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coralinejones's reviews
374 reviews
Rouge by Mona Awad
1.0
I'm sorry Mona Awad but I absolutely hated this. It's a miracle I enjoyed "Bunny" as much as I did (I go as far as to call it one of my favorite books; having fond memories of staying up late to finish it in one sitting) because currently Mona Awad sits at 1/3 for me.
Someone said this was like having someone recount their boring dreams while you don't care and wish they would stop speaking to you, and yes, that is this book.
Maybe it's on me for reading "All's Well" this year (and only half liking it); this novel is structured sooo similarly that "Rogue" just drags, and drags, and drags. I couldn't stand All's Well after a while and, unfortunately, that curse has caught up to me with Rogue.
This was one of my most anticipated reads and it just upset me!
Someone said this was like having someone recount their boring dreams while you don't care and wish they would stop speaking to you, and yes, that is this book.
Maybe it's on me for reading "All's Well" this year (and only half liking it); this novel is structured sooo similarly that "Rogue" just drags, and drags, and drags. I couldn't stand All's Well after a while and, unfortunately, that curse has caught up to me with Rogue.
This was one of my most anticipated reads and it just upset me!
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
1.0
I initially had this under DNF, which is still technically true, but I did read the first 3-4 stories. The one that I liked the most, and actually resonated with me, was the first one. I really wanted to get on here and explain that.
I think the first story is particularly haunting and weird; I wish the entire book was about the first story, not that I can make assumptions on how a full book with that narrative would work, but I think it would be interesting enough. Woman creates a "baby" through her bodily waste... A baby, in which, dictates her entire life, always appears when she's least expecting it. So odd!
It's not that the others, that I read, aren't odd and off-putting, but I found them boring in comparison; this ultimately lead me to DNF the whole book. I may return to it out of curiosity but for now my 1 star is for the story in the beginning. If it was a standalone story I'd probably give it 4 stars.
I think the first story is particularly haunting and weird; I wish the entire book was about the first story, not that I can make assumptions on how a full book with that narrative would work, but I think it would be interesting enough. Woman creates a "baby" through her bodily waste... A baby, in which, dictates her entire life, always appears when she's least expecting it. So odd!
It's not that the others, that I read, aren't odd and off-putting, but I found them boring in comparison; this ultimately lead me to DNF the whole book. I may return to it out of curiosity but for now my 1 star is for the story in the beginning. If it was a standalone story I'd probably give it 4 stars.
The Daydreams by Laura Hankin
1.5
The cast of "Saved By The Bell", Britney Spears, Leonardo Dicaprio, and Miley Cyrus: Is this fucking play about us???
This book is stupid. There's ingredients for a really fun novel about fictional famous people but this was so trite and ridiculous. I hated all these characters except Summer. I wish the book was told through her point of view only.
This was no "Daisy Jones & The Six" (One of my favorite books), and I think any marketing relating the two does a disservice to this novel.
This book is stupid. There's ingredients for a really fun novel about fictional famous people but this was so trite and ridiculous. I hated all these characters except Summer. I wish the book was told through her point of view only.
This was no "Daisy Jones & The Six" (One of my favorite books), and I think any marketing relating the two does a disservice to this novel.
The Guest by Emma Cline
5.0
I'm obsessed with Alex and I needed more story. How unfortunate, one of my favorite reads of the year is barely 300 pages; one of the rare times I want there to be MORE story. I'm devastated?
Alex you are a MESS and I think you're the moment.
If you're a fan of the movie "Thirteen" then you'll love this.
Alex you are a MESS and I think you're the moment.
If you're a fan of the movie "Thirteen" then you'll love this.
Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica
In fact, when the book started the thing I noted before all else was, and I quote myself here, "Great, another book where women have it the worst no matter what."
Now, don't get me wrong, I really wanted to love this novel, and I think there are some positive takeaways. I understand why one would enjoy this, and why it would fuck them up, maybe I'm... A bit traumatized? Too used to this sort of thing? I am an overall horror fan, I enjoy "Hannibal", as stated above I'm familiar with Bones and All, and vampires are one of my special interests; for me that whole "OMG this is SOOOO fucked." point doesn't really apply to me.
I don't find the world built for this novel believable. I think there are too many plot holes for my liking. A novel with this sort of commentary should be a lot longer. I don't think there's much character development, and by the end I just felt that this novel was a little too cold, too damp, too bland, and not enough.
2.75
I mentally clocked out with this before the halfway mark, not because it was too gross for me or anything, but rather, "Tender is the Flesh" feels like the author wanted to write something brutal and grotesque for shock value and nothing else. I don't think the talking points of this novel are things we've never heard before in other forms of media, especially recently. Just because a book is hard to read content wise doesn't make it incredibly smart or revolutionary, to me. Cannibalism as symbolism for vegetarianism (say that 3 times fast) really doesn't do much in the grand scheme of things... Especially when the author is a vegan. I found out the author of "Bones and All" is also a vegan and it's like... How often are we going to do this, lol.
One of my biggest critiques when it comes to horror is how some authors, or some movie writers, feel the need to make the media as uncomfortable as possible without giving an authentic reason to make it gross. I don't think gross = scary and I actually consider it's a cheap cop out. Similar to jump-scares in horror media. Is this scary or are you cheating?
One of my biggest critiques when it comes to horror is how some authors, or some movie writers, feel the need to make the media as uncomfortable as possible without giving an authentic reason to make it gross. I don't think gross = scary and I actually consider it's a cheap cop out. Similar to jump-scares in horror media. Is this scary or are you cheating?
Why do movies like Get Out or Hereditary work in actually scaring people, but movies like Saw or the French film, Raw, only succeeds in making people feel grossed out?
In fact, when the book started the thing I noted before all else was, and I quote myself here, "Great, another book where women have it the worst no matter what."
Now, don't get me wrong, I really wanted to love this novel, and I think there are some positive takeaways. I understand why one would enjoy this, and why it would fuck them up, maybe I'm... A bit traumatized? Too used to this sort of thing? I am an overall horror fan, I enjoy "Hannibal", as stated above I'm familiar with Bones and All, and vampires are one of my special interests; for me that whole "OMG this is SOOOO fucked." point doesn't really apply to me.
I don't find the world built for this novel believable. I think there are too many plot holes for my liking. A novel with this sort of commentary should be a lot longer. I don't think there's much character development, and by the end I just felt that this novel was a little too cold, too damp, too bland, and not enough.
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
5.0
Now THIS is a book.
There's a lot I want to say but, because of the content matter, I don't think my brain can form the words needed to FULLY express how I feel.
There was some minor aspects of this novel that almost made me want to knock my rating down a peg but... It's undeniable the reason why this book is talked about so highly. I was hooked; despite how uncomfortable certain parts made me I couldn't put this down, and when I had to I kept wondering what was going to happen next, who was responsible for this tragedy.
This book will drag every emotion out of you. This is a novel where you'll hate everyone and your heartstrings will pull and tug and tear for the innocent kids described throughout these pages. If you're into reading about unlikeable women, sad thrillers, phenomenal prose, characters of color, multiple point of views, and the consequences of ableism, especially in regards to your own children, this is the one.
That said, the ableism, mental abuse, and the constant back and forth became so exhausting; but extremely worth it if you're willing to sit through it all. A tough read but a great one.
(Also, I didn't really like the twist. The ending wasn't my favorite but that truly doesn't change my overall rating. Considering I was able to clearly visualize everything from start to finish and stay attentive until the end overpowers the end altogether)
There's a lot I want to say but, because of the content matter, I don't think my brain can form the words needed to FULLY express how I feel.
There was some minor aspects of this novel that almost made me want to knock my rating down a peg but... It's undeniable the reason why this book is talked about so highly. I was hooked; despite how uncomfortable certain parts made me I couldn't put this down, and when I had to I kept wondering what was going to happen next, who was responsible for this tragedy.
This book will drag every emotion out of you. This is a novel where you'll hate everyone and your heartstrings will pull and tug and tear for the innocent kids described throughout these pages. If you're into reading about unlikeable women, sad thrillers, phenomenal prose, characters of color, multiple point of views, and the consequences of ableism, especially in regards to your own children, this is the one.
That said, the ableism, mental abuse, and the constant back and forth became so exhausting; but extremely worth it if you're willing to sit through it all. A tough read but a great one.
(Also, I didn't really like the twist. The ending wasn't my favorite but that truly doesn't change my overall rating. Considering I was able to clearly visualize everything from start to finish and stay attentive until the end overpowers the end altogether)
I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee
2.0
Meh. I've heard a bit about this book before picking it up (really just "OMG, this BTS member likes this book!"), and admittedly I didn't really look into it past the he-said-she-said, so my fault.
I didn't expect the literal transcripts between the author and her therapist. I also didn't take into account the VAST cultural differences between mental health awareness where I'm from, and how mental health is viewed in South Korea. I'm vaguely aware of the catching up SK has to do in regards to mental health and, while I wish I could say this book helped me learn more about how, particularly women, deal with mental health in that country, this almost reassured what I already know about how they treat depression, anxiety, etc over there.
I didn't really agree much with what her therapist had told her, nor did I enjoy the literal transcript format this book had to offer. While I share similar depressive traits with the author, I didn't like the advice her therapist gave her, or how she treated her friends and others during the duration of this book. But, alas, we are all not the same.
The descriptions of depression are pretty universal and I think anyone can relate and find some warmth in knowing they're not alone. That you don't have to come from the same place or from the same background to experience these traits.
This fell short for me, unfortunately.
I didn't expect the literal transcripts between the author and her therapist. I also didn't take into account the VAST cultural differences between mental health awareness where I'm from, and how mental health is viewed in South Korea. I'm vaguely aware of the catching up SK has to do in regards to mental health and, while I wish I could say this book helped me learn more about how, particularly women, deal with mental health in that country, this almost reassured what I already know about how they treat depression, anxiety, etc over there.
I didn't really agree much with what her therapist had told her, nor did I enjoy the literal transcript format this book had to offer. While I share similar depressive traits with the author, I didn't like the advice her therapist gave her, or how she treated her friends and others during the duration of this book. But, alas, we are all not the same.
The descriptions of depression are pretty universal and I think anyone can relate and find some warmth in knowing they're not alone. That you don't have to come from the same place or from the same background to experience these traits.
This fell short for me, unfortunately.
Cursed Objects: Strange But True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items by J.W. Ocker
3.5
Cute little book. Slightly humorous. You can tell the author is really passionate about this topic. However, this novel isn't as detailed as I thought it would be. You can watch a video essay on Youtube and get a very similar vibe. If you're familiar with Wendigoon on Youtube then you'd probably enjoy the vibe of this book.
The Clackity by Lora Senf
4.75
How cute!! Like Monster House in book form. I wish I had a middle schooler I could recommend this to, perhaps I'll buy it for my sister!
I would recommend everyone wait to read this until Halloween. If you're someone who loves to watch those nostalgic, made-for-tv family horror / Halloween movies every year you'll loveeee this.
I would recommend everyone wait to read this until Halloween. If you're someone who loves to watch those nostalgic, made-for-tv family horror / Halloween movies every year you'll loveeee this.
Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
This is boring as hell. Not a thriller. Not a horror. "All vibes, no plot" and the vibes are so uninteresting and not worth reading that I had to put it down. I was considering slogging through until the end but it's not worth it.
I read to about half-way through before I truly decided I didn't care. Not even a little. In my opinion, you can't write a "sad girl" vampire novel with a beautiful cover and an interesting title, and then do literally nothing interesting with the concept.
I read to about half-way through before I truly decided I didn't care. Not even a little. In my opinion, you can't write a "sad girl" vampire novel with a beautiful cover and an interesting title, and then do literally nothing interesting with the concept.