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libbysbookshelf's Reviews (745)
THE HEALING by GAYL JONES
This is my second Jones book. My first was Corregidora; one of my favourite books ever. The Healing is a different beast altogether.
Jones’s The Healing is about an African American spiritual healer and the story of how she became a healer. Her story involves a lot of dialogue with a lot of men she meets and the alternative rock star she manages. But Harlan — the protagonist — is a beautician by trade, like her mum and granny before her. Her husband or ex-husband is an anthropologist who is interested in African healers. There’s also a Black German character who’s incredibly paranoid and through whom we learn that there have been Black people in Germany for centuries and not just ex-slaves. There’s the Italian woman who wants to stay with her South African husband but she’s afraid of deportation. I could go on, but I’ll save some for you to discover.
There are so many interesting characters in this book and they are all given ample space to develop and tell their stories. The novel is full of monologues and repetition and at times it feels almost rhythmic. Each character’s voice is loud and clear in my head even now.
Although, Joan, the rock star, stared to try on my nerves, I defy anyone not to fall in love with Harlan; she was an utter delight and I’d love her to do my nails and makeup while we have a good chat.
This book is not like many other books I’ve read. It’s unique. And it’s gorgeous.
This is my second Jones book. My first was Corregidora; one of my favourite books ever. The Healing is a different beast altogether.
Jones’s The Healing is about an African American spiritual healer and the story of how she became a healer. Her story involves a lot of dialogue with a lot of men she meets and the alternative rock star she manages. But Harlan — the protagonist — is a beautician by trade, like her mum and granny before her. Her husband or ex-husband is an anthropologist who is interested in African healers. There’s also a Black German character who’s incredibly paranoid and through whom we learn that there have been Black people in Germany for centuries and not just ex-slaves. There’s the Italian woman who wants to stay with her South African husband but she’s afraid of deportation. I could go on, but I’ll save some for you to discover.
There are so many interesting characters in this book and they are all given ample space to develop and tell their stories. The novel is full of monologues and repetition and at times it feels almost rhythmic. Each character’s voice is loud and clear in my head even now.
Although, Joan, the rock star, stared to try on my nerves, I defy anyone not to fall in love with Harlan; she was an utter delight and I’d love her to do my nails and makeup while we have a good chat.
This book is not like many other books I’ve read. It’s unique. And it’s gorgeous.
FRESH WATER FOR FLOWERS by VALERIE PERRIN translated by HILDEGARDE SEARLE
France 🇫🇷
#womenintranslationmonth
What an absolutely beautiful novel. This is the most perfect book for times when all you want is to sink into a good, long book.
It’s French and set in France and follows a woman from various points in her life; the novel switches easily from past to present until the whole story comes together.
There are moments of pure, utter heartbreak in this novel, but there are also moments of heart wrenching joy. I can’t really fault this book.
Trigger warnings a-plenty, but all triggering content is dealt with in a sensitive manner and is not gratuitous.
The main bulk of the novel is set in a cemetery where the protagonist works and lives as a cemetery minder, and I really enjoyed this unique setting and its ability to allow the reader to explore the beauty of life and death; something that is not normally easy to do.
I took a photo of this book wrapped in blankets because that’s how this book made me feel; like I was wrapped up and safe.
#freshwaterforflowers #valerieperrin #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreaders #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram
France 🇫🇷
#womenintranslationmonth
What an absolutely beautiful novel. This is the most perfect book for times when all you want is to sink into a good, long book.
It’s French and set in France and follows a woman from various points in her life; the novel switches easily from past to present until the whole story comes together.
There are moments of pure, utter heartbreak in this novel, but there are also moments of heart wrenching joy. I can’t really fault this book.
Trigger warnings a-plenty, but all triggering content is dealt with in a sensitive manner and is not gratuitous.
The main bulk of the novel is set in a cemetery where the protagonist works and lives as a cemetery minder, and I really enjoyed this unique setting and its ability to allow the reader to explore the beauty of life and death; something that is not normally easy to do.
I took a photo of this book wrapped in blankets because that’s how this book made me feel; like I was wrapped up and safe.
#freshwaterforflowers #valerieperrin #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreaders #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram
THE TREES by PERCIVAL EVERETT
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
A crime thriller; a genre I actively avoid. I read the blurb once the Longlist had been announced and decided not to read this one. I was then inundated with messages from people telling me I HAD to read this.
You guys had my back. This. Was. Outstanding. Outstanding.
Yes, it is a crime thriller. And yes, it does feature the tropes of crime thrillers which I despise: brutal murders, mystery, cliche detectives. BUT Everett is clearly a pro because he handles all of these tropes with a fresh, self-aware, cheeky, ironic point of view.
