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littlemonster's reviews
562 reviews
The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warning: homophobia (including slurs), transphobia, death, murder, incest.
In southeastern Nigeria, a woman hears something on her front porch. When she steps out, she finds a body wrapped in a colorful cloth. It's her child, Vivek. But as she begs Vivek's friends to tell her the truth about how her son really died, she discovers that the Vivek she knows is only a tiny portion of who he truly is.
Heart-wrenching in its portrayal of family secrets and how sometimes those who love us best know us the least, The Death of Vivek Oji stands out both as a story full of love and full of hatred. Although Vivek is perhaps the protagonist, bringing together all of the many people surrounding them, it is just as much about their lives and identities. There's Osita, Vivek's cousin and by turns best friend, enemy, brother, and so much more; Kavita and Chika, Vivek's parents; and several others who make an impact on Vivek's life and, subsequently, death.
It's probably made rather clear just by the summary, but this book is full of heavy topics. I consumed it very quickly, as it's not long, but had to take several breaks throughout my bursts of reading. It left me feeling slightly overwhelmed, wondering why it is that the world hates people who want nothing more than to express themselves freely. In amongst those passages of dark, heavy feelings, there's also brightness and joy and light.
So, why only three and a half stars? The main issues I had with this was that Vivek felt almost a background character. The glimpses we have of them are wonderful and they often made me laugh or smile or sometimes even force back tears, but their actual character, their personality and feeling, was made surprisingly hard to connect with due to the method of storytelling. We'd get only the briefest moment inside their head, and then we would be back to looking at them through the lenses of all the other characters. The writing itself is beautiful, evocative, but I feel that we were a bit robbed of understanding Vivek through Vivek's eyes.
I think that the subject matter was perhaps a little too close to home for me at the moment. That could be one of the reasons I found it so difficult to stomach. But with all that being said, I would certainly recommend this to those interested. The ending is one of the most beautiful conclusions to a book I've ever read, and I think this could make many people feel not quite so alone.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
In southeastern Nigeria, a woman hears something on her front porch. When she steps out, she finds a body wrapped in a colorful cloth. It's her child, Vivek. But as she begs Vivek's friends to tell her the truth about how her son really died, she discovers that the Vivek she knows is only a tiny portion of who he truly is.
Heart-wrenching in its portrayal of family secrets and how sometimes those who love us best know us the least, The Death of Vivek Oji stands out both as a story full of love and full of hatred. Although Vivek is perhaps the protagonist, bringing together all of the many people surrounding them, it is just as much about their lives and identities. There's Osita, Vivek's cousin and by turns best friend, enemy, brother, and so much more; Kavita and Chika, Vivek's parents; and several others who make an impact on Vivek's life and, subsequently, death.
It's probably made rather clear just by the summary, but this book is full of heavy topics. I consumed it very quickly, as it's not long, but had to take several breaks throughout my bursts of reading. It left me feeling slightly overwhelmed, wondering why it is that the world hates people who want nothing more than to express themselves freely. In amongst those passages of dark, heavy feelings, there's also brightness and joy and light.
So, why only three and a half stars? The main issues I had with this was that Vivek felt almost a background character. The glimpses we have of them are wonderful and they often made me laugh or smile or sometimes even force back tears, but their actual character, their personality and feeling, was made surprisingly hard to connect with due to the method of storytelling. We'd get only the briefest moment inside their head, and then we would be back to looking at them through the lenses of all the other characters. The writing itself is beautiful, evocative, but I feel that we were a bit robbed of understanding Vivek through Vivek's eyes.
I think that the subject matter was perhaps a little too close to home for me at the moment. That could be one of the reasons I found it so difficult to stomach. But with all that being said, I would certainly recommend this to those interested. The ending is one of the most beautiful conclusions to a book I've ever read, and I think this could make many people feel not quite so alone.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
Last Winter We Parted by Fuminori Nakamura
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Book of Night Women by Marlon James
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warning: death, murder, violence, racism (including slurs), slavery, misogynoir, torture.
Lilith is born on a sugar plantation, raised by a woman who is not her mother and a man who is not her father. Even as a child she radiates an energy, a power, that those around her don't quite understand. It isn't until Lilith does something unforgivable that she is taken in by Homer, an enslaved woman who is a part of the Night Women, a group of women who are plotting a slave revolt. Homer thinks Lilith is the key to the rebellion's success, but as Lilith grows older and starts to question everything around her, things become more and more complicated.
Written entirely in Jamaican Patois, this startling and unrelenting novel is both an homage to the many who suffered in slavery and a powerful tale of revenge. It's impossible not to root for Lilith, to care for her and be fearful for her and wonder what can possibly become of her as she struggles to keep her head up throughout the many indignities and atrocities of slavery. There are several other characters who also captured my heart and imagination, particularly Homer; I could've read an entire book written only about her. James's prose is striking in its unflinching depiction of life on the plantation, by turns arrestingly beautiful and horrifying.
I don't think I can say that I "enjoyed" this book. Was it shocking, compelling, and gorgeously written? Yes. And while it's an easy five stars from me, this is not the type of book that you can pick up casually and read in any mindset. There were several moments where I would put the book aside, forced to take a breather. In my opinion, other white people should put this on their list. There is no "happy slave" and "kind master" narrative here.
Lilith is fully fleshed-out, full of complexities, just like every other character that populated this book. James is one of the few male authors I've read that is able to capture women's feelings and thoughts with such accuracy and authenticity. In 2019 he published an African-inspired fantasy which I now can't wait to pick up.
If you are interested in historical fiction that doesn't shy away from harsh realities, please purchase this book. Brutal, unforgiving, and outstanding, I cannot recommend it highly enough -- especially to those of us who seek a deeper understanding of racism, its history and its lasting impact upon our society today.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
Lilith is born on a sugar plantation, raised by a woman who is not her mother and a man who is not her father. Even as a child she radiates an energy, a power, that those around her don't quite understand. It isn't until Lilith does something unforgivable that she is taken in by Homer, an enslaved woman who is a part of the Night Women, a group of women who are plotting a slave revolt. Homer thinks Lilith is the key to the rebellion's success, but as Lilith grows older and starts to question everything around her, things become more and more complicated.
Written entirely in Jamaican Patois, this startling and unrelenting novel is both an homage to the many who suffered in slavery and a powerful tale of revenge. It's impossible not to root for Lilith, to care for her and be fearful for her and wonder what can possibly become of her as she struggles to keep her head up throughout the many indignities and atrocities of slavery. There are several other characters who also captured my heart and imagination, particularly Homer; I could've read an entire book written only about her. James's prose is striking in its unflinching depiction of life on the plantation, by turns arrestingly beautiful and horrifying.
I don't think I can say that I "enjoyed" this book. Was it shocking, compelling, and gorgeously written? Yes. And while it's an easy five stars from me, this is not the type of book that you can pick up casually and read in any mindset. There were several moments where I would put the book aside, forced to take a breather. In my opinion, other white people should put this on their list. There is no "happy slave" and "kind master" narrative here.
Lilith is fully fleshed-out, full of complexities, just like every other character that populated this book. James is one of the few male authors I've read that is able to capture women's feelings and thoughts with such accuracy and authenticity. In 2019 he published an African-inspired fantasy which I now can't wait to pick up.
If you are interested in historical fiction that doesn't shy away from harsh realities, please purchase this book. Brutal, unforgiving, and outstanding, I cannot recommend it highly enough -- especially to those of us who seek a deeper understanding of racism, its history and its lasting impact upon our society today.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warning: death, violence, torture, homophobia, transphobia, references to parental abuse.
Yadriel wants to prove to his family that he's a brujo. Although he's been born into a family full of magic, his loved ones struggle to accept the fact that he's transgender, leaving him on the outside looking in. When one of his cousins, Miguel, is murdered, Yadriel attempts to summon his spirit -- and gets stuck with bad boy Julian Diaz instead. With time running out, can Yadriel help Julian figure out what happened to him, and show his family who he truly is in the process?
Before I delve into this review, I want to clarify a few things. First, I'm not a huge fan of YA -- it simply isn't my cup of tea. This last year I've opened myself up to it more, though, and found a few I enjoy. I thought that Cemetery Boys sounded not only fun, but like it would also tug on my heart strings, exactly what I look for in a book. So, what happened? Why only two stars?
Well, to begin with, let's discuss the good things here. I'm personally not transgender, but I thought that the representation (and it is written by a trans man, which is awesome!) was wonderful in that regard, and I also found the discussion of Latin culture very exciting and beautiful. I loved learning about Yadriel's family's celebration of Día de Muertos -- how marigolds are the traditional flower of the dead, the connections to Aztec, Mayan and Incan beliefs, and an exploration of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld.
