monitaroymohan's reviews
1085 reviews

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

mysterious tense 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

3.5

I didn’t hate this book. It was fun to read. But it’s really odd. 

It’s less inspired by Fleetwood Mac and Mary Shelley’s stories than it is repurposing them. The story should reflect or hint at parts of legendary tales, it shouldn’t feel like a poor knock off. I mean, even some of the names are copies—Mari instead of Mary, Pierce Sheldon instead of Percy Shelley, Jonny and not John William. Mari even has a stepsister, just like Mary, and both have a relationship with a toxic older rock star type. I mean, be a tad original, especially with such an iconic story. I don’t know the details of Fleetwood Mac’s story—more of an overview, but I’m certain there are just as many similarities in this book. 

Another thing that irked me was the queerbaiting. Don’t dangle it like a carrot and then not address it or weave it in. Gay people exist. Gay relationships exist. Don’t try to be edgy and interesting by hinting at something going on when you don’t want to actually include it in the work. 

Most of the book was intriguing enough to keep reading, but the third act really jumped the shark. It went to such ludicrous places—no one would believe the things Chess supposedly did. I mean, yeah, sure Jan. Also, the final twist was unnecessary. Thrown in there as an add-on. Didn’t work for me.

This is definitely worth a read. And if the author has other books in this vein, I’m all for it. But needs to be more original with the characters’ stories. 

The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

I tried. I mean, this is a great writer and I’ve read some of his other work. I was all for getting into the story but jeez, it never seemed to get past the male protagonist lusting over another woman. And it seemed like he was travelling in time and lusting after his 16-year-old friend when he’s 40. It would have been fine were these feelings there when they were both the same age, but super ick when he’s being a pedo. I’m sure this book got better, but I gave up. 

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

informative 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? Yes

1.0

I liked 2/3rds of this book. I loved the format — it’s written almost completely as a script, which makes sense given the author is known for TV work. The premise is also fascinating — a multi-generational Chinese-American family looking to make it in the entertainment industry. It’s hard, mostly because of racism and stereotyping. I found that interesting. 

But then, the book introduces a romance and it totally loses the plot. Why is Karen Lee interested in Willis Wu, when he’s so insecure and frankly petulant about how she gets opportunities that he can’t? He’s a walking red flag but she still continues the relationship, marries him and has a child. What? And then he’s never there for her and abandons his family. I’m sorry, when did we take a left turn to cliche town? 

What irked me the most was the denouement. I understand what the author is trying to say — there are some people who are automatically considered to be American (white European diaspora), while others — like the Chinese — aren’t, even when the latter have been in America for longer. We get it. And we also get that it needs to be said. But why is the Black community thrown under the bus to make this point? I’m not saying this book leans into Asian racism towards Black people, but let’s be honest here, don’t use the suffering of the Black community as a yard stick for your suffering. Point the finger at who’s causing the suffering not at your fellow victims. Absolutely ridiculous. Left me with a terrible feeling for this book. 

I wanted to like this book but I couldn’t by the end. So frustrating. 

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

dark sad tense medium-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

2.0

Heard of this book on a podcast and it sounded interesting. It’s not that the book isn’t interesting, it’s that in its effort to re-contextualize the story of Medusa, all it does is make one extremely angry. I understand that most myths are about vengeful gods and they’re mired in misogyny, hence the female characters go through hell. But this book feels more like an endless parade of assaults and insults hurled at every female character and goddess featured. Maybe that’s what reading the Greek myths is like, I don’t remember. It’s been a while. I just wasn't sure what the intent was. Maybe I came at this from the wrong angle. But the book purposely posits the protagonist as sweet, innocent and kind, the antagonist as whiny and most others as disgustingly cruel. So it doesn’t give you the chance to decide on your own who you’re rooting for—which is fine—but then it starts berating the reader for “feeling sorry” for the antagonist, but we’re not. Because it’s specifically written for us not to feel anything positive about anyone. So, yeah, kind of an exhausting book actually. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I thought I liked this book for a while, and then I didn’t. It was interesting and evenly paced. But I found the central premise and Jessica’s arc frustrating. This is the kind of myopic thinking that got us the Halle Berry Catwoman film (no shade to Berry). Just because women are involved doesn’t mean the story has to revolve around motherhood, being a mother, worrying about being a mother, sacrificing to be a mother. Nor does the plot have to focus on cosmetics and women striving towards artificial standards of beauty. It’s just so cliché. I was expecting better of this story. Like surely we can rise above these banalities. 

I was also irritated by Jessica needing to be rescued or things conveniently fixing themselves. That’s not good writing and it does Jessica no favours as a detective or superhero. 

I initially enjoyed this a lot more. But by the end I couldn’t believe how vapid it all turned out to be.

I mean, spoiler alert, but the Dorian Gray girls — what happened to them? Are they old and gray and wrinkled beyond measure? Like what’s their journey to recovery. Don’t just leave that part out and focus on the girl who escaped and was taken care of. Jeez. Also, brushing aside the many many murders of Black men and other little children — really? We’re ignoring that too. Sigh, this book. 

