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khopeisz's reviews
123 reviews
The Secret of Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay
4.0
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As a David Lynch fan, Iām always primed for stories about time and space, and any religiousities regarding either. I also donāt like open-ended mysteries. So Lindseyās chapter eighteen gave me great satisfaction. I might even argue that chapter eighteen and the story surrounding its publication greatly increases the appeal of Picnic at Hanging Rock for me.
There is also something beautiful and haunting about the tension of these classically beautiful young ladies and their complex thoughts regarding space and time. I believe it was intentional.
As a David Lynch fan, Iām always primed for stories about time and space, and any religiousities regarding either. I also donāt like open-ended mysteries. So Lindseyās chapter eighteen gave me great satisfaction. I might even argue that chapter eighteen and the story surrounding its publication greatly increases the appeal of Picnic at Hanging Rock for me.
There is also something beautiful and haunting about the tension of these classically beautiful young ladies and their complex thoughts regarding space and time. I believe it was intentional.
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin
3.0
this book serves as proof that Iāve graduated beyond the type of books about the internalized unraveling of a millennial woman. Presently it is not my preference to read a book about a person who is so self involved with their own anxieties they lose all sense of motivation and self preservation. I am that type of person already (at least from time to time); seeing some of my habits reflected on the page unfortunately did not make an enjoyable reading experience for me. This was insufferable, though the ending was somewhat of a poignant relief even if not all was resolved (what are we doing about Jeff? Eli? The homophobia).
I almost dnfād this book a few times but pressed on as I know itās a literary darling for many people. Would appreciate we put an end to the Fleabag comparisons, though. While Fleabagās thoughts were interwoven throughout the episodes, we werenāt constantly trapped in them like we are in this book. This book reminded me more of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a book that I did read at the right time, whose only saving grace for me, after a very long a frustrating battle inside the main characterās head, was the ending.
I donāt know how to rate this book because part of me is like, āis there a successful way of writing something like this where I would enjoy it?ā and the other part of me is like āscrew it I didnāt enjoy it, and thatās my review!ā And Iām gonna lean into the latter. 3 āļø to sort of signify this mental skirmish of a book that I can acknowledge was engaging and written well enough for what it was.
I almost dnfād this book a few times but pressed on as I know itās a literary darling for many people. Would appreciate we put an end to the Fleabag comparisons, though. While Fleabagās thoughts were interwoven throughout the episodes, we werenāt constantly trapped in them like we are in this book. This book reminded me more of My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a book that I did read at the right time, whose only saving grace for me, after a very long a frustrating battle inside the main characterās head, was the ending.
I donāt know how to rate this book because part of me is like, āis there a successful way of writing something like this where I would enjoy it?ā and the other part of me is like āscrew it I didnāt enjoy it, and thatās my review!ā And Iām gonna lean into the latter. 3 āļø to sort of signify this mental skirmish of a book that I can acknowledge was engaging and written well enough for what it was.
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
4.75
one of my favorite books I read this year. The language and characterization was so beautiful and vivid and special and realistic. I both read and listened to this on audiobook. The audiobook narrator was absolutely remarkable. Iām overwhelmed w praises for this book and donāt know which praise to pick and which to expound upon.
Will be recommending to everyone. ššš
Will be recommending to everyone. ššš
We Are Together Because by Kerry Andrew
4.0
I had no idea this was a dystopian novel; I typically dont read dystopians (gesturing to the world), but dang this book was a compulsive read. Finished in one sitting. Stayed up until 3 AM, I havenāt done that for a book since I first read Rebecca as a teenager.
Wish there had been more of a resolution to the dystopian lavender Them, but Iām interested in viewing the end of the world here as more of a metaphor a la Lars Von Trierās Melancholia. A metaphor for what exactly Iām not sure. Also, I do not speak French, so Iām not sure if there was anyone suggesting The Rapture for the reason of themass disappearances , or is this like an American religiosity? Also I need answers about why Luke was described as having died but everyone else disappeared?
This would make an excellent book club read; the discussions alone would be very interesting. Iām grateful for the experience of having read this book.
Wish there had been more of a resolution to the dystopian lavender Them, but Iām interested in viewing the end of the world here as more of a metaphor a la Lars Von Trierās Melancholia. A metaphor for what exactly Iām not sure. Also, I do not speak French, so Iām not sure if there was anyone suggesting The Rapture for the reason of the
This would make an excellent book club read; the discussions alone would be very interesting. Iām grateful for the experience of having read this book.
Revival Season by Monica West
2.0
Oh boyā¦.i am conflicted as I do not want to speak unkindly. But here goes:
I was held captive by the experience of reading this book. Perhaps because it read like narrative summary, a real Tell-not-Show run down of events. As a writer reading this book, I felt like I was reading the long summary of a novel and not the novel itself. We are trapped in Miriamās head, which would have been fine had the narrative voice reflected a fifteen year olds. I did not believe the internal struggle Miriam was experiencing. I kept being told of the struggle but the narrative never slowed down to show it to me.
Another point to the writing: there were some very beautiful descriptions, and then there were others that just felt like placeholders. Iām trying to be kinder when I read, but I maybe should have put the book down at the mere mention of āorbsā in the first or second chapter.
Now to the plot: I was engaged. We had a villain, Papa. And I wanted nothing but pain and suffering to come to him. This is all that needed to happen to make this book worthwhile to me. Did we get that? No. We get the most unsatisfactory cop out of a nonending. I do not care if the ending is supposed to depict some sort of realism; where was this realism when the universe of the book accepted that Miriam could actually heal people?! Where was this realism when the universe of the book allowed for Papa to roam free despite having publicly assaulted a pregnant woman?!?! How did he not go to jail for that? Who was that woman? My head cannon says that thatās his mistress but why am I filling in these gaps with my own imagination, since this was never even implied!!
Another note to the plot: writing about domestic abuse is tricky. This is going to sound insensitive and I apologize, but domestic abuse is narratively unsatisfactory when the abuser does not get his comeuppance, or his victims do not get their freedom. Furthermore, I understand the mentality of staying with an abuser, as I have been in that position. But unless your victims have been thoroughly humanized, the reader is going to be judgmental toward Ma for sacrificing Miriam to Papa and also absconding in the middle of the night WITHOUT HER KIDS. I am told she feels sorry and apologizes for that. But what about her as the caring mother she has proven to be would lead her to sacrifice and think about deserting her kids like that??? Iām not arguing that she shouldnāt have done it. I want to be shown more as to why. I felt no human connection to her. These characters were two dimensional. And I did not understand the point of Caleb at all.
Finally, the most abhorrent scene of the book involves dear sweet Hannah. I will not describe what happens. And Iām not arguing against that the scene at the end of the book should not have happened. What I am angry with is the following: in no way was this ableist moment resolved with any dignity or true reflection. Once again, we get a verbal apology from a character and a one off narrative summary about Miriam confessing that she understood that Hannah did not need to be healed. Hannah was absolutely stripped of her dignity and was not restored it in my eyes. To the extent that I thought to myself, āhow dare this be happening?ā not necessarily to the character, as Iāve mentioned the characters are all two dimension, but how dare this be happening as a plot point? Once again, ableism can exist in a book, but the author is responsible for its portrayal. And in my opinion, the author really stripped Hannah of her dignity without much restoration.
I grew up Pentecostal. Iām very familiar with signs and wonders. My critiques do not stem from a misunderstanding of this world. Iām just flabbergasted. I have not used that word ever. Thatās how flabbergasted I am.
I was held captive by the experience of reading this book. Perhaps because it read like narrative summary, a real Tell-not-Show run down of events. As a writer reading this book, I felt like I was reading the long summary of a novel and not the novel itself. We are trapped in Miriamās head, which would have been fine had the narrative voice reflected a fifteen year olds. I did not believe the internal struggle Miriam was experiencing. I kept being told of the struggle but the narrative never slowed down to show it to me.
Another point to the writing: there were some very beautiful descriptions, and then there were others that just felt like placeholders. Iām trying to be kinder when I read, but I maybe should have put the book down at the mere mention of āorbsā in the first or second chapter.
Now to the plot: I was engaged. We had a villain, Papa. And I wanted nothing but pain and suffering to come to him. This is all that needed to happen to make this book worthwhile to me. Did we get that? No. We get the most unsatisfactory cop out of a nonending. I do not care if the ending is supposed to depict some sort of realism; where was this realism when the universe of the book accepted that Miriam could actually heal people?! Where was this realism when the universe of the book allowed for Papa to roam free despite having publicly assaulted a pregnant woman?!?! How did he not go to jail for that? Who was that woman? My head cannon says that thatās his mistress but why am I filling in these gaps with my own imagination, since this was never even implied!!
Another note to the plot: writing about domestic abuse is tricky. This is going to sound insensitive and I apologize, but domestic abuse is narratively unsatisfactory when the abuser does not get his comeuppance, or his victims do not get their freedom. Furthermore, I understand the mentality of staying with an abuser, as I have been in that position. But unless your victims have been thoroughly humanized, the reader is going to be judgmental toward Ma for sacrificing Miriam to Papa and also absconding in the middle of the night WITHOUT HER KIDS. I am told she feels sorry and apologizes for that. But what about her as the caring mother she has proven to be would lead her to sacrifice and think about deserting her kids like that??? Iām not arguing that she shouldnāt have done it. I want to be shown more as to why. I felt no human connection to her. These characters were two dimensional. And I did not understand the point of Caleb at all.
Finally, the most abhorrent scene of the book involves dear sweet Hannah. I will not describe what happens. And Iām not arguing against that the scene at the end of the book should not have happened. What I am angry with is the following: in no way was this ableist moment resolved with any dignity or true reflection. Once again, we get a verbal apology from a character and a one off narrative summary about Miriam confessing that she understood that Hannah did not need to be healed. Hannah was absolutely stripped of her dignity and was not restored it in my eyes. To the extent that I thought to myself, āhow dare this be happening?ā not necessarily to the character, as Iāve mentioned the characters are all two dimension, but how dare this be happening as a plot point? Once again, ableism can exist in a book, but the author is responsible for its portrayal. And in my opinion, the author really stripped Hannah of her dignity without much restoration.
I grew up Pentecostal. Iām very familiar with signs and wonders. My critiques do not stem from a misunderstanding of this world. Iām just flabbergasted. I have not used that word ever. Thatās how flabbergasted I am.
Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination by Toni Morrison
5.0
As a reader and writer, and as a black reader and writer, I will forever be meditating on these thoughts by Morrison. Also, Ernest Hemingwayā¦ā¦.the way that Iāve never read your fiction and will continue my life in the tradition of never reading your fictionā¦ā¦.
The Little Virtues by Natalia Ginzburg
4.25
I read the bulk of this while experiencing a migraine so you know my immediate adoration for my first Ginzburg was serious lol.
Death Valley by Melissa Broder
3.0
this book had the complicated job of attempting to lead me to accept grief and the inevitability of death, but it took me on a journey with which Iām already familiar. To me personally, nothing new was said. Which makes sense, as Broder admits to not having read many books on the subject of grief. This story is very personal to her, which Iām happy for, but it had little to say to me as a reader. The humor and style of writing is redemptive, however. also tell me a book is book three in your three book contract deal without telling me etc etc
The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan
4.25
thought the incorporation of Vivian was a bit belated, and I have complex thoughts about her as a character. But overall, loved the observations on relationships and communication, Dolanās revisited subjects. Also, good-naturedly took some damage from that random jab at Americans and our emails lol
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
fast-paced
4.0
we love subversions! Docking points for the over abundance of the liberal white feminist takes even though I know thatās the point of the damn book!! But this is my review :)) enjoyed both my experience reading this book and this book <3