dr_dr_olshakes's reviews
106 reviews

The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I struggled with this one, and not because of the harrowing subject matter. I wanted to follow the author down their exploration of motherhood, judgement, oppression, and systemic racism. However, the absolute cartoonish evil of the School required such a suspension of disbelief that it was almost comical at times. I suppose it was meant to be satirical, but this book is so far from a black comedy in every other aspect that it makes the extreme antics of the School laughable. I honestly almost DNFed when the group leads/scientists started slapping the dolls in the face. Or when the scientists all went around and said they don't even have children. Or when the changing of the blue liquid was so invasive and the scientists ignored it. Or when the book abandons nuance and it turns out all the fathers are treated so much better. Like I said, cartoonishly evil, especially for an extremely serious book.

I also want to call attention to how this book handles race. In some aspects, great! It's so rare to read a book that doesn't exist on the black/white dichotomy and acknowledges that POC groups can also stereotype and be prejudiced against other POC groups. It's approach to whiteness and Asian-American dynamics was well done. But...the author's own stereotyping was incredibly off-putting. Are we really, actually, really going to have a Black mom with six kids by six different fathers?? Are we really going to have aggressive and confrontational black women?? Are all the Latina mothers really going to care if their dolls speak Spanish? Are we really going to have the main defining trait of the Latina moms just be their language?? Honestly a bit shocking that the six kid thing was allowed to go to print.

On a more personal critique, that I acknowledge was almost certainly intentional, I didn't like Frida and especially Frida's inability to acknowledge that abandonment is abuse, pinching is physical abuse, and that her treatment of Susannah was in fact horrible and misdirected and harmful to her child. Truly, truly did not like that. I'm not saying that getting sent to CPS Supermax Prison is the correct answer, but I'm glad someone called in a wellness check for Harriet because Frida's treatment of her seemed like it was on a quick downward spiral. Good lord. 

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

dark lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I can't believe I'm gonna read the second one. This one wasn't even good. I didn't even really like it. 

Compels me though. 

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I think I would have enjoyed this more if not for the way that narration and blocked got bogged down by classic YA introspection about self actualization. Or if it hadn't been in first person.

I liked the twist on Rose already having been to Camp Damascus, and how Tingle didn't make Christian faith a total evil entity (I say this as an atheist). But, again, the constant self reflection just got to me. Pages and pages of inner self met by a few pages of action/progression.

Ultimately, this was a net positive reading experience, but also what's sure to be a forgettable one. 

The Tommyknockers by Stephen King

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It's FUN! Sue me!

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wow! I did not expect to love this as much as I did!! Some of the introspection got a bit repetitive, and I wouldn't say Jay is the most compelling character. But his trial was nail-biting and his psychological journey interesting.

Kraus did an incredible job of fully placing me in the whale. The descriptions were so clear and evocative that I could easily picture Jay's situation and feel his desperation. There was equal parts beauty and horror, like there should be in any good ocean story.

Additionally, Kraus really nailed the "man vs nature" survival genre. It's usually a pretty straightforward genre and while this book didn't really bring anything new to it, it really demonstrated the strength of the genre with panache. Overall, an exhilarating read!

Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Yeah yeah yeah. I get it. You're not like the other sociopaths. You and Ebony Darkness Dementia Raven Way would stick up your middle fingers at all the preps. 

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Aside from the occasional lore dump, I quite liked this! Striking original (at least from my own catalog), with layered, interesting, idiosyncratic characters. The blood and guts did a lot for me, especially coupled with earnestness. As mentioned, a few lore dumps did bring things to a grinding halt on occasion, and the ending was...kind of abrupt? Not quite anticlimactic, but definitely not the strongest. Over all, though, high marks and a treat for anyone who finds magic in books.

Fangs by Richard Forsythe

challenging dark medium-paced

3.0

Read exactly like watching a sleezy exploitation 80s horror movie. Some real Motel Hell stuff. Kissing cousins with Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Icky, nasty, gnaw-erly, trashy (honorific). Not very good, but if you're craving Castle Freak on the page, this is a good option. Goes hard on the metaphoric intimacy of cannibalism. Bad book (honorific). No notes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Incest, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Kidnapping

The Deep by Nick Cutter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 65%.

If I wanted to read Stephen King (and I often do), I would read Stephen King. Cutter's characters, the inner monologs, the style of scares are all so King-y, but missing that crucial je ne sais pas that the Ol Daddy of Horror has. 

It's a shame because there were a few plot threads I was interested in, but the libby hold was up and I don't think I care enough to place it on hold again. 

Immortal Pleasures by V. Castro

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

A concept so good and absurd that is completely squandered by, well, butter in the butt and jumpscare Judas Iscariot.