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gwendle_vs_literature's reviews
94 reviews
Cautionary Fables and Fairytales: Asia by Kel McDonald, Kate Ashwin
fast-paced
2.75
I bought this book several years ago, but previous attempts to read it weren’t successful because comics are a form that I struggle with — but since I found and read Understanding Comics I was able to follow and interpret the stories more easily.
Unfortunately this book was a bit of a disappointment. Although it’s a collection of Asian folk- and fairytales, i’m not sure that any of the authors or artists are of Asian descent, which makes it feel like a big exercise in appropriation (especially since many of the writers claim authorship, although a few at at least say “adapted by”. I was particularly disappointed that there was no history or other information given regarding the stories — what regions they’re from and when they’re believed to have originated. The former English Major in me expects that kind of information in an anthology of this sort.
All of that aside, the quality of the writing and artwork varies.
Altogether I’d say give this one a pass.
Unfortunately this book was a bit of a disappointment. Although it’s a collection of Asian folk- and fairytales, i’m not sure that any of the authors or artists are of Asian descent, which makes it feel like a big exercise in appropriation (especially since many of the writers claim authorship, although a few at at least say “adapted by”. I was particularly disappointed that there was no history or other information given regarding the stories — what regions they’re from and when they’re believed to have originated. The former English Major in me expects that kind of information in an anthology of this sort.
All of that aside, the quality of the writing and artwork varies.
Altogether I’d say give this one a pass.
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel is mainly about relationships, with the murder mystery plot as more of a framing device (it’s also a good mystery, but the relationships are definitely central to the plot).
It was a quick, fun, easy read, and I would recommend it to most people.
It was a quick, fun, easy read, and I would recommend it to most people.
The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
The writing is mediocre (I noticed several misused words the most glaring of which was using “infer” when the author meant “imply” three times in three consecutive sentences.)
Nearly a hundred pages in I have no attachment to any of the characters (whose dialogue and actions all sound like they come from a middle-school play written by the students), and very little interest in seeing where the story goes.
There are too many books that I will never have time to read, so I no longer feel obligated to finish one just because I started it.
Nearly a hundred pages in I have no attachment to any of the characters (whose dialogue and actions all sound like they come from a middle-school play written by the students), and very little interest in seeing where the story goes.
There are too many books that I will never have time to read, so I no longer feel obligated to finish one just because I started it.
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a whirlwind of a story told in the voice of a highly distractable eight-year-old. Some people might find the stream of consciousness challenging, but I’ve read two other stream of consciousness books in the past year or so, and this one sticks with a single narrator throughout, so it wasn’t too bad.
I really felt connected to the characters; the specifics weren’t relatable to me, but the humanity and the crazy interpersonal dynamics of the family were.
I highly recommend this book, and I don’t doubt that I’ll revisit it in the future.
I really felt connected to the characters; the specifics weren’t relatable to me, but the humanity and the crazy interpersonal dynamics of the family were.
I highly recommend this book, and I don’t doubt that I’ll revisit it in the future.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
4.0
I’m not usually into love stories (and this is undeniably a love story) but Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is much more than that. It’s a historical fiction about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two told from the perspective of a young Chinese boy who loses his best friend and first love because of bigotry and betrayal, and what happens nearly a lifetime later.
I definitely recommend this book.
My favourite part is the metaphor of the broken record that cannot be repaired, but can exist in another form, just as beautiful.
I definitely recommend this book.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
4.0
I frequently find Japanese literature in translation a bit challenging (probably because I don’t know enough about Japanese social norms. The dialogue is somewhat abrupt, and characters state that they are feeling big emotions that they don’t often emote, and which don’t (for me) match up with the situation.
That said, I enjoyed this book. It’s a beautiful story about family and love and figuring out who you want to be in life — not in a contrived, grand way; in a subtle, human way, in an ordinary life.
That said, I enjoyed this book. It’s a beautiful story about family and love and figuring out who you want to be in life — not in a contrived, grand way; in a subtle, human way, in an ordinary life.
The Mere Wife by Maria Dahvana Headley
4.25
I have interacted with the Beowulf story in the original Old English, four or five modern English translations, two other text re-tellings, three film versions, and one Star Trek: Voyager episode — this is my favourite re-telling, and rivals my tied favourite translations (Seamus Heaney’s and the one by the author of this novel).
Casting Grendel’s Mother as a veteran with PTSD and associated memory loss is a stroke of genius that resolves the questionable translation discrepancies when the same words (albeit in different gendered forms) are used to describe both her and Beowulf. Headley even maintains some of the alliterative rhythms in her prose interpretation of the poem, and keeps the story moving at a slightly more modern pace so that it doesn’t drag the same way that the original can.
I highly recommend this book (with the caveat that it is definitely a re-imagining, and not a direct analogue for the original story — for that, go to Headley’s translation).
Casting Grendel’s Mother as a veteran with PTSD and associated memory loss is a stroke of genius that resolves the questionable translation discrepancies when the same words (albeit in different gendered forms) are used to describe both her and Beowulf. Headley even maintains some of the alliterative rhythms in her prose interpretation of the poem, and keeps the story moving at a slightly more modern pace so that it doesn’t drag the same way that the original can.
I highly recommend this book (with the caveat that it is definitely a re-imagining, and not a direct analogue for the original story — for that, go to Headley’s translation).
Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb
informative
medium-paced
4.0
A small colony of beavers has recently formed at my local nature sanctuary, and when the weather and my energy levels allowed I was going for sunrise walks to watch them.
That was the spark that ignited my interest in learning everything I can about beavers, and I think I made a good choice when I picked Eager as my next step after Wikipedia and other online articles.
Some of the structure of the book felt a bit scattered, but non-fiction often does, because the author either had to sort my location and repeat talking about behaviours, or sort my behaviour and jump to different times and places.
Beavers have the potential to help us reverse climate change, but as a species we’re too stubborn and determined to get rid of anything that disrupts the status quo — we want less lunate change, but not at the expense of flooded roads, or of allowing nature to reclaim some of the land we’ve stolen.
If you’re looking for an informative but not overly scientific book about beavers then I can highly recommend this one.
That was the spark that ignited my interest in learning everything I can about beavers, and I think I made a good choice when I picked Eager as my next step after Wikipedia and other online articles.
Some of the structure of the book felt a bit scattered, but non-fiction often does, because the author either had to sort my location and repeat talking about behaviours, or sort my behaviour and jump to different times and places.
Beavers have the potential to help us reverse climate change, but as a species we’re too stubborn and determined to get rid of anything that disrupts the status quo — we want less lunate change, but not at the expense of flooded roads, or of allowing nature to reclaim some of the land we’ve stolen.
If you’re looking for an informative but not overly scientific book about beavers then I can highly recommend this one.
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have read this book about six times now, and it’s always a delight. I love how the truly ridiculously florid passages are marked with either two ** or three *** asterisks, and I’ve always assumed that those passages are the “material” that Flora is gathering.
I’ve never been much of a fan of Gothic literature, but but Cold Comfort Farm is a whimsical pastiche of the genre, and a much needed balm in a world full of sheds where one might see nasty things.
Also, “there’ll be no butter in hell!” is quite possibly the funniest line in all of English literature.
I’ve never been much of a fan of Gothic literature, but but Cold Comfort Farm is a whimsical pastiche of the genre, and a much needed balm in a world full of sheds where one might see nasty things.
Also, “there’ll be no butter in hell!” is quite possibly the funniest line in all of English literature.
The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is a steam-of-consciousness narrative that follows the sleep-deprived thoughts and experiences of the main character, Baxter. This style of writing can be difficult to follow, but luckily I’d re-read Mrs Dalloway recently, so I’d been primed for it, and this story follows only one character instead of many.
This is a beautiful book and provides a detailed account of the lives of black train porters in general, and of the added complication of homosexuality for Baxter at a time when he constantly risks being fired, or jailed, or worse.
I highly recommend this book. It’s challenging due to the narrative style, but it’s worth the effort.
This is a beautiful book and provides a detailed account of the lives of black train porters in general, and of the added complication of homosexuality for Baxter at a time when he constantly risks being fired, or jailed, or worse.
I highly recommend this book. It’s challenging due to the narrative style, but it’s worth the effort.