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loiscc's Reviews (313)
The Codes of Love is about the power play between a wealthy middle-aged married couple, Ryan and Emily. They have an open marriage arrangement which Emily believes is the secret to a long-lasting marriage without the strain disillusionment and Ryan decides to go along with. But the tightly woven fabric of their arrangement begins to fray once Ada comes into their lives. Her carefree and slightly mysterious nature exerts a pull on Ryan and Emily that neither of them can resist.
In a similar vein, I found it hard to resist this novel! I thought it was a darkly delicious debut (excuse the alliteration). I was anxious to find out what would happen next and learn more about these characters, even the ones I didn't like, *clears throat* Ryan and Tom. I love that this novel inspires thoughtful commentary on such things as classism and traditional values. It makes the reader wonder; Does the pursuit of wealth ensure future happiness and stability? Does having an open marriage mean that your relationship is immune to the fatigue and sacrifice or more traditional marriages?
Unfortunately, I haven't read any of Persaud's short stories but having read The Codes of Love, which I believe to be a striking debut novel, I'm looking forward to seeing more from her.
(4.5 stars)!! ⭐ / tw: male rape, harrassment
In a similar vein, I found it hard to resist this novel! I thought it was a darkly delicious debut (excuse the alliteration). I was anxious to find out what would happen next and learn more about these characters, even the ones I didn't like, *clears throat* Ryan and Tom. I love that this novel inspires thoughtful commentary on such things as classism and traditional values. It makes the reader wonder; Does the pursuit of wealth ensure future happiness and stability? Does having an open marriage mean that your relationship is immune to the fatigue and sacrifice or more traditional marriages?
Unfortunately, I haven't read any of Persaud's short stories but having read The Codes of Love, which I believe to be a striking debut novel, I'm looking forward to seeing more from her.
(4.5 stars)!! ⭐ / tw: male rape, harrassment
A political read about the ruthless nature of fame. This book is written flawlessly in the execution of the plot and the depth of the characters. A superb read that perfectly encapsulates the veneer of glitzy Hollywood life.
The story is a steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling. It’s about a girl called Feyre, who can often be found hunting in the woods to ensure the survival of her family, until one day she kills a wolf belonging to the fae realm and as punishment, is forced to live in the cursed kingdom of Tamlin, who like the rest of those who live in his court, always have their faces obscured by masks. Feyre eventually warms up to Tamlin and decides to help him fight the evil curse that threatens him and his people.
I love the escapism of this novel and what some readers might deem to be a superfluous writing style, I thought was beautifully ornate. So obviously I liked it, not least of all the temperature-rising steamy bits but in comparison to the level of online hype for this book, I was disappointed. IT WAS JUST OKAY PEOPLE!
I love the escapism of this novel and what some readers might deem to be a superfluous writing style, I thought was beautifully ornate. So obviously I liked it, not least of all the temperature-rising steamy bits but in comparison to the level of online hype for this book, I was disappointed. IT WAS JUST OKAY PEOPLE!
This book is an outstanding story written in simplistic verse. The writing is completely unadorned and facile yet so heavily laced with meaning! I savoured every page of it. An absolute must-read that challenges several negative biases and explores what constitutes real freedom.
The Color Purple is a timeless gem of a book that celebrates black womanhood. It's a book about creating spaces where joy can be expressed in the face of extreme adversity. I loved the way the characters transformed throughout the story and became completely different people by the end.
Washington has very choppy writing style in this book that was unsettling at first, it felt very anecdotal, almost skeletal but it still managed to hold a lot of meaning and intent. I thought the dialogue was fantastic, it was realistic and there was a strong sense of how these characters' pasts have shaped them and the way they interact with others.
I also have to applaud the way this book explores the nuances of race, identity and queerness. Since Benson and Mike are an interracial pairing, their cultural differences sometimes creates a friction that puts pressure on their relationship. We see Mike's identity conflict when he's in Japan trying to reconcile his Japanese heritage with his Americaness. And then there's the rampant homophobia they each have to face, predominantly from their fathers, but in almost all other aspects of their lives. On the point of fathers, this book does well to explore the theme of redemption; it questions how much fathers have to be humbled before estranged relationships can once again be restored, if at all.
Read full review here - https://lochanreads.com
I also have to applaud the way this book explores the nuances of race, identity and queerness. Since Benson and Mike are an interracial pairing, their cultural differences sometimes creates a friction that puts pressure on their relationship. We see Mike's identity conflict when he's in Japan trying to reconcile his Japanese heritage with his Americaness. And then there's the rampant homophobia they each have to face, predominantly from their fathers, but in almost all other aspects of their lives. On the point of fathers, this book does well to explore the theme of redemption; it questions how much fathers have to be humbled before estranged relationships can once again be restored, if at all.
