kat 🍓

4:

Squeezed one last book in right before the end of the year! I like having uneven numbers around, so 31 is just perfect. Also kinda loving my new tendency to read a bunch of books by the same writer and have the very last one be my favorite.

The thing about having read three of her novels in quick succession, though, is that I can't help comparing them all. As I said, this is my favorite! But I noticed that, well when you think about it, the leads in Emily's stories could be interchanged and it wouldn't make a huge difference. This is particularly strong regarding the male leads because Alex, Augustus, and Charlie are all the same brand of scruffy, but secretly-soft-and-sweet grump. And the heroines too. They do have layers to themselves but it's really hard to stop thinking about it.

I did like Nora and Charlie way more. They are hilarious together (in fact this book is very funny, and I guffawed all through it so points for that), and Nora does seem to deviate a bit from Emily's heroine mold. I hoped she'd be a bit bitchier, but I enjoyed her sense of humor, and how she navigated through her inner struggles.

Which leads me to my favorite part of the book! Fuck the romance, I'm here for Nora and Libby doing their damndest to not hurt each other and keep their little family together. I was INVESTED. They loved each other so much and I just... UGH. I got teary once they wore each other out and talked about what they were going through, what they were feeling. And the ending was the cherry on top.

I'll read again if I don't like Happy Place as much when it comes out next year. But I feel this was a good choice to close 2022 with.

Can't wait to see what I'll read in 2023!!

4.7:

Yes, hello. I'd like to add my name to the list of people ready to lay their lives down for Zoey Roberts, please.

It wasn't hard to quit this book the first time I picked it up, once I realized it'd be better to get The Glass Hotel out of the way first, and that was because I wasn't invested. There was the Edwin storyline, and frankly it put me off, I don't think we needed all of that. Not that it was bad, but after finishing the book and realizing how amazing it ended up being, I wish Emily had elaborated more on Gaspary's POV instead. The beginning is, for me, what keeps it from being a solid 5 star book.

Now then, Sci-fi is not what I usually gravitate towards, but holy shit, that was intense and I did NOT see the twist coming. I loved all the little references to Emily's other works, the details that connected everything. I loved the humanity of the characters, loved how they touched on so much more than just time travel.

Zoey and Gaspary's relationship was so sweet and heartbreaking, and it got my sisters wondering why I was so clingy for, like, a week. Also Gaspary was a hoot, I laughed loudly at his blunt lines so many times.

This was great but also emotionally draining, and so I'm officially on a sad-book-hiatus, and also a pandemic-book-hiatus, until my little heart recovers.

2:

See, immediately after finishing the book, I gave it 4 stars because I was SO happy at the idea of Yvaine reigning by herself for years after Tristran's death. Then I remembered how much I loathed the little shit we got as a protagonist, and quickly revised my rating.

Of course, there was the fact that he was a-ok with slaving a girl away in the name of undying, superficial, unrequited love; but there was ALSO the whole entire deal with Victoria. “Oh Victoria, kiss me now since you've done it before, what's the big deal?” Sounds kind of rape-y to me. He fell down a tree outside her window because he was creeping on her? Sounds kind of rape-y to me. And she clearly wasn't taking him seriously when she said she'd give him whatever he wanted from her if he got her the star, and she just said it as a joke, yet he went. That, too, felt kind of rape-y to me. And since I'm on the topic, Tristran's mother also seemed kind of rape-y to me. Maybe it runs in the family.

I, as many others have mentioned in their reviews, enjoyed the movie a lot more. Perhaps it's nostalgia speaking because I watched it as a kid. I don't remember if I enjoyed how the romance was developed there all that much, but it for damn sure must have been done more graciously than in this book. Yvaine hated Tristran's guts from day 1, then she was placated when he reads notes bonded her to him forever against her will, and suddenly she's in love with him? It came literally out of left field.

As if all that weren't enough, the main antagonist faced NO consequences. She just left. Presumably to wait for the next star to fall and then they can rip her heart out. Boooo Neil booooo I'm disappointed boooooooooooooo.

