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whatpageareyouon's reviews
506 reviews
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
4.0
I remember watching this movie when I was 14 and being really mesmerized by it (Sofia Coppola's vision for this adaptation being so haunting and dreamy and beautiful) so I was interested to read the novel.
Everything is pretty much the same as the movie, given a few more insights from characters and minor changes. The most common reaction to this book/movie I hear is "What is this even about?" It isn't necessarily engaging from a story point of view but I think it does well in themes pertaining to nostalgia, adolescence, and idealization. This book to me felt more like a discussion between the author and reader rather than seeking to entertain or have specific plot advances to immerse me further. Jeffrey Eugenides shapes this story by having the reader digest the Lisbon's suicides in various reactions of empathy, intrigue, or perhaps even pity. The characters themselves in this book don't feel entirely fleshed out or memorable but as a whole create the tone of a story malleable to a haunting memory.
Everything is pretty much the same as the movie, given a few more insights from characters and minor changes. The most common reaction to this book/movie I hear is "What is this even about?" It isn't necessarily engaging from a story point of view but I think it does well in themes pertaining to nostalgia, adolescence, and idealization. This book to me felt more like a discussion between the author and reader rather than seeking to entertain or have specific plot advances to immerse me further. Jeffrey Eugenides shapes this story by having the reader digest the Lisbon's suicides in various reactions of empathy, intrigue, or perhaps even pity. The characters themselves in this book don't feel entirely fleshed out or memorable but as a whole create the tone of a story malleable to a haunting memory.
Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky
4.0
Twin Peaks meets Heathers meets One Direction? This book is very dramatic and wild from start to finish and will probably go over one's head if they're ages 30+, and I loved every second of it. Some moments were genuinely surprising, while still completely fitting, matching the tone and grandeur of the plot and what the title eludes to. There's still the classic YA trope of an estranged dead parent never mentioned specifically or amounting much to too much relevance, but all of the main characters are memorable enough for their own little quirks. Now I'm just waiting for a movie adaptation that I'll probably see at least 10 times. On another note, this book does open discussion on social commentary on girls in fandoms, and I think it discusses it enough in a very well executed, cumulative, accessible, & subtle way, transitioning nicely and never feeling forced on a topic that should be given more critical thought.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
3.0
Despite being a bit over 500pgs, so much of this story still felt underdeveloped, at least in the realm of which the story takes place. The first 150 pages alone felt a bit unnecessary and repetitive. While the main cast-Simon, Baz, Penelope, & Agatha, are all distinct and bring a bit of themselves to the table, such fun characters are at a stand still with a weak plot, and any other characters felt very flat. Also sometimes it felt like certain elements of the story were cast off with the explanation of "magic", which felt underwhelming, along with certain motives from characters feeling a lack of any genuine impact to their authenticity. However, like Fangirl & Eleanor & Park, I still got sucked into the fun writing and few surprises here and there.
Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas by Chuck Klosterman
3.0
While Klosterman is funny and engaging with retelling his experiences of who he's interviewed and how the world reacts to pop culture (specifically, pieces on Britney Spears & Morrissey fans) most of this collection felt unorganized, sporadic, and at times condescending. I've never read Klosterman before so maybe that's his kind of writing, but most of it seemed without insight or introspection to back it up. I'll definitely flip through this though to satisfy my curiosity and love of profiles of celebrities and pop phenomenon. Now, when will Klosterman interview One Direction??!
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus
4.0
The structure of this book is so refreshing and unlike anything I've read before. There's still a story here but I came to realize the book's importance of how a woman is perceived in history and in Chris's case, the perceived displacement of her passion towards Dick by others and how she's angry, although incredibly articulate and poetic in her reasoning, and how this shapes feminism. There's critique on art, academics and critical theory, but there is also humor & intimacy that made me feel as a reader very engaged in what was going on.