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kcraig73's reviews
59 reviews
The Wild Iris by Louise Glück
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A beautiful book from an incredibly skilled poet. This book definitely made me feel feelings. I think it’s best read in as few sittings as possible as there is a beautiful dialogue that is strung between the perspectives of the poems that feeds off of each other to make the whole more meaningful.
This particular physical book (the book as an object) also has deep meaning for me. I bought this book from a used bookstore a number of years ago. The place was called Adam’s Books (Columbia, MO) and at the time it was by appointment only (COVID). I was enamored by the look of this somewhat hole-in-the-wall used bookstore so I made an appointment. The shop owner was a delightful woman who talked to me a lot about the history of the place and about poetry. She recommended this book to me but almost didn’t sell it to me because she loved it herself so much. I like to think that she must’ve seen that I was going through a dark moment in my life because she did sell it to me and gave it to me at a discount. Now a few years later it has deeply touched me. So I’m thankful to her.
This particular physical book (the book as an object) also has deep meaning for me. I bought this book from a used bookstore a number of years ago. The place was called Adam’s Books (Columbia, MO) and at the time it was by appointment only (COVID). I was enamored by the look of this somewhat hole-in-the-wall used bookstore so I made an appointment. The shop owner was a delightful woman who talked to me a lot about the history of the place and about poetry. She recommended this book to me but almost didn’t sell it to me because she loved it herself so much. I like to think that she must’ve seen that I was going through a dark moment in my life because she did sell it to me and gave it to me at a discount. Now a few years later it has deeply touched me. So I’m thankful to her.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Delightful! Better than your average non-fiction. Mary Roach approaches the subject with requisite professionalism and humor. Her frank tellings here defy shame, even when she is deep in the research. Shout out to her husband who also found himself deep in the research. She’s great. I would read anything by her.
The Sea Beast Takes a Lover: Stories by Michael Andreasen
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
4.0
Nothing prepared me for how devastating this book is. The concept of each story seems so light and fun, I blindly entered each story thinking (and maybe hoping) that this one wouldn’t strike me so deeply. This is a great example of weird fiction but mostly it’s about loneliness and all the hopeless ways we try to find connection. Every story is beautiful and deeply weird, but each story conveys the completeness of the universe that it takes place in. I loved it all.
Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thích Nhất Hạnh
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Thich Nhat Hanh’s insight into Buddhism is a relaxation and compelling voice that gets down to the essentials of Buddhism as a whole and more specifically the Zen tradition. This book was a wonderful look at Christianity through Buddha’s eyes. While I’m sure that Christians do not feel the same (and many feel that Buddhism’s is a deeply inferior religion) Master Hahn’s guidance allows us to see them in a more compassionate light. There is no Christianity without Buddhism and no Buddhism without Christianity.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The writing in this is everything. Beautiful prose and perfect structure to keep you hooked. I could not put this book down when I read it. The ending is shockingly bleak but it feels right for this book. Overall, excellent a beautiful book that I had a fabulous time reading.
Edit: actually I would 100% read this again 5/5
Edit: actually I would 100% read this again 5/5
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca
dark
tense
fast-paced
4.0
The title novella “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke” is really the gem of this piece. The two other short stories included here are not nearly as strong as the original novella.
“Things Have Gotten Worse…” is a disgusting and twisted statement about devotion and the desperation for affection. Well executed with beautiful prose. My only complaint being…no one talked like that in chat rooms in the early 2000s.
“The Enchantment” felt stiff and forced. There was almost too much going on in the story to make it work. Some of the threads could’ve been cut and it would’ve been a much stronger more simplified piece that works in the pages it has.
“You’ll Find Its Like That All Over” feels unpolished and frankly, unfinished. I can see through to the “moral” of the story and the story itself is good but the execution feels stiff. It doesn’t flow like I would like.
Overall great but I would probably only ever reread “Things Have Gotten Worse…”
“Things Have Gotten Worse…” is a disgusting and twisted statement about devotion and the desperation for affection. Well executed with beautiful prose. My only complaint being…no one talked like that in chat rooms in the early 2000s.
“The Enchantment” felt stiff and forced. There was almost too much going on in the story to make it work. Some of the threads could’ve been cut and it would’ve been a much stronger more simplified piece that works in the pages it has.
“You’ll Find Its Like That All Over” feels unpolished and frankly, unfinished. I can see through to the “moral” of the story and the story itself is good but the execution feels stiff. It doesn’t flow like I would like.
Overall great but I would probably only ever reread “Things Have Gotten Worse…”
Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 star read for me. I would definitely read again. The writing is somewhat elementary but I actually think that adds to it. Gruesome and dark, definitely some fucked up shit in here. Loved it. Check the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
The First One You Expect by Adam Cesare
dark
fast-paced
4.0
Purchased this book from Adam Cesar’s hands and he warned me it was a dark read. I didn’t find it overly dark for the genre, with only one heavy gore scene in the book (there were definitely details in there that I liked). Overall, a fun fast paced read. The main character isn’t what I would consider “likable” but he’s charismatic enough to hold the reader’s attention.
The only thing that I really don’t like about this book is the ending. It really feels like Adam Cesar just gave up writing it, put a slapstick 2 page ending on it, and called it a day. I feel like this book could’ve been double the length. Lots to explore here.
The only thing that I really don’t like about this book is the ending. It really feels like Adam Cesar just gave up writing it, put a slapstick 2 page ending on it, and called it a day. I feel like this book could’ve been double the length. Lots to explore here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Minor: Vomit