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libbysbookshelf's Reviews (745)
A GIRL’S STORY by ANNIE ERNAUX
This is my second Ernaux of the month and I’m sure I’ll be reading more.
As with the first I read, this one is autobiographical and philosophical at the same time. Ernaux writes about herself from a distance that enables her to be self-reflective and critical. It’s fascinating and unique as a reading experience.
I will admit that I got a little bored halfway through this one but it hasn’t put me off her, just reminded me that I need to be fully alert when I go into my next Ernaux.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrec #annieernaux #agirlsstory #fitzcarraldoeditions
This is my second Ernaux of the month and I’m sure I’ll be reading more.
As with the first I read, this one is autobiographical and philosophical at the same time. Ernaux writes about herself from a distance that enables her to be self-reflective and critical. It’s fascinating and unique as a reading experience.
I will admit that I got a little bored halfway through this one but it hasn’t put me off her, just reminded me that I need to be fully alert when I go into my next Ernaux.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrec #annieernaux #agirlsstory #fitzcarraldoeditions
THE NARROWS by ANN PETRY
Ok, there are a few things to say before we get to the review. Firstly, I wouldn’t have read this or even been aware of Petry had it not been for Instagram essential @reggiereads so a huge thanks to him. Secondly, last January I read The Street by the same author and absolutely loved it. I even ended up writing an essay on the various book covers throughout the decades (for my MA). Secondly, thanks to @what_i_have_read (one of my Bookstagram besties) for buddy reading this with me. Sorry for rushing ahead and finishing without you! I’ll be there when you’re ready to chat!
OK, to the plot. In a style that I’m recognising as Petry esque, we don’t just hear from one protagonist in this novel. In fact, the setting (The Narrows itself) is the main character and the people come and go. I suppose if I had to choose a main character it would be Link; a young Black lad with charm, looks and education. He has been adopted by Annie Crunch, but also kinda by the local bar owner and his greatest (unknown) chef. Then there is Mamie Prowther and her husband who works as a butler for a rich white family. Then there is Camilo; a young, beautiful white woman who finds herself in The Narrows one evening, running scared from the local loony (non-PC? Definitely. Forgivable because of what this book does for race? Definitely.). While running from said looney, the WHITE Camilo runs into the (strong and handsome) BLACK arms of Link. Did I mention this is set in the 1950s? In America? Yeah, so you can imagine how a relationship between a Black man and a white woman might end up. But hey, stop imagining it. Read this instead and witness some of the greatest writing ever. Read this and experience characterisation that is in league with Toni Morrison. Forget Steinbeck and McCarthy as America’s greats, instead, meet Petry. She will knock your socks of.
I said it after I read The Street and I’ll say it with even more gusto now: READ ANN PETRY!
#book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #annpetry #thenarrows #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer
Ok, there are a few things to say before we get to the review. Firstly, I wouldn’t have read this or even been aware of Petry had it not been for Instagram essential @reggiereads so a huge thanks to him. Secondly, last January I read The Street by the same author and absolutely loved it. I even ended up writing an essay on the various book covers throughout the decades (for my MA). Secondly, thanks to @what_i_have_read (one of my Bookstagram besties) for buddy reading this with me. Sorry for rushing ahead and finishing without you! I’ll be there when you’re ready to chat!
OK, to the plot. In a style that I’m recognising as Petry esque, we don’t just hear from one protagonist in this novel. In fact, the setting (The Narrows itself) is the main character and the people come and go. I suppose if I had to choose a main character it would be Link; a young Black lad with charm, looks and education. He has been adopted by Annie Crunch, but also kinda by the local bar owner and his greatest (unknown) chef. Then there is Mamie Prowther and her husband who works as a butler for a rich white family. Then there is Camilo; a young, beautiful white woman who finds herself in The Narrows one evening, running scared from the local loony (non-PC? Definitely. Forgivable because of what this book does for race? Definitely.). While running from said looney, the WHITE Camilo runs into the (strong and handsome) BLACK arms of Link. Did I mention this is set in the 1950s? In America? Yeah, so you can imagine how a relationship between a Black man and a white woman might end up. But hey, stop imagining it. Read this instead and witness some of the greatest writing ever. Read this and experience characterisation that is in league with Toni Morrison. Forget Steinbeck and McCarthy as America’s greats, instead, meet Petry. She will knock your socks of.
