foursythia's reviews
150 reviews

Second Place by Rachel Cusk

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

A bit too meandering for my liking or is Cusk just too smart for my pea brain? I wish we could've arrived earlier into the development & change at the veeeery end of the story cause it would've had more impact & leave stronger impression.

I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel

funny lighthearted reflective slow-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

4.0

 Here is a short book for the girlies & guys who enjoy hating things.

The short, loose format of the chapters work for me: makes the reading feels fast. Though somewhere around 90-100 page mark, I feel bored reading this lead character whine & whine about the same thing constantly. But eventually it picks itself back up as I go along with it.

There were attempts on social commentary, and while I like it? Most of it felt abrupt and misplaced, like the character would randomly jump on a meta, self aware rants critiquing the society in commentary way. I like what's being said, not so much how it's being said. It felt so random is all.

I think this book is a case of hit & miss, you either really like it or you don't. As for me? I'm a fan, too. 

Marigold and Rose by Louise Glück

adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

I'm not sure what I was expecting myself, going in, but this was not whatever I expected or hoped it'd be. A story about growing up, told from the perspective and the eye of two infants baby flowers (they're a twi sibling) about the world around them. This book is hanging on the air, I must admit I struggle in grasping them. I appreciate the premise and attempt, it was a beautiful piece, just not to my pleasure perhaps.

Bunny by Mona Awad

adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

This fell a little below what I expected, but it was a good, fun trippy ride. Just know it's very campy and goofy, definitely not a 'dark' serious academia. Also trippy (yes, twice, very trippy). In the end I understand less & less what was REALLY going on, but ig this books is for enjoyment & not for my brain to think or process. Long live round bunny tails.

Impressions of Paris: An Artist's Sketchbook by Cat Seto

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

5.0

A solid, certain 5 stars. This book feels so sincere to me, the love for Paris & its every breath, painting a picture of dreamy, lively Paris. It's not everyday we stumble on artsy pictured books that doesn't just deliver lovely arts but evoke us from the writing too. Btw, a very perfect  lighthearted spring reading. The color palette here though? Chef's kiss.

When I Arrived at the Castle by E.M. Carroll

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.75

Hoping to like this; really didn't. I don't even know what the plot was supposed to be, a cat who lured preys to the Countess' lair wanting a revenge? Wanting to see charm of the Countess? Both? You tell me if you find out.

The Cloisters by Katy Hays

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5 stars rounded down. This was my last year's top anticipated list, but perhaps also because of that expectation, I feel let down? 

Personally I find that the plot, the twist, the character arc and the conflict has been a bit overdone for the genre already:

pretentious art circles, murder, unhinged character spiraling down their own darkness

, that is. It felt like the main/sole plus point of this book was the setting & its descriptions of it: the world of arts, beautiful medieval period of it, The Cloisters museum (I had fun diving into Youtube to see the real museum & get a sense of the vibes & how the real thing looks like), and tarot. Speaking of which, I think there's a lot more to dig & to use from tarot & the occultism part of it all to deepen the plot, or make it more.. enigmatic or intriguing. I felt like it barely scratch the surface & be left at that. Aside from that, I feel like it doesn't add much. The character writing & development could be less typical for my liking.

I'm not a big enough fan of plot twists to care how writers devise it and yet I still find it bit too comfortably predictable; so if that matters to you... this might not work. It is quite an enjoyable read though, I think you'd enjoy it more if you're just looking for good time. 

Assembly by Natasha Brown

reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

No plot, just woman storytelling her experiences, the things she heard being said of her & her racial identity; the invalidation that the opportunities she get, she don't deserve or earn, rather given by merit of the world's currents of inclusivity. 

Great book and important, striking insights in precise writing, delivered in almost less than hundred pages. Although, I wanna know & understand more of the ending? Not that I hadn't expect it or that I'm not rooting for her though.

Service by Sarah Gilmartin

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

3.5

An ambitious vision of topic to highlight: sexual assault in the kitchen scene, trials and public opinions as well as dilemma & turmoil that a wife faced as husband is charged with violation against women. I feel like the story were developing & walking into a direction that we end up never see or hear; the ending felt like it was cut short. Why would it be just.. that? That's the only reaction & last option that the key characters take and only on the last 10 pages of the book? The story & discussion would both be stronger if the author were braver & more decisive with their voice & the theme-plot they're trying to brought here. In the end, it become forgettable even though the reading experience gets me going. After putting it down, it doesn't stay with me.

Thank you to netGalley & publisher for lending me this ARC in exchange for a review!

A Map Into the World by Kao Kalia Yang

4.25