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christinecc's reviews
956 reviews
Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A really decent noir with an overarching plot and lots of mini-mysteries stuffed inside, Russian doll-style.
The Continental Op is called to town but his client is already dead when he arrives. The Op proceeds to investigate the murder and, in the process, starts tearing apart the web of organized crime & corrupt officials running the town. Basically he gets everyone fighting and they start killing each other off.
I thought the story was going great until the Op's co-investigator... exited the story, so to speak. Dinah Brand, queen of sass. She's an incredibly human character, hard as nails, someone who knows when not to cross a line but still gets in trouble because she doesn't always get her temper in check. I loved how Dinah and the Op bantered without there being any weirdly sexualized tension or weird descriptions of her body at the expense of her characterization (obviously you can still have very sexy characters, but it feels weird when the character gets... no other attributes).
I continue to be perplexed by the absence of grossly sexist descriptions. It's still a product of its time, but the more I hear people describe how extreme sexualization is totally a product of Golden Age noir lit, the more I squint at said Golden Age noir and go, "hmmm. Not seeing that, but ok." Anyway, I love Dinah, I love her dynamic with the Op, and I really hate that Hammett freaking kills her off. Actually, no. What I hate even more is that the Op... doesn't care? Or react? I'm not expecting crying or drama, but he's not even shaken by it. Hammett gets better at writing more human characters as he goes, and Red Harvest is actually his first novel, published in 1929. So if the characterization pales a little here compared to my favorite Hammett novel, "The Glass Key," that makes sense given that Hammett wrote two other books in the interim and TGK came out in 1931. Not to mention the short stories he also published. Hammett was prolific, guys.
Anyway, it's a fun ride with cool twists and detective work, even with the Op's motives are kind of muddled. Hammett plays fair with the mysteries for the most part, so you can piece together the solution if you pay attention (except for the penultimate one, that was BS, sorry Dashiell).
Recommended if you're a Hammett completionist or just want a fun noir adventure to read.
The Continental Op is called to town but his client is already dead when he arrives. The Op proceeds to investigate the murder and, in the process, starts tearing apart the web of organized crime & corrupt officials running the town. Basically he gets everyone fighting and they start killing each other off.
I thought the story was going great until the Op's co-investigator... exited the story, so to speak.
I continue to be perplexed by the absence of grossly sexist descriptions. It's still a product of its time, but the more I hear people describe how extreme sexualization is totally a product of Golden Age noir lit, the more I squint at said Golden Age noir and go, "hmmm. Not seeing that, but ok." Anyway, I love Dinah, I love her dynamic with the Op, and I really hate that Hammett freaking kills her off. Actually, no. What I hate even more is that the Op... doesn't care? Or react? I'm not expecting crying or drama, but he's not even shaken by it. Hammett gets better at writing more human characters as he goes, and Red Harvest is actually his first novel, published in 1929. So if the characterization pales a little here compared to my favorite Hammett novel, "The Glass Key," that makes sense given that Hammett wrote two other books in the interim and TGK came out in 1931. Not to mention the short stories he also published. Hammett was prolific, guys.
Anyway, it's a fun ride with cool twists and detective work, even with the Op's motives are kind of muddled. Hammett plays fair with the mysteries for the most part, so you can piece together the solution if you pay attention (except for the penultimate one, that was BS, sorry Dashiell).
Recommended if you're a Hammett completionist or just want a fun noir adventure to read.
Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World by Robert Rollinger, Lucinda Dirven, Sara E. Cole, Touraj Daryaee, Timothy Potts, Jeffrey Spier, Miguel John Versluys, Antigoni Zournatzi
challenging
informative
slow-paced
5.0
"Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World" presents Persian history and artifacts through a fascinating lens--namely, through Persia's longstanding relationships with Rome, Greece, and the rest of the classical world.
The book offers both an overview and a fairly specific view of Persian history through a series of essays that provide the reader with the background necessary to contextualize the beautiful photographs and their origins. Naturally, there's a lot (a LOT) of material to cover. Persian history is rife with complex politics, conquest campaigns, various dynasties, and so on. The learning curve might be a little steep for someone entirely new to the subject. That being said, it's a terribly attractive place to start given how clear and erudite the essays are and how beautiful the art is.
Recommended for anyone interested in Persian history, classical antiquity, and art history.
Thank you to Netgalley and Getty Publications at the J. Paul Getty Museum for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book offers both an overview and a fairly specific view of Persian history through a series of essays that provide the reader with the background necessary to contextualize the beautiful photographs and their origins. Naturally, there's a lot (a LOT) of material to cover. Persian history is rife with complex politics, conquest campaigns, various dynasties, and so on. The learning curve might be a little steep for someone entirely new to the subject. That being said, it's a terribly attractive place to start given how clear and erudite the essays are and how beautiful the art is.
Recommended for anyone interested in Persian history, classical antiquity, and art history.
Thank you to Netgalley and Getty Publications at the J. Paul Getty Museum for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Far to Go by Noel Streatfeild
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
A Victorian street & stage adventure starring a daring young girl with (as the title suggests) far to go.
Despite being a sequel to another Noel Streatfeild book, "Far to Go" makes for a great stand-alone novel about Margaret Thursday, a young girl who flees an acting troupe to join a professional theatre in London. Orphaned and armed with a charming story about having been found in a basket filled with the best baby supplies, Margaret is ready to tackle any obstacle if it gets her on stage.
I think I would have loved this plot as a kid, even if it seems a little old fashioned and a tad contrived. The antagonist hasn't got much of a motive to sabotage Margaret, nor do we get to see much of Margaret with the large and entertaining cast of characters. Streatfeild's prose and voice are the real key to this book's charm. They're what brings Victorian London--with its lovely facets and life-threatening danger--to life in just a few pages.
Recommended for anyone who likes that slightly retro charm of mid-20th century British literature in the vein of Enid Blyton and Joan Aiken, only with the overall lighter tones and happy ending that suits Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Despite being a sequel to another Noel Streatfeild book, "Far to Go" makes for a great stand-alone novel about Margaret Thursday, a young girl who flees an acting troupe to join a professional theatre in London. Orphaned and armed with a charming story about having been found in a basket filled with the best baby supplies, Margaret is ready to tackle any obstacle if it gets her on stage.
I think I would have loved this plot as a kid, even if it seems a little old fashioned and a tad contrived. The antagonist hasn't got much of a motive to sabotage Margaret, nor do we get to see much of Margaret with the large and entertaining cast of characters. Streatfeild's prose and voice are the real key to this book's charm. They're what brings Victorian London--with its lovely facets and life-threatening danger--to life in just a few pages.
Recommended for anyone who likes that slightly retro charm of mid-20th century British literature in the vein of Enid Blyton and Joan Aiken, only with the overall lighter tones and happy ending that suits Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Thank you to Harper 360 and Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Jade Setter of Janloon by Fonda Lee
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A mystery-filled & thrilling return to Kekon and the world of the Green Bone Saga (made up of "Jade City," "Jade War," and "Jade Legacy").
"The Jade Setter of Janloon" centers on the titular jade setter's business--a small but prestigious artisan shop in a city ruled by magic jade and the powerful clans that control it. The jade setter lives in this world without pledging allegiance to any of the gangs. In theory, his shop is safe from attack. Who would go after a business that calls for a rare, exquisite skill and serves every jade carrier? Who indeed.
This prequel novella is set a few years before the start of "Jade City." Some of our favorite heroes (and villains) grace the page in fantastic, sometimes chilling cameos. That being said, this is actually a great starting place if you're new to the trilogy and want to take a quick detour into the Green Bone universe. It's got the crackling energy of the Jade trilogy tempered at a smaller scale and steeped in a fantastic noir mood. I love that the story explores facets of life outside the two major jade clans, both with and without jade. There's a lot of people who find themselves powerless on the island of Kekon, and author Fonda Lee never shies away from that foundational aspect of her world.
Recommended if you like mysteries in dark alleys and stories that dive right into the grey zone between black & white morality.
Thank you to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for sending me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"The Jade Setter of Janloon" centers on the titular jade setter's business--a small but prestigious artisan shop in a city ruled by magic jade and the powerful clans that control it. The jade setter lives in this world without pledging allegiance to any of the gangs. In theory, his shop is safe from attack. Who would go after a business that calls for a rare, exquisite skill and serves every jade carrier? Who indeed.
This prequel novella is set a few years before the start of "Jade City." Some of our favorite heroes (and villains) grace the page in fantastic, sometimes chilling cameos. That being said, this is actually a great starting place if you're new to the trilogy and want to take a quick detour into the Green Bone universe. It's got the crackling energy of the Jade trilogy tempered at a smaller scale and steeped in a fantastic noir mood. I love that the story explores facets of life outside the two major jade clans, both with and without jade. There's a lot of people who find themselves powerless on the island of Kekon, and author Fonda Lee never shies away from that foundational aspect of her world.
Recommended if you like mysteries in dark alleys and stories that dive right into the grey zone between black & white morality.
Thank you to Netgalley and Subterranean Press for sending me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A gripping spin on Dostoyevsky's "Brothers Karamazov" starring a Chinese-American family in Wisconsin and the ghost of a million spoken (and unspoken) tragedies.
In case you're spooked, don't be. I definitely haven't read Dostoyevsky's original novel. Lan Samantha Chang gives us all the character drama, foreboding atmosphere, and oppressive intra-family conflict that we need to know. The three Chao brothers and their parents reunite and take sides when the eldest brother tries to claim his portion of the family restaurant from the domineering patriarch, Leo Chao (a man that literally not a single person likes).
Now, the blurb makes it sound like this is going to be half a family drama, half a murder mystery. That's actually pretty accurate, in that the first half really is all about the family, and the death (which is announced in the book's back cover description so this isn't exactly a spoiler) doesn't occur until nearly the halfway mark. The lead-up to this event is excruciating in the best way. We see the family stretch and tear as Leo and the eldest son Dagou refuse to give in, one-upping and squashing each other in ways that only family can do. Meanwhile, Ming the second son is dying to head back to his corporate job in the big city, far away from his family and the pain it brings, and James the youngest is somehow wide-eyed and naively convinced that things will work out. (I think you can guess from the Russian source material that, well, it's not going to be that simple.)
If the drama is fresh and cold like a ten-foot snowfall slowly burying our protagonists, then the fallout dominating the second half is a sudden, violent thaw with spring lightning storms and everything coming out into the open whether it wants to or not. It's a fantastic, devastating ride that won't disappoint.
Recommended if you like dramas about deep-seated family conflict, stories about generational immigrant identity (specifically Chinese-American here), and tales where the ghostly fantastic threatens to override everyday life.
Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
In case you're spooked, don't be. I definitely haven't read Dostoyevsky's original novel. Lan Samantha Chang gives us all the character drama, foreboding atmosphere, and oppressive intra-family conflict that we need to know. The three Chao brothers and their parents reunite and take sides when the eldest brother tries to claim his portion of the family restaurant from the domineering patriarch, Leo Chao (a man that literally not a single person likes).
Now, the blurb makes it sound like this is going to be half a family drama, half a murder mystery. That's actually pretty accurate, in that the first half really is all about the family, and the death (which is announced in the book's back cover description so this isn't exactly a spoiler) doesn't occur until nearly the halfway mark. The lead-up to this event is excruciating in the best way. We see the family stretch and tear as Leo and the eldest son Dagou refuse to give in, one-upping and squashing each other in ways that only family can do. Meanwhile, Ming the second son is dying to head back to his corporate job in the big city, far away from his family and the pain it brings, and James the youngest is somehow wide-eyed and naively convinced that things will work out. (I think you can guess from the Russian source material that, well, it's not going to be that simple.)
If the drama is fresh and cold like a ten-foot snowfall slowly burying our protagonists, then the fallout dominating the second half is a sudden, violent thaw with spring lightning storms and everything coming out into the open whether it wants to or not. It's a fantastic, devastating ride that won't disappoint.
Recommended if you like dramas about deep-seated family conflict, stories about generational immigrant identity (specifically Chinese-American here), and tales where the ghostly fantastic threatens to override everyday life.
Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company for giving me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
From Hollywood with Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Romantic Comedy by Scott Meslow
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Reading this book really felt like eating a bowl of popcorn (nutritious but delightfully buttery popcorn).
Meslow's "From Hollywood with Love" is basically a chronicle of the rom-com movie's trials and tribulations from the late 80s to the present-ish day (ending with the Netflix summer of love and the hit "Crazy Rich Asians" romcom revival). It starts in such a perfect place, the rom-com that brings everyone (or at least a lot of people) together: When Harry Met Sally. After that chapter, we get a profile of America's Sweetheart, Meg Ryan, and what the heck happened to her career (and why??). There was a ton of stuff that, by virtue of my age, I just didn't know was going on behind the scenes when her top movies were hitting the big screen. Meslow's research really pays off, giving the reader context as to how a movie came together and how its aftermath changed the course of not just the genre but also the people who got caught up in its current.
The book follows the pattern: movie, actor, movie, actor, and so forth. The transitions are perfect, the material is fascinating, and I love that it never veers into tabloid territory but rather LOOKS at and dissects the press and media's treatment of the romantic comedy genre and its stars. There's a lot we brought to our interpretations of the movies at the time they were being released, and I loved getting a better look at the (admittedly toxic) media scene from the 2000s. In spite of all that, the book maintains an upbeat tone, like a documentary that can look at the good and the bad without much trouble.
There were definitely more movies that could have made the list (sadly, "Saving Face" didn't make the cut), but Meslow definitely points to the fact that the chapter-focused movies are only the tip of the iceberg, not the full ocean. Get ready to add things to your movie list. I'm dying to watch "Waiting to Exhale" now.
If you're a fan of movie history, romantic comedies, or even Caroline Siede's article series "When Romance Met Comedy," this is THE perfect read for you. I love all three of these things so, well, I couldn't put this book down.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dey Street Books for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Meslow's "From Hollywood with Love" is basically a chronicle of the rom-com movie's trials and tribulations from the late 80s to the present-ish day (ending with the Netflix summer of love and the hit "Crazy Rich Asians" romcom revival). It starts in such a perfect place, the rom-com that brings everyone (or at least a lot of people) together: When Harry Met Sally. After that chapter, we get a profile of America's Sweetheart, Meg Ryan, and what the heck happened to her career (and why??). There was a ton of stuff that, by virtue of my age, I just didn't know was going on behind the scenes when her top movies were hitting the big screen. Meslow's research really pays off, giving the reader context as to how a movie came together and how its aftermath changed the course of not just the genre but also the people who got caught up in its current.
The book follows the pattern: movie, actor, movie, actor, and so forth. The transitions are perfect, the material is fascinating, and I love that it never veers into tabloid territory but rather LOOKS at and dissects the press and media's treatment of the romantic comedy genre and its stars. There's a lot we brought to our interpretations of the movies at the time they were being released, and I loved getting a better look at the (admittedly toxic) media scene from the 2000s. In spite of all that, the book maintains an upbeat tone, like a documentary that can look at the good and the bad without much trouble.
There were definitely more movies that could have made the list (sadly, "Saving Face" didn't make the cut), but Meslow definitely points to the fact that the chapter-focused movies are only the tip of the iceberg, not the full ocean. Get ready to add things to your movie list. I'm dying to watch "Waiting to Exhale" now.
If you're a fan of movie history, romantic comedies, or even Caroline Siede's article series "When Romance Met Comedy," this is THE perfect read for you. I love all three of these things so, well, I couldn't put this book down.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dey Street Books for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lorraine Hansberry: The Life Behind a Raisin in the Sun by Charles J. Shields
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A comprehensive and approachable biography for an iconic American author.
Speaking as someone who never knew much about Lorraine Hansberry, I found this biography really easy to follow. I haven't read many of her works, nor did I know much about Hansberry in the first place. In spite of that, Charles J. Shields does a great job of bringing out the threads of Hansberry's life, from her early childhood to her all-too-early demise. I particularly appreciated how Shields struck a manageable balance between following Hansberry's life chronologically and giving a broader, slightly retrospective view of certain moments of Hansberry's life in light of her whole life and career.
If you're looking to read some of Hansberry's work or would like to learn more about her as an author you've recently tried, then this is a great starting point. Also recommended for anyone looking to learn more about literature & life (as experienced by Hansberry and her close acquaintances) during the civil rights movement.
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co. for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Speaking as someone who never knew much about Lorraine Hansberry, I found this biography really easy to follow. I haven't read many of her works, nor did I know much about Hansberry in the first place. In spite of that, Charles J. Shields does a great job of bringing out the threads of Hansberry's life, from her early childhood to her all-too-early demise. I particularly appreciated how Shields struck a manageable balance between following Hansberry's life chronologically and giving a broader, slightly retrospective view of certain moments of Hansberry's life in light of her whole life and career.
If you're looking to read some of Hansberry's work or would like to learn more about her as an author you've recently tried, then this is a great starting point. Also recommended for anyone looking to learn more about literature & life (as experienced by Hansberry and her close acquaintances) during the civil rights movement.
Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co. for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now You're In Trouble, Here Comes My Solicitor! by Steven D. Coles
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
A lighthearted yet surprisingly powerful set of stories about legal cases in the English West Country.
"No You're In Trouble" follows Frank, a solicitor at a small firm in the West Country, where he represents clients in civil cases but occasionally in criminal ones. When I say "criminal," well, it's not exactly Al Capone-level crime. There are thefts and the occasional reference to assault or battery, but the spiciest crimes in the books involve a neighbor exposing himself in his backyard and the theft of a charity box from a lobby. Every story deals with its own case, or even a related pair of cases where both are resolved by the end. The people roped into them are entertainingly human, which was particularly entertaining where Frank and his eternally-tested patience were concerned.
Recommended for a cozy read, like a cross between a legal drama and a vintage BBC show like "All Creatures Great and Small."
Thank you to Matador and Netgalley for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"No You're In Trouble" follows Frank, a solicitor at a small firm in the West Country, where he represents clients in civil cases but occasionally in criminal ones. When I say "criminal," well, it's not exactly Al Capone-level crime. There are thefts and the occasional reference to assault or battery, but the spiciest crimes in the books involve a neighbor exposing himself in his backyard and the theft of a charity box from a lobby. Every story deals with its own case, or even a related pair of cases where both are resolved by the end. The people roped into them are entertainingly human, which was particularly entertaining where Frank and his eternally-tested patience were concerned.
Recommended for a cozy read, like a cross between a legal drama and a vintage BBC show like "All Creatures Great and Small."
Thank you to Matador and Netgalley for giving me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
Another strong book start to 2022.
"The Blacktongue Thief" could have been such a paint-by-numbers medievalesque high fantasy with dirty taverns, high sea adventures, monster hordes, some vague or specific magic system, and thieves' guilds to boot. Instead, it is ALL of that, but made compelling with its characters and narrative voice. Well done, Buehlman. Can't wait for the sequel.
Recommended if you enjoy fantasy with characters that both are and aren't larger than life, a masterclass as making exposition & worldbuilding enjoyable, and an incredibly compelling first-person POV narrator.
"The Blacktongue Thief" could have been such a paint-by-numbers medievalesque high fantasy with dirty taverns, high sea adventures, monster hordes, some vague or specific magic system, and thieves' guilds to boot. Instead, it is ALL of that, but made compelling with its characters and narrative voice. Well done, Buehlman. Can't wait for the sequel.
Recommended if you enjoy fantasy with characters that both are and aren't larger than life, a masterclass as making exposition & worldbuilding enjoyable, and an incredibly compelling first-person POV narrator.
Pandora's Jar by Natalie Haynes
challenging
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
In her usual charming style, Natalie Haynes's non-fiction book "Pandora's Jar" examines a set of women from Greek myths and literature to see what makes them tick and what makes them memorable. More importantly, she looks at how our current interpretation of the characters or pop culture impressions of them came to be.
Haynes's writing and voice may be light and approachable, but don't let that trick you into thinking she hasn't done her homework. This book has all kinds of interesting details and close readings of Ancient Greek & Roman sources, not to mention studies of paintings, sculpture, and all the relevant literature & movies from the past two millennia. It's such a fun treat to read about familiar characters while also learning more about where details of their stories come from and which authors popularized or erased other aspects.
Recommended if you like Ancient Greek heroines, villains, and everything in between. This is high quality edutainment.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Haynes's writing and voice may be light and approachable, but don't let that trick you into thinking she hasn't done her homework. This book has all kinds of interesting details and close readings of Ancient Greek & Roman sources, not to mention studies of paintings, sculpture, and all the relevant literature & movies from the past two millennia. It's such a fun treat to read about familiar characters while also learning more about where details of their stories come from and which authors popularized or erased other aspects.
Recommended if you like Ancient Greek heroines, villains, and everything in between. This is high quality edutainment.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for sending me a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.