kenbooky's reviews
154 reviews

Manon Lescaut by Abbé Prévost

4.0

Manon Lescaut is a fictitious, first-person account of a suitor who doesn’t know when to quit. A tale of warning and woe as to not live one’s life devoid of responsibility and only for pleasure as the narrator, Chevalier Des Grieux so has. Chevy (for short) finds a mysterious handsome woman who seems almost accidentally placed in an all intense and purpose a chain gang in which he is told this woman is incredibly dangerous. Intrigued and instantaneously in love Chevy asks the woman to escape with him. Through bouts of infidelity and misdirection Chevy slowly loses not only his sanity but also his wealth at the beguiling of the beautiful Manon Lescaut. There were several moments in which I could help feeling bad for the poor woman the way this man refused to let her leave. I think the writer meant for us to feel bad for the male character and all he sacrificed, yet I can’t help but find him to be a bit of an unreliable narrator whom may even have been flat out stalking this woman. “I was the master of Manon‘s heart the only possession I cared for…”For our honeymoon Connor and I are seeing the ballet version of this play in France and thought it might be good to read ahead of time. Very cool story loved how the end cycles back to the beginning.

Tales from the Café by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

5.0

TALES FROM THE CAFE 2/3 from BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD. This series has meant so much to me. I’ve become somewhat of a cynical reader. All niceties are cliché and all trauma is just the writer trying to hook. In book 2 we are finally being pulled out of both the seasonal and emotional winter. We gain some insight into the workers of the cafe and how the “gift” of being able to pour time travel-able coffee is passed down from woman to woman through (pause for dramatic effect) pregnancy. I love the family of Funiculi Funicula cafe and I love how the writer makes these little nods back to those who have time traveled in the first book and how their scenarios played played out. This is the sweetest sci-fi novel I have ever read.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Jim Collins, Stephen R. Covey

4.0

Let me start by saying I did really like this book. Self help is not my genre of choice but in my ‘read a book for each year you’re alive’ series this one was like from 2 years ago ish and I’ve been stalling. Here are some takeaways, be industrious i.e don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot figure out. Earn thy neighbors love through honesty and empathy. Sharpen your saw i.e, take care of yourself because you are your greatest tool. Goodness truly does feel good and holding onto malice hurts not only others but you as well. Okay so I’m not as good as Mr.Covey with the wording of these principles but you get the idea. It’s a good read for the cynical millennial, teaching us rather than blame the outcomes of the world and the many despairs we experience to look inward and to hope, build something within yourself that could help.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5.0

I’m a bit of a contrarian where if everyone is talking about a book, I will make sure that I am the last one to read it. I don’t know why I’m like this. This book somewhat makes me think all that is stupid and I should just get over myself. Evelyn Hugo, a Cuban American actress who throws herself head first into the seedy underbelly of Hollywood, quite fearlessly one might say. Unabashedly aware of her assets and how to use them— there’s something just so damningly obvious about a sexpot having 7+ husbands and not given a rats ass about it. This book explores bodies, reflection, the coexistence of good and evil and how to make peace with the skeletons in your closet or in Evelyn’s case the camera men in your ex husband’s car. I really liked this book. I read it fast and want a movie pronto.

Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

4.0

3/3 in the Before the Coffee gets cold series. I recommend this series to anyone going through a tough time. Although the stories are not exactly a “feel good” they give the reader stories to sympathize with. In this round of stories we find out that there is yet another time traveling cafe (can you believe it) complete with its own special cafe ghost. I will say of the 3 this might not have been my favorite — but maybe that’s because it feels like Kawaguchi is setting up the series to have more books to come. Which I would be really happy about.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

4.0

Jodi Picoult is most known for her yearly churn out of novels that find their way to airport shelves near you. Picoult is known to take on whatever heavy-hitting uncomfy topic that is at the heart of politics and culture at the time being. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with such a specific literary algorithm— it’s just many feel Picoult does not put in perhaps enough research on her topics. Mad Honey is about single mother and beekeeper, Olivia, and her proximity to her son’s on going manslaughter/ potential homicide charges. Without spoiling the book (about half way through) focuses itself around trans issues of present day. Although very topical and important it feels like this is perhaps just another checked boxed on the authors laundry list of uncomfy topics she wants to write about and stake claim as an expert on. That being said the writer did bring on an actual expert to help write this story which I think is an import distinction from her previous works. There were really cheesy moments in this story which almost felt inappropriate for what the topic was dealing with— there were also plenty of moments that were deep and contemplative and would make the average suburbanite think twice about things they’re voting for or who they want as their legislators. I think that’s more who this book is meant for. A neatly packaged story about a hot button issue for people who never have to think about those kinds of things.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two by John Tiffany

3.0

Man-o-man, Harry Potter sure is a shit dad. This read was cool in that it is quite literally the script for the play, so interactions, settings, cool magic-y stuff is all written out for the little tv box in your brain to produce a visual for. However, it felt very fanfic in that it was basically giving the readers things they wanted (Harry and Ginny married with kids etc) not to ruin the big twists and turns but the “curse” I believe is this idea that everyone’s dad fucks them up in some terrible way, or every dad (or dad stand-in figure) seems to let every child down in some way. My husband thinks that’s reaching but I disagree. The play itself was ✨magical✨ with lots of cloak flourishes and plenty of magic tricks along with an absolutely beautiful stage that literally convulsed (that’s the only word I could come up with) when time travel was apparent.

Pageboy by Elliot Page

5.0

I have been wanting to read this for a bit now. Truly incredible. Elliot Page writes from a place of vulnerability but also self discovery and actualization. To have you body critiqued at the rate page did from such a young age — to be sexualized and have this coquettish pigeonholed idea of themselves, to be Juno and to then have the world picturing preteen sex with you to then “disappoint” numerous fans, stalkers, and even your dad — that’s fucking rough. Page does a good job of subtly calling out those who added to his suffering. Anyone who grew up alongside his films will be able to point out who these assholes are. But for every horrible person mentioned, Page seems to find a way to name atleast 5+ good and supportive friends that helped him along the way. Things I learned: Elliot page is really into permaculture and climate change, they have really great taste in music, and they have loved others so deeply that the lasting effects permeate this book as evidence.

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis

3.0

A girls trip is turned on its head when the elderly and ✨closeted✨ grand-mère (grandma) is found with a knife betwixt her breast. Who could have perpetrated such a horrid deed? Was it Darcy, the beloved granddaughter with debt wracking up? Or Jade whose family history intertwined with grand-mère’s circa World War II? Or was it Arabelle, grand daughter to the beloved help now turned insta gram chef? Or could it be Vics, the grandmas favorite whom she’d been secretly financing this whole time?! I was looking for something a bit lighter — not necessarily a beach read but something a little juicy. The Chateau is one of those books that I think would make an absolutely amazing Netflix special in the way that it unapologetically ventured into camp…often.

Lore Olympus: Volume Three by Rachel Smythe

5.0

One of my favorite graphic novels of all time. I had to wait a bit for this one to come out — it’s crazy that they’re already up to the fourth one. In this iteration of lore, Hades is dating nymph, (Minthe the nymph) who keeps making their toxic relationship all the more toxic. Persephone continues her apprenticeship and tried to be the model maiden of eternal chastity. Which proves harder than expected.
My partner gets me the new iteration each year for my birthday.