One of the biggest issues here, though, is the lack of any plot. While it's pitched as being a sort of fantasy-mystery, as well as a story about Yadriel trying to find acceptance in his family, most of these points are treated as nothing but dressing on the cake. The cake being romance. The most developed aspect of the book is the relationship between Yadriel and the love interest, Julian, and even that was not properly fleshed out. Instead of them naturally beginning to fall for one another, it seems forced, happening only within a matter of essentially three days. Julian is called a bad boy, but there's nothing textually that actually shows him being anything other than a kind, slightly short-tempered rebel.
Yadriel, too, was similarly without depth. We were constantly being told of his character traits, rather than actually witnessing them occurring. He ends up being not only boring, but sometimes unsympathetic in the way he jumps to conclusions and judges other characters for pretty much anything and everything. Maritza is a shining light, the only one who managed to get a smile out of me and who comes across as authentically interesting.
But before this already lengthy reviews becomes way, way too long, let's discuss what really ended up making me dislike this story: sexism. This book is, weirdly enough, rife with misogyny -- for example, brujos (the men of the family) get special magic knives, care for the cemetery and the spirits, and take active part in investigating the presumed death of Yadriel's cousin. What do the women do? They get rosaries or necklaces (basically any piece of jewelry) to do their magic with, have to stay home and take care of the family, cook, clean up after others, and while men are allowed to summon and free spirits, women's magic is limited to healing. Stereotypical, much?
While some of these probably have to do with traditions, and it is addressed in text that Yadriel's family is traditional, it left me confused and a little angry. This is already too long, so I'll end it here, but something that really summed up the sexism in this novel for me is when Yadriel basically says -- pretty much verbatim -- that his grandmother has nothing better to do than clean up after the boys' and organize their rooms.
Come on.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
Yadriel wants to prove to his family that he's a brujo. Although he's been born into a family full of magic, his loved ones struggle to accept the fact that he's transgender, leaving him on the outside looking in. When one of his cousins, Miguel, is murdered, Yadriel attempts to summon his spirit -- and gets stuck with bad boy Julian Diaz instead. With time running out, can Yadriel help Julian figure out what happened to him, and show his family who he truly is in the process?
Before I delve into this review, I want to clarify a few things. First, I'm not a huge fan of YA -- it simply isn't my cup of tea. This last year I've opened myself up to it more, though, and found a few I enjoy. I thought that Cemetery Boys sounded not only fun, but like it would also tug on my heart strings, exactly what I look for in a book. So, what happened? Why only two stars?
Well, to begin with, let's discuss the good things here. I'm personally not transgender, but I thought that the representation (and it is written by a trans man, which is awesome!) was wonderful in that regard, and I also found the discussion of Latin culture very exciting and beautiful. I loved learning about Yadriel's family's celebration of Día de Muertos -- how marigolds are the traditional flower of the dead, the connections to Aztec, Mayan and Incan beliefs, and an exploration of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld.
One of the biggest issues here, though, is the lack of any plot. While it's pitched as being a sort of fantasy-mystery, as well as a story about Yadriel trying to find acceptance in his family, most of these points are treated as nothing but dressing on the cake. The cake being romance. The most developed aspect of the book is the relationship between Yadriel and the love interest, Julian, and even that was not properly fleshed out. Instead of them naturally beginning to fall for one another, it seems forced, happening only within a matter of essentially three days. Julian is called a bad boy, but there's nothing textually that actually shows him being anything other than a kind, slightly short-tempered rebel.
Yadriel, too, was similarly without depth. We were constantly being told of his character traits, rather than actually witnessing them occurring. He ends up being not only boring, but sometimes unsympathetic in the way he jumps to conclusions and judges other characters for pretty much anything and everything. Maritza is a shining light, the only one who managed to get a smile out of me and who comes across as authentically interesting.
But before this already lengthy reviews becomes way, way too long, let's discuss what really ended up making me dislike this story: sexism. This book is, weirdly enough, rife with misogyny -- for example, brujos (the men of the family) get special magic knives, care for the cemetery and the spirits, and take active part in investigating the presumed death of Yadriel's cousin. What do the women do? They get rosaries or necklaces (basically any piece of jewelry) to do their magic with, have to stay home and take care of the family, cook, clean up after others, and while men are allowed to summon and free spirits, women's magic is limited to healing. Stereotypical, much?
While some of these probably have to do with traditions, and it is addressed in text that Yadriel's family is traditional, it left me confused and a little angry. This is already too long, so I'll end it here, but something that really summed up the sexism in this novel for me is when Yadriel basically says -- pretty much verbatim -- that his grandmother has nothing better to do than clean up after the boys' and organize their rooms.
Come on.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
The Glass Forest by Cynthia Swanson
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warning: murder, violence, death, domestic abuse (primarily verbal and emotional), incest, references to sexual assault, racism, misogyny.
It's 1960. Angie Glass is only 21, and has the perfect life: a beautiful cottage close to family, a charming artist husband, Paul, and a sweet newborn baby. When Paul receives a call from his niece, Ruby, that her father is dead and her mother has run off, Paul knows he has to go and figure out what's going on. Angie, of course, wants to go too -- it's a perfect opportunity for her to not only support Paul in a time of need, but also get to know Ruby better. And, perhaps, discover some new things about her husband's family. Things she might not like.
It isn't every day that one stumbles across an exquisitely done slow-burn mystery. This is a novel I've run across several times, and always found intriguing, but never picked up. I decided that it was time to finally give it a chance, particularly since I adore historical mysteries and this one is set in an oft-ignored time period. Let me say this: I am so, so glad I did.
Told from three perspectives, each of them equally powerful, Swanson slowly begins to reveal a plethora of ever darker family secrets. It's an almost-contemporary Gothic, replete with a house full to the brim with sinister atmosphere, although this one isn't quite the crumbling Victorian mansion we're used to. Instead, it's ultramodern, with huge panes of glass staring out into the dark forest that surrounds it. I think the house is just as important to the story as its cast of characters, with its heavy tension and the way it tells Angie so much about its inhabitants.
The three main characters -- Ruby, her mother Silja, and Angie -- were all fascinating in their own right, but it's Ruby who really pulls everything together. She's a force of nature, truly unforgettable in her quiet intelligence. One of the things that really pulled this together for me was that none of the twists in the plot felt out of the blue, but instead the result of Swanson slowly putting this puzzle together for us, piece by piece by piece.
The only reason I didn't give this novel the full five stars is simply because I think that sometimes it had a tendency to meander. While it's meant to be slow, and the last act in particular is wonderfully satisfying, there were moments where I thought that we would've benefitted from it all being a bit sped up.
In the end, though, this book is perfect for fans of Gothics, and it's one I highly recommend, especially if you like complex female characters. When people say a book is unputdownable, this is what they mean!
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
It's 1960. Angie Glass is only 21, and has the perfect life: a beautiful cottage close to family, a charming artist husband, Paul, and a sweet newborn baby. When Paul receives a call from his niece, Ruby, that her father is dead and her mother has run off, Paul knows he has to go and figure out what's going on. Angie, of course, wants to go too -- it's a perfect opportunity for her to not only support Paul in a time of need, but also get to know Ruby better. And, perhaps, discover some new things about her husband's family. Things she might not like.
It isn't every day that one stumbles across an exquisitely done slow-burn mystery. This is a novel I've run across several times, and always found intriguing, but never picked up. I decided that it was time to finally give it a chance, particularly since I adore historical mysteries and this one is set in an oft-ignored time period. Let me say this: I am so, so glad I did.
Told from three perspectives, each of them equally powerful, Swanson slowly begins to reveal a plethora of ever darker family secrets. It's an almost-contemporary Gothic, replete with a house full to the brim with sinister atmosphere, although this one isn't quite the crumbling Victorian mansion we're used to. Instead, it's ultramodern, with huge panes of glass staring out into the dark forest that surrounds it. I think the house is just as important to the story as its cast of characters, with its heavy tension and the way it tells Angie so much about its inhabitants.
The three main characters -- Ruby, her mother Silja, and Angie -- were all fascinating in their own right, but it's Ruby who really pulls everything together. She's a force of nature, truly unforgettable in her quiet intelligence. One of the things that really pulled this together for me was that none of the twists in the plot felt out of the blue, but instead the result of Swanson slowly putting this puzzle together for us, piece by piece by piece.
The only reason I didn't give this novel the full five stars is simply because I think that sometimes it had a tendency to meander. While it's meant to be slow, and the last act in particular is wonderfully satisfying, there were moments where I thought that we would've benefitted from it all being a bit sped up.
In the end, though, this book is perfect for fans of Gothics, and it's one I highly recommend, especially if you like complex female characters. When people say a book is unputdownable, this is what they mean!
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!