I'm not giving this a 1 star rating because it was at least entertaining and, for all his faults, Neil's a really good narrator. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt this one time, but yeah. Yech.

DNF at 7%: Yeah, nah.

4:

Am I giving this book 4 stars solely on the fact that it made me cry, even when there were a whole bunch of things I disliked about it? Yeah, pretty much so. It's hard to get my feelings straight about it.

I was 20% into the story and three sex scenes with six different people had already taken place. Why? I mean, I think TJR was trying to draw a parallel and so it made sense, and that might be okay for some readers, but to me it was too much. Then there were also too many side characters that I did not care about, and wish weren't included. Like the threesome lady, and the chandelier drunk, and Vaughn that got about three whole pages. What was that for? At the party ending scene I didn't feel a thing when we learned what came of them, it was annoying.

And of course, the men, who all sucked here. Not sure if BranRan was just too cartoonish, or if men are in fact just that ridiculous. My favorite quote in the book was “Kit regretted every single choice she'd made that had brought her to this moment.This is what she had always wanted to avoid: being forced to pretend men were interesting.”

Having said that, as always, TJR just has a knack for punching through a rib cage and squeezing hearts tight. The first time I lost it was when June decided to love Hud. I loved June so much. And her children. I basically spent all of part two crying. I cried when Nina had to take over, and her growth was wonderful. I cried through Kit's self-acceptance journey, cried when Hud did after Jay told him what he needed. I cried when they took Casey in and cried at the climax of the story and I cried at the resolution. Basically I am dehydrated now.

The most beautiful thing in the story was the deep love and loyalty the Riva kids felt for each other, how they respected each other. I adored how they always were looking out for one another, even though it may hurt them. They were all my favorites, although I do have a soft spot for Kit.

Yeah. I wasn't in love with the whole thing, but it's like the family dynamics story was tailor-made for me.

(It feels so right to be wrong and Carrie Soto I loved you from the moment you rolled over in bed at Brandon's whining. She sucked so bad, I'm so excited to start her story)

4:

In my heart I'm almost certain this could have been a 5 star book, but I can't give it that in good conscience, because there's something deeply unsettling buried in Michelle's memoir, and it rattled me in the worst of ways.

Michelle bared herself in this book. It's raw and authentic, almost seems like too personal a story to be shared. Her grief and hurt run deeply, and they're so palpable, it's almost like they're an entity of their own; and it's made clear that her mother was intrinsically woven into every single facet of her being, so it comes as a shock to absolutely no one that Michelle was ripped to pieces and lost her sense of identity after her death. And that's exactly my issue.

Look, I know as much as every daughter in the history of ever, that the relationship a girl has with her mother is always its own shade of complicated, and everyone processes things differently and whatnot. But I was uncomfortable at so many points in the story. It is one thing to showcase the abuse you've endured, as there are countless valid reasons to do this, and I fully support it. It is another thing entirely to make it seem as if everything that was done to you was fine, forgiven, and forgotten in the end because: 1. Your abuser got cancer and died, 2. You were a “terrible child” and a “troublesome daughter to raise”, 3. That's how immigrant parents are and they got worse done to them from their parents and, 4. They only ever did those things because they are your mother!!! They LOVED you and had your best interests at heart!!!

Fuck outta here. There were some straight up disturbing snippets in the book. She literally said that now it was her turn to be her mother (???). She got MARRIED just because her mother was dying, and the whole ‘I'm only beautiful if my mom thinks I am and without her I am nothing' deal? Shivers.

That being said... well, I did like the book haha. I genuinely felt seen in many of the things Michelle said, as I mentioned, I think every mother/daughter relationship is always complex. I love my mom, but at times she can be my harshest critic, it's true. And yet there's the moments when it really does feel like your mom is the one who'll love you the most. Complicated shit.

I enjoyed her style, and the fact that it was so engaging; I was having a mild reading slump and it took me right out. Her incorporation of food and cooking and culture as healing mechanisms is enthralling, and it may sound weird but my favorite parts in the story were her descriptions of what and why she was cooking, it was delightful.

3.7:

Why can't I have a Swapna Bakshi-Highsmith in my life? I am in love with her.

