Perry

So this was a quick read. I enjoyed the camping horror aspects. That being said, I was a bit perplexed how three people weren't trying to take this man down together. I suppose the moral of the story precludes what some people would actually do. I get Imogen being compliant. And I get that Gale was apparently strong, and he also had weapons. I don't necessarily believe he managed to kill a cop with just a knife. I think the cop would have killed him first. I mean, they aren't known for their subtlety.

No one really knows what they'd do in that situation. But most of it could have been avoided with better choices. Bad choices were consistently made. Choices I can't imagine anyone would actually make. Okay, yeah, you need your iodine tabs back. But don't walk into an unknown situation with a known thief who is obviously hiding from everyone. Mindboggling choices, especially from Beck, the supposed smart, knowledgeable one. Sometimes incredibly selfish choices, which I get. But part of me is just like, ‘I thought you loved each other?' Were it me and my wife (HAHA! camping is terrifying, and this novel is proof to this absolute fop), I would be ready to rip someone's throat out if they threatened her. And that's not me being macho, that's just me being a protective wife with a tendency toward berserker rage in a given situation.

The hero of the story, Imogen, is not quite gaslighted by her friend and sister; but neither woman really ever wants to consider that she's right about a situation. To their extreme detriment.

So, yeah, choices made, made no sense.

THAT being said. Because I do not liking camping, this was horror for me. Even before they ran into the villain, I was disturbed and horrified. Even though I grew up in the country on a mountain in a skiing town. I enjoy the details about camping, because I don't know them, since I don't like camping. This was a fun read, just not a great read.

Seriously, though, Beck is a dolt.

edit

After having my wife read this and discussing it last night when we should have been sleeping, I have dropped the rating down. Absolutely, there seems to be some toxic positivity going on here. And some mental health shaming, which perhaps the author didn't intend. But clearly, they all need therapy, and Imogen shouldn't throw away something that helps her cope, like her CBD. But the fact that she WASN'T already in therapy and on medication is ridiculous. She didn't seem to be broke; but even if she were, surely Pittsburgh has options that are either free or have a sliding scale for payment. And that ending. Woo, that ending. Lying to their significant others after a traumatic experience; not bothering to seek therapy afterwards; hoping that somehow, randomly, the poor dead hiker gets found (they're lucky he DID); being happy and healthy and besties again? No, nope, no way. Tilda is a trashfire; Beck is a self-righteous, know-it-all; Imogen, the smartest, honestly, feels empowered by killing a person–an asshole, to be sure–but really, she'd probably just be traumatized even more. I don't buy that ending. If they never spoke again, and the sisters had very strained relations–I'd believe that. If Jamal broke up with Tilda, and Afiya divorced Beck because neither dealt with the trauma, I'd believe that. But I don't buy that ending.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Inkshares for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I finished this book a couple of days ago and greatly enjoyed it. Smithy is a period piece; it takes place in the 70s and centers on a language study with a chimp. A Yale professor (and serial womanizer) brings together a group of grad students and undergrads from various disciplines to take part in a study that aims to show apes are capable of communication–human communication, of course. One of his grad student assistants helms the study, because he is too busy swanning around getting grants, teaching, and being far too hands-off for such a study. Another grad student films everything. But none of the students are even remotely qualified to be handling a chimp, even one that does love them.

Everything starts out fine. Wanda, the study leader, is officious and strict and has everything carefully planned. Jeff films everything and loves the chimp, named Webster formally and Smithy familiarly, like his own baby. Gail is a freshman from MO who is perky and cute and woefully under-qualified for such a study, because she's never really had much college experience at all, never mind chimp-rearing experience. Tammy and Eric are both older students with knowledge of child development, and Ruby is a clever junior from a Scranton community college. The man who gathered them, Piers, lets Wanda run the show for him. He really only appears in emergencies or when it's convenient for him; in the case of emergencies, he very seldom feels empathy or offers truly constructive ideas, because he's so far removed from everyone. He's the type of person who smokes in front of Smithy the chimp because he wants to, even thought it bothers Smithy.

