Josh Krysak
Vintage King in simplicity and readability. He creates characters that are relatable in so many ways but that one way, whatever that way might be from one tale to another, and this effort is very much in that tradition. King is above all a great storyteller and this is a good story in a great teller's hands. A nice diversion.
Goblin was fun. All of the stories held me and engaged me and Goblin itself provided a sinister vibe that brought enough connection for the collection of novellas to work. The stories I approached with the most concern ended up being those that I enjoyed the most.
I stayed interested, but found the twists, at least for the most part, to be too telegraphed. I just didn't form the connections necessary to truly be vested in the big reveals and the ultimate conclusion.
There is something about this book that just hums with life. Overall I loved it. I loved the plotline and the excitement and the scope. I was swept up in what is certainly a page-turner. But, for the life of me, it is one of the most difficult 5-star reviews I have ever given because in so many ways it didn't deserve 5 stars. The characters, even with nearly 500 pages to flesh them out, are pretty thin, outside of Dr. Grace and one additional character. The science, while fascinating, gets to be ridiculously monotonous. The wooden dialogue in some areas and the caricatures of characters are frustrating. I can suspend my disbelief about the grand ideas and unfathomable twists of the story more than I can for the outlandish notion that nearly all those portrayed in the book exercise the same sense of humor, especially given the gravity of the situation and the life and death circumstances. There were some twists added and arduous detours into theoretical space problems that simply didn't need to exist (the situation is incredible enough, thank you) and that only further exacerbated the book's issues. It reminded me quite a bit of the film, Armageddon, which is absolutely nuts and full of problems but is still such an enjoyable ride that you can't help but smile.
So, in the end I couldn't dock it. The fun of it all just made it impossible to not enjoy.
Unfortunately, this wasn't for me. Some of the food sounds incredible, and the book's cover is enticing, but that's the lion's share of anything good, here.
Mannion's novel is an exploration of family and relationships as much as it is a taut thriller. I was hooked and loved the characters and subplots. It had hints of an Alice Hoffman vibe, with a consistent balance between narrative and character development. The idea of how one small moment and one decision can shape so much of so many futures is a concept that is both fascinating and frightening. And, that cover...
There is a clarity amidst a very unrecognizable future in Klara and the Sun that is both beautiful and sad. Ishiguro's novel is heartfelt without being manipulative and is an examination of growing up, loss, grief and what it means to be human. Most of all, it is an exploration of what it means to love. It is wonderful.
*2.5 stars. This was a promising setup, had some funny bits and a few moments that had me holding out hope, but overall it was too messy and just didn't work for me.
Yu's exploration of race and class and what it means to be an American is unique, heartfelt and funny. I zipped through this book, but didn't miss several passages tucked away throughout of beautiful writing and deep meaning about family and love and striving and what it means to be alive. Loved it.
*3.5 stars. Karen Russell is a gifted writer. She is on the same level for me as Lauren Groff, Poe Ballantine and T.C. Boyle in her mastery. She is also exceptionally unique and creative. All of that said, this story just can't quite connect on the emotional level I wanted it to and she misses opportunities to expand on this fascinating sleep-deprived world through character development. But, man, can she write a sentence.
I'm disappointed. I was quite enjoying this until I neared the latter third and then it completely dissolved for me. Still, I was entertained, even if I was annoyed in the final sections with the tidy wrappings, the improbable explanations and the general silliness.
What a premise and setup. I was hooked. I was in. Then the problems started. Characters that were caricatures. Throwaway ideas and entrenched stereotyping. Suspension of disbelief can't save a continuous, deep epistolary narrative that is beyond the imagination no matter how much one tries to suspend, and a journal that becomes even less believable as the novel progresses than the positing that Sasquatch exits. A complete let down in the final chapters.
Compulsively readable. If It Bleeds and Rat are solid and 4-star reads. Mr. Harrigan's Phone is so-so. The Life of Chuck is excellent. A 5-star effort.
*4.5 stars. Brutal. Bizarre. Dark. Unique. Stephen Graham Jones can certainly write and he is certainly a purveyor of horrific in The Only Good Indians. I was immersed and enjoyed it - even the B-Movie like violence of some critical scenes - very much.
Another solid entry in the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling.) The characters are well-drawn. The plots are well-crafted. The story arch between novels is deftly developed. These crime novels are on par with Tana French, for me.
And, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the alleged controversy regarding this novel was completely unfounded, in my opinion. To those that provided a 1-star rating without reading it first and actually doing your homework as to what was being alleged, shame on you. As a society, we need to do better and that includes examining an allegation ourselves, particularly when we have the only source material available to us, if we are going to publicly pass judgement.
Looking forward to the sixth installment to see what Strike and Robin get up to next.
Strong characters. Strong dialogue. Interesting Jamaican historical references. I felt lost at times and sometimes confused but wasn't upset these instances. I enjoyed the sweeping narrative, the jumps through centuries and the first, second and third person voices all used with aplomb. Great debut for Maisy Card. Oh, and did I mention that fantastic dust jacket?
The characters here are unique and quirky and flawed. An immersive portrait of class and social status, examining the invisible barriers that surround all of us and how those barriers or lack thereof impact so many of our interactions and so much of our understanding of the world.