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literaryjunarin's reviews
455 reviews
Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enríquez
dark
3.0
I think I'm getting the vibes of books written by authors from South America now. This book is quintessentially Argentina while the other book I read: Jawbone by Monica Ojeda is from Ecuador. These two books have the same color and atmosphere which I both loved. There is a particular type of grace in the way they tell dark tales.
However, short stories collection is always a hit or miss. For this one, there's more miss, unfortunately. I enjoyed the various allegories about mental health from ghosts to abandoned houses to skulls. I thought those were well-crafted. The stories about alcohol and drugs though are unsettling, yes, but lacking impact to be remembered.
The other stories have open endings which are WAY TOO OPEN to be satisfactory.
However, short stories collection is always a hit or miss. For this one, there's more miss, unfortunately. I enjoyed the various allegories about mental health from ghosts to abandoned houses to skulls. I thought those were well-crafted. The stories about alcohol and drugs though are unsettling, yes, but lacking impact to be remembered.
The other stories have open endings which are WAY TOO OPEN to be satisfactory.
The Last by Hanna Jameson
2.0
In the blurb of this book, it said that this is for the fans of Annihilation and The Girl with All the Gifts (loved them) but this book doesn't even compare to them.
For a book with a post-apocalyptic plot, this is soooooooo boring. And the characters are all one-dimensional. They're all like a walking stereotype. The main character is a bit of a nerd but wow, maybe he can be a leader? And then there's this girl who is mean and bitchy and can kill you in cold blood. And then that calm hotel staff who leads them. Then there's a man who wants to build his own harem because it's the end of the world! We need to repopulate! 🙄 They're all so boring you wouldn't care for them.
And since there's a nuclear war, instead of focusing on how people survived while being trapped in a hotel, the author chose to focus on investigating a murder. I understand the wish for a mystery but it didn't add to anything. The truth about the murder in the end is so ridiculous.
For a book with a post-apocalyptic plot, this is soooooooo boring. And the characters are all one-dimensional. They're all like a walking stereotype. The main character is a bit of a nerd but wow, maybe he can be a leader? And then there's this girl who is mean and bitchy and can kill you in cold blood. And then that calm hotel staff who leads them. Then there's a man who wants to build his own harem because it's the end of the world! We need to repopulate! 🙄 They're all so boring you wouldn't care for them.
And since there's a nuclear war, instead of focusing on how people survived while being trapped in a hotel, the author chose to focus on investigating a murder. I understand the wish for a mystery but it didn't add to anything. The truth about the murder in the end is so ridiculous.
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Well, that was sad. It felt like such a waste for a talented neurosurgeon to die at such a young age. As Paul Kalanithi talked about the span of his education and career, you can see how incredibly gifted he was.
We can't really rate a memoir because how are we supposed to rate someone's life? But as for the writing, I think it's a bit too clinical but very interesting. I marvel at knowing that he wrote this while battling cancer and being inside his mind at that time, I can't help but be inspired by how brave he was. I loved how he was so resilient and passionate about finding the true meaning of life. Of course, he also broke down a lot of times, because he's human but as his wife said, he was frail but never weak.
As for the epilogue written by his wife, that was the part that broke me. Here's the part where I just started bawling my eyes out: "I expected to feel only empty and heartbroken after Paul died. It never occurred to me that you could love someone the same way after he was gone, that I would continue to feel such love and gratitude alongside the terrible sorrow, the grief so heavy that at times I shiver and moan under the weight of it."
We can't really rate a memoir because how are we supposed to rate someone's life? But as for the writing, I think it's a bit too clinical but very interesting. I marvel at knowing that he wrote this while battling cancer and being inside his mind at that time, I can't help but be inspired by how brave he was. I loved how he was so resilient and passionate about finding the true meaning of life. Of course, he also broke down a lot of times, because he's human but as his wife said, he was frail but never weak.
As for the epilogue written by his wife, that was the part that broke me. Here's the part where I just started bawling my eyes out: "I expected to feel only empty and heartbroken after Paul died. It never occurred to me that you could love someone the same way after he was gone, that I would continue to feel such love and gratitude alongside the terrible sorrow, the grief so heavy that at times I shiver and moan under the weight of it."
All's Well by Mona Awad
dark
tense
slow-paced
4.0
The inner monologue at the beginning is too much. I got so impatient. There's even a scene where she's in the middle of a confrontation and she'll have a very, very long monologue before answering back. I almost dropped it but I pushed through.
Halfway, it got darker and darker. The main character slowly started getting deranged. Towards the end, it was quite intense watching her become delusional, mixing reality and fantasy. The ending was anti-climactic though.
Weird girls. Witches. Shakespeare. Theater. Illusion.
Unhinged. Stressful but enjoyable.
Halfway, it got darker and darker. The main character slowly started getting deranged. Towards the end, it was quite intense watching her become delusional, mixing reality and fantasy. The ending was anti-climactic though.
Weird girls. Witches. Shakespeare. Theater. Illusion.
Unhinged. Stressful but enjoyable.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Loved the well thought world building. The main character's hometown are afraid of demons while another town have demons as pets.
Enjoyable.
Enjoyable.
Sin Eater by Megan Campisi
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The mystery is not very exciting but I loved the gothic vibe. interesting premise too but the royal politics is painfully boring. And I can tell that the author loves the word "mayhap". I wished I counted how many times she used it.
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder
funny
sad
4.0
A horny sapphic book covering multiple topics like eating disorders, body dysmorphia, antisemitism, homophobia, parental trauma, and a whole lot of mommy issues.
The author did not hold back at all which I liked but the sex scenes were not tasteful and sometimes gross.
The author did not hold back at all which I liked but the sex scenes were not tasteful and sometimes gross.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
“All these years, they’ve been like two little plants sharing the same plot of soil, growing around one another, contorting to make room, taking certain unlikely positions.”
I didn't really like it. Two highly insecure teenagers confessing their love for one another throughout the whole book but not really doing anything about their relationship feels pointless to read. But I guess that's the point. I think I'm like that, too.
However, I've heard people sing praises about this book but I did not see what's to love, honestly.
I didn't really like it. Two highly insecure teenagers confessing their love for one another throughout the whole book but not really doing anything about their relationship feels pointless to read. But I guess that's the point. I think I'm like that, too.
However, I've heard people sing praises about this book but I did not see what's to love, honestly.