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woodsybookworm's reviews
98 reviews
DallerGut Dream Department Store: The Dream You Ordered is Sold Out by Mi-Ye Lee 이미예
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating: 💤💤💤.5 Deep Sleeps
"Everything is possible in a dream"
The book was like a deep dive into the subconscious dream world - calming, cozy, and captivating all at once. The Dallergut Dream Department Store follows Penny as she interviews and becomes an employee of the infamous dream store, with each chapter detailing the people she meets during her time there and the little journeys that customers go on in their dreams.
This book was different in the fact that there wasn't really a grand overarching plot. The stream of consciousness writing style with each chapter following a different character, dream scenario, or deep conversation about dreams was unique but sometimes confusing - much like dreams themselves.
It was a little rough to start as I tried to figure out the dream world dynamics but once I got reading I couldn't stop. I think this is going to be one of those love it or hate it books but I definitely enjoyed the journey.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
Smothermoss by Alisa Alering
dark
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
2.5
Beautiful Days: Stories by Zach Williams
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror had a love child and it was this book.
Short stories collections are usually hit or miss for me, either there's a lot of good stories or mostly meh stories and very few that fall in between those extremes.
The first story, "Trial Run" actually almost turned me away entirely as it immediately made me think 'oh no this is going to be super political' which I try to steer clear of in my reading because I read to disassociate from the world, not to use my self care time reminding myself of the current political climate. But then I got to the next story "Wood Sorrel House" and I was HOOKED!
It felt like it was an ode to the Twilight Zone, very much in the vein of "It's A Good Life" (if you know you know). Wood Sorrel House follows a couple and their child as they vacation at a cabin in the woods. But as the vacation goes on the couple start to question things like why is there no road to the cabin, no car, how did they get there, why does the food constantly replenish itself but there's no one else around? It was just plain freaky, especially for someone like me who happens to live in a cabin in the woods.
If that peaks your interest then the rest of the stories are just as captivating. Definitely looking forward to more from this author!
Short stories collections are usually hit or miss for me, either there's a lot of good stories or mostly meh stories and very few that fall in between those extremes.
The first story, "Trial Run" actually almost turned me away entirely as it immediately made me think 'oh no this is going to be super political' which I try to steer clear of in my reading because I read to disassociate from the world, not to use my self care time reminding myself of the current political climate. But then I got to the next story "Wood Sorrel House" and I was HOOKED!
It felt like it was an ode to the Twilight Zone, very much in the vein of "It's A Good Life" (if you know you know). Wood Sorrel House follows a couple and their child as they vacation at a cabin in the woods. But as the vacation goes on the couple start to question things like why is there no road to the cabin, no car, how did they get there, why does the food constantly replenish itself but there's no one else around? It was just plain freaky, especially for someone like me who happens to live in a cabin in the woods.
If that peaks your interest then the rest of the stories are just as captivating. Definitely looking forward to more from this author!
The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre by Cho Yeeun
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The opening of this book was absolutely wild with terrifying body horror elements but as the story continued that initial shock wore off and left horror behind for interpersonal drama.
I think the only thing holding me back from rating this higher is the multiple perspectives. There were a few characters I enjoyed - Yuji, Jua, and Dream Cat were my overall favorites - but there were sooooo many different POV shifts to other characters, a few of which I'd wish we'd spent less time focusing on to get back to the more interesting POVs.
Though I wasn't the biggest fan of that element, the writing was wonderful and once I started reading I couldn't put the book down. I'll definitely be looking out for more from this author!
I think the only thing holding me back from rating this higher is the multiple perspectives. There were a few characters I enjoyed - Yuji, Jua, and Dream Cat were my overall favorites - but there were sooooo many different POV shifts to other characters, a few of which I'd wish we'd spent less time focusing on to get back to the more interesting POVs.
Though I wasn't the biggest fan of that element, the writing was wonderful and once I started reading I couldn't put the book down. I'll definitely be looking out for more from this author!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Murder, and Death
Hum: A Novel by Helen Phillips
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
In Hum, we follow May a mother who is feeling disconnected from her husband and children. After losing her job and slowly driving her family into debt with her shopping addiction (a coping mechanism for her depression), she signs herself up for a new medical trial that promises a hefty payoff for her participation. The catch? She'll permanently alter her features to make herself undetectable to surveillance cameras and the HUMs - the AI robots that make up the majority of this world's workforce (cashiers, security, etc).
But May has big plans for the money coming her way - a trip for her family to the Botanical Garden. Inside a massive dome is an experience like no other with fresh air, real plants and animals, and a way to finally get her family to disconnect from technology in order to reconnect with each other. But will her plan go off without a hitch or will her desire to disconnect only push her family further away?
This was an odd read, even for me. It was incredibly slow and while there were elements to the story I found curious, this wasn't the sci-fi romp that I expected. It is much more a story of family dynamics and motherhood than the dystopian thriller I expected. While I don't mind a story centered on family issues, I just expected more sci-fi drama and suspense.
This was truly a story of a mother feeling like she's losing her children as they grow older, as they seem to live life without needing her the way she's used to, while simultaneously drifting out of love with her husband - just kind of going through the motions. While the story didn't feel like it was for me, I'm sure there are folks out there who might find a better connection to it.
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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? No
3.0
These stories were little dramas: A woman who has fallen out of contact with her father tries to connect with her son, a couple who lost their son need to decide whether they "adopt" an apprentice, a woman must decide how to answer a marriage proposal, and more! They're all looking for that one meal from their past that will help them overcome some hurdle in their life. But no matter how hard they try they can't replicate that nostalgia - until they reach out to the Kamogawa Food Detectives!
My favorite arc of the book was "Christmas Cake" where a couple, who own a traditional Japanese bakery, ask for the father-daughter food detectives to recreate the cake that was made for them as an offering after their son's death. The story was heartbreaking, even with how short it was, and of all the arcs this one seemed to have the most depth and development.
I wanted one more chapter for each arc (each character's story arc only lasted two chapters), but there is no third chapter with a final resolution. Every story's character had an issue they needed to resolve and their meal was the stepping stone to reach their final decision but then we never got to see their decision!
While you don't get to learn the final choices of these characters you can still find enjoyment in the descriptions of food and the vibes of each story but if you're someone who needs a definitive resolution then this book is not going to satisfy you 😋
My favorite arc of the book was "Christmas Cake" where a couple, who own a traditional Japanese bakery, ask for the father-daughter food detectives to recreate the cake that was made for them as an offering after their son's death. The story was heartbreaking, even with how short it was, and of all the arcs this one seemed to have the most depth and development.
I wanted one more chapter for each arc (each character's story arc only lasted two chapters), but there is no third chapter with a final resolution. Every story's character had an issue they needed to resolve and their meal was the stepping stone to reach their final decision but then we never got to see their decision!
While you don't get to learn the final choices of these characters you can still find enjoyment in the descriptions of food and the vibes of each story but if you're someone who needs a definitive resolution then this book is not going to satisfy you 😋
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Leah, a marine biologist, joins a research expedition with a mysterious company known only as the Centre. What was supposed to be a routine test of equipment turns into a horror story when the research vessel suddenly goes dark and sinks to the bottom of a crevasse. Leah and her two crewmates are trapped at the bottom of the ocean with no hope of escape.
Months later, having assumed her wife died at sea, Miri gets a call from the Centre to pick up Leah who has apparently been in quarantine. Readjusting to a life with her spouse after months alone proves to be more challenging than either woman thought. Especially when odd things begin happening to Leah - like the incessant need to drink salt water, random bleeding, taking night long baths, and the desire to listen to ocean sounds on repeat.
This book was so bizarre. If my wife came back the way Leah did then I would not be as calm about it as Miri was, I can tell you that much. I'd be breaking down the door of the Centre demanding answers, dragging her to a hospital kicking and screaming - I couldn't understand how everyone in this book was so gosh darn CALM about this wild situation both at the bottom of the sea and back on land. I'd be freaking out.
Was this book good? I honestly don't know. It was more an experience than anything and I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to other than fellow water obsessed readers. But my copy now has sticky tabs all throughout so it was definitely something!
Months later, having assumed her wife died at sea, Miri gets a call from the Centre to pick up Leah who has apparently been in quarantine. Readjusting to a life with her spouse after months alone proves to be more challenging than either woman thought. Especially when odd things begin happening to Leah - like the incessant need to drink salt water, random bleeding, taking night long baths, and the desire to listen to ocean sounds on repeat.
This book was so bizarre. If my wife came back the way Leah did then I would not be as calm about it as Miri was, I can tell you that much. I'd be breaking down the door of the Centre demanding answers, dragging her to a hospital kicking and screaming - I couldn't understand how everyone in this book was so gosh darn CALM about this wild situation both at the bottom of the sea and back on land. I'd be freaking out.
Was this book good? I honestly don't know. It was more an experience than anything and I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to other than fellow water obsessed readers. But my copy now has sticky tabs all throughout so it was definitely something!
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Blood, Confinement, and Body horror
This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book felt like I was reading an episode of Tales From The Crypt!
I'm not usually a fan of a book that's opening chapter gives away the ending. How are we supposed to get invested in a story when we already know the dates of the main characters? But I stuck with it and wow did this book deliver!
It's too bad this book is probably a standalone because I was left with a lot of unanswered questions but I still found it to be an enjoyable read overall.
I'm not usually a fan of a book that's opening chapter gives away the ending. How are we supposed to get invested in a story when we already know the dates of the main characters? But I stuck with it and wow did this book deliver!
It's too bad this book is probably a standalone because I was left with a lot of unanswered questions but I still found it to be an enjoyable read overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, Suicide, Alcoholism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Body horror
You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In 18th century Paris, a baby boy is born. Discarded by his mother who believes him to be a demon due to his body's lack of scent, no sweet baby smell, little Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is left to scrounge for himself on the edges of society.
Yet, Grenouille has a unique skill - an uncanny sense of smell - and he uses this ability to become an apprentice perfumer. But as his skill grows Grenouille becomes more and more desperate to create the ultimate perfume. What does one use to bottle the perfect scent? People of course! Hunting the streets at night for his perfect prey, Grenouille uses the essence of young women to create profoundly new concoctions.
I love stories from the perspective of the villain and Grenouille is a great one! His childhood and really his life in general is terrible so he becomes slightly endearing as a character, even with his many flaws...
This book is written in extremely flowery (budum tish 🥁) prose but if you can stick with it then I think it's an enjoyable read. Plus, it's been adapted into a movie and a TV show - though the TV show is set in modern times and references the book rather than directly follows Grenouille's story - and I recommend them both!
Yet, Grenouille has a unique skill - an uncanny sense of smell - and he uses this ability to become an apprentice perfumer. But as his skill grows Grenouille becomes more and more desperate to create the ultimate perfume. What does one use to bottle the perfect scent? People of course! Hunting the streets at night for his perfect prey, Grenouille uses the essence of young women to create profoundly new concoctions.
I love stories from the perspective of the villain and Grenouille is a great one! His childhood and really his life in general is terrible so he becomes slightly endearing as a character, even with his many flaws...
This book is written in extremely flowery (budum tish 🥁) prose but if you can stick with it then I think it's an enjoyable read. Plus, it's been adapted into a movie and a TV show - though the TV show is set in modern times and references the book rather than directly follows Grenouille's story - and I recommend them both!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Minor: Bullying