I said it after I read The Street and I’ll say it with even more gusto now: READ ANN PETRY!
#book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #annpetry #thenarrows #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND by BAE SUAH
Korean writer, Bae Suah was on my radar because of Untold Night and Day; an experimental novel that plays with structure and form. This teeny, tiny novella does something similar.
I often find I don’t know what’s happening when I read Suah, but it never seems to matter and that’s when I appreciate her writing because it reminds me that plot can be so insignificant if the writing is great. Like a wave, she crashes me off my feet and pulls me under, then throws me back to safety, breathless and unsure, but thrilled by the experience.
I recommend her for anyone who likes an experimental writer.
#koreanliterature #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk #koreanbook #baesuah #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreview #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookreading #bookrecs
Korean writer, Bae Suah was on my radar because of Untold Night and Day; an experimental novel that plays with structure and form. This teeny, tiny novella does something similar.
I often find I don’t know what’s happening when I read Suah, but it never seems to matter and that’s when I appreciate her writing because it reminds me that plot can be so insignificant if the writing is great. Like a wave, she crashes me off my feet and pulls me under, then throws me back to safety, breathless and unsure, but thrilled by the experience.
I recommend her for anyone who likes an experimental writer.
#koreanliterature #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk #koreanbook #baesuah #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreview #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookreading #bookrecs
YOU MADE A FOOL OF DEATH WITH YOUR BEAUTY by AKWAEKE EMEZI (aka my favourite)
Late December, I received an empty envelope from @faberbooks that was supposed to contain this book. However, someone had clearly stolen the contents of the envelope. When I told Faber about it, they were extremely understanding and sent me another one the next day, but by the time it arrived, I was in Spain, so my mum posted it to me, but it got held up at customs for three weeks, and when it finally arrived I had to pay an €8 tax charge. Phew. Anyway, the reason I’m telling you this is because I want you to know the lengths I (and my family) go to to get Emezi in my hands! I would do it all over 5000 times for this book!
When Emezi said they were writing a romance novel, I nearly melted into a puddle. What could be better than the greatest writer of all time dipping their toe into smutty romance?! Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Then again, I’d probably lick the paper in Emezi’s waste paper bin, so they could really do anything and I’d gag.
All I’ll say about the plot is: you think you know, but you have no idea. Just wait for your heart to turn to liquid between Emezi’s fingers. Just wait.
Preorder now. Actually, now is too late preorder it yesterday.
I’m on such a high after reading this. Can you tell?!
#book #bookstagram #youmadeafoolofdeathwithyourbeauty #akwaekeemezi #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews
Late December, I received an empty envelope from @faberbooks that was supposed to contain this book. However, someone had clearly stolen the contents of the envelope. When I told Faber about it, they were extremely understanding and sent me another one the next day, but by the time it arrived, I was in Spain, so my mum posted it to me, but it got held up at customs for three weeks, and when it finally arrived I had to pay an €8 tax charge. Phew. Anyway, the reason I’m telling you this is because I want you to know the lengths I (and my family) go to to get Emezi in my hands! I would do it all over 5000 times for this book!
When Emezi said they were writing a romance novel, I nearly melted into a puddle. What could be better than the greatest writer of all time dipping their toe into smutty romance?! Nothing. Absolutely nothing! Then again, I’d probably lick the paper in Emezi’s waste paper bin, so they could really do anything and I’d gag.
All I’ll say about the plot is: you think you know, but you have no idea. Just wait for your heart to turn to liquid between Emezi’s fingers. Just wait.
Preorder now. Actually, now is too late preorder it yesterday.
I’m on such a high after reading this. Can you tell?!
#book #bookstagram #youmadeafoolofdeathwithyourbeauty #akwaekeemezi #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews
THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by TAYLOR JENKINS REID
A Bookstagram favourite; a book that needs no introduction; a book so hyped that I couldn’t not read it.
So I did.
I read it.
And the hype killed it. It died. It felt like a good book and it was readable and things happened and I was invested at times. But I didn’t connect to the characters and that is the worst criticism I could ever give.
