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housecatstewart's reviews
99 reviews
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
3.0
There was so much I thoroughly enjoyed about this book but too many moments that just didn’t work for me. In general, I liked it a lot and would absolutely read another book by her but I probably won’t re-read this one.
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
4.0
I’ll never be able to look at a hot dog again without thinking of Ignatius.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
5.0
God, what a refreshing read. What a beautiful, fun, serious, intimate story. What nice characters. What imagery. How meta. I absolutely loved this book and I don’t know when I’ve ever read something so authentic and comforting.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
4.0
2 weeks later and I’m still thinking about the slide journal chapter.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
4.0
If you’ve ever felt out of place or like you were just missing something that everyone else had, this book will rip you apart. Cried and laughed through the whole thing.
I would’ve called this a perfect book if not for 2 things:
First, the mummy dialogue was so over the top that it was almost theatrical lol. It took me out of the story a little bit. Second, the twist at the end killed me. I went from sobbing through the last quarter of the book to just total befuddlement that the author would make that choice. Took me completely out of the ending for the last few pages.
Aside from those two things, it was incredible. I can forgive the twist because of the beauty of everything else.
I would’ve called this a perfect book if not for 2 things:
First, the mummy dialogue was so over the top that it was almost theatrical lol. It took me out of the story a little bit. Second, the twist at the end killed me. I went from sobbing through the last quarter of the book to just total befuddlement that the author would make that choice. Took me completely out of the ending for the last few pages.
Aside from those two things, it was incredible. I can forgive the twist because of the beauty of everything else.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
4.0
I really enjoyed the style and ingenuity of this and I can’t think of anything I’ve ever read that was like it. I was fully captivated through the entirety of the book. Seeing everything through Christopher’s detached point of view left so much unsaid for the reader to infer while still giving insight into Christopher's own unique feelings and interpretations of things. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for something easy in style and pace but thought-provoking in plot.
Circe by Madeline Miller
3.0
I wanted to like this so badly and after finishing it and pondering for a few days to see what stuck with me, I finally have to accept I just didn’t love it. The pacing in this felt so off to me. It seemed like it took ages and ages for exciting things to happen, and then the excitement was over in an instant and it was back to Circe walking the island and thinking about the same problems again and again. I don’t mind a “boring” book - I can appreciate the introspection - but Circe as a character was too hard for me to love.
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
4.0
Beautiful and torturous story from beginning to end. David’s efforts to hate himself into being a man he could respect will stick with me for a while.
HOWEVER:
If ever, in the world, in the future, perhaps, there is a shortage of commas, then we, as a society, certainly, need look no further than this novel, where there is an abundance so great, we must assume, readily, that Baldwin considers them tantamount to spaces.
HOWEVER:
If ever, in the world, in the future, perhaps, there is a shortage of commas, then we, as a society, certainly, need look no further than this novel, where there is an abundance so great, we must assume, readily, that Baldwin considers them tantamount to spaces.