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

This was a weird book. Like… I couldn’t gauge the tone of it at all. 

On the one hand, this is a fantasy novel recontextualizing the events of The Wizard of Oz. The main theme is people and creatures who are different and the discrimination that they face. Oz is no different from reality as there too racism and misogyny are rampant. People are literally killed for being different and wanting better for themselves. 

And then on the other, there are these weird turns of bawdy, crude and lewd attempts at humour. The book is a strange and unsettling read, because the main topic keeps getting derailed by these oddities. 

Some of the language is, obviously and irritatingly, outdated as are the sensibilities. Elphaba’s sharp features and her sister’s disability are not handled particularly well. The other characters being rude is one thing, but the author isn’t sensitive to them either. There’s a lot of fat-shaming too. 

But then again there are these elusions to gay romances and love, am I’m like, this book is at once ahead of its time and also so behind. 

The last third dragged on too long. Either reimagine what we know or tell a new story, don’t dilly dally. I also don’t think Elphaba’s arc and motivation was drawn out that well. She ended up being passive a lot and taken along with the plot — she needed to be more active. 

I am curious what the musical and the film parse out of this meandering story. It is, at its core, an important tale that reflects our own societies’ prejudices based on skin colour and beauty and geography. And yet, it’s a tough read less because of the reflections on reality and more because of its crudity. 

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

dark informative sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Wowza, this was one hell of a book. Outstanding writing, blending in humour, dark humour, the history of apartheid and racism, as well as Noah’s personal history. 

I was most interested by the history of apartheid, as told from the ground up. Most of us know of it more as a concept than the reality. And here Noah gives it in writing, not only what happened but the repercussions of the same. The dehumanization of the people in South Africa by white invaders is beyond shocking. What I found especially riveting was how Noah contextualizes the world’s reaction to the ill treatment of Black people versus the treatment of Jews by the Nazis. We know so much about the Holocaust, and so little about slavery in the Americas and Africa. Noah’s book is a step towards understanding and learning this untold, devastating history. We need to stop centering the plight of only white people over the ongoing suffering of Black people and other communities of colour. 

The misogyny in South Africa is not unknown but still horrifying given how close it is to Noah’s personal life. Absolutely shocking - but it’s the same all over the world, just to varying degrees. Women are not believed, even when they have proof. 

This book is often an amusing read, because Noah is a comedian and that comes out in his storytelling. But this book is not an easy read. Take breaks, take care of your mental health. But it’s a look behind the curtain of a regime that’s often talked about but not explained. 

An excellent if harrowing read. But a must-read all the same. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Excrement, Medical content, and Colonisation

What She Said: Conversations About Equality by Elizabeth Renzetti

reflective medium-paced

4.5

A really great, if frustrating and depressing to read. The author contextualizes some of the sexism, misogyny and discriminatory practices of North America. There wasn’t anything much in here that was new to me, but how the pieces fit in with one another was helpful. Her conversations with famous Canadian figures who have been wronged by society were also interesting. 

I do wish I could easily find books like this written by women of colour in Canada. While Renzetti never forgets to mention the cards are stacked worse against most women of colour, getting their first-hand perspectives of the current landscape and what brought it on would be beneficial for all of us. 

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

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

3.0

Spoiler alert:

Dang this book was bleak. I spent the first 90% of it dying of cringe because, wow, the main character is the kind who lives in her daydreams, builds castles in the air, and does not think about the consequences of her actions. I mean, who lives in another person’s home and drinks all their super expensive wine — which you can’t afford to replace? Just who does that? Acting like the house you’re temporarily staying in, which belongs to someone else, is yours is just foolish. Wishing it was yours, sure, makes sense, but then you come out of that daydream and think of what needs to be done next. What happens when the owner comes back? How am I supposed to understand a character who is so in the now that she doesn’t consider how to plan for the future. Makes for a compelling but embarrassing read. 

The actual story was super bleak and disheartening. Protagonist Jane just can’t catch a break. We can all feel that. But I hate that she never holds her husband accountable. His art isn’t bringing in money so how come she’s always on the hook for everything she does to make sure they have money. How come she’s a sellout when all she’s trying to do is make them more money? Why doesn’t he work harder? And it’s not like he helps around the house either — feeding the children or caring for them. The book acts like this is normal, and yeah, unfortunately it is. But art doesn’t just present us reality, it comments on it and sends a message. This book doesn’t. 

The final part where that Hampton Ford guy basically swindles Jane. It was excruciating to read but really well done. I honestly didn’t see that twist coming. But it sealed the deal on how bleak this book is. I don’t know what our takeaway is supposed to be other than life sucks and people suck more. 

This is an engrossing book, but the characters act in such pedantic ways it’s almost unbelievable. People do act like that but to this extent? I’m in two minds about this read, but I would still recommend it. 

Greek Lessons by Han Kang

3.5

This book is brilliantly written and translated. The poetic nature of the writing really sings. But this is bleak. That’s not the end goal, but the journey is bleak. The way the writer adds in the grief of losing family, custody, body functions, is gruelling to read. It’s fantastic, but it’s heavy.