Poppy and Alex are so adorable, I can almost forgive them for sounding a bit like millennial Buzzfeed employees at times. And I know Poppy's whole character arc revolved around how the fancy traveling and lush vacations weren't in fact the things that brought her joy and happiness, but I'm still jealous, okay?! Let a girl dream! I have the same issues she had—particularly (excruciatingly) the career burnout—, though mine are decidedly not as glamorous, and this story felt like a respite. But also I want to love someone as hard as this, and now I hate my job even more.

I wish Emily had elaborated a bit more on Alex's POV, though. Because for a while there I was convinced he actually just loved Poppy as a sister. He revealed the depth of his feelings later on but all the same, I was a bit irked.

Weighing my options because I want to read another book by Emily and I can't decide between Beach Read and Book Lovers. I think I'll go for the latter since it came out this year and I'm particular like that.

3.

Well, fuck. The cheating dad made me cry. Not sob, but a few tears trickled out here and there. And that last part with Shadi made me cry too because it reminded me of my friends, and I love my friends. Shadi was so perfectly my favorite character.

As for the rest, well. I get it, okay? I GET it!! He has a crooked mouth, liquidy dark eyes, messy hair, and rumpled clothes!!!! Got violent flashbacks of shining orbs all over fics (not that that's a bad thing, really. It was just funny how often it was mentioned).

I liked People We Meet On Vacation a lot better. Here, it took me so long to warm up to the main characters, I feel like it dragged on a bit too much at the beginning. But I ended up liking them just fine. I didn't like Pete at all, though. She was very annoying.

The plot was really good even if it took a while to both take off AND land, in my humble opinion. There's just something about broken people finding comfort in each other. In the end, this particular take was not exactly my cup of tea, but I drank it anyways. And I DID cry a bit so I for sure had a good time.

4:

Coriolanus my beloathed

3:

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that.

Well actually, I kinda do know. I'd read and enjoyed Convenience Store Woman, so I was gunning for weird, but cute and whimsical. Instead, I got smacked in the head by domestic abuse and pedophilia like, right at the beginning of the story. Yeah... the explicitness of the latter made me queasy, and I had half a mind to drop the book, but I kept going because I wanted Natsuki to kick everybody in the balls.

That last part was so bonkers though, I'm not too squeamish while reading, but I was cringing and curling my toes. I liked the tone and the underlying message, but geez that was almost comical; I laughed at the “we're all pregnant” comment.

Not my usual choice at all but I still want to read everything else by Sayaka.

Edit: oh my god and there was incest. I forgot about the incest.

5:

For years and years I've wanted to get a hold of this book, and I was delighted to finally receive my copy back in February. It's a 29 year old, second-hand, but very well kept copy. Gosh, I love used books.

I adored Kitchen. I lost my grandpa a few months ago, and a sa result gone through my fair share of books regarding grief. Perhaps she's not saying anything that hasn't been said before, but Banana has a way with words that's just so beautiful and touching. I became endeared to the leading ladies in both Kitchen and in Moonlight Shadow—which is a novella that's included in the book. There's healing in the mundaneness of every day life, and I kept rooting for Mikage's determination to feel her pain, but to also not get bogged down by the heaviness of her grief. And although her story wasn't as emotionally taxing (to me) as Mikage's, Satsuki's need for closure and companionship moved me deeply. Reading this book felt like cozying up in bed after having a good, long cry.

I also noticed that, just as she did in Goodbye, Tsugumi, Banana is a master at setting her stage. While reading, it truly feels like you're in Japan in the 90's, with the big sofas and the bright, plant-filled apartments. Really good when you need a pick-me-up.

3.5:

This should be called “Codependence: The Novel.”

So there's Marianne and Connell, right? Imagine the most pretentious, white British college kids you could imagine. That's our leads! Not very enticing to be quite honest, but it's a very fast read because Sally's prose flows so well.

I didn't particularly like the main characters, and the background ones weren't all that remarkable, I remember at least one boyfriend, one girlfriend, an awkward dinner in Italy, and what I'm sure was an asshat who killed himself.

That sounds harsh, but frankly, I read this in one sitting because it felt like listening to gossip about the rich kids at school, and I'm a sucker for mundane stories like that. It was a game of will-they-won't-they that I wasn't too invested in, but it was entertaining so I'd still give it a go. Plus the cover is cute.

1:

Funny story: I went to my local bookstore and saw this book, thought it looked pretty, read the blurb and saw it was about an abortion. It piqued my interest, but I didn't buy it at the moment. Flash forward a few weeks later and I'm back, I don't remember the name or the author but I know it's pink with a girl on it; eventually I spotted this one, and was so delighted at having found it that I bought it right then and there. Turns out the book I was looking for was in fact another one by this author, and it just happens to have a cover that looks almost exactly just like this one. Haha. Anyway. This was so fucking boring.

It's like she had this thing that happened and she wanted to talk about it, mentioned the thing, then started rambling about the geography of her childhood hometown, and the French language. I was bored out of my wits, and the only reason I finished this was because I'd already bought it, and it was very short. I know Annie has won the Nobel prize, but now I don't even want to read the book I was looking for initially, I'm completely put off by her writing. I feel awful for saying this about a memoir—which I usually enjoy reading even if, as is the case here, I don't know the person the book is about—, but I felt nothing reading this, past the initial scene which did genuinely make me interested.

So, this was a disappointing start to my 2023 reading journey. No me tumba un viento frío, though. Onwards!

3.5:

This is only the second book by Emily St. John I have read, and yet it's twice now that she's made my favorite character kick the bucket :( you stop that, Emily >:c

Perhaps, because of the deep fondness I have for Station Eleven, I had incredibly high expectations for this one, and although the storyline was fascinating, it fell a little flat for me.

For one, I thought the whole “why don't you swallow broken glass?” graffiti shtick was blown ridiculously out of proportion. I mean, I can sort of see what the intention was but, seriously? Vincent cried over it? The whole outrage around it? I don't get it, the drama. Be for fucking real, it sounds like a 13 year-old's idea of a witty comeback, at best. I just don't see anyone in real life reacting in the way everyone did, and I couldn't keep from being annoyed every time it came up.

Then there's the fact that Emily can be INCREDIBLE when it comes to handling a large roster of characters, but that quality didn't shine as bright in here as it did in Station Eleven. There were a few characters that popped in, then were mentioned again later on and I'd be like, who's this again?

I was quite amused, however, by the fact that I didn't actually like any of the characters. They were all terrible, selfish, greedy, shitty people. I particularly hated Johnathan, for obvious reasons, but I felt repulsed every time Paul made an appearance. Snivelly little prick. it's funny because I'd accidentally started reading Sea of Tranquility before this, read the first scene he was in, and it was on sight. Disgusting. See? I'm already irritated.

Now for the good, I was tense and on edge at so many points in the story, and I kept pondering over the very real life worry I get sometimes of suddenly losing the very little I own, and what I'd do in that situation. Lose my mind, most likely. I did not need that! I'm shocked that a book about Ponzi schemes could be so entertaining.

I also liked the bits of magical realism. I wonder if those were ghosts, or maybe visitors from somewhere else. Either way I found it oddly charming, and the ending scene was beautiful and moving.

The book was good, I was just expecting something different. I'd still recommend it on the basis that this is Emily St. John Mandel and I want to eat her writing like a dog eats homework. I'm gonna finish reading Song of Achilles, and then finally get to the last installment of this trilogy of sorts. Can't wait!

4.7:

What an absolute banger. I'm not usually inclined to go for anthologies, but I enjoyed Our Wives Under the Sea so freaking much, I had to get my hands on whatever of Julia's work was left, and this one? Whew.

There were definitely highs and lows, and because I didn't particularly like two of the stories—namely Granite and Smack—, it wouldn't feel right for me to give the full five stars. But make no mistake, the high points were HIGH.

I absolutely ADOREDThe Great Awake, incredible premise, made my bones chill just thinking of dealing with all that, and it was my favorite out of the lot; Mantis was a fantastic opener and tone setter, made me reminisce over my own high school experience. The Collectables was really fun but UGH I felt so bad for the delivery guy, he did nothing wrong!!

There was Stop Your Women's Ears With Wax, and like, I felt that. I lived that (minus all the gory violence, I suppose). The eponymous salt slow was insane, it gave me such a feeling of claustrophobia, and that ending? Yikes (affectionate). I felt a wicked sense of satisfaction at the bite-the-creep's-hand-off bit in Formerly Feral, and I liked the stepmom so much. And Cassandra After was sorta sweet, in a macabre way.

Granite and Smack were... okay. They weren't bad, but with Granite I guess I was expecting something different, something grand like a cult or whatever, and so I didn't really vibe with the ending. Frankly, I don't think I quite got it and I didn't care for the characters. And Nicola in Smack was a spoiled rich brat. I don't have the patience for that.

I had a great time with this little collection overall, though, hence the 4.7. I fell in love with all the sapphic ladies, really felt at home with the general atmosphere, so Julia, babe, please, if you could hurry up and share a lil something else, I'll take literally anything pretty please I'll raise from my grave just for u ♡

3:

When I picked this up it was because I wanted to try and read some romance. I don't very often, I just read Emily Henry's yearly releases and that's it for me. I had high hopes since this was a recommendation from a friend, and at the beginning it was just as charming as I expected! Chloe and Red's meet cute was funny, I loved their banter! But then they got together-ish and that was it for me. I disliked that from that moment on, their relationship revolved around the fact that they had the hots for each other. I wanted more depth, and less usage of the word ‘nectar' as an euphemism for... you know...

It was okay and I liked it well enough, but I think I'm done with this series.

5:

This made me cry at the office y'all, it made me cry in front of people D:

I loved it all the way, and this coming from someone who's as obtuse as can be when it comes to maths and baseball. Even though we never even learn their names, my heart filled with tenderness for the tiny family, and I can't wait to revisit sometime.

The ending, heartbreaking as it was, is the most touching part of all. A story about companionship, friendship, time past and present. Not a romance, but a love story nonetheless.

5:

I started reading this, fully convinced I'd picked up Fever Dream, by Samanta Schweblin. And it took me a hot minute to realize my mistake, because from the beginning, the writing was so haunting.

A prose that pulled me like a whirlwind, a story that sliced my heart into ribbons. It was heartbreaking but, ultimately, a very hopeful story. An important message to share, and I commend Carmen for her strength of character because it must have not been easy.

Apart from that, I could not put it down because she's an incredible storyteller. I'd give this 10 stars if I could.

3:

This was such a fun read. I'll admit I didn't want Carrie and David to end up together, but man I also didn't want David to take Janet back, so I would have preferred the latter if it could have avoided the former. Maybe I'm immature. But l never said I wasn't. And Janet is such a bitch-like name anyways.

And then there's Ken. Oh I despised the fucker, what a slimeball. Corny-ass cliché of a midlife crisis. The nerve, the audacity, the self-dick-suckingness. I wish the story was longer just so miss Taylor could go on about how miserable his little life absolutely turned out to be.

Lastly, I kind of loved the fact that Maggie is David's baby? I thought it could happen since they'd already implied Mr. Dr. Man was infertile, and I squealed when Carrie said “right before you gave me my baby”. Poetic justice. My sister looked at me weird.

I want to imagine that David reaches out to them, and they become like those friends that just happen to have a child together. It happens! I think it would be sweet. (But I'm sure that's just me being schmaltzy).

Edit: well... I had this at 4 stars originally, but thinking back, the story wasn't all that memorable at all. The format was amusing, though!

4:

The sneaky critters ATE a baby's FACE in like the first chapter!!!!!!! Wowee!!!

Honestly I loved this book so much. It has the downside of Jeff Goldblum not being on it, but to make up for that, it keeps you on your toes, and provides gratuitous violence, along with a wicked sense satisfaction once the billionaire becomes supper.

