Josh Krysak
I think I came into this with just the right expectations. I didn't anticipate being blown away by a literary masterpiece, but I didn't expect poor writing either, based on the dust jacket praise from the likes of Kate Atkinson, et al. It turned out, my expectations were met and then some.
Osman's debut is fun - delightful, in fact - with just enough teeth to it to avoid a “cozy mystery” tag and just enough twists and red herrings to earn some comparisons to Christie. I simply enjoyed the story, the setting and the characters, even those whose one or two dimensions were their only reason for existence. I
A fun, easy read, and now a series I am anticipating, wondering what might be next for Ron, Elizabeth, Ibrahim and Joyce.
I love books about baseball. I love books told from varying viewpoints. I love well-drawn characters. I really liked this book. Couldn't get to love because the overall interweaving of the characters was a little flat, but the structure and timing and crispness to the writing made it a quick read and one that is perfect for this time in February as pitchers and catchers report.
A rare case of the second half of a book being stronger than the first. While I still had lingering issues, the cohesion of the multiple points of view grew stronger and I simply adjusted to the unique cadence and sensory focus of Washburn's descriptive writing and I felt, in part, transported into the Flores family's world. Still, this book missed the mark for me and as I have ruminated on it and taken in some thoughts of my fellow readers, I felt I had to adjust my rating. There is still promise there, as Washburn can clearly write.
*2.5 stars. I enjoyed this book early on and then it really fell apart for me for a myriad of reasons. That said, it still gets credit for helping snap me out of a mini-reading slump. For that, I am grateful.
Laugh-out-loud funny, heartfelt and thoughtful, I loved Rogen's Yearbook. His drug-addled stories are hilarious, if a bit concerning, but his genuine reflections on life, love, movies, comedy, friendships, celebrity, Hollywood, bigotry, politics, et. al. are refreshing and laden with the comedy of the every day. Laughter is awesome.
And, the third installment of the Blackwater saga is the best so far. McDowell never disappoints. I know all these characters as I know my own family. This is a southern gothic masterpiece.
Nasty and gruesome. Fine horror laced with much of McDowell's southern sensibilities. Not as nuanced as some of his other works, but a bloody fun read.
*4.5 stars. After reading Bird Box long before the great Netflix adaptation, I was an instant Malerman fan. The story was unique, the fear and sense of claustrophobia exceptional, and the characters well drawn. For the most part, his following novels disappointed. Great premises but they were missing that magic. Malorie represents Malerman's return to that magic, revisiting his incredible female lead in what is a study in mental strength, madness, deprivation and the will to survive and protect those you love. A few minor hang ups kept me from a full-fledged 5 stars, including a little too much repetition outside of the necessary repetition of a mind trapped in it. Otherwise, I was turning pages as quickly as I could. It also bears mentioning that the parallels to the global pandemic we are all facing were not lost on me and seemed to capture the same choices facing the world's population today, of course, crafted before COVID-19 was something to consider. Well done, Josh Malerman.
*4.5 stars. Exceptionally written, deeply developed, heartbreakingly melancholic and quietly beautiful. It made me sad and happy at the same time. Strong literary fiction.
Fever dream qualities. Vivid. Imaginative. Disturbing. Lacking on cohesion and interpersonal character development. I was let down overall because it easily could have been a 5-star read with subtle plot development and more nuanced characters outside of Lena. That said, Giddings is definitely an author I will read again.
This book is wonderful. There is such a crispness to the writing and depth to the threads of story woven in this magical, monstrous dark tale. A literary gem that just happens to be creepy and fun and filled with heart, too. I enjoyed this immensely and I am still marveling at the ways that Hamill was able to tease out not only the significance in the small moments but the sweetness that often is lurking beneath surface horrors. I loved it.
1.5 stars. Just bad. Predictable and cliche to the point of laughable. Flimsy characters with ridiculous dialogue. Even includes some bizarrely preachy moments with fourth wall breaking and faux enlightened-splaining.
What a disappointment. Just a muddled mess from about a third of the way on. I truly don't mind religious allegory and I think it can be accomplished in contemporary horror and not just so-called “Christian” novels, but this is just bad and mishandled. Heavy-handed, silly, pretentious, and lost to its own bizarre dogma.
*4.5 stars. Absolutely beautiful. It is an emotional, swirling debut that brought to mind Jenny Offill and Elizabeth Strout.
Entertainingly bizarre. The concept alone is worth the read and the character of Warlow is one I will not soon forget. However, the novel as a whole could not rise to the greatness of its premise in many respects.
Oh my. Simply incredible on so many levels. I can't believe I waited so long to get to this one but I am so thankful I finally did. Spectacular.
Unfortunately, not for me. Loved the concept. Loved some of the situations and even loved some of S.T.'s perspective and voice but I never invested and, for this concept to work, that investment was needed.
I loved it. So funny and touching. The overarching, suggested metaphor of fire - when and how it came, what it meant - was simple but actually complex in it's simplicity. Lillian, Bessie and Roland are great characters. If I have any complaints, I wish I could have spent more time in their world.
Reread in March 2022. Such a wonderful novel.
This book started out slow but builds to something wonderful. It was creepy and thoughtful and full of the coming-of-age tropes that I adore. The writing is beautifully descriptive and some passages, particularly toward the end, are ones that you want to reread instantly. I ended up being being entertained and moved. A great little novel.
A sad and brutally honest look at the continued darkness that clouded our nation during the last century. The story was well done and the characters simple, yet elegant. They capture the essence of the horrors we inflicted on ourselves as a nation and help provide a better understanding of how we should proceed into our future. Much like Underground Railroad and especially poignant this month, this is required reading for anyone who wants to truly understand what racism looked like in out not so distant past and the systematic oppression we sanctioned for those labeled as troublemakers.
This book was so sweet and fun. I really enjoyed the characters and the unique setting for them. The brewery details were absorbing without being overbearing and the relationships between these strong women had just the right amount of silly and serious to be engaging and true to life.
This book is a little miracle. Filled with so many exciting passages, tempered by a steady rhythm of past and present story lines that weave like the Arctic terns being sought in McConaghy's love letter to animals, this slim novel explodes with vibrancy despite a melancholic tone. Grieving all the creatures that have departed in this sad future-scape and all those wondrous beasts that still make our world miraculous - even when we don't take the time to recognize them - the novel reveals again and again what an incredible world we live in. And, the miracles she explores also include us - with all of our inconsistencies and our selfishness and our love and our commitments - as we navigate the earth and find the best way to be stewards of nature and of ourselves. This book was wonderful.