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literaryjunarin's reviews
455 reviews
Temporary by Hilary Leichter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 69%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 69%.
Ive read absurdly funny books and they are hilarious but this one isnt.
Jawbone by Mónica Ojeda
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An unflinching exploration of the horror of girlhood, mother-and-daughter relationships, toxic friendships and the thin line between violence and desire. I was constantly unnerved. This is obscene, hypnotic, disturbing but captivating. I loved it but would not read again.
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
SUMMARY: And so we are introduced to our deliciously incisive narrator: a popular English professor whose charismatic husband at the same small liberal arts college is under investigation for his inappropriate relationships with his former students. The couple has long had a mutual understanding when it comes to their extra-marital pursuits, but with these new allegations, life has become far less comfortable for them both. And when our narrator becomes increasingly infatuated with Vladimir, a celebrated, married young novelist who’s just arrived on campus, their tinder box world comes dangerously close to exploding.
Well, I am surprised that this is a debut novel. Her writing is STUNNING and so, so engrossing. Her prose itself is an art.
This book incorporates commentary on gender roles in marriage, sexual preferences, how men and women handle ageing differently, power dynamics in relationships, motherhood, insecurity, and identity.
She has an intriguing point of view about the teacher-student relationship.
Vladimir, though the subject of her lust and obsession, is the least interesting of all the characters mentioned.
After all the buildup, the ending was anticlimactic. It made the whole story seem pointless.
Well, I am surprised that this is a debut novel. Her writing is STUNNING and so, so engrossing. Her prose itself is an art.
This book incorporates commentary on gender roles in marriage, sexual preferences, how men and women handle ageing differently, power dynamics in relationships, motherhood, insecurity, and identity.
She has an intriguing point of view about the teacher-student relationship.
Vladimir, though the subject of her lust and obsession, is the least interesting of all the characters mentioned.
After all the buildup, the ending was anticlimactic. It made the whole story seem pointless.
Blood Feast: The Complete Short Stories of Malika Moustadraf by Malika Moustadraf
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"… Becoming a reader is a change for the better. Trust me. No one has ever lost by becoming addicted to stories – to the lessons learned by those who possess enough courage to put pen to paper."
Cozy mystery done right! I feel healed.
Cozy mystery done right! I feel healed.
Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yōko Ogawa
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It is quiet as it is dreadful, though I won't call this horror.
This is a macabre presentation of the mundane. Who knew a story about a landlord who plants carrots can be eerie?
I've read Ogawa's The Memory Police (which I loved btw) and The Housekeeper and the Professor so I enjoyed seeing her gentle elegance in a horror stories collection. The stories are not terrifying enough but the way Ogawa weaved the stories made it stunning. The stories are connected but they can also stand alone.
My favorite would be the story about the woman who has her heart beating outside her body so she asks an artisan to make a bag for it. But when the artisan saw the heart, he became so obsessed with making the bag that when the woman said she won't be needing the bag anymore, the artisan quietly made plans to still make the bag fitting happen.
A quick and satisfying read.
This is a macabre presentation of the mundane. Who knew a story about a landlord who plants carrots can be eerie?
I've read Ogawa's The Memory Police (which I loved btw) and The Housekeeper and the Professor so I enjoyed seeing her gentle elegance in a horror stories collection. The stories are not terrifying enough but the way Ogawa weaved the stories made it stunning. The stories are connected but they can also stand alone.
My favorite would be the story about the woman who has her heart beating outside her body so she asks an artisan to make a bag for it. But when the artisan saw the heart, he became so obsessed with making the bag that when the woman said she won't be needing the bag anymore, the artisan quietly made plans to still make the bag fitting happen.
A quick and satisfying read.
The Companions by Katie M. Flynn
adventurous
reflective
sad
3.0
A world where you can upload human consciousness into a robot, ranging from a low-cost body (like a tin can) to a sophisticated human-like android. When you or your family member is about to die, you can be uploaded to become a Companion for the Living. Your family member can keep you as a Companion or you can be rented out as a housekeeper, a friend, a maid, or even a sexual partner if your new body has the capability.
Interesting premise but I think the author tried to do a lot of things that nothing is really explored well. And there are a LOT of POVs!
1. Lilac, a Companion who can defy commands with the purpose of finding the girl who killed her with a shovel.
2. Cam, a caregiver for old people.
3. Diana, developer of the Companion technology.
4. Gabe, a little girl who aids Diana's activities.
5. Jacob, a handsome actor transferred to his lookalike robot.
6. Nat, a nerd who sorts of helps Companions.
7. Ms Espera, an old sick woman whose family wants to upload her.
8. Rolly, a teenager who works on a farm that also disposes of retired Companions.
and more...
It's no surprise that I quickly forgot who's who and failed to care for any of them.
Interesting premise but I think the author tried to do a lot of things that nothing is really explored well. And there are a LOT of POVs!
1. Lilac, a Companion who can defy commands with the purpose of finding the girl who killed her with a shovel.
2. Cam, a caregiver for old people.
3. Diana, developer of the Companion technology.
4. Gabe, a little girl who aids Diana's activities.
5. Jacob, a handsome actor transferred to his lookalike robot.
6. Nat, a nerd who sorts of helps Companions.
7. Ms Espera, an old sick woman whose family wants to upload her.
8. Rolly, a teenager who works on a farm that also disposes of retired Companions.
and more...
It's no surprise that I quickly forgot who's who and failed to care for any of them.
Vacuum in the Dark by Jen Beagin
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't know that this is a sequel to Pretend I'm Dead. I just read it because I'll read everything Jen Beagin writes.
Mona is still the same, always has no boundaries, still takes inappropriate pictures in her client's houses after cleaning them, and gets into problematic relationships.
And how problematic they are indeed:
1. She got involved with a married man who leaves her love notes for her to find while cleaning the house.
2. Her new clients, a Hungarian pill-popping artist couple convinced her to become their nude model. And that she does.
3. Meeting her mother again and then trying to resolve their relationship. Mona, remembering her past is a truly bleak scene. A whole lot of daddy issues, neglect, domestic abuse, graphic memory of rape, yeah, she's got a lot of trauma.
4. She got a new boyfriend, again, to an older man, I think they have an 18-year gap. I didn't like this part that much.
The ending was quite sudden though, but it also felt like an opening for a 3rd book.
Mona is still the same, always has no boundaries, still takes inappropriate pictures in her client's houses after cleaning them, and gets into problematic relationships.
And how problematic they are indeed:
1. She got involved with a married man who leaves her love notes for her to find while cleaning the house.
2. Her new clients, a Hungarian pill-popping artist couple convinced her to become their nude model. And that she does.
3. Meeting her mother again and then trying to resolve their relationship. Mona, remembering her past is a truly bleak scene. A whole lot of daddy issues, neglect, domestic abuse, graphic memory of rape, yeah, she's got a lot of trauma.
4. She got a new boyfriend, again, to an older man, I think they have an 18-year gap. I didn't like this part that much.
The ending was quite sudden though, but it also felt like an opening for a 3rd book.