Also, and this was the main reason I loved this, he — oh, actually, that’s a spoiler. So the thing I loved most about it, I can’t tell you but it’s to do with how the writer handled racism in America. And this is a teeny tiny spoiler, but the bit with D****d T****p was satirical genius. Genius. Huge big genius. The most genius I’ve ever seen. And I know a lot of genius. Genius loves me and I love genius.
This HAS to be on the shortlist or I’ll riot.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookrelease #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation #percivaleverett #percivaleverettthetrees
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
A crime thriller; a genre I actively avoid. I read the blurb once the Longlist had been announced and decided not to read this one. I was then inundated with messages from people telling me I HAD to read this.
You guys had my back. This. Was. Outstanding. Outstanding.
Yes, it is a crime thriller. And yes, it does feature the tropes of crime thrillers which I despise: brutal murders, mystery, cliche detectives. BUT Everett is clearly a pro because he handles all of these tropes with a fresh, self-aware, cheeky, ironic point of view.
Also, and this was the main reason I loved this, he — oh, actually, that’s a spoiler. So the thing I loved most about it, I can’t tell you but it’s to do with how the writer handled racism in America. And this is a teeny tiny spoiler, but the bit with D****d T****p was satirical genius. Genius. Huge big genius. The most genius I’ve ever seen. And I know a lot of genius. Genius loves me and I love genius.
This HAS to be on the shortlist or I’ll riot.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookrelease #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation #percivaleverett #percivaleverettthetrees
BREASTS AND EGGS by MIEKO KAWAKAMI translated by SAM BETT and DAVID BOYD
Japan 🇯🇵
This is one of those books that I had on my kindle and dipped in and out of. Initially, I never felt any pull to read this book, but I persevered because it had so many good reviews. I’m not sure exactly how long it took me to read in the end — over a year, I think. It was the final thirty percent that I really enjoyed, though. That’s, therefore, what the remainder of my review will be based upon:
A single woman wants to have a baby, but she has no desire to have sex — she tried it and it wasn’t for her. She doesn’t really want a relationship either. She’s quite happy being alone. Well, happy might be the wrong word seeing as no one is happy in this novel. But that’s ok. Most people in real life aren’t happy either. So the plot is basically this woman talking to friends and acquaintances about her desire to be a single mother, and hearing their points of view. This is where it gets interesting because it becomes a question for feminist study and that intrigued me. Although I have no real interest in motherhood myself (in fact, I tend to avoid books with that as their central theme) I was still intrigued by these dialogues; they felt important.
It’s really tough for me to review this book well when I read the beginning over a year ago and the middle felt so stodgy that I can hardly remember it (something about throwing eggs around and an elective mute teenager?!) so don’t take my word for anything. In fact, don’t bother reading this review. Sorry if you made it this far…
#book #bookstagram #womenintranslationmonth #japaneseliterature #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #breastsandeggs #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookreviewers #bookreviewersofinstagram
Japan 🇯🇵
This is one of those books that I had on my kindle and dipped in and out of. Initially, I never felt any pull to read this book, but I persevered because it had so many good reviews. I’m not sure exactly how long it took me to read in the end — over a year, I think. It was the final thirty percent that I really enjoyed, though. That’s, therefore, what the remainder of my review will be based upon:
A single woman wants to have a baby, but she has no desire to have sex — she tried it and it wasn’t for her. She doesn’t really want a relationship either. She’s quite happy being alone. Well, happy might be the wrong word seeing as no one is happy in this novel. But that’s ok. Most people in real life aren’t happy either. So the plot is basically this woman talking to friends and acquaintances about her desire to be a single mother, and hearing their points of view. This is where it gets interesting because it becomes a question for feminist study and that intrigued me. Although I have no real interest in motherhood myself (in fact, I tend to avoid books with that as their central theme) I was still intrigued by these dialogues; they felt important.
It’s really tough for me to review this book well when I read the beginning over a year ago and the middle felt so stodgy that I can hardly remember it (something about throwing eggs around and an elective mute teenager?!) so don’t take my word for anything. In fact, don’t bother reading this review. Sorry if you made it this far…
#book #bookstagram #womenintranslationmonth #japaneseliterature #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #breastsandeggs #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookreviewers #bookreviewersofinstagram
FATHER MAY BE AN ELEPHANT, AND MOTHER A SMALL BASKET, BUT… by GOGU SHYAMALA
India 🇮🇳
A title with punctuation and a cliffhanger, how could I not purchase and devour this book? And that cover art? It had me at hello.
This is my first completed book for Women in Translation Month because a certain book prize got in my way.
It was a great way to kick off because it’s a collection of short stories translated from Telagu by various writers. The stories are so culturally different from almost anything else I’ve ever read, so it took me a few stories to get into it, but once I got the hang of it, I was hooked.
Mostly, these stories are about a lower caste of Indian people; people who tend the land, and by birth are inferior to other castes in society. This can mean that, in some cases, they can’t even make eye contact with those more superior. Patriarchy also seems to rule the lives of these characters. But among all of that, there was an everyday life, and sometimes, real beauty.
Approach these stories with the expectation that you’re going to enter a new culture (assuming you don’t know much about south eastern India) and you will be quietly swept away.
#witmonth #womenintranslation #telaguliterature #telagu #gogushyamala #book #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk
India 🇮🇳
A title with punctuation and a cliffhanger, how could I not purchase and devour this book? And that cover art? It had me at hello.
This is my first completed book for Women in Translation Month because a certain book prize got in my way.
It was a great way to kick off because it’s a collection of short stories translated from Telagu by various writers. The stories are so culturally different from almost anything else I’ve ever read, so it took me a few stories to get into it, but once I got the hang of it, I was hooked.
Mostly, these stories are about a lower caste of Indian people; people who tend the land, and by birth are inferior to other castes in society. This can mean that, in some cases, they can’t even make eye contact with those more superior. Patriarchy also seems to rule the lives of these characters. But among all of that, there was an everyday life, and sometimes, real beauty.
Approach these stories with the expectation that you’re going to enter a new culture (assuming you don’t know much about south eastern India) and you will be quietly swept away.
#witmonth #womenintranslation #telaguliterature #telagu #gogushyamala #book #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramuk
SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by CLAIRE KEEGAN
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
So, I’ve been putting off writing this review because it’s a favourite of one of my Bookstabesties, and I hate to disagree with them (I rarely disagree with them), but this did not do it for me.
Do not read any further if you enjoyed this book because I do not want to upset you!
I found its attempt at sweetness a little sickly. It felt like it was trying to be what A Christmas Carol was to Victorian audiences, sans ghosts.
It’s perfectly palatable and readable, but it lacked real depth and connection, I’m sad to say.
I don’t normally do book ratings but this just feels like a proper three star read, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, that’ll do. On to happy things.
#books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
So, I’ve been putting off writing this review because it’s a favourite of one of my Bookstabesties, and I hate to disagree with them (I rarely disagree with them), but this did not do it for me.
Do not read any further if you enjoyed this book because I do not want to upset you!
I found its attempt at sweetness a little sickly. It felt like it was trying to be what A Christmas Carol was to Victorian audiences, sans ghosts.
It’s perfectly palatable and readable, but it lacked real depth and connection, I’m sad to say.
I don’t normally do book ratings but this just feels like a proper three star read, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, that’ll do. On to happy things.
#books #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation
TREACLE WALKER by ALAN GARNER
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
This little nugget of a book is a right conundrum. How can it be that a book about … well, actually what is it about? … anyway, how is it that this book could enthral me from start to finish? I do not know. All I know is that it felt magical and a bit whimsical and I kinda liked it. It’s not your average reading experience, but isn’t that what we look for?
I’m trying to avoid my impulse reaction, which is to dislike this book because I ‘didn’t get it’, but why should I be so arrogant as to need to ‘get’ something for it to be considered good? To be clear, I really didn’t get it and in any other situation I wouldn’t have read it. I wouldn’t have got past the blurb, but hey, isn’t that why we love prize longlists? Because they push us out of our little comfort zones and introduce us to novels with rag and bone men who trade sheep skulls for magic stones. Or was it a goat skull? Was the stone magic or was it Thin Amren? Or was it Joe Clodhopper? Was that his name? I don’t know. You don’t know. We don’t know. They don’t know. Why am I conjugating a verb? Ah yes, Treacle Walker, the maddest book I ever did read.
#booksbooksbooks #books #bookstagram #bookstagramitalia #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #booklover #bookerprize #bookerprize2022
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
This little nugget of a book is a right conundrum. How can it be that a book about … well, actually what is it about? … anyway, how is it that this book could enthral me from start to finish? I do not know. All I know is that it felt magical and a bit whimsical and I kinda liked it. It’s not your average reading experience, but isn’t that what we look for?
I’m trying to avoid my impulse reaction, which is to dislike this book because I ‘didn’t get it’, but why should I be so arrogant as to need to ‘get’ something for it to be considered good? To be clear, I really didn’t get it and in any other situation I wouldn’t have read it. I wouldn’t have got past the blurb, but hey, isn’t that why we love prize longlists? Because they push us out of our little comfort zones and introduce us to novels with rag and bone men who trade sheep skulls for magic stones. Or was it a goat skull? Was the stone magic or was it Thin Amren? Or was it Joe Clodhopper? Was that his name? I don’t know. You don’t know. We don’t know. They don’t know. Why am I conjugating a verb? Ah yes, Treacle Walker, the maddest book I ever did read.
#booksbooksbooks #books #bookstagram #bookstagramitalia #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookrecommendation #bookreviews #booklover #bookerprize #bookerprize2022
THE COLONY by AUDREY MAGEE
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
My first read from the 2022 Longlist was a huge hit; the pinnacle of great literature; the reason prizes like the Booker were invented.
