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literaryjunarin's reviews
455 reviews
We Spread by Iain Reid
tense
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? No
3.5
This is a tense, unsettling read. It talked about the lonely solitude of the elderly, the need to do more, and the fear of growing old. Reid's narration always has a dark, hypnotic atmosphere, which is disconcerting, but I also cannot stop listening.
When Penny, an elderly woman in a long-term care residence started losing grip on the passage of time, I was holding my breath. Sadly, my last remaining brain cell cannot think critically and I could not solve the mystery. Did she just move in or is she in the residence for years already? Why can't she go out? Are the carers doing something insidious to them without their knowledge? Or is it just Penny's delusions caused by her deteriorating mind?
At the end of the book, I was like, "Uhm wait what?".
When Penny, an elderly woman in a long-term care residence started losing grip on the passage of time, I was holding my breath. Sadly, my last remaining brain cell cannot think critically and I could not solve the mystery. Did she just move in or is she in the residence for years already? Why can't she go out? Are the carers doing something insidious to them without their knowledge? Or is it just Penny's delusions caused by her deteriorating mind?
At the end of the book, I was like, "Uhm wait what?".
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
dark
sad
medium-paced
4.0
“When a war was ended, the men lost their lives. But the women lost everything else.”
I really enjoy reading feminist retellings of Greek mythology. While other books focus on one woman, such as Ariadne or Elektra, this book tells multiple stories featuring different women and goddesses. While I was already familiar with some of these stories, like Iphigenia, Clytemnestra, Briseis, Helen, and Penelope, I loved learning about lesser-known characters like Chryseis, Cassandra, Calliope, Hecabe, and Andromache.
Although the retelling of these stories is compelling, the narration is not as flowery as I expected in Greek mythology. At times, it felt like an info dump, especially during Penelope's parts. Despite this, it Is still a beautiful read.
I really enjoy reading feminist retellings of Greek mythology. While other books focus on one woman, such as Ariadne or Elektra, this book tells multiple stories featuring different women and goddesses. While I was already familiar with some of these stories, like Iphigenia, Clytemnestra, Briseis, Helen, and Penelope, I loved learning about lesser-known characters like Chryseis, Cassandra, Calliope, Hecabe, and Andromache.
Although the retelling of these stories is compelling, the narration is not as flowery as I expected in Greek mythology. At times, it felt like an info dump, especially during Penelope's parts. Despite this, it Is still a beautiful read.
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
3.0
For a clever girl, there were a lot of times she was ruled by her emotions. As for the mystery, the clues were nicely set up and it was fun trying to connect them. I liked the big reveal but the info dump towards the end of the book was quite vexing.
The "good girl" trope was too much as well.
The "good girl" trope was too much as well.
The Chalice of the Gods by Rick Riordan
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Missed them and still loved Percy's humor. The stakes were extremely low though compared to the previous series. Which is fair I guess. They need a break from saving the world. They have to go to college!
The Shame by Makenna Goodman
3.5
"We grow microgreens on the windowsill and I look at them and think, It's going to be okay, but then a month later everything is still the same, and I can't look at anyone, because if I do for too long, I start thinking about how much I hate all of this."
This book is a powerful character study of a woman who is struggling with the overwhelming demands of motherhood. Even as a single and child-free woman, I can empathise with the main character's feelings of being trapped and invisible. Her life revolves around her children, and she fears losing her purpose if they die, or becoming disposable if they become independent. I enjoyed reading her perspective but found her insufferable. I wanted to shake her and even slap her when she started getting obsessed with that mother/influencer. It was unbearable.
This book is a powerful character study of a woman who is struggling with the overwhelming demands of motherhood. Even as a single and child-free woman, I can empathise with the main character's feelings of being trapped and invisible. Her life revolves around her children, and she fears losing her purpose if they die, or becoming disposable if they become independent. I enjoyed reading her perspective but found her insufferable. I wanted to shake her and even slap her when she started getting obsessed with that mother/influencer. It was unbearable.
How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
tense
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
“You understand that if you must learn to love a man, he is probably not the man you should be loving.”
I bought this book because the cover made it look like "My Sister, the Serial Killer". I found that book funny so I picked this one. I thought this would have the same vibe and boy was I wrong. This was a difficult read. It talked about the inheritance of trauma, motherhood, patriarchal abuse, sexual abuse, poverty, prostitution and murder. I was constantly perplexed but also engrossed. The lives of the women in this book were so gut-wrenching and it felt dreadful knowing that even though this is a fictional novel, these stories are also real lived experiences.
I just felt like the ending was too sudden but I enjoyed it. Highly recommend.
I bought this book because the cover made it look like "My Sister, the Serial Killer". I found that book funny so I picked this one. I thought this would have the same vibe and boy was I wrong. This was a difficult read. It talked about the inheritance of trauma, motherhood, patriarchal abuse, sexual abuse, poverty, prostitution and murder. I was constantly perplexed but also engrossed. The lives of the women in this book were so gut-wrenching and it felt dreadful knowing that even though this is a fictional novel, these stories are also real lived experiences.
I just felt like the ending was too sudden but I enjoyed it. Highly recommend.