Read full review here - https://lochanreads.com
The Ballad of Black Tom is a fantasy horror about about the eponymous protagonist, 20-year-old Charles Thomas Tester, who hustles his way through life, playing his guitar on the streets of Harlem to provide for himself and his ailing father. Until one day, he is tasked with delivering a mysterious book to a lady in Queen's, New York. From there his life follows a strange pattern of events that sucks him into a cultish world of mysticism and violence.
The story was bizarre and unsettling but still managed to capture of the realism of 1920s Harlem with its segregation and rampant racism. I loved the father-son relationship between Otis and Charles, there was something very visceral about it and the horror-fantasy elements were full of intrigue.
I felt like some parts of the story were left undeveloped such as the enigma that is Ma Att and her particular interest in the yellow book that Black Tom delivered; also I thought the structure of the story was incongruous in parts. It is separated into parts one and two and told from the perspective of two different characters but during the latter part of the story the transition from the second POV character (Malone) back to the eponymous main character was out of sync with the the rest of the story up until that point (you'd have to read it) I thought it was telling and lacking in structural soundness.
I also thought the character of Suydam was problematic; I wasn't a fan of his orientalist / exotic view of different ethnic minorities and all the messianic symbolism attached to his character played into this typical white saviour narrative that is synonymous with a lot of white-centric fiction. The story does redeem itself in this regard but it was irksome to read.
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Ballad of Black Tom. It wasn't scary in a spooky, creepy way but it succeeded in being a macabre, ominous story, perfect for the fainthearted horror readers.
The story was bizarre and unsettling but still managed to capture of the realism of 1920s Harlem with its segregation and rampant racism. I loved the father-son relationship between Otis and Charles, there was something very visceral about it and the horror-fantasy elements were full of intrigue.
I felt like some parts of the story were left undeveloped such as the enigma that is Ma Att and her particular interest in the yellow book that Black Tom delivered; also I thought the structure of the story was incongruous in parts. It is separated into parts one and two and told from the perspective of two different characters but during the latter part of the story the transition from the second POV character (Malone) back to the eponymous main character was out of sync with the the rest of the story up until that point (you'd have to read it) I thought it was telling and lacking in structural soundness.
I also thought the character of Suydam was problematic; I wasn't a fan of his orientalist / exotic view of different ethnic minorities and all the messianic symbolism attached to his character played into this typical white saviour narrative that is synonymous with a lot of white-centric fiction. The story does redeem itself in this regard but it was irksome to read.
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Ballad of Black Tom. It wasn't scary in a spooky, creepy way but it succeeded in being a macabre, ominous story, perfect for the fainthearted horror readers.
Rainbow Milk is an exceptionally bold debut that confronts head-on a range of powerful themes such as the conflict that exists between coming to terms with one's sexuality and the condemnation of religion.
The story follows former boxer Norman who travels from Jamaica to the Black Country, Britain, during the 1950s. He like the many hundreds of Caribbean migrants who moved to Britain seeks to better the life of his family but instead finds rampant racism and intolerance. Fast forward several years and we are introduced to the young Black teen Jesse, who after being disfellowshipped from his religion turns to a life in sex work. Both perspectives offer a crucial look into the reality of what it means to be a Black man in Britain, both during the height of the British industrial revolution and today.
I loved the depth and honesty of this story but it felt a bit laggy towards the end. Still, I thought it was a remarkable debut with an altogether positive and stirring message.
tw: homophobia, child abuse/neglect, sexual abuse, threats of violence, graphic language
The story follows former boxer Norman who travels from Jamaica to the Black Country, Britain, during the 1950s. He like the many hundreds of Caribbean migrants who moved to Britain seeks to better the life of his family but instead finds rampant racism and intolerance. Fast forward several years and we are introduced to the young Black teen Jesse, who after being disfellowshipped from his religion turns to a life in sex work. Both perspectives offer a crucial look into the reality of what it means to be a Black man in Britain, both during the height of the British industrial revolution and today.
I loved the depth and honesty of this story but it felt a bit laggy towards the end. Still, I thought it was a remarkable debut with an altogether positive and stirring message.
tw: homophobia, child abuse/neglect, sexual abuse, threats of violence, graphic language
Girl is a collection of essays (including some guest essays) that explores what it means to be a Black woman in a white-centric world; it dissects the fashion industry, finding a sense of community, identity and respectability politics, online activism and much more. A faultless and highly accessible read, it addresses the many issues tied to race and class that still exist in the West but it also celebrates Black girl/womanhood in a way that was inspiring to read about.
Listened to the audiobook which seems to be an abridged version of the paperback but all in all I thought it was an intuitive, almost spiritualistic discussion of womanhood and femininity. Dr Pinkola Estes draws upon age-old fairy tales and animal imagery to explore this idea of the "caged" woman, conditioned by societal expectations and how she can forge deeper connections with her inner instinctual self.