I have never taken this long to write a review before — I finished the book four days ago — but I just haven’t had a clue with where to begin. I don’t want to tell you the plot because it’s not just about that. I don’t want to tell you about the writing because it’s so much more than that. I don’t want to tell you about the characters because I wouldn’t be able to convey their excellence.
Instead, I’ve decided to just sing its praises and tell you that you’re missing out until you’ve read it. That you don’t truly understand the effect of colonialism until you’ve read it. That you are wrong if you’re proud to be English.
So there it is. My review of The Colony. It’s certainly not worthy, but neither am I. And neither are you.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booker2022 #bookerprize2022 #bookerlonglist #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #thecolony #augreymagee #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation
@thebookerprizes #bookstagramreadsthebooker
My first read from the 2022 Longlist was a huge hit; the pinnacle of great literature; the reason prizes like the Booker were invented.
I have never taken this long to write a review before — I finished the book four days ago — but I just haven’t had a clue with where to begin. I don’t want to tell you the plot because it’s not just about that. I don’t want to tell you about the writing because it’s so much more than that. I don’t want to tell you about the characters because I wouldn’t be able to convey their excellence.
Instead, I’ve decided to just sing its praises and tell you that you’re missing out until you’ve read it. That you don’t truly understand the effect of colonialism until you’ve read it. That you are wrong if you’re proud to be English.
So there it is. My review of The Colony. It’s certainly not worthy, but neither am I. And neither are you.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booker2022 #bookerprize2022 #bookerlonglist #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #thecolony #augreymagee #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation
THE FAMILIA GRANDE by CAMILLE KOUCHNER translated by ADRIANA HUNTER
A French woman in translation ready for Women In Translation Month (beginning tomorrow).
Firstly, thank you @brazen.books for this proof of such an important French memoir. It was a bestseller in France, and was even read and reviewed by the French president, Macron. Consequently, the law changed on… actually, I won’t tell you because it’s a spoiler, but if you are worried, I recommend that you check trigger warnings for this because there are A LOT of triggers in this book.
Although I don’t usually read books like this, I couldn’t stop once I started. The writing is pitch perfect, and the shocking moments were not over done or gratuitous in any way.
It’s very hard to say that I enjoyed a book like this, but it feels like an important work of literature because of the impact it had on French law. And it was well-written.
AD PR
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookrelease #bookreaders #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram
A French woman in translation ready for Women In Translation Month (beginning tomorrow).
Firstly, thank you @brazen.books for this proof of such an important French memoir. It was a bestseller in France, and was even read and reviewed by the French president, Macron. Consequently, the law changed on… actually, I won’t tell you because it’s a spoiler, but if you are worried, I recommend that you check trigger warnings for this because there are A LOT of triggers in this book.
Although I don’t usually read books like this, I couldn’t stop once I started. The writing is pitch perfect, and the shocking moments were not over done or gratuitous in any way.
It’s very hard to say that I enjoyed a book like this, but it feels like an important work of literature because of the impact it had on French law. And it was well-written.
AD PR
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookreading #bookrelease #bookreaders #bookreviewers #bookrec #bookreviewersofinstagram
A GOOD YEAR by POLIS LOIZOU
AD PR — gifted from @fairlightbooks
I was drawn to this book because of its setting; Cyprus in the 1920s. I also liked the idea that it followed a young married couple expecting their first baby. The wife is plagued with memories of stories she was told about local curses and demons, and the husband is plagued by his homosexual desire for the Englishman in the village.
The cultural elements were enthralling, as were the moments of forbidden love, however, the religious elements that made the man doubt and abhor himself because of his homosexual desire was upsetting to read. It was a little strange to read a book written by a man that went into detail about the pain of pregnancy and childbirth, but I think that’s just me because I’m not used to reading male-authored novels.
At one point, I thought about discontinuing my reading, but I soon missed it and picked the book back up again; I’m glad that I did. I enjoyed this book.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecs #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation
AD PR — gifted from @fairlightbooks
I was drawn to this book because of its setting; Cyprus in the 1920s. I also liked the idea that it followed a young married couple expecting their first baby. The wife is plagued with memories of stories she was told about local curses and demons, and the husband is plagued by his homosexual desire for the Englishman in the village.
The cultural elements were enthralling, as were the moments of forbidden love, however, the religious elements that made the man doubt and abhor himself because of his homosexual desire was upsetting to read. It was a little strange to read a book written by a man that went into detail about the pain of pregnancy and childbirth, but I think that’s just me because I’m not used to reading male-authored novels.
At one point, I thought about discontinuing my reading, but I soon missed it and picked the book back up again; I’m glad that I did. I enjoyed this book.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecs #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookreccomendation