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megansmith's reviews
164 reviews
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First five star of 2024! Wow, this book was intense in such a good way. I found myself thinking about this a lot when I wasnt reading it, and got hooked tonight around 40% and couldnt stop until I finished. The story is really well done, even for how much i found myself cringing at the unreliable narrator I was reading the perspective of. I loved the pacing, loved the important themes this tackled, loved a lot of this. The hype around this book was so worth it and I highly reccommend!
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really enjoyed this!! This is what Final Girls Support Group *should* have been - proving to me that the concept would’ve been far better written by women, for women. This book goes really quickly - if anything, the end pacing felt almost too fast and I wanted more! But it was still good all the same. I appreciated the throwbacks against the modern work and overall this was a fun romp from start to finish. Great if you like mystery / suspense books but hate the raging sexism present in most books in that genre!!
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
I surprisingly really enjoyed this book, more than I admittedly thought I would! This read like a single lecture over a tedious book and I really enjoyed the style of writing. I could read in quick snippets or in long bursts and still get a lot from these pages, which I really appreciate. Everything is fairly conversational but still insightful, and I liked Gilbert's generally positive take on creativity. Especially that we don't have to painstakingly suffer to be a creative, or hope for it to magically strike - but rather, work dilligently and be ready for the moment to strike when big magic is upon us.
I think the only portion I didn't really resonate with were her musings on careers in creativity and going to school for the arts. To an extent, I get it - college is a predatory system, and if you can find time and energy to do a creative hustle for yourself on the side of a job that covers the bills, that's awesome. I do however think this advice comes from two minds: A) it comes from a place of it having worked well for the author, so she felt like pushing out these paths makes sense. I think it's fine and great to share a more alternative path into the arts working for yourself, I wouldn't however knock someone that wants to go to traditional schooling for some of the other benefits it offers (IE like the networks and the "who you know" that propel you in your career). B) I think this feels just a bit antiquated in the economy we're currently in. This does fit the time of 2015 (sort of?) where some people could still get away with this - but I think in times like what we're currently in, this feels nearly impossible for most young people to do. It was already difficult then but, seemingly even harder knowing most people carry some form of a second job to make ends meet, or live at home since there isn't a state where you can afford a single bedroom apartment on minimum wage. I do think her advice comes from a good place, but I think the topics of creative careers and college deserve a lot more nuance, especially as the requirements to make ends meet, and even excel, in this economy continue to rise.
Still, I do think this is a really lighthearted book and I think it's great for any creatives struggling with their craft, or even doing well and wanting to keep going in their fields.
I think the only portion I didn't really resonate with were her musings on careers in creativity and going to school for the arts. To an extent, I get it - college is a predatory system, and if you can find time and energy to do a creative hustle for yourself on the side of a job that covers the bills, that's awesome. I do however think this advice comes from two minds: A) it comes from a place of it having worked well for the author, so she felt like pushing out these paths makes sense. I think it's fine and great to share a more alternative path into the arts working for yourself, I wouldn't however knock someone that wants to go to traditional schooling for some of the other benefits it offers (IE like the networks and the "who you know" that propel you in your career). B) I think this feels just a bit antiquated in the economy we're currently in. This does fit the time of 2015 (sort of?) where some people could still get away with this - but I think in times like what we're currently in, this feels nearly impossible for most young people to do. It was already difficult then but, seemingly even harder knowing most people carry some form of a second job to make ends meet, or live at home since there isn't a state where you can afford a single bedroom apartment on minimum wage. I do think her advice comes from a good place, but I think the topics of creative careers and college deserve a lot more nuance, especially as the requirements to make ends meet, and even excel, in this economy continue to rise.
Still, I do think this is a really lighthearted book and I think it's great for any creatives struggling with their craft, or even doing well and wanting to keep going in their fields.
Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book was fine. I think Crooks is a solid writer but I felt this story was lacking in a lot of places. The switch from skeptical to fully influenced felt fake and too quick. I felt like it ran into a lot of tropes and generalities, and nothing in this book felt particularly groundbreaking. I think The Female Persuasian in the fiction genre or Uncanny Valley in the nonfic genre do this category of workplace drama better, and my hopes felt a little dashed for something more interesting and compelling. It does feel like a time capsule to the era of Sophia Amaruso, which maybe turned me off a bit having it be so specific to one era that feels behind us culturally, but not far enough behind us yet. Not a bad read but definitely found myself wanting more the whole time I read.
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.75
I’ll admit, I was kind of skeptical on whether I was going to like this book or not, but it pulled through for me in the end! The first 75-100 pages had their moments that dragged, but it picked up in the later half. The overly detailed footnotes paired with cutting in family history for such long sections before getting back into the present, really took me out of the moment at times, although i kind of wonder if that whiplash was intentional and related to themes in the book. The narrator also comes off as slightly younger than her age, even though shes supposed to be in college I felt like I was reading a high schooler’s narration.
But I like the way this book wrapped things up, and I do appreciate the author’s messages and themes throughout the book. I think this is a good take on the mystery disappearance genre, I would still recommend it but wouldve loved to see some condensing and leveling up on the writing at times.
But I like the way this book wrapped things up, and I do appreciate the author’s messages and themes throughout the book. I think this is a good take on the mystery disappearance genre, I would still recommend it but wouldve loved to see some condensing and leveling up on the writing at times.
The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I have...a TON of conflicting feelings about this book. I think it's definitely a book that made me think and even for the parts that did frustrate me, maybe it deserves more praise just for getting me to think and for riling something up in me?
First, the writing in this book is really stellar. I don't know how much of it I'd chalk up to my 25+ years of living in the Midwest but, I felt transported to Iowa City throughout the length of this book. Taylor is a wonderful author and even in snippets I couldn't quite relate to the characters themselves, I could empathize with their feelings and get truly into their experiences through Taylor's writing. He grapples deep themes in a way that honors these character ages and life experiences. I especially appreciate his respect to the struggle characters face as they reckon with the world at large, while also holding on to where they grew up and how they got to where they are now. It's a constant struggle as a student that I think he wraps up nicely as you enter the last chapter. He's a masterful writer and you can tell he wrote from the heart in this book.
Outside of the themes and respect for the age and time in these character's lives, I struggled with the plot. And maybe for good reason but.. I'm not sure. Maybe it's in how the book is marketed? I feel like the cover of the book misled me to think maybe the characters would show a variety of the town, but, the majority of chapters felt like such a small circle of people, specifically this very tight knit group of queer men running into each other through distant connections. On it's own, I think that could have been it's own book! I found it really fascinating, even if I did not have the same exact experience when I was in college, I could find snippets of what I witnessed in college, seeing friends and mutual connections overlap over time without intending to. I think that's a really honest, interesting book premise and I would've been fine if the book was just that. However, adding in the last two chapters changed this in this book and honestly, it did a disservice to both sides of the book. It almost split this book in half. The only two female characters in this book didn't seem to see a single spot of happiness, either. All the characters have a struggle but, at least in the first few chapters, those male characters have small snippets of lightheartedness or connection through relationships, vs the two women in this book struggle in their past and present continually and only fall deeper into struggle as their brief chapters go on. Fatima maybe got it in the last page but, even on a fun, "relaxing" trip for the rest of the crew, she's only seen as being offended because two male characters (who tbh do not treat her right and she deserves better!!) make references to her assault and then immediately regret it (dude, didn't yall learn from your friend making a mom joke after she got a freaking abortion?! good grief!), and then the rest of the time she's freaking cooking! Also, it truly frustrated me all these male characters get referenced regularly in each other's individual chapters, but the one mention the one main female character gets, it's a brief party appearance by name and then one other brief appearance where she drops she's getting an abortion to another male character...who says his brief "i'm sorry" and only makes things worse when it comes up again later in the book. Last thing, I do really resent the fact the two times you have women show up in this book, they both are sexually assaulted by men in their lives. I think there's a variety of experiences you could talk about in this book about the female experience, especially as it relates to college and the paths these women are taking. But you chose the same type of experience, back to back? This book discusses sex quite a lot but, contrasting the two women in this book not having any empowering or purposeful sexual experiences, vs having even just one chapter dedicated to the sex-obsessed Noah, felt so off In short: it felt really frustrating to have a cover that boasted having a diverse cast of characters from different walks of life be in one place, only for two characters to feel tacked on rather than intentionally woven into the tapestry of these relationships, AND for those characters to fall into some pretty stifling stereotypes. I think some trimming down to re shift the narrative, or adding additional chapters and reworking some of the existing chapters, could have helped this book go a long way.
All in all - I do think this is a really smart, masterful look into a specific town and how the people within it are more connected than they all realize. Equally, I think this book falls flat on it's first promise on the cover, and I think it's what hurts this book from being touted more as a more all-encompassing expose. I wanted more from this but I still gleaned a lot from this book as valuable and important to read. So read at your own risk and also know I have my own biases and opinions that might be blinding me to important points in this book! I definitely want to read more about the book itself and try to understand why Brandon Taylor made certain choices here.
First, the writing in this book is really stellar. I don't know how much of it I'd chalk up to my 25+ years of living in the Midwest but, I felt transported to Iowa City throughout the length of this book. Taylor is a wonderful author and even in snippets I couldn't quite relate to the characters themselves, I could empathize with their feelings and get truly into their experiences through Taylor's writing. He grapples deep themes in a way that honors these character ages and life experiences. I especially appreciate his respect to the struggle characters face as they reckon with the world at large, while also holding on to where they grew up and how they got to where they are now. It's a constant struggle as a student that I think he wraps up nicely as you enter the last chapter. He's a masterful writer and you can tell he wrote from the heart in this book.
Outside of the themes and respect for the age and time in these character's lives, I struggled with the plot. And maybe for good reason but.. I'm not sure. Maybe it's in how the book is marketed? I feel like the cover of the book misled me to think maybe the characters would show a variety of the town, but, the majority of chapters felt like such a small circle of people, specifically this very tight knit group of queer men running into each other through distant connections. On it's own, I think that could have been it's own book! I found it really fascinating, even if I did not have the same exact experience when I was in college, I could find snippets of what I witnessed in college, seeing friends and mutual connections overlap over time without intending to. I think that's a really honest, interesting book premise and I would've been fine if the book was just that. However, adding in the last two chapters changed this in this book and honestly, it did a disservice to both sides of the book. It almost split this book in half. The only two female characters in this book didn't seem to see a single spot of happiness, either. All the characters have a struggle but, at least in the first few chapters, those male characters have small snippets of lightheartedness or connection through relationships, vs the two women in this book struggle in their past and present continually and only fall deeper into struggle as their brief chapters go on. Fatima maybe got it in the last page but,
All in all - I do think this is a really smart, masterful look into a specific town and how the people within it are more connected than they all realize. Equally, I think this book falls flat on it's first promise on the cover, and I think it's what hurts this book from being touted more as a more all-encompassing expose. I wanted more from this but I still gleaned a lot from this book as valuable and important to read. So read at your own risk and also know I have my own biases and opinions that might be blinding me to important points in this book! I definitely want to read more about the book itself and try to understand why Brandon Taylor made certain choices here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Bullying, Terminal illness, Stalking, and Racism
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I will say, I was kind of nervous I wouldnt like this when I was at the start of this book, but I did breeze through the last 200 pages to find out what happened, and the twist was worth it! I had conflicting feelings picking this up and felt interested enough in the premise and how it would be handled to try it anyways, and Bodie did let me down for how she handled this case. It honed in for me why I dont listen to true crime podcasts anymore. I know her stake in this is incredibly personal but, even for all her reflection, some of her more selfish choices didnt feel thought out enough and it was purely by luck in some instances that things worked out in her favor.
This book was slooow at first but it had a solid reveal at the end I did not see coming. The writing is great, just a TON of huge school details. Great for atmosphere but rough if you want to get to the point sometimes.
Overall, this was still a really interesting case that mirrored life in more ways than one. If the Serial podcast interested you ever, youd enjoy this book. I still recommend for anyone interested in the premise!
This book was slooow at first but it had a solid reveal at the end I did not see coming. The writing is great, just a TON of huge school details. Great for atmosphere but rough if you want to get to the point sometimes.
Overall, this was still a really interesting case that mirrored life in more ways than one. If the Serial podcast interested you ever, youd enjoy this book. I still recommend for anyone interested in the premise!
Felicity: Poems by Mary Oliver
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
3.0
I admittedly am well past my poetry days, but I had this on my shelf and wanted to read one more book before the end of the year so I thought, why not?
I did save a few poems from here that I liked! Otherwise I think this is just not my typical speed anymore. Some of the religious references or more religious poems also lost me a bit. If you like poems that bask in the beauty of love and nature, you may enjoy this, personally this just wasnt my cup of tea!
I did save a few poems from here that I liked! Otherwise I think this is just not my typical speed anymore. Some of the religious references or more religious poems also lost me a bit. If you like poems that bask in the beauty of love and nature, you may enjoy this, personally this just wasnt my cup of tea!
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Im really shocked at how much I liked this! Something about Song of Achilles didnt fully click but this did for me, I’m not sure if it was my pacing or when i read Song of Achilles etc. But I really loved the story, and for being stuck to one locale for most of the book, theres truly so much that happens. I have one gripe with the ending I won’t put here but, Greek gods be greek gods i guess 🤷♀️ Overall though, great read and would really recommend!
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.75
WOW this was really thrilling, I loved it! The pace admittedly was a bit slow for me at times, but the mystery and quality of writing kept me reading. This is an interesting dive into the worlds of film and occult, and I never knew just how much they overlapped prior to now. It was spooky without giving me nightmares which I appreciated. Highly reccommend!