Now, I’m not saying that you’re all wrong for loving this. I think if it hadn’t been for the hype, I would have liked it more.
It’s not own voices but it follows a woman who is mixed race (Black and white American) and one who is Cuban. It also centres around a bisexual woman, which is great but somehow didn’t feel true. I’m not the bisexual police or anything, but I didn’t believe the main character’s feelings were true. Also, this book was so busy trying to be clean and politically correct that it lost some of its edge and humanness. I’m the first person to call someone up on their non-PCness, but this felt very heavy handed. Maybe for that reason it would be a good book for people to read who don’t have much contact with the LGBTQ+ world to teach them the basics.
I don’t know. I’m not an expert either, but I do know that I didn’t love this book and I do know that my opinion will upset a lot of people. But I must be honest in my reviews or you won’t believe me when I praise a book (which I do a lot).
If you loved this, please tell me why. What am I missing? If you agree with me, please show some solidarity!
#book #bookstagram #evelynhugo #thesevenhusbandsofevelynhugo #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs
A Bookstagram favourite; a book that needs no introduction; a book so hyped that I couldn’t not read it.
So I did.
I read it.
And the hype killed it. It died. It felt like a good book and it was readable and things happened and I was invested at times. But I didn’t connect to the characters and that is the worst criticism I could ever give.
Now, I’m not saying that you’re all wrong for loving this. I think if it hadn’t been for the hype, I would have liked it more.
It’s not own voices but it follows a woman who is mixed race (Black and white American) and one who is Cuban. It also centres around a bisexual woman, which is great but somehow didn’t feel true. I’m not the bisexual police or anything, but I didn’t believe the main character’s feelings were true. Also, this book was so busy trying to be clean and politically correct that it lost some of its edge and humanness. I’m the first person to call someone up on their non-PCness, but this felt very heavy handed. Maybe for that reason it would be a good book for people to read who don’t have much contact with the LGBTQ+ world to teach them the basics.
I don’t know. I’m not an expert either, but I do know that I didn’t love this book and I do know that my opinion will upset a lot of people. But I must be honest in my reviews or you won’t believe me when I praise a book (which I do a lot).
If you loved this, please tell me why. What am I missing? If you agree with me, please show some solidarity!
#book #bookstagram #evelynhugo #thesevenhusbandsofevelynhugo #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs
GILGI, ONE OF US by IRMGARD KEUN
Gilgi is a young woman whose life is completely in order. She works hard and she has clear goals. She doesn’t feel the need to have a man for anything other than fun and feels no emotional attachment to them. That is until she meets Martin and falls head over heels in love. This almost sounds like the plot of an early 00s romcom, but it was written in 1930s Germany and Gilgi is smart enough to know that her independence is important. She and her friend Olga (my favourite character) are full of wisdoms that give a woman from the 2020s something to consider. It’s incredible to imagine this being written in prewar Germany when it’s so modern. Makes me think that it’s absolute rubbish when people say that we should accept sexism from older people because they are from another generation. Absolutely not. One can be a decent human being whether they’re from the 1930s, 1830s or 2030s.
There were so many amazing quotes in this book, I’m tempted to go through it with a highlighter and then share them all with you.
I know I say this a lot, but you neeeeeed to read this.
#book #irmgardkeun #gilgioneofus #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookreviews #bookreading #bookrecs
Gilgi is a young woman whose life is completely in order. She works hard and she has clear goals. She doesn’t feel the need to have a man for anything other than fun and feels no emotional attachment to them. That is until she meets Martin and falls head over heels in love. This almost sounds like the plot of an early 00s romcom, but it was written in 1930s Germany and Gilgi is smart enough to know that her independence is important. She and her friend Olga (my favourite character) are full of wisdoms that give a woman from the 2020s something to consider. It’s incredible to imagine this being written in prewar Germany when it’s so modern. Makes me think that it’s absolute rubbish when people say that we should accept sexism from older people because they are from another generation. Absolutely not. One can be a decent human being whether they’re from the 1930s, 1830s or 2030s.
There were so many amazing quotes in this book, I’m tempted to go through it with a highlighter and then share them all with you.
