelling of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the development of the PRC, this book pushes the conventions of both historical and speculative fiction to grueling ends. Rin's story (meant to mirror the life of Mao Zedong) and character development is complex and moving in ways I did not expect. Kuang created a cast of characters that constantly challenges readers to see beyond strict binaries of heroism and villainy in favor of moral and emotional complexity. Her understanding of the importance of cultural legacies, trauma, and colonialism in (re)writing a war narrative makes The Poppy War amazingly intense and very very human -- even in the midst of a fiery god.
Despite a largely teenage cast of characters, this is definitely not YA fantasy and trigger warnings for violence, abuse, murder, assault, blood, gore, etc. should definitely be considered before giving this book (and series) a go. Highly recommend the amazing audiobook version, but I am now dying to get my hands on physical copies of the whole series.
Despite a largely teenage cast of characters, this is definitely not YA fantasy and trigger warnings for violence, abuse, murder, assault, blood, gore, etc. should definitely be considered before giving this book (and series) a go. Highly recommend the amazing audiobook version, but I am now dying to get my hands on physical copies of the whole series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Genocide, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Racism, Vomit, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Torture, Rape, Medical content, Gore, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Death, Child death, Blood, Addiction, and Slavery
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I expected a lot more going into this book, based on the unbelievable amount of positive reviews across BookTok and StoryGraph/GoodReads. But it's just not a great book. It's a beach read, for sure, but that ends up being a problem for a book that wants to sound much deeper than it actually is -- and many reviews I came across praised this book for its depth/diversity!
Reid's writing here is repetitive and, frankly, unmoving. One reviewer mentioned that this book had all of the emotional depth of a "live, laugh, love" wall decal, and truly, there's no better way to put it than that. Like, c'mon -- given The Seven Husband's entire premise, setting, and inspirations, at least give us some camp if you won't give us anything meaningful!
I really thought the book was going somewhere throughout the Don Adler chapters, and with the introduction of Celia St. James. But every potentially interesting or high-stakes moment fizzled out so fast that by the end, I had no reason to care about any of the characters (including their successes and misfortunes). Worse than a book that made me mad, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made me feel nothing at all.
Reid's writing here is repetitive and, frankly, unmoving. One reviewer mentioned that this book had all of the emotional depth of a "live, laugh, love" wall decal, and truly, there's no better way to put it than that. Like, c'mon -- given The Seven Husband's entire premise, setting, and inspirations, at least give us some camp if you won't give us anything meaningful!
I really thought the book was going somewhere throughout the Don Adler chapters, and with the introduction of Celia St. James. But every potentially interesting or high-stakes moment fizzled out so fast that by the end, I had no reason to care about any of the characters (including their successes and misfortunes). Worse than a book that made me mad, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo made me feel nothing at all.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An absolute must-read for anyone interested in post-modern trauma, the figure of the "haunted house" in American lit/media, and gothic lit. All our favorite gothic and horror writers love this book for a reason!
Normal People by Sally Rooney
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Starless Sea is a book that's hard to put into words. It's a striking blend of fantasy and metafiction that reflects on the paradoxes of storytelling -- which is really to say, the paradoxes of life, itself. Morgenstern crafts such a complex, imaginative world that is only ever as fleshed out as the story needs it to be. Her writing is both a masterclass in narrative restraint and a love letter to writers, especially those who do not own that title because they don't believe that they can be. (Spoiler: You can be.)
There was a stretch of maybe 70-100 pages in the middle where I wondered if the story had lost its initial spark, but 1. it's a nearly 600 page book and 2. I'm so glad I finished it because the spark was, in fact, still there! Highly recommend, especially for literature/humanities grad students or undergrads lost in the sauce of academia. Let this book remind you of what fiction can do!
There was a stretch of maybe 70-100 pages in the middle where I wondered if the story had lost its initial spark, but 1. it's a nearly 600 page book and 2. I'm so glad I finished it because the spark was, in fact, still there! Highly recommend, especially for literature/humanities grad students or undergrads lost in the sauce of academia. Let this book remind you of what fiction can do!
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't have the words to express how complex and moving The Vanishing Half is. Exposing simultaneously the flexibility and limits of identity, race, family, and belonging, Bennett shifts seamlessly between multiple worlds, times, and perspectives without ever missing a beat or losing the audience in details. In fact, every detail of these characters and their disparate lives feels wholly necessary to understanding who they are or who they want to be (which, as The Vanishing Half knows best, can be the same thing under even unideal circumstances).
Cannot recommend this read highly enough, and can't wait to read Bennett's first novel, The Mothers!
Cannot recommend this read highly enough, and can't wait to read Bennett's first novel, The Mothers!
Hysteria by Jessica Gross
3.0
Initially struck by the cover art/design, I started reading Hysteria in a bookshop and brought it straight to check-out upon reaching page 2. As I read, I kept finding that Gross' prose shines brightest when the unnamed protagonist shifts her attention (and comfort mechanisms) onto ordinary objects: a radiator, a napkin, a biography of Freud, the roof of her own mouth, the rows of clothes in her father's closet, even an ass or two among many myriad parts of her own body and others'. It's those such moments (that often bring on such strong waves of second-hand embarrassment that you wish the book would put itself back on the shelf for a minute) that engrossed me the most, rather than most of the internal or external dialogue, which I often felt to be dry, or at least disjointed from how interesting and truly raw some of Gross' descriptions are.
This initially surprised me about Hysteria but in retrospect I think this was a real strength of the book: we're not given a narrator or a cast that can fully recognize themselves, their desires or actions, let alone each other. Of course the protagonist moves at a practically break-neck pace, often making inexplicable choices that are worthy of a reader's frustration--it's not like her own actions aren't often a mystery to herself. Now having finished Hysteria , this is something I greatly appreciate about Gross' writing.
I did still struggle to maintain interest through the middle chapters of the book (hence the 3 stars), partially on account of feeling disconnected to the protagonist as she moves through the most viscous parts of her spiral before finally confronting Freud. It felt like there were a few missed opportunities to get the reader more immersed in the narrator's increasingly scattered and destructive actions. I think part of it was my own expectation/desire for more stylized writing (especially once Freud finally shows), but who knows!
In other reviews of this book here on GR, a blurb from Courtney Maum on the back cover, as well as in an interview with the LA Review of Books , Gross' debut has been compared to many other narratives of young adult women confronting their needs and skewed relationships with sex, family, etc. (i.e. Fleabag, I May Destroy You, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, among others). The comparisons aren't a mystery by any means, but I would recommend that you veer away from setting up your expectations for the book based on these comparisons alone. Coming in at just 184 pages, Hysteria has to do its work much faster and, frankly, Gross delivers a deeply interesting narrative in her own right.
This initially surprised me about Hysteria but in retrospect I think this was a real strength of the book: we're not given a narrator or a cast that can fully recognize themselves, their desires or actions, let alone each other. Of course the protagonist moves at a practically break-neck pace, often making inexplicable choices that are worthy of a reader's frustration--it's not like her own actions aren't often a mystery to herself. Now having finished Hysteria , this is something I greatly appreciate about Gross' writing.
I did still struggle to maintain interest through the middle chapters of the book (hence the 3 stars), partially on account of feeling disconnected to the protagonist as she moves through the most viscous parts of her spiral before finally confronting Freud. It felt like there were a few missed opportunities to get the reader more immersed in the narrator's increasingly scattered and destructive actions. I think part of it was my own expectation/desire for more stylized writing (especially once Freud finally shows), but who knows!
In other reviews of this book here on GR, a blurb from Courtney Maum on the back cover, as well as in an interview with the LA Review of Books , Gross' debut has been compared to many other narratives of young adult women confronting their needs and skewed relationships with sex, family, etc. (i.e. Fleabag, I May Destroy You, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, among others). The comparisons aren't a mystery by any means, but I would recommend that you veer away from setting up your expectations for the book based on these comparisons alone. Coming in at just 184 pages, Hysteria has to do its work much faster and, frankly, Gross delivers a deeply interesting narrative in her own right.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
5.0
What an amazing book: literally couldn't put it down once I started. Reid's character building is out of this world amazing, something that becomes even more apparent as you approach the book's final pages. The musings and retrospectives on partnership, solitude, fear, what "being" is made of, etc. were entirely inviting in a way that ends up leaving you isolated in the company of your own fears. Reid constantly raises the stakes of the conversations between the main character and Jake as the unclear dangers set before them become more and more frightening. You might not know you're looking for a metafiction psych-thriller, but you should be.
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
5.0
What Yoko Ogawa manages to do within The Memory Police is truly spectacular. Especially compared to a lot of today's dystopian SF, Ogawa's world building is extremely simple, and despite a number of very anxious encounters with the book's titular enforcement agency, the narrative itself churns on with a relatively predictable consistency. What The Memory Police evokes most strongly is an growing sense of dread, loss, and heartache, which only grows stronger with every disappearance and every small moment of hope held quietly within this world. And it was that, oddly enough, which kept me from putting the book down. The inevitability of every loss, and the deepening realization that the power of memory spans far beyond any one object or person, is what drives the story forward, through the very end. During my read, I couldn't help but think of Elizabeth Bishop's poem "One Art," especially during the passages featuring the novel being written by the main character.
Highly recommend to anyone who is especially interested in the impacts of cultural trauma upon memory, survivor's guilt, etc. But also wow--really would recommend this to anyone.
Highly recommend to anyone who is especially interested in the impacts of cultural trauma upon memory, survivor's guilt, etc. But also wow--really would recommend this to anyone.
More...