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jessdekkerreads's reviews
595 reviews
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Ok ok don’t come for me. I know SO many people who loved this and who cried at the end, and I can absolutely see why. I know I don’t have to “defend” my rating to anyone, and a 3 star is a good rating, but I feel like I should, as I built up this book to be my first 5 star read of the year, especially having loved both of McConaghy’s previous novels.
I did love the writing style, as always, McConaghy is a master at atmospheric nature writing - I can always count on her for that.
I loved the first half, the build up - but the latter half felt rushed, predictable and a bit unbelievable for MY personal taste. Like a straight to streaming B movie on Netflix. I couldn’t look past the almost “insta-love”, I needed more time, more build up to the characters’ relationship w/ one another, maybe another 50 or so pages, and a longer timeline within the story itself.
I appreciated the messages in the story: how we each grieve differently, how there is rebirth after death; how we are lucky to love and it’s worth the fears that come with it; to not hold back in that love, to love fiercely; the current state of our natural world makes my heart ache. I loved the haunting feeling throughout and the way this family loved each other.
This is just personal taste, very subjective, as I’m just not a plotty gal or a mystery/thriller gal, I’m a litfic girly, through and through - I was compelled to turn the page, every step of the way and I KNOW this is and will be so many people’s favorite book, it’s just not mine and that’s okay!
Please, I urge you to go read Morgan DePerno’s review of this book on substack or bookstagram. https://open.substack.com/pub/bookshelfkeeps/p/reviewing-wild-dark-shore-by-charlotte?r=1vsiqh&utm_medium=ios
I should have listened to the audiobook, as Morgan suggests, the narration brings the characters and story to life, maybe that’s where I went wrong here.
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
2.5
Let me just start off by saying, I am not the audience for this. Books about music, fictional books about music, just are not my “jam” (I DNF’d Daisy Jones & the Six) so let’s just keep that in mind.
I wanted to read this because it was recently announced that Saoirse Ronan would be producing and starring in the film adaptation, alongside Austin Butler and directed by Sean Durkin, all the makings for an emotional film in my eyes.
Now having finished it, I have some concerns for the film, however, I’m holding out hope that the adapted screenplay will be phenomenal, as Saoirse can do no wrong in my eyes.
I think Austin Butler will make a great Joe, I can see it so clearly, but Saoirse as Percy, I just feel she’s too mature of an actor for that specific role.
As for the book, I wanted more from their chemistry, I didn’t feel it deep in my bones. I was more frustrated by their toxic dynamic than anything.
As a millennial myself, who was very much enmeshed in the indie rock genre of the time, I should’ve loved this book, however, the lack of chemistry and emotional connection, left me wanting more.
I am nervous but also interested to see how this will play out in film.
I wanted to read this because it was recently announced that Saoirse Ronan would be producing and starring in the film adaptation, alongside Austin Butler and directed by Sean Durkin, all the makings for an emotional film in my eyes.
Now having finished it, I have some concerns for the film, however, I’m holding out hope that the adapted screenplay will be phenomenal, as Saoirse can do no wrong in my eyes.
I think Austin Butler will make a great Joe, I can see it so clearly, but Saoirse as Percy, I just feel she’s too mature of an actor for that specific role.
As for the book, I wanted more from their chemistry, I didn’t feel it deep in my bones. I was more frustrated by their toxic dynamic than anything.
As a millennial myself, who was very much enmeshed in the indie rock genre of the time, I should’ve loved this book, however, the lack of chemistry and emotional connection, left me wanting more.
I am nervous but also interested to see how this will play out in film.
Bibliophobia: A Memoir by Sarah Chihaya
REVIEW: Bibliophobia: a Memoir by Sarah Chihaya
Out today!
#gifted - thank you @atrandombooks
If you’re a reader, purchase this book
If you’re a lover of books, purchase this book
Sarah Chihaya bares it all, discussing her breakdown that landed her in a hospital, even calling her breakdown her “personal hobby” - with suicide attempts happening at a very young age. As a young child, she felt immense pressure and emotional abuse from her father, anxieties and insecurities emerged after becoming a naturalized American citizen, yet, books became her everything.
After her breakdown she starts to fear she’s developing Bibliophobia, which is many things, including the fear of the idea of books. She felt she didn’t deserve books anymore.
Chihaya introduces us to the term The Life Ruiner: a book that sets you on a path to a life built by and around reading. The book that won’t let you go, you carry these books like tokens.
Chihaya’s Life Ruiner: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
My Life Ruiner: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - the only book that I credit to reigniting my love for reading, after an intense 18 weeks of morning sickness (or all day sickness) while pregnant with my first, this was my only solace, my Life Ruiner. This was in 2018 and I’ve been reading nonstop since.
This memoir did not only make me feel for Chihaya and her vulnerabilities she shared, but it made me realize why I love to read, how I don’t need to read for anyone but me, I should read with no expectations, that my annotations can feel like meditations, and sometimes it’s not about the ending or explanations, but instead, the in-betweens.
So many literary references. Get your pen and notebook ready. I marked up so much of this memoir, and took pages and pages of notes.
TW: eating disorder, cutting and suicide
Out today!
#gifted - thank you @atrandombooks
If you’re a reader, purchase this book
If you’re a lover of books, purchase this book
Sarah Chihaya bares it all, discussing her breakdown that landed her in a hospital, even calling her breakdown her “personal hobby” - with suicide attempts happening at a very young age. As a young child, she felt immense pressure and emotional abuse from her father, anxieties and insecurities emerged after becoming a naturalized American citizen, yet, books became her everything.
After her breakdown she starts to fear she’s developing Bibliophobia, which is many things, including the fear of the idea of books. She felt she didn’t deserve books anymore.
Chihaya introduces us to the term The Life Ruiner: a book that sets you on a path to a life built by and around reading. The book that won’t let you go, you carry these books like tokens.
Chihaya’s Life Ruiner: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
My Life Ruiner: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - the only book that I credit to reigniting my love for reading, after an intense 18 weeks of morning sickness (or all day sickness) while pregnant with my first, this was my only solace, my Life Ruiner. This was in 2018 and I’ve been reading nonstop since.
This memoir did not only make me feel for Chihaya and her vulnerabilities she shared, but it made me realize why I love to read, how I don’t need to read for anyone but me, I should read with no expectations, that my annotations can feel like meditations, and sometimes it’s not about the ending or explanations, but instead, the in-betweens.
So many literary references. Get your pen and notebook ready. I marked up so much of this memoir, and took pages and pages of notes.
TW: eating disorder, cutting and suicide