I know I say this a lot, but you neeeeeed to read this.
#book #irmgardkeun #gilgioneofus #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookreviews #bookreading #bookrecs
NEARLY ALL THE MEN IN LAGOS ARE MAD by DAMILARE KUKU
As soon as I read the title of this collection of short stories, I knew I had to read it and I knew I’d love it. And I did.
After reading a fair amount of Nigerian literature, I have come to notice a few stereotypes about Nigerian men, and this book took those stereotypes and ran with it. Cheating, lying, patriarchal ideals, religion, money, family, objectifying, etc. are all themes in these stories. What’s brilliant, though, is the strong voices through which the stories are told.
Kuku often writes in the second person, which is not easy to do, but she makes it work.
I had a lot of fun reading these stories and also came to appreciate Nigerian culture even more, especially the beautiful strong women from that country.
Highly recommend this collection.
#nearlyallthemeninlagosaremad #book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookstagrammer
As soon as I read the title of this collection of short stories, I knew I had to read it and I knew I’d love it. And I did.
After reading a fair amount of Nigerian literature, I have come to notice a few stereotypes about Nigerian men, and this book took those stereotypes and ran with it. Cheating, lying, patriarchal ideals, religion, money, family, objectifying, etc. are all themes in these stories. What’s brilliant, though, is the strong voices through which the stories are told.
Kuku often writes in the second person, which is not easy to do, but she makes it work.
I had a lot of fun reading these stories and also came to appreciate Nigerian culture even more, especially the beautiful strong women from that country.
Highly recommend this collection.
#nearlyallthemeninlagosaremad #book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookstagrammer
COCKFIGHT by MARIA FERNANDA AMPUERO
This is a collection of short stories written by an Ecuadorean author and journalist. This collection was translated from Spanish.
The stories are dark and disgusting and dirty. And you should all know by now that I mean that in the best possible way! Ok, there were some parts that made me feel physically sick, and I probably wasn’t enjoying myself much in the moment, but I can fully recognise that this is the product of a bold and courageous writer and I applaud that. I like to see risk taking in writing and, in this case, it really paid off!
As a collection, it was very cohesive and worked really well.
I recommend this if you enjoy translated feminist fiction with a dark and dirty edge.
#book #cockfight #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookrecs #bookreviews #ecuadoreanliterature #latinxliterature
This is a collection of short stories written by an Ecuadorean author and journalist. This collection was translated from Spanish.
The stories are dark and disgusting and dirty. And you should all know by now that I mean that in the best possible way! Ok, there were some parts that made me feel physically sick, and I probably wasn’t enjoying myself much in the moment, but I can fully recognise that this is the product of a bold and courageous writer and I applaud that. I like to see risk taking in writing and, in this case, it really paid off!
As a collection, it was very cohesive and worked really well.
I recommend this if you enjoy translated feminist fiction with a dark and dirty edge.
#book #cockfight #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookrecs #bookreviews #ecuadoreanliterature #latinxliterature
HOTEL IRIS by YOKO OGAWA
Like many of us, I read the Memory Police by Ogawa and instantly needed more of her in my life. Also, this month is #januaryinjapan so it was the perfect occasion to read this book.
Hotel Iris follows a young girl who lives and works at the hotel owned by her family. She’s 17 years old and her only source of conversation is her strict and cold mother and the kleptomaniac maid. That is until she meets a much older man; the translator. One day while out with the translator, the girl discovers her deepest desire is to be told what to do by this man. And so begins their sexual relationship. Many of the things the girl is asked to do could be considered abuse, but she is certain that she is in love with the man and she enjoys the pain he causes her. Did I mention it’s an extremely dark read? Yeah, check trigger warnings, my loves!
Anyway, it’s brilliantly written and I loved reading this, even when I was wincing with sympathetic pain.
Now it’s time to read another Ogawa book, methinks.
#yokoogawa #hoteliris #japanesefiction #japanesewriters #japanesebooks #japaneseliterature #book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookstagramespaña
Like many of us, I read the Memory Police by Ogawa and instantly needed more of her in my life. Also, this month is #januaryinjapan so it was the perfect occasion to read this book.
