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jcnfia's reviews
53 reviews
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
3.0
SEXUAL ASSAULT CONTENT WARNING FOR THIS BOOK! (I hadn’t seen this mentioned anywhere and probably would’ve faired a lot better had I known).
There’s no question that this was written with a lot of thought and attention to detail. There were some weird plot and character inconsistencies, but overall I could enjoy the writing and immersive world of the book. I loved the author’s take on mermaids and the dark elements, but I really couldn’t bring myself to care about the present day plot or it’s main character. Hester was mildly infuriating, as was the completely random love interest that was not explored, like, at all. Not to mention the “plot twists” were set up so obviously that it was boring when the characters FINALLY caught up. And even though I think switching between time periods was a smart tool to keep things interesting, I feel the author should’ve stuck to the more mermaid-y elements that were treated more as an after thought. I expected this to be a book ABOUT mermaids, but it was more of a book WITH mermaids. All in all, it was pretty good. Even the less engaging parts kept me reading.
There’s no question that this was written with a lot of thought and attention to detail. There were some weird plot and character inconsistencies, but overall I could enjoy the writing and immersive world of the book. I loved the author’s take on mermaids and the dark elements, but I really couldn’t bring myself to care about the present day plot or it’s main character. Hester was mildly infuriating, as was the completely random love interest that was not explored, like, at all. Not to mention the “plot twists” were set up so obviously that it was boring when the characters FINALLY caught up. And even though I think switching between time periods was a smart tool to keep things interesting, I feel the author should’ve stuck to the more mermaid-y elements that were treated more as an after thought. I expected this to be a book ABOUT mermaids, but it was more of a book WITH mermaids. All in all, it was pretty good. Even the less engaging parts kept me reading.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
2.0
Ill informed and thinly veiled political propaganda written for children… my favorite. Honestly, it makes a lot of sense that this is so popular in America, a country that’s violently against anything that isn’t severely individualistic and capitalistic in nature. No, I don’t think I’m reading too far into it or that it’s not that deep. It’s pretty obvious. I think it’s fine that children are encouraged to read it though, because I don’t think children are connecting the dots or being “influenced” one way or the other. As far as plot goes, it was boring and predictable for the most part. Not the worst thing I’ve ever read though. At least it was short.
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
2.0
DNF. 246 pages in and I just couldn’t do it anymore. This book and it’s unreliable narrator is insufferable. I had such high expectations for this after seeing so much hype from it’s cult following, but every time I tried to read this I felt like throwing it into a wall or tearing it in half with my bare hands. Can you tell I hate this book? Two stars because of the somewhat intriguing premise, but it’s so miserable to read. It’s incredibly misogynistic, needlessly dense, slow, and pretentious. It’s more like a puzzle for men who think that not going to therapy and drugs is a personality trait. The narrator actually makes a lot more sense if you view him through a lens of insanity that’s convinced him an endless onslaught of women would actually sleep with some musky hermit that compares boobs to “bouncing Pac-men”.
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen
4.0
I’ve never been a fan of history, but this book changed that. Here, history is presented as a series of cause and effect events with painful honesty. You know it’s honest, because there are mad reviewers crying bias over objective facts. Books like these are important and necessary. How is humankind meant to improve and grow if we can’t be honest? Even after reading about all the atrocities committed by “the greatest nation on earth” I’m left feeling hopeful. Hopeful because throughout history people have continued to rise up and fight for what they believe in. History is proof of the resilience of the human spirit and it goes to show what we could be capable of if we all got on the same page (a page that didn’t involve mass genocide and imperialism).
Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen
4.0
I don’t care that this is just another con story amongst many, it was so entertaining. I thought I would be bored by a predictable plot with expected plot twists, but it was really a story about culture and the lives of two Chinese women paving their own path in America.
Finding Me by Viola Davis
5.0
There are no words to properly express how phenomenal this memoir is. It’s so incredibly vulnerable, heart wrenching, and powerful in its message. I learned so much about Viola, race, and myself. I cried many, many times. At one particularly brutal part, I ran out of the room while still listening to the audiobook to somehow distance myself from what I was hearing. But I was completely incapable of stopping, or even pausing. I felt an urgency to hear her story through, and I don’t wonder if Viola Davis knows just how important it is that she told it because I feel more self actualized just having listened to her. 100/10, HIGHLY recommend.
The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman
4.0
Disturbing & delightful. The audio book with Julian Rhind-Tutt went hard, I felt a healthy level of the creeps with all the haunting music and sound effects.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
4.5
This was my first Gillian Flynn book and it certainly won’t be my last. She’s such a great story teller, and even with all the purposeful hints I managed to incorrectly guess the plot. That is important to me, because I’m always spoiling endings for myself. I found myself rooting for the main character and anyone else who’s turned to hurting themselves instead of others in the face of trauma. This wasn’t a five star read for me, although I can’t place why. I suspect any one of her other books will hit me harder though.
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
3.0
I think this is more enjoyable if you can remember that it’s a YA dystopian book. I think I had too high of expectations after looking at reviews, because the truth is this was pretty formulaic and safe. I always felt a few steps ahead of the author as she set up somewhat introductory feminism, conflict, and mostly flat characters. The romance aspect also felt very out of place and disingenuous. I think if this book’s main objective is to be an entertaining dystopian YA book with feminist themes, it does an okay job. I was just left wanting a little more than it could give.