Obviously, I didn't like Piers. But I digress.

The students are more interesting anyway. We watch them all grow closer together and closer to Smithy. Ruby and Jeff start dating. Eric has fiascos off page with Wanda and Gail. As with any group of people brought into intimacy with one another, drama ensues. But they all adore Smithy. To their detriment. They idealize him far too much for far too long. Yes, he's closely related to humans. Yes, he's highly intelligent. Yes, he actually CAN communicate.

But they don't know how well at first. Nor do they realize they might not be alone in the old house Piers has rented for the study.

When Smithy starts signing woman constantly, they students think he's making a mistake. They don't realize that perhaps he sees something. He begins signing “dark woman.” Even when random fires start, when the strange things start happening, the students take a while to realize something strange is going on.

The haunting is fairly subtle and ambiguous at times. Most of the book details interactions with Smithy, or his strange behavior. One by one, each student begins to have a strange experience. Except for a couple. But more and more strange events pile up until the house starts to fall apart, and Smithy is acting OUT on people.

I'm definitely on Team Eric here. There is almost enough ambiguity with the events of the book to question whether or not something supernatural is going on. But I almost always go for the supernatural explanation, which fits best in Newport, RI.

That being said, I almost could have used more. This book was enjoyable and interesting. So interesting. What we didn't know about animal behavior and intelligence back then! It's fascinating to see how lax things were in some ways, how uncertain humans were of the intelligence of other animals. And how cruelly those animals could be treated by Academia. And how disorganized it could be.

The ending climaxes and that peters out slowly as the house falls apart. It's depressing to watch happen. And the end. The end is actually heartbreaking. We haven't come nearly far enough.

Also, chimps, being one of our nearest relatives, are actually quite scary.

Fast Read

It wasn't boring, though the translation seemed wooden at times. Lots of explaining and talking at length about possible suspects and outcomes, but some of the reasoning is just too improbably specific. So it was interesting, enough and, moreso, a fascinating bit of Japanese literary history.

So, major TW/CW for delicate animal lovers and crazy cat ladies like me: There is a brutal pet murder scene 65% or so through the book that was gratuitous and very upsetting. There are multiple small animal murders, but the cat is the only one that goes into any depth. Like, why does Nightbeyotch hate her cat? The cat sounds adorable! That is not a thing I needed to read, and I wish I'd known about it beforehand.

On the whole, I found this book generally fast-paced and entertaining. There really are some lovely sentences in it, though it can get repetitive. And, honestly, not much really happens. It also enhances my suspicions that white suburbanites are just...really bizarre? And I'm white, but decidedly NOT suburban. I know people that are involved in MLM schemes, and I'm always flummoxed by them.

As others have noted, this should have been a novella. And whilst I did enjoy reading most of it, I was also flummoxed by the ending. If Jen & Co. were the other dogs, how is it that Nightbeyotch seemed to be the greatest of these suburban dogwomen? How is it that her issues with her husband were solved so easily? And how in the world is her kid going to grow up with any empathy, when he's basically treated like a weird little dogprince who gets whatever he wants?

Though there are some great moments, the ending sort of craps out for me, and the animal cruelty was too much. And her kid...I'd be worried. All that said, Ms. Yoder never bored me, and the premise wasn't too weird for me, since I usually read genre fiction, and transformation is just...a thing sometimes.

Suburban white housewife lit is a whole subgenre now. The dog transformation isn't the weird part.

3.5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This is the first Jones full-length novel I've read. I read ‘Mapping the Interiors' ages ago and enjoyed it, but keep putting off other works for no good reason. So when I saw this being offered, I jumped at the chance.

This is a book for horror lovers, chock full of references, which was fun. I even watched a movie of which I'd never heard.

Basically, this is the tale of outcast Native American girl Jade, who dyes her hair with shoe polish and food coloring and deals with a drunk father and no friends. Horror is her life. Specifically slashers. She basically eats, sleeps, and breathes them in order to process and deal with life. She basically wants to have a slasher experience. For reasons the reader learns throughout the book.

Enter Terra Nova, the new, richy-rich housing development across Indian Lake from Jade's town of Proofrock, ID. Since the houses aren't done yet, the main family lives off their yacht on the lake, and their gorgeous, brilliant daughter is in Jade's senior class.

Jade becomes convinced this girl, Letha, is her life's Final Girl and proceeds to attempt to educate Letha for her big showdown with the slasher. Which would be delusional, but people ARE actually dying. The book begins with two hapless Dutch students dying.

This book is good fun and heartbreaking. Jade is tough and self-deprecating/self-loathing, thinks she could never be a true Final Girl.

The body counts grows until the climax, which is crazy, chaotic, and fun. There are red herrings all over the place, which is a strength, but also a weakness. Some of the red herrings aren't just red, but they are also where the plot gets a little murky, which I can't discuss without spoilers.

But grue and gore happen, and Jade's tale is potent and tragic, and I totally loved that little punk.

And the end...well, after all the fun feints and horror pontifications, even I was surprised, and I can usually spot something a mile away. So first Jones novel–not perfect, but oh, so worth it. hugs Jade and bundles her off to watch scary movies with kitties and teddy bears

Important, anger-inducing, heartbreaking. I want to read more about all of this.

Of course, knowing Oscar Isaac is involved with this comic made me want to read it. I mean, if you don't love Oscar Isaac, I just don't know what to do with you.

That being said. Gator, our hero, is incredibly unlikable for the most part. He's selfish, crooked, seedy, cheaty, and quite dumpy. But there's hope for him. According to a strange, mystical creature who pops up partway through this volume. There are mythical beings seemingly based upon Judeo-Christian mythology, beings from limbo fighting for the good side AND the bad side. And our man Gator seems caught in the middle.

It's all just another day in the life of Gator, as he's being seedy and having an affair with a buddy's wife. Gator and buddy are both cops. When something terrible happens to the buddy, Gator–who is elsewhere–thinks he's been shot and has a meltdown. In reality, he begins to suffer the wounds of people he's wronged.

The aforementioned strange mystical creature tells him what's up, and he's caught in a battle between good and evil.

I feel like Gator is a standard cretin with a secret emo streak and backstory. Nothing really original about any of this, although the fantasy elements give it the extra oomph it needs. I think there's potential here, but it didn't rise to meet it with this volume.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So. Cute. Ugh. Just. Adorable.

My first Julie Murphy. Adorable good fun. I maybe needed a bit more from Henry, but I loved all the other characters and the friendships.

2.5 stars.

In the Scottish Highlands, policeman Andrew is called to examine a dead body at a newly ripened hunting lodge. And then the body disappears. As the guests and proprietors are snowed in with Andrew, they all slowly begin to disappear, and Andrew must figure out what's happening.

This wasn't amazing. The prose was serviceable, and the characters not incredibly well drawn. But it is a fun enough, quick enough read with some requisite tragic back stories. I'm always a sucker for winter isolation horror with strange disappearances.

Ludicrous

I mean, it was less boring than I would have thought a car thriller would be. But I knew who the killer was in the first chapter. This was unrealistic and over the top and just plain silly. The unreliable character wasn't well-handled, and the p.o.v. of other characters just didn't really work for the narrative. And bookending it as a movie is not an excuse to let the author make absurd choices. I didn't expect that epilogue, but it tried to hard to be clever in book that was anything but. So, not great, but at least I wasn't bored.

Also...I mean, because Sagerr is kinda a one-trick pony, it was really easy to figure out the villain.

Bananapants horror with fantastic art, as per usual with Ito-sensei.

It's fine. It's fast. But it didn't have the disturbing beautiful magic of it's predecessor. It was, honestly, unnecessary.

Edit: Actually, I just finished telling my wife about it, literally fine minutes after I was done, and I have to take away a start. The more I discussed it, the worse it got. Just nonsense. And so anticlimactic. And Gary? Really? That was so absurd. His acknowledgements were written with more thought than the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The subject matter of this book is absolutely in my wheelhouse, so you can imagine how excited I was to read this. And how sad I am to give it such a low score. Firstly, it needs major editing. There are run-on sentences galore, dependent clauses modifying subjects incorrectly, and the occasional odd word choice. The author also names Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley as Godstone. Not once, but multiple times. Was this an instance of bad auto correcting? As for the history, most of it is already old hat to anyone interested in vampires and goth subculture. Very little new info is to be found. The discussion of different vampire media is choppy and reads more like a hackneyed encyclopedia of movie summaries with some thoughts in why humans love vampires so much. There are random, sometimes snarky parenthetical asides that offer little to the discussion. I feel as though I just read a paper by a moderately clever fifteen year-old, not a fifty year-old author. The best part, the most relevant to our interests, was the final interview chapter with different, relevant people, either involved in the goth lifestyle or involved in pertinent media. I think the author interviewed Dacre Stoker, but somehow forget to inform the reader when the voice of the interviewee abruptly changed. This needs heavy editing before its published.

So, I'd forgotten I'd wanted to read this book, until I found it at the library (KCMO and KCK public libraries FTW). I was intrigued and excited, because I am five and still love talking animals. And this book fit the bill for fable nicely. But it wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I feel like the narrative was a bit uneven. A good chunk of the book is the council itself, and then we're thrown into a rushed quest tale to save humans. There are some strange, awkward choices made with animals that become analogues for real-life cultural appropriation/racism. I don't think the author meant to minimize problems, but he did just that (re: ‘pooch' being a slur for dogs). And the animals personalities made very little sense. If you're going to have sinister, human-like primates, obvs they should be CHIMPS, not baboons. Horses aren't as stupid as the horse in the book. Crows shouldn't be religious fanatics. They're actually incredibly intelligent, with the intelligence of, like, a child of five (I maintain they're smarter than that). The delusional lizard is bizarre. The animals just didn't quite work. Though I liked the bear and the cat. It all just doesn't quite work. Though I like the solution for the humans.

Thank you to the publishers, William Morrow, for an advanced reader's edition of this book.

I received not that long ago and finished it this morning. At first, I wasn't sure I liked it. The first story didn't grab me, felt a little unfinished. The second story, Scheherazade, got better. And then I discovered that each story got better as I went along. Babalola is at her best when she's doing a contemporary romance with an HEA, rather than something that has an element of speculative fiction. That being said, there is one story in here, “Attem,” that feels more like the folktale from which it was derived, and that one is quite good. But the most complete stories are the modern ones. And her three original stories at the end are chef's kiss. Especially the last one, a simple, beautifully told tale about her parents. That was actually my favorite piece. It is just wonderful. And relatable, since I married not a childhood friend, but a college friend whom I'd known for twenty years and with whom I find myself creating a life. The story of her parents is just perfectly handled. Ugh, so precious!

Anyway, I digress. My only real complaint is honestly purely subjective. It was too het for me. There is one queer story, and I could have used more. But honestly, I'm queer, and that's what I prefer. I'm also not entirely into het love at first sight, but again, that's me.

On the whole, this was a good collection of stories capped off by a perfect, true tale. I'll be excited to see what Babalola does next.

Not for the faint of heart. Grim, horror-adjacent Western. The characters are terrible people, yet I wouldn't say this book is misanthropic. And legit, some of the loveliest sentences I've read in years.

Sophomore Novel

At first, I wasn't certain. It was fun and funny and sweet; it was not the hilarious romp RW&RB was. I guffawed through that. I knew I enjoyed OLS, but I wasn't committed to how much I would like it. And then, when I was 93% finished, my digital library loan ended. I was devastated.

And then I knew, as I was left hanging in literary limbo with a big case of the feels–I loved this book. It's a romance, but it's another book of precious, precious found family for which it is so important to have representation. Sophomore book–I love it. Now I gotta buy it.

Finished this a few days ago. Had to get out the ebook because I sat on the hardcopy too long and had to return it when I was literally maybe 100 pages or less from the end. GAH!

And it was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed Pounce and Co. But I'm in the camp who doesn't understand why robots and humans must ALWAYS be at odds in fiction of any sort.

Anyway, I enjoyed the start of this novel. I felt like the beginning took its time introducing us to the world. But pretty quickly the excrement hits the air conditioning, and robots are committing mass genocide.

I really wanted to have more time with Isaactown history and the interrelations between robots themselves before we jumped into the fracas. But jumping in is what we got, the minute the conflict was introduced.

And there it all goes a bit too quickly and reads like a script. I didn't like all the choices–certain characters biting the dust, and when that happened, they ALL bit the dust–Cargill made sometimes, and the end needed some better pacing. I really wanted to have more time with the Mama Bears.

So it was fun, had potential, but it wasn't amazing. That being said, I'll read Sea of Rust here at some point soon.

Don't get the hype.

I wasn't totally bored, but I was incredibly underwhelmed. The most interesting parts were the bits taking place in the past, but everything was, in the end, so nonsensical, I was left shaking my head.

I just love Sarah Langan. I've read her for ages and long awaited a new novel. Though this is technically less horror than her usual work, I still loved it.

An ex-rockstar and ex-beauty queen, both from rough backgrounds, move their family from Brooklyn to a Long Island suburb. At first, things are all right. The family have issues, but they really care about each other. The mother becomes friends with a neighbor, a community college professor who tanked her own career with a predilection for violence and heavy delusion.

This takes place in the near future, the very near future, and climate change has made the earth strange. Sinkholes appear across the country, including in the suburb. When the professor neighbor's daughter falls into the sinkhole, the professor goes off the deep end and begins to blame the rockstar husband. By claiming he molested her child.

And everything spirals from there.

I devoured this book. It tackles issues of class, urban vs. suburban, death and mourning, and human interrelations. Which, in this book, are messy. But there is some hope at the end, despite all the terrible things that happen.

Part personal reflection and part study and part political, Gordon's book is impassioned, sad, frustrated. I've had experiences, I know people who have, and I've read plenty of articles on how fat people are treated. It is anger-inducing. Despite it all, she is hopeful. I would certainly recommend for anyone dealing with the stress of being fat in this world, and for anyone who has a steady size person of import in their life.

Lit. Fic.

I was intrigued by the description and the potential themes explored. But the whole thing just fell flat for me. The white parents were awful and, frankly, dumb. The black couple was actually super nice to them. But it all got so tedious and unexciting and repetitive. And I really didn't care about the white parents. I feel like there were so many points in the narrative for awesome, disturbing decisions, but it seemed like Alam didn't know how to make those decisions. The characters wouldn't have even needed to do much more than what they did, but the narrative itself could have done so much more. And the end...the anti-climactic, vague end. Rose is the only one using her head. We have no REAL idea what's going on, only vague clues; we have NO idea how it will end, because just as things get really real–the book ends. Right where most would have begun. Maybe it's because I actually read horror, but I was so completely underwhelmed by this book, that it all just...didn't work at all for me.

I'll always grab something Layman or Guillory do. So this as fun for me, but not nearly so fun as the original. I'll continue it though, because I think it will be worth it. It's just more heisty than I generally like. The art is fine, but Guillory's is superior. I'd start with the original series and then move onto this one. Chew is, like, required reading.