Hotel Iris follows a young girl who lives and works at the hotel owned by her family. She’s 17 years old and her only source of conversation is her strict and cold mother and the kleptomaniac maid. That is until she meets a much older man; the translator. One day while out with the translator, the girl discovers her deepest desire is to be told what to do by this man. And so begins their sexual relationship. Many of the things the girl is asked to do could be considered abuse, but she is certain that she is in love with the man and she enjoys the pain he causes her. Did I mention it’s an extremely dark read? Yeah, check trigger warnings, my loves!
Anyway, it’s brilliantly written and I loved reading this, even when I was wincing with sympathetic pain.
Now it’s time to read another Ogawa book, methinks.
#yokoogawa #hoteliris #japanesefiction #japanesewriters #japanesebooks #japaneseliterature #book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookstagramespaña
DADDY WAS A NUMBER RUNNER by LOUISE MERIWETHER
I was in @mrbsemporium one day; one of those visits that was supposed to be for browsing only (like they ever go to plan) when this book jumped into my hands. After @reggiereads introduced me (and the rest of Bookstagram) to Ann Petry, I became obsessed. I’ve always enjoyed and sought out literature by Black writers and Zora Neale Hurston, Audre Lorde, Gayl Jones, Toni Morrison, Gloria Naylor are just a few of my favourites. So whenever I see a classic written by a Black woman, I just have to have it.
This did not disappoint.
This might be one of my favourites. Where CORREGIDORA and THE STREET follow women living in Harlem in a certain period of history, Number Runner follows a young girl. Where the women have already given up hope, the young girl still holds on to it. All three novels feature poverty like you’ve never seen before, maybe The Street and Number Runner more so. Poverty that makes you want to reach into the pages and give the characters some food and a blanket. MERIWETHER writes about the rats and the bedbugs and the men who flash or touch up the young girl; all three pests of Harlem. It’s heartbreaking to see the girl have to put up with the fondling because that’s the only way to get a little extra for her family.
The theme, of course, that unites these books, aside from the systematic racism, is the strength of these characters. And that’s what brings a tear to your eye. The characters who face so much hunger and pain and degradation on a daily basis. These books are a snapshot of the life of a Black American in the twentieth century and not only are they exquisite works of literature, they are also revolutionary in a societal and political sense. Anyone who reads this book will have a greater understanding and empathy and isn’t that where we need to start?
Anyway, I need you all to read this because it’s a great book and MERIWETHER is a great writer. The rest is extra.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #daddywasanumberrunner #louisemeriwether
I was in @mrbsemporium one day; one of those visits that was supposed to be for browsing only (like they ever go to plan) when this book jumped into my hands. After @reggiereads introduced me (and the rest of Bookstagram) to Ann Petry, I became obsessed. I’ve always enjoyed and sought out literature by Black writers and Zora Neale Hurston, Audre Lorde, Gayl Jones, Toni Morrison, Gloria Naylor are just a few of my favourites. So whenever I see a classic written by a Black woman, I just have to have it.
This did not disappoint.
This might be one of my favourites. Where CORREGIDORA and THE STREET follow women living in Harlem in a certain period of history, Number Runner follows a young girl. Where the women have already given up hope, the young girl still holds on to it. All three novels feature poverty like you’ve never seen before, maybe The Street and Number Runner more so. Poverty that makes you want to reach into the pages and give the characters some food and a blanket. MERIWETHER writes about the rats and the bedbugs and the men who flash or touch up the young girl; all three pests of Harlem. It’s heartbreaking to see the girl have to put up with the fondling because that’s the only way to get a little extra for her family.
The theme, of course, that unites these books, aside from the systematic racism, is the strength of these characters. And that’s what brings a tear to your eye. The characters who face so much hunger and pain and degradation on a daily basis. These books are a snapshot of the life of a Black American in the twentieth century and not only are they exquisite works of literature, they are also revolutionary in a societal and political sense. Anyone who reads this book will have a greater understanding and empathy and isn’t that where we need to start?
Anyway, I need you all to read this because it’s a great book and MERIWETHER is a great writer. The rest is extra.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewfeatures #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #daddywasanumberrunner #louisemeriwether