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mailyreads's reviews
10 reviews
The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
After Dark by Haruki Murakami
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I felt like Kuang was grabbing at really low hanging fruit with this book. There was potential to explore some interesting discussions and controversies, but as the book drolled on, the story remained shallow, repetitive, and… just boring. I enjoyed the humor at times and you can tell Kuang had fun writing this, but again, alot of it felt overdone and heavyhanded midway through. And it was cringey to see how Kuang attempts to nullify valid real world criticisms of her own writing by having them be spout through the mouth of her racist white character.
It was cool to get more insight on the inside of the publishing industry. I’m a big fan of everything else I’ve read by Kuang and can appreciate that this was a foray into a new genre for her.
It was cool to get more insight on the inside of the publishing industry. I’m a big fan of everything else I’ve read by Kuang and can appreciate that this was a foray into a new genre for her.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Reading this book was such a beautiful experience. I got to feel the kindness, love, hope, and heartbreak that seeped out the pages. There was a certain type of helplessness I felt as the reader, only able to observe the events go down, that I believe Fonny’s loved ones felt facing off against this unjust system. At the same time, Baldwin stokes hope and passion— something needs to change, and is changing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang
dark
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
For much of this book, I felt the type of sick you get after indulging on one too many sweet things. And I say this to commend Zhang— she was able to evoke so much revulsion. I felt revolted at that one wooly mammoth scene. And so revolted at just the hoards of wealth. The selfishness and distance (literal and not) from humanity. And so horrified and sad at this imagination of the world. I enjoyed the ending. I personally did not like the drawn out writing style, but I also don’t have a sweet tooth and some people do.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Spoilers ahead!
I really love The Poppy War. This book pulled me out of a reading slump and I ended up finishing this 900+ page book in less than 2 days. There are a lot of things I want to comment on after recently finishing TPW, so forgive any jumbled mess of words that will follow:
I am just so appreciative to Kuang for the way she portrays real historical colonization through Nikan & Mugen (& Hesperia). It is informed, researched writing, and it forces readers to not only recognize the brutal atrocities that occurred, but to feel as truly repulsed, sick, helpless, and enraged as the characters do— as the many people who have been impacted by colonization in real life do.
As someone from the latter group, Rin and Altan’s rage and goals for vengeance are extremely relatable. I have seen many critiques on the ending of the book Rin eradicating Mugen by readers. However, I highly doubt Kuang wrote this ending intending for readers to be rallying behind Rin’s final actions. Readers are supposed to witness how colonization pushes a person to the brink; how a colonized person is pushed by the colonizer to internalize their own dehumanization. How colonization desensitizes people (on both sides) to suffering.
I grew up loving a lot of YA, fighting the dystopia, etc etc type stories as a guilty pleasure. But I think the oversaturation of them (especially as formulaic as they are) in the book market has convinced some readers that there is a certain way to conduct a “revolution”, and Rin does not abide by this.
Kuang writes a lot about strategy, a lot about the logistics of warfare, of internal politics of nations in TPW. But I am still convinced that this book was written to mainly focus on the descent of characters, their sanity, their humanity (literally and symbolically) that results from the traumas of colonization and war. I also want to kudos Kuang on how she was able to write about complicated battle strategies, intangible pantheons & spirit realms, active martial arts moves and fights, in a way that was easily understandable and visual to me as a reader. Her descriptions are vivid and straightforward.
What I wished to have seen more was character development for Rin. I understand this is only the first book of a trilogy, but there were 900+ pages, 3 parts, and several years that took place from beginning to end. Rin does become more accomplished and open-minded to spirituality, but otherwise her personality doesn’t evolve much and she remains mostly unfazed and unstunted by adversity. Only in the last several pages do we see a new goal for her solidifying.
Altan’s arc was a better model of character development in my opinion. We see how dependable and kind he is in the beginning, and how the pressure of battle failures hardened Altan and made him insecure of his own leadership ability. We see that the pain of living (amplified by the increase of Mugen atrocities) has made him less reliable to the Cikes. Altan goes from a Sinegard legend, so empowered by rage to fuel his quest for vengeance, to a broken down Commander, weakened by trauma to the point that he self martyrs so he can finally escape the pain.
Altan’s story of shouldering all the ancestral rage of Speer, living only for vengeance, is so heartbreaking to read about. It speaks to how trauma will continue to produce trauma unless interrupted; what would Altan be like if Jiang had been allowed to mentor him?
Aside from Rin and Altan, it was easy to become attached to all the characters by the end of the book. From companionable Kitay to minor characters like Raban. Even the nasty Nezha turned into a caring friend. I especially love the camaraderie of the Cikes.
The Poppy War was a very resonating, illuminating read. I recommend it especially to those who have felt the impacts of colonization.
I really love The Poppy War. This book pulled me out of a reading slump and I ended up finishing this 900+ page book in less than 2 days. There are a lot of things I want to comment on after recently finishing TPW, so forgive any jumbled mess of words that will follow:
I am just so appreciative to Kuang for the way she portrays real historical colonization through Nikan & Mugen (& Hesperia). It is informed, researched writing, and it forces readers to not only recognize the brutal atrocities that occurred, but to feel as truly repulsed, sick, helpless, and enraged as the characters do— as the many people who have been impacted by colonization in real life do.
As someone from the latter group, Rin and Altan’s rage and goals for vengeance are extremely relatable. I have seen many critiques on the ending of the book
I grew up loving a lot of YA, fighting the dystopia, etc etc type stories as a guilty pleasure. But I think the oversaturation of them (especially as formulaic as they are) in the book market has convinced some readers that there is a certain way to conduct a “revolution”, and Rin does not abide by this.
Kuang writes a lot about strategy, a lot about the logistics of warfare, of internal politics of nations in TPW. But I am still convinced that this book was written to mainly focus on the descent of characters, their sanity, their humanity (literally and symbolically) that results from the traumas of colonization and war. I also want to kudos Kuang on how she was able to write about complicated battle strategies, intangible pantheons & spirit realms, active martial arts moves and fights, in a way that was easily understandable and visual to me as a reader. Her descriptions are vivid and straightforward.
What I wished to have seen more was character development for Rin. I understand this is only the first book of a trilogy, but there were 900+ pages, 3 parts, and several years that took place from beginning to end. Rin does become more accomplished and open-minded to spirituality, but otherwise her personality doesn’t evolve much and she remains mostly unfazed and unstunted by adversity. Only in the last several pages do we see a new goal for her solidifying.
Altan’s arc was a better model of character development in my opinion. We see how dependable and kind he is in the beginning, and how the pressure of battle failures hardened Altan and made him insecure of his own leadership ability. We see that the pain of living (amplified by the increase of Mugen atrocities) has made him less reliable to the Cikes. Altan goes from a Sinegard legend, so empowered by rage to fuel his quest for vengeance, to a broken down Commander, weakened by trauma to the point that he self martyrs so he can finally escape the pain.
Altan’s story of shouldering all the ancestral rage of Speer, living only for vengeance, is so heartbreaking to read about. It speaks to how trauma will continue to produce trauma unless interrupted; what would Altan be like if Jiang had been allowed to mentor him?
Aside from Rin and Altan, it was easy to become attached to all the characters by the end of the book. From companionable Kitay to minor characters like Raban. Even the nasty Nezha turned into a caring friend. I especially love the camaraderie of the Cikes.
The Poppy War was a very resonating, illuminating read. I recommend it especially to those who have felt the impacts of colonization.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Genocide, Rape, Colonisation, and War
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I am so, so upset that I could not enjoy this read. The premise was truly interesting, but many times throughout the book I found myself cringing and wanting to drop.
