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kghunter's reviews
22 reviews
I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart
Favorite Quotes (forgive me, there are far too many):
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is such an unbelievably magnificent book. I learned so much from this author and her telling of these stories. Not just historically, but also mentally and emotionally. It taught me so much about the human condition, about what war and displacement does to a people. I learned so much about myself, about others, about human connection and disconnection.
In this novel Pickhart meticulously crafted characters and relationships that are strikingly rich and complex, both beautiful and ugly. Plots that stand independent as a tree strengthened with age, yet enmeshed as the roots that anchor its surrounding forest. The extraordinary duality of her writing enabled me to submerge myself in lived experiences so different from my own that prior to I had (unbeknownst to myself) merely waded in. After reading this novel I have nothing but immense gratitude and respect for Pickhart as a literary artist.
In this novel Pickhart meticulously crafted characters and relationships that are strikingly rich and complex, both beautiful and ugly. Plots that stand independent as a tree strengthened with age, yet enmeshed as the roots that anchor its surrounding forest. The extraordinary duality of her writing enabled me to submerge myself in lived experiences so different from my own that prior to I had (unbeknownst to myself) merely waded in. After reading this novel I have nothing but immense gratitude and respect for Pickhart as a literary artist.
Favorite Quotes (forgive me, there are far too many):
“All these fearless women want to kill him, he thinks. He cares for them, and he loves them, and then they kill him with worry.”
“It seems all her life Katya has either been fighting for or against the men she loves. The room they take up in her. The staggering greed. Her child. Her husband. Even her father.”
“Her heart, swelling like the moon”
“How much energy does it take to remember?”
“Pride—both a virtue and a vice.”
“You raped my country, you are a dog in heat.”
“Misha: ‘Are you angry with her?’ Katya: ‘Can I tell you something crazy?’ Misha: ‘Yes’ Katya: ‘I’m angry with everyone’”
“When we shoot we kill a neighbor. When we shoot we kill ourselves. Ukraine, the umbilical cord becomes the noose.”
“She tries not to seem worried for him, she stays angry”
“Everything is as real as it’s not”
“All these fearless women want to kill him, he thinks. He cares for them, and he loves them, and then they kill him with worry.”
“It seems all her life Katya has either been fighting for or against the men she loves. The room they take up in her. The staggering greed. Her child. Her husband. Even her father.”
“Her heart, swelling like the moon”
“How much energy does it take to remember?”
“Pride—both a virtue and a vice.”
“You raped my country, you are a dog in heat.”
“Misha: ‘Are you angry with her?’ Katya: ‘Can I tell you something crazy?’ Misha: ‘Yes’ Katya: ‘I’m angry with everyone’”
“When we shoot we kill a neighbor. When we shoot we kill ourselves. Ukraine, the umbilical cord becomes the noose.”
“She tries not to seem worried for him, she stays angry”
“Everything is as real as it’s not”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, War
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness
Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
“Whenever Sana visited her friends homes, especially the first generation kids, she’d often find houses filled with crumbling boxes full of stuff. Mementos from their parent’s homeland, too old to use, too precious to throw away, too painful to look at. So they’re left to age gently, a reminder of everyone who was left behind.”
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a really quick, easy, fun read! The characters are so sweet and silly and initially as I read the book’s introduction to the main character I was pleasantly struck by the authors ability to quickly switch between writing that was genuinely funny and writing that tugged at my heart strings. The main reasons I am not giving a higher rating is because of the book’s predictability, the lack of efficiency character description, and the lack of character complexity.
In my opinion the book was very predictable, to the point that I had already correctly guessed the ending early in the story. This may have been intentional on behalf of the author because it’s not supposed to be a hard hitting thriller/mystery IMO, but a light hearted story about the beauty and joys of connecting with people from different walks of life, that was guided by an interesting “murder mystery” plot. I just wouldn’t read this if you are someone who is explicitly looking for an earnest thriller mystery novel.
Additionally I found the character development to be lacking in multiple ways. First, the character description was abysmal. Sutanto constantly reiterates the race of the characters she’s introducing which initially I found refreshing especially since she made a point to make the story racially diverse. But soon after I was slightly disappointed that there was no further description, literally all I know is that one character has brown eyes, one has a perm, and one has blonde hair. I know that detailed character physical description isn’t necessary but it seemed odd to me that Sutanto constantly reiterates everyone’s race as if that is the perfect all encompassing descriptor, when in reality it gives the reader practically nothing. When I read a story, especially one like this that is almost completely character interaction/dialogue, I find it difficult to be truly immersed in the world when I can’t envision the characters, and just giving someone’s race is like the broadest possible thing you could say about their physicality. And the author is clearly so very talented, I think her descriptions of other aspects of the story such as the tea really shown a light on her abilities so I just found myself wishing she had incorporated that a bit more into her character descriptions.
Second,I felt like the author relied too heavily on the trope of the one evil villain guy that ruins everyone’s life because he is truly 100% just evil and irredeemable and everyone else is just a victim that had good intentions and a heart as pure as snow. It just felt unrealistic and kept me from feeling truly emotionally connected to the story in a way that I wanted to because the characters and story are magnificent. Sutanto is clearly a phenomenal storyteller and I found myself desperately wanting to know more about the characters. She does such a magnificent job of making the characters likable but I honestly found them less enjoyable and relatable when their nuance and humanness was stripped by all the blame being placed on the one senseless bad guy. Aside from the main character I just found myself wanting more complexity from the secondary characters since the story is almost completely character interaction and dialogue.
I loved the stories insight into the heart and mind of an older widow who lives a fairly isolated life. I also appreciated the authors attention to our capacity to experience sweet, platonic joy in the small everyday connections we make. I breezed through this book because the main character was so quirky and lovable, I wanted to know what she would say or do or cook or brew next! I feel like Sutanto really displayed her ability to write truly messy, funny, relatable, honest characters through Vera and I am excited to see what she writes in the future because she clearly has immense amounts of talent and potential. Not to say that she isn’t already an amazing writer, but I think she has the capacity to make some truly brilliant work as her craft ages.
In my opinion the book was very predictable, to the point that I had already correctly guessed the ending early in the story. This may have been intentional on behalf of the author because it’s not supposed to be a hard hitting thriller/mystery IMO, but a light hearted story about the beauty and joys of connecting with people from different walks of life, that was guided by an interesting “murder mystery” plot. I just wouldn’t read this if you are someone who is explicitly looking for an earnest thriller mystery novel.
Additionally I found the character development to be lacking in multiple ways. First, the character description was abysmal. Sutanto constantly reiterates the race of the characters she’s introducing which initially I found refreshing especially since she made a point to make the story racially diverse. But soon after I was slightly disappointed that there was no further description, literally all I know is that one character has brown eyes, one has a perm, and one has blonde hair. I know that detailed character physical description isn’t necessary but it seemed odd to me that Sutanto constantly reiterates everyone’s race as if that is the perfect all encompassing descriptor, when in reality it gives the reader practically nothing. When I read a story, especially one like this that is almost completely character interaction/dialogue, I find it difficult to be truly immersed in the world when I can’t envision the characters, and just giving someone’s race is like the broadest possible thing you could say about their physicality. And the author is clearly so very talented, I think her descriptions of other aspects of the story such as the tea really shown a light on her abilities so I just found myself wishing she had incorporated that a bit more into her character descriptions.
Second,
I loved the stories insight into the heart and mind of an older widow who lives a fairly isolated life. I also appreciated the authors attention to our capacity to experience sweet, platonic joy in the small everyday connections we make. I breezed through this book because the main character was so quirky and lovable, I wanted to know what she would say or do or cook or brew next! I feel like Sutanto really displayed her ability to write truly messy, funny, relatable, honest characters through Vera and I am excited to see what she writes in the future because she clearly has immense amounts of talent and potential. Not to say that she isn’t already an amazing writer, but I think she has the capacity to make some truly brilliant work as her craft ages.
favorite quotes:
“Whenever Sana visited her friends homes, especially the first generation kids, she’d often find houses filled with crumbling boxes full of stuff. Mementos from their parent’s homeland, too old to use, too precious to throw away, too painful to look at. So they’re left to age gently, a reminder of everyone who was left behind.”
“In her experience it’s best to nod and agree with what people say before doing exactly what you wanted from the very beginning.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Murder
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I legitimately cried and threw this book at my wall like a lunatic during the stories climax near the end. Which is unhinged feral street cat behavior, I know. I’ve never done that before with any book ever; what this book made me feel is worlds away from my normal range of emotions (thank god). And I think that is the best selling point I can offer as to why everyone should read this book at least once in their life. That’s all I have to say because this story and the way it’s told is so good that there’s nothing else I can say that would do justice in conveying this novel’s greatness.
Also completely unrelated side note but I heard in a podcast once that Ursula K Le Guin’s father was one of the leading anthropologists that made a dehumanized spectacle of the native man Ishi that had his brain preserved as an artifact against his will after his passing. Not sure what all of the story or facts are behind the nonconsensual theft and objectification of Ishi’s remains in terms of Le Guin’s fathers involvement (I just vaguely remember a brief mention of this on a podcast I was listening to years ago) but her fathers career as an anthropologist during the early 20th century and involvement in the institutionalized observation of living indigenous peoples as some type of primitive anthropological artifact is an interesting lens to view Le Guin’s work through.
Also completely unrelated side note but I heard in a podcast once that Ursula K Le Guin’s father was one of the leading anthropologists that made a dehumanized spectacle of the native man Ishi that had his brain preserved as an artifact against his will after his passing. Not sure what all of the story or facts are behind the nonconsensual theft and objectification of Ishi’s remains in terms of Le Guin’s fathers involvement (I just vaguely remember a brief mention of this on a podcast I was listening to years ago) but her fathers career as an anthropologist during the early 20th century and involvement in the institutionalized observation of living indigenous peoples as some type of primitive anthropological artifact is an interesting lens to view Le Guin’s work through.
Making Love with the Land by Joshua Whitehead
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
I started to listen to this on audiobook but it was kind of hard for me to keep up with this style of writing while passively listening because when I read a book by listening to the audiobook it is something i listen to while i do other things. I decided to go ahead and return it to the library because I’d rather take the time to read the physical book instead the future instead so I can really be fully immersed in the story because from what I did listen to it was absolutely beautiful and something that deserves my undivided attention.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. And if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
I truly cannot think of a more talented author/poet than Maya Angelou. This collection of poems is on par with the rest of her work, which is to say—unbelievably beautiful and inspiring—the kind of art that makes you appreciate and honor what it means to be human. To be here on this earth with one another. To yield to the unification with all that came before us, walks alongside us, and follows in our footsteps; inextricably linked in the search for peace.
The lyricism of Angelou’s work is both bold and deliberate, both gentle and alive. Regardless of the conceptual and/or theoretical depths of any which poem, she maintains a steady hold on the childlike wonder and jubilation that marks all of her work with identifying strokes.
Some of my favorite quotes from this collection include:
The lyricism of Angelou’s work is both bold and deliberate, both gentle and alive. Regardless of the conceptual and/or theoretical depths of any which poem, she maintains a steady hold on the childlike wonder and jubilation that marks all of her work with identifying strokes.
Some of my favorite quotes from this collection include:
“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived. And if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
“I am not metaphor, I’m not symbol. I’m not a nightmare to vanish with the dawn. I am lasting as hunger, and certain as midnight.”
“In your absence I rehearse you.”
“You must know the difference between seeking after justice, and lusting for revenge.”
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
House of Sky and Breath by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City) by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Sarah J Maas needs serious therapy, and I pray to God she never receives it. I’m like 95% sure I got pregnant from the scene in which the protagonist gets fingered.
All jokes aside whilst I did enjoy the fantasy/world-building and smutty indulgence of this book, I stg I’m gonna start vomiting blood if I read another heterosexual fantasy romance novel in which the man ends up being like hundreds of years old and the girl is 16-mid twenties. I am literally on my hands and knees begging these authors to consider the impact they’re having on young women’s psyche because if I have to see another one of my young, intelligent, beautiful, compassionate friends, who are in the literally trenches fighting for their sanity against men our age who are mostly non-comital nightmares in ugly shoes and ill-fitting clothes with brains that have been shrunken via vape steam to the point that they can only regurgitate instagram and reddit comment discourse, being convinced by grown-ass fantasy novelists in the midst of their exhaustion that there is something even vaguely romantic or reprieving about the 40something year old sewage rat man-boys they’re ending up settling for. I need a BREAK and Mrs.Maas sadly ain’t givin’ it to us.
I did also break and buy the next 2 books, I will admit.
All jokes aside whilst I did enjoy the fantasy/world-building and smutty indulgence of this book, I stg I’m gonna start vomiting blood if I read another heterosexual fantasy romance novel in which the man ends up being like hundreds of years old and the girl is 16-mid twenties. I am literally on my hands and knees begging these authors to consider the impact they’re having on young women’s psyche because if I have to see another one of my young, intelligent, beautiful, compassionate friends, who are in the literally trenches fighting for their sanity against men our age who are mostly non-comital nightmares in ugly shoes and ill-fitting clothes with brains that have been shrunken via vape steam to the point that they can only regurgitate instagram and reddit comment discourse, being convinced by grown-ass fantasy novelists in the midst of their exhaustion that there is something even vaguely romantic or reprieving about the 40something year old sewage rat man-boys they’re ending up settling for. I need a BREAK and Mrs.Maas sadly ain’t givin’ it to us.
I did also break and buy the next 2 books, I will admit.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
If you were to remove all of the sentences in this book that described one of the characters blushing, it would probably be about half its current length. I don’t know if this is just a more common experience of fair skinned people or what but I think a group-read of this in which everyone took a shot every time someone blushes would be a pretty fun way to get absolutely shittered with your friends if they also happen to be into horny fantasy mystery novels that involve a lot of quivering and clenched fists.
Blushing and quivering aside this was a truly enjoyable read. Reid is brilliant at capturing the “dark academia” imagery and I loved how she used such a beautifully painted, fantastical storyline to examine themes of misogyny, victim-shaming, childhood trauma, and isolation, as well as gender-based violence, bigotry, and oppression. As a reader who originally chose to read this book to scratch my annually occurring wintertime dark academia itch, its depth and sincerity came as a pleasant surprise.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
“[…]the truth was very costly at times. How terrible, to navigate the world without a story to comfort you.”
If you were to remove all of the sentences in this book that described one of the characters blushing, it would probably be about half its current length. I don’t know if this is just a more common experience of fair skinned people or what but I think a group-read of this in which everyone took a shot every time someone blushes would be a pretty fun way to get absolutely shittered with your friends if they also happen to be into horny fantasy mystery novels that involve a lot of quivering and clenched fists.
Blushing and quivering aside this was a truly enjoyable read. Reid is brilliant at capturing the “dark academia” imagery and I loved how she used such a beautifully painted, fantastical storyline to examine themes of misogyny, victim-shaming, childhood trauma, and isolation, as well as gender-based violence, bigotry, and oppression. As a reader who originally chose to read this book to scratch my annually occurring wintertime dark academia itch, its depth and sincerity came as a pleasant surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation