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eyeowna's reviews
158 reviews
Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson
fast-paced
2.0
This book had all the pieces for a fantastic book but didn’t come together for me.
Okay so first the positives: the writing style is lovely. There are some weird moments that I think needed more time in the editing process (lack of clarity in dialog, random references to the Somme and war even though people have cellphones??? What’s up with the time period here). But Gleeson’s writing is beautiful still. The nature writing is so so good, I really enjoyed the descriptions of living on the island. There are many moments in the novel that were a treat to read. I don’t regret reading this book because of the vivid setting. I liked the main character and her art process up to a point, but started to dislike her when I got frustrated at the pointlessness of the rest of the novel.
My frustrations: Nothing really mattered in the end. Creepy things were just (mildly) creepy, unexplained, and had no impact on the plot. There’s a strange sound that echoes through the island setting that only some people can hear, that once notably causes mass bleeding for all afab people there. But that’s not important and…. nothing comes about from that.
The antagonist (if they can be called that) seems cartoonish and one dimensional. Their motivations and mental spiral are not explained or understandable. A lot of the novel is focused on the main character’s romantic relationships and … these relationships just fizzle out/go nowhere.
Honestly, this novel reads more like a slice of life of an artist who lives on a remote island more than anything else. The title, cover, and synopsis all suggest a kind of folk horror experience, or at least something that has some kind of meaning or commentary on culture/womanhood with a supernatural bent to it. For me, it’s fine if a book like this isn’t actually horror/has supernatural elements, but nothing ever fully “arrived” at some sort of meaning or significance. Lots of moving parts, all somewhat disconnected or undeveloped (except for the setting). I wanted to love this book but unfortunately was disappointed. I’m still interested in checking out Gleeson’s other work—I might like her nonfiction more than her storytelling as I do think her writing is beautiful.
Okay so first the positives: the writing style is lovely. There are some weird moments that I think needed more time in the editing process (lack of clarity in dialog, random references to the Somme and war even though people have cellphones??? What’s up with the time period here). But Gleeson’s writing is beautiful still. The nature writing is so so good, I really enjoyed the descriptions of living on the island. There are many moments in the novel that were a treat to read. I don’t regret reading this book because of the vivid setting. I liked the main character and her art process up to a point, but started to dislike her when I got frustrated at the pointlessness of the rest of the novel.
My frustrations: Nothing really mattered in the end. Creepy things were just (mildly) creepy, unexplained, and had no impact on the plot. There’s a strange sound that echoes through the island setting that only some people can hear, that once notably causes mass bleeding for all afab people there. But that’s not important and…. nothing comes about from that.
The antagonist (if they can be called that) seems cartoonish and one dimensional. Their motivations and mental spiral are not explained or understandable. A lot of the novel is focused on the main character’s romantic relationships and … these relationships just fizzle out/go nowhere.
Honestly, this novel reads more like a slice of life of an artist who lives on a remote island more than anything else. The title, cover, and synopsis all suggest a kind of folk horror experience, or at least something that has some kind of meaning or commentary on culture/womanhood with a supernatural bent to it. For me, it’s fine if a book like this isn’t actually horror/has supernatural elements, but nothing ever fully “arrived” at some sort of meaning or significance. Lots of moving parts, all somewhat disconnected or undeveloped (except for the setting). I wanted to love this book but unfortunately was disappointed. I’m still interested in checking out Gleeson’s other work—I might like her nonfiction more than her storytelling as I do think her writing is beautiful.
Blood Child, and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Foster by Claire Keegan
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
“Everything changes into something else, turns into some version of what it was before.”
This is a beautiful little book. So much unsaid but still understood in the negative spaces of this story. Lovely descriptions of rural Ireland and the narrator’s heartache experiencing parental love after neglect.
This is a weird case, though, in which having seen the movie adaptation first made me both enjoy and not enjoy the book as much. I loved Keegan’s writing and think I’ll reread this sometime for sure. However, I’m pretty sure the movie’s runtime is longer than the time I spent reading this book. I kind of can’t help but like the film version better (as of right now). The film is also very beautiful and moving and it’s just a pleasure to stay in that visual space longer.
This is a beautiful little book. So much unsaid but still understood in the negative spaces of this story. Lovely descriptions of rural Ireland and the narrator’s heartache experiencing parental love after neglect.
This is a weird case, though, in which having seen the movie adaptation first made me both enjoy and not enjoy the book as much. I loved Keegan’s writing and think I’ll reread this sometime for sure. However, I’m pretty sure the movie’s runtime is longer than the time I spent reading this book. I kind of can’t help but like the film version better (as of right now). The film is also very beautiful and moving and it’s just a pleasure to stay in that visual space longer.
Blue Horses: Poems by Mary Oliver
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
“What’s magical, sometimes, has deeper roots than reason.” Been meaning to read more poetry and thought I’d start with Mary Oliver.
Bookmarked these poems in particular: “Stebbin’s Gulch,” “Such Silence,” “The Vulture’s Wings,” “Loneliness,” “Forgive Me,” “On Not Mowing the Lawn” (Oliver said End Lawn Culture), “The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac,” “Do Stones Feel,” and “What Gorgeous Thing.”
Bookmarked these poems in particular: “Stebbin’s Gulch,” “Such Silence,” “The Vulture’s Wings,” “Loneliness,” “Forgive Me,” “On Not Mowing the Lawn” (Oliver said End Lawn Culture), “The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac,” “Do Stones Feel,” and “What Gorgeous Thing.”
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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? No
4.25