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gia0203's reviews
135 reviews
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was so so fun. Fast paced, witty, and never wallows in its dark themes for too long. I loved the dynamic between the sisters, and Korede’s narration was so engaging. Such a palette cleansing book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Murder
Moderate: Blood
The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I am so conflicted. The Piano Teacher (2001) has been my favourite movie for so long and so I’ve been anticipating reading the source material. Delving deeper into the perspectives of Erika, Walter and the Mother was really rewarding. My favourite part of the film was seeing the world through Erika’s uniquely awful perspective and the book really explored her motivations and desires very closely, which made the horrific events of the story more impactful. Those last few scenes in the book are just harrowing as Erika loses control over her body and sexuality… Certain images and moments from this book are so disturbing that they’ll stick in your mind long after you finish reading. I do think this is a very visually arresting book, there are so many striking images like Erika’s body pierced with dozens of coloured pins, the knife in her shoulder, her empty bedroom with just a closet full of unworn clothes, and more
Jelinek’s writing style is very unique. While the stream of consciousness style worked some of the time, it was often too convoluted. Analogies and metaphors were overdone, and paragraphs either jumped too quickly between ideas or too slowly. I struggled through chunks of the book particularly near the middle. The ending scenes drew me back into the novel, though I still leave feeling exhausted, not by the subject matter but at how much (in my opinion) unrelated fluff I had to read to get to the end. The film is an overall more satisfying and beautiful experience, and I will rewatch it rather than reread this. However, I will admit that parts of the book hit just right and left my mind reeling.
The book is also xenophobic at times.
Jelinek’s writing style is very unique. While the stream of consciousness style worked some of the time, it was often too convoluted. Analogies and metaphors were overdone, and paragraphs either jumped too quickly between ideas or too slowly. I struggled through chunks of the book particularly near the middle. The ending scenes drew me back into the novel, though I still leave feeling exhausted, not by the subject matter but at how much (in my opinion) unrelated fluff I had to read to get to the end. The film is an overall more satisfying and beautiful experience, and I will rewatch it rather than reread this. However, I will admit that parts of the book hit just right and left my mind reeling.
The book is also xenophobic at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Incest and Vomit
Gender Theory by Madeline Docherty
5.0
Absolutely wonderful book. So intimate and sad, the second person really adds to the feeling that you’re experiencing everything alongside the protagonist. I loved it a lot.
This book is also such an empathetic look at how difficult life can be for people with endometriosis as well, I’ve never really read about it so that was so important. Women’s health care really is neglected.
I got to listen to the author speak about gender theory when it first released and her perspective on it really added to my experience of the book.
This book is also such an empathetic look at how difficult life can be for people with endometriosis as well, I’ve never really read about it so that was so important. Women’s health care really is neglected.
I got to listen to the author speak about gender theory when it first released and her perspective on it really added to my experience of the book.
Eyes Guts Throat Bones by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
A very cohesive short story collection. The themes are repetitive - queer desire, horror, the end of the world. But that means the book is memorable and feels like a complete work. I really enjoyed it.
The Lamb by Lucy Rose
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
This was a gut wrenching reading experience, especially in the last half. My heart hurts. The protagonist is very well developed and I felt every single one of her emotions as if it was my own. What added to this immersion is that the book is also very sensory. There are so many descriptions of smell, taste, touch that just made it feel as if you were experiencing life alongside her.
That ending just broke me. I was in tears. It reminded me of “Sun Bleached Flies” and “Strangers” by Ethel Cain (I tried to be good, am I no good). I can’t stop thinking about Margot and what happened to her and how utterly unfair and wretched her life was. What a glorious horror book.
That ending just broke me. I was in tears. It reminded me of “Sun Bleached Flies” and “Strangers” by Ethel Cain (I tried to be good, am I no good). I can’t stop thinking about Margot and what happened to her and how utterly unfair and wretched her life was. What a glorious horror book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Violence, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Murder
Minor: Vomit
Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa
challenging
dark
3.0
I’ve sat on this one for a while as it was such a strange read.
On the one hand, it’s so crucial that we have disabled voices in fiction, and this was such an intimate look into one disabled woman’s experience. It made me think about things I never even considered which is exactly why reading is important.
It was however very odd and the writing style was a little confusing at times - perhaps this is due to the translation though. The author spent a lot of time giving us facts and information from different books, which was interesting but felt a little out of place. I’m still completely bewildered about the ending too.
On the one hand, it’s so crucial that we have disabled voices in fiction, and this was such an intimate look into one disabled woman’s experience. It made me think about things I never even considered which is exactly why reading is important.
It was however very odd and the writing style was a little confusing at times - perhaps this is due to the translation though. The author spent a lot of time giving us facts and information from different books, which was interesting but felt a little out of place. I’m still completely bewildered about the ending too.
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
dark
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Continuously terrifying, like I was so stressed the entire time, which I find rare in a book. This would be a fantastic movie, I’m glad it’s being adapted into one.
Maggie's Grave by David Sodergren
3.25
Like a horror movie - gruesome and fun! The ending is really satisfying to me. The book lacked the heart and beauty of the author’s other work The Haar, but it was enjoyable and horrible in its own right.
Maeve Fly by CJ Leede
3.5
Oh no that ending has me aching I loved the tragic romance subplot at the heart of this!
I do wish it leaned more into the Disney princess theme a bit more. It was honestly more of a sad story than a fun one which I wasn’t expecting from the way it’s been spoken about.
Loved some of the horror aspects of this though.
I do wish it leaned more into the Disney princess theme a bit more. It was honestly more of a sad story than a fun one which I wasn’t expecting from the way it’s been spoken about.
Loved some of the horror aspects of this though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Sexual content
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
dark
funny
slow-paced
4.0
Over the course of the book I actually got really into it. I was dubious at the beginning, but I ended up loving Greta and her witty and self-pitying narration so much. Some interesting commentary on trauma here and how we can victimize ourselves to absolve us of blame or shame.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death and Vomit