3.5:

The way I felt about this book must be how some people feel about the Kardashians: mildly entertained because I'm a sucker for observing trashy people, except this was trashy (affectionate), and the Kardashians are just trash. It's a mess and I couldn't and wouldn't avert my eyes. Perfect choice of book to steer my attention away from cramps and period blues.

It was fun to read in this format, especially because it just felt like a long conversation, and I love books that are rich in dialogue. TJR has a real gift when it comes to writing like this, and she brings life and personality to each of her characters. I think it'd make sense to have another go at this book after the author reveal; perhaps I'll get to it right before the mini series comes out.

Can't give this more than 3.5 because this story didn't speak to me even though it should have, I mean, Almost Famous is one of my favorite movies. The thing is, well, I didn't really grow fond of anyone here. And the whole thing with Camila is just... girl. I don't know anyone like that in real life, I asked my friends what they'd do in that situation, and the general consensus was: fuck that noise.

(I liked Pete the best and I'm bummed they cut him from the series. Dude got his girl, got his fun, got his coin and fucked right off. Pop off, my liege.)

DNF at 13%: I'm just not interested. Plus. I had the audiobook and some of the narrator's voices grated my ears. Mostly the voice she had for the son. Eh.

3:

Midway through reading this I got an ear infection and it was so awful, I'll forever and always relate this book to that. Maybe that's why I feel like I didn't appreciate this as much as the works of Banana that I've already gone through. I certainly experienced the familiar, out-of-body sensation that her writing evokes on me, but I didn't connect with these stories in the way I was hoping.

My biggest let down was for sure the last story in this short collection, Asleep, which gives the book its name. Terako's listlessness and her going through life as if disconnected from it, her escapism through sleep, they are feelings and states of mind I know really well. And I'd love if they'd been navigated differently, but it was all tied to a relationship to a man blander than flour; I just couldn't buy it. As for the other two stories, they were okay. They all had Banana's charm, and as usual it is a delight to read through her characters' internal monologues, but this is a story I feel I won't be revisiting.

3:

Overall, I think this is worth the read if you're into the more contemplative face of dystopias. I was pretty enraptured while reading, and the story flowed very easily, but I feel it could've done with a bit more world building. I wish she'd touched a bit upon WHY things were the way they were, you know? I know it wasn't that kind of story but still, I have questions!

Anywho, the characters were interesting, and the story very allegorical. It focuses on the characters, their bonds to each other, to themselves, their past, and their future. If you like this kind of story, you'll probably really enjoy it. I've read it's a 1984 sequel in spirit, but I've never read 1984 so I wouldn't know.

And this is more of a personal thing but I didn't like the romance angle at all. It took me right out of the story; I just can't understand why it had to be taken in that direction. Romance is not crucial in order to convey the depth of a relationship, and in fact I believe it would have been more poignant to show the lengths people are willing to go to for the sake of protecting their friends. It felt off to me, and the guy was married and expecting a child, too. It's like they completely forgot about that until it got to the phone ringing part. For me, it affected my enjoyment of the story.

I did have a good time with the book, because I enjoy Ogawa's prose. I liked The Professor and The Housekeeper loads more, though! It made me cry.

(There was one detail that irked me, and it was that the mom and the girl at the train station gave them an apple AFTER fruit disappeared. What was that about??? They were all casual about it, even though it should've been the riskiest, most careless ‘thsnk-you' in existence? Maybe it signifies something but I can't grasp the meaning with my tiny little brain. Whatever the case, it was an odd choice that fucked with the story's continuity, so weird.)

3.5:

Picked this up based on recommendations, but also because I reaaally dig the cover art, it's so pretty!

Now, this book touches upon relevant topics, such as masculinity, police brutality, the immigrant experience, grief, heritage, race, and many more. It's very slow paced, but quite short, so it's a fast read.

Despite being beautifully written, and very touching, in the end it didn't hit quite as hard as I expected it to, but I feel like that's on me. Still, there were moments that shook me, such as the knife incident with Francis, and that part where they go to Trinidad, and sleep next to each other on the floor.

Again, this was very beautifully written, and maybe I'll give it another go, when I'm in a different state of mind.

Oh and also, FUCK the police.