I don’t think the author is Jewish and it shows. There is a lot of media on the “what if the Nazis won WWII?” and I’m not saying you need to be Jewish to ask that question, but when writing about the Holocaust—or any genocide—without being someone who is personally directly impacted, it can be obvious to readers who are (like me; I’m a Jewish person who has had family persecuted from their homes and held in Auschwitz) in really tasteless ways.
The number one thing that bothered me throughout the read was the set-up of a romantic relationship between the protagonist, Yael, a death camp survivor, and Luka Lowe, the golden boy of the Hitler Youth. The “he’s not like other Nazi boys” trope is grossly common in media (you’d be surprised how often it pops up). I’m not a fan for obvious reasons. It’s one thing to write about a bad boy, a delinquent, someone morally gray, and the prospect of changing him (as cliche as that trope is); it’s another when media creators attempt to apply this trope to white supremacist, eugenicist, genocide supporting/complicit characters. But for the sake of convincing myself to finish the book, I had faith that the author would reveal Luka to be an outspoken dissenter, a fellow resistance member, someone actively taking a stance against the Third Reich.
No. Nope. Author Ryan Graudin justifies Yael’s growing attraction to the boy by trying to say Luka was “different” because he “mocked” Hitler’s policies; but which policies specifically? Luka grew his hair out slightly beyond the social norm, and he smoked cigarettes. That’s literally it. I’m honestly getting annoyed thinking back to the specific passage I’m referencing, because it’s straight up insulting to talk as if he was any different just because he was indulging himself. If Yael absolutely had to fall in love with Luka, it would have been more realistic to chalk it up to her being a hormonal teenager, and also with her being reluctant and hating that attraction. But ultimately, I see no purpose for what a romantic relationship between Yael and a Nazi boy serves the plot of assassinating Hitler. Except to pander to an audience who gets off on that. Please understand why this is insulting.
Similarly, I couldn’t stand the constant sympathy and guilt of injuring or killing imperialist Japanese and Nazi Germans. I don’t like how there was a section in the book where Yael thought that killing a Nazi German would make her no different from them. That’s simply untrue. An oppressed person killing their oppressor, especially out of immediate self defense, could never be compared to the vice-versa. And I find it unlikely that in reality, someone in Yael’s position would even think that way. This guilt is another written trope created out of the fantasy of oppressors. However, nowhere in the book did Yael’s mentality every grow from that.
I understand the whole point of this story is to revise history, but one thing I despised was the decision to describe Britain to be the last main opponent to Hitler, while the Soviet Union ultimately sold out to the Nazis. In reality, the Soviet Union was the only reason the Nazis lost and though Britain was technically opposed to Hitler, it was on a much smaller scale than the Soviet Union, delayed, and still poorly intentioned. I won’t go into all the true history here, but my point is this type of literature does not exist in a vacuum and misinformatively feeds into the pro-Britain propaganda machine. There’s so many more consequences to this writing that I can’t go into here without turning the review into an essay, but overall it’s insulting to everyone who was persecuted in the Holocaust and then subsequently oppressed in the West.
Aside from the moral qualms I had with Wolf by Wolf, I often found the writing style to be quite corny. It could have been the very YA-esque usage of anaphora, the dramatic internal monologues no teen girl would realistically have, but Graudin somehow manages to make the horrific and solemn events of the Holocaust the backdrop for cringey dialogue. Every since The Hunger Games, writers have been trying to replicate and channel the young savior girl archetype in their own stories, but very few ever do it well. This is not one of those stories. Perhaps, if Graudin leaned more into the other characters or groups and made this a collective effort, this story would have been somewhat more interesting. There could have been more opportunity for character development outside of Yael (which was sorely missing from this story), too.
I’m giving 2 stars because I liked the idea of a plan to assassinate Hitler and overcome the Third Reich from within. I also thought the cross continental motorcycling competition was an interesting twist. Otherwise, I don’t have plans to read the sequel.
I don’t think the author is Jewish and it shows. There is a lot of media on the “what if the Nazis won WWII?” and I’m not saying you need to be Jewish to ask that question, but when writing about the Holocaust—or any genocide—without being someone who is personally directly impacted, it can be obvious to readers who are (like me; I’m a Jewish person who has had family persecuted from their homes and held in Auschwitz) in really tasteless ways.
The number one thing that bothered me throughout the read was the set-up of a romantic relationship between the protagonist, Yael, a death camp survivor, and Luka Lowe, the golden boy of the Hitler Youth. The “he’s not like other Nazi boys” trope is grossly common in media (you’d be surprised how often it pops up). I’m not a fan for obvious reasons. It’s one thing to write about a bad boy, a delinquent, someone morally gray, and the prospect of changing him (as cliche as that trope is); it’s another when media creators attempt to apply this trope to white supremacist, eugenicist, genocide supporting/complicit characters. But for the sake of convincing myself to finish the book, I had faith that the author would reveal Luka to be an outspoken dissenter, a fellow resistance member, someone actively taking a stance against the Third Reich.
No. Nope. Author Ryan Graudin justifies Yael’s growing attraction to the boy by trying to say Luka was “different” because he “mocked” Hitler’s policies; but which policies specifically? Luka grew his hair out slightly beyond the social norm, and he smoked cigarettes. That’s literally it. I’m honestly getting annoyed thinking back to the specific passage I’m referencing, because it’s straight up insulting to talk as if he was any different just because he was indulging himself. If Yael absolutely had to fall in love with Luka, it would have been more realistic to chalk it up to her being a hormonal teenager, and also with her being reluctant and hating that attraction. But ultimately, I see no purpose for what a romantic relationship between Yael and a Nazi boy serves the plot of assassinating Hitler. Except to pander to an audience who gets off on that. Please understand why this is insulting.
Similarly, I couldn’t stand the constant sympathy and guilt of injuring or killing imperialist Japanese and Nazi Germans. I don’t like how there was a section in the book where Yael thought that killing a Nazi German would make her no different from them. That’s simply untrue. An oppressed person killing their oppressor, especially out of immediate self defense, could never be compared to the vice-versa. And I find it unlikely that in reality, someone in Yael’s position would even think that way. This guilt is another written trope created out of the fantasy of oppressors. However, nowhere in the book did Yael’s mentality every grow from that.
I understand the whole point of this story is to revise history, but one thing I despised was the decision to describe Britain to be the last main opponent to Hitler, while the Soviet Union ultimately sold out to the Nazis. In reality, the Soviet Union was the only reason the Nazis lost and though Britain was technically opposed to Hitler, it was on a much smaller scale than the Soviet Union, delayed, and still poorly intentioned. I won’t go into all the true history here, but my point is this type of literature does not exist in a vacuum and misinformatively feeds into the pro-Britain propaganda machine. There’s so many more consequences to this writing that I can’t go into here without turning the review into an essay, but overall it’s insulting to everyone who was persecuted in the Holocaust and then subsequently oppressed in the West.
Aside from the moral qualms I had with Wolf by Wolf, I often found the writing style to be quite corny. It could have been the very YA-esque usage of anaphora, the dramatic internal monologues no teen girl would realistically have, but Graudin somehow manages to make the horrific and solemn events of the Holocaust the backdrop for cringey dialogue. Every since The Hunger Games, writers have been trying to replicate and channel the young savior girl archetype in their own stories, but very few ever do it well. This is not one of those stories. Perhaps, if Graudin leaned more into the other characters or groups and made this a collective effort, this story would have been somewhat more interesting. There could have been more opportunity for character development outside of Yael (which was sorely missing from this story), too.
I’m giving 2 stars because I liked the idea of a plan to assassinate Hitler and overcome the Third Reich from within. I also thought the cross continental motorcycling competition was an interesting twist. Otherwise, I don’t have plans to read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide