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firozah's reviews
69 reviews
Island by Siri Ranva Hjelm Jacobsen
3.0
"Talks about places as if they were people" is a review on the back copy of this book and that pretty much sums it up. The descriptions of the Faroes are beautiful and if you've ever been there, you may be interested in this title. It was a bit hard to follow at first because of the constant flashbacks, but basically this book takes you through the 3 generations of one family with Danish-Faroese roots. There were some really touching moments. I enjoyed it for the prose but it's definitely a bit abstract in some parts. Well written and vivid, just didn't hold my attention and I had to trudge through it in parts.
Blindsight by Peter Watts
4.0
This was not an easy read, but a rewarding one. I would not recommend this to anyone averse to sci-fi, as it's not a casual foray into the genre by any means. This is for a lover of sci-fi who wants to challenge themselves to think about technology, consciousness, and humanity in new ways. If you enjoyed the movies Alien or Arrival, you might like this book for similar reasons--it considers new forms of life that are so different from our own that it instills a harrowing fear/excitement/wonder about what it means to be human.
I found myself lost in the jargon, like many readers, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the book. It's best not to dwell on the intricacies of the ship's architecture or the innovative technology that Watts invents--though appreciating these finer details definitely adds to the reader's appreciation of the hard work invested in Watts' world-building--and to focus on the pacing, plot, and characters. You don't need to be a scientist to enjoy this book, but you do have to like science.
I found myself lost in the jargon, like many readers, but that didn't stop my enjoyment of the book. It's best not to dwell on the intricacies of the ship's architecture or the innovative technology that Watts invents--though appreciating these finer details definitely adds to the reader's appreciation of the hard work invested in Watts' world-building--and to focus on the pacing, plot, and characters. You don't need to be a scientist to enjoy this book, but you do have to like science.
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
3.0
A pulpy, sometimes predictable, gripping thriller novel. The final twist did actually catch me by surprise. This is an easy read and I understand its mass appeal. It's fun. Very cinematic with vivid, believable scenes and dialogue. Recommended if you're interested in thrillers, whodunits, sociopaths/killers, etc.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
5.0
A gorgeous fantasy-mystery with a charming, naive, pitiable protagonist. This book is one that unravels. You start Piranesi with a boatload of questions, and if you stay the course, your patience is duly rewarded. This book left me feeling melancholic, yet resolved. Recommended if you enjoy: classical architecture, vivid descriptions of fantastical landscapes, the concept of labyrinths, occultism, and slow-burning mysteries.
Eartheater by Dolores Reyes
5.0
I loved this. Gritty in a feminist way, and sometimes haunting. Like Catcher in the Rye, but I actually wanted to read it. The story has been on my mind for weeks after finishing it.