It鈥檚 impossible to talk about this book without mentioning the ending. While Earthlings was bizarre and unpredictable, Vanishing World is deeply distuIt鈥檚 impossible to talk about this book without mentioning the ending. While Earthlings was bizarre and unpredictable, Vanishing World is deeply disturbing in a way that lingers. I get that discomfort is the point - but it left me questioning where the line should be drawn. Murata鈥檚 writing is sharp, deliberate, and undeniably powerful. She has one of the most unique and thought-provoking voices in contemporary Japanese literature. Still, as well-crafted as this book is, I鈥檓 struggling to sit with that ending....more
You know, not bad. I鈥檓 consistently let down by Grady Hendrix and while this didn鈥檛 live up to the hype completely and didn鈥檛 stick the landing, I enjYou know, not bad. I鈥檓 consistently let down by Grady Hendrix and while this didn鈥檛 live up to the hype completely and didn鈥檛 stick the landing, I enjoyed most of it. ...more
The cover of Strange Stones promised something strange and literary, maybe even a bit absurdist鈥攂ut what I got felt more like Lovecraft fanfiction. ThThe cover of Strange Stones promised something strange and literary, maybe even a bit absurdist鈥攂ut what I got felt more like Lovecraft fanfiction. The concept had so much potential, but the execution really fell flat for me. The protagonist wasn鈥檛 just unlikeable鈥攈e was disgusting鈥攁nd I found myself not rooting for him at all. Despite the short length, I was bored and just wanted it to be over. It鈥檚 frustrating when such a cool idea doesn鈥檛 live up to its own premise....more
I鈥檓 not sure I fully understood everything in this book鈥攎aybe I wasn鈥檛 supposed to. It captures the unsettling feeling of being a cog in a machine or I鈥檓 not sure I fully understood everything in this book鈥攎aybe I wasn鈥檛 supposed to. It captures the unsettling feeling of being a cog in a machine or just another number in a seat, and it鈥檚 both darkly funny and deeply distressing. The story feels unfinished and unresolved in a way that might be intentional, but left me uneasy. It鈥檚 definitely weird. I鈥檓 still not sure if I actually enjoyed it.
This was a wild ride. I went in expecting a haunted house story and was pleasantly surprised by the blend of genres鈥攊t veers into full-on cosmic horroThis was a wild ride. I went in expecting a haunted house story and was pleasantly surprised by the blend of genres鈥攊t veers into full-on cosmic horror in a way that really worked. I usually steer clear of splatter, and this was definitely gory and disgusting to the max, but also twisted and imaginative. That said, the writing style wasn鈥檛 my favorite and the dialogue felt stilted (I don't think people really talk this way), so it鈥檚 not a book you pick up for the prose. But if you're in the mood for a gory, genre-bending cosmic horror nightmare, this delivers....more
I really enjoyed this book鈥攊t stuck with me even when I wasn't reading, and I kept looking forward to getting back to it. One of the most memorable paI really enjoyed this book鈥攊t stuck with me even when I wasn't reading, and I kept looking forward to getting back to it. One of the most memorable parts is the man on death row, convinced he's brilliant and misunderstood (he鈥檚 even writing a manifesto), yet he's so tragically mid to everyone around him. It's savage in the best way. While he might be the central figure, the real heart of the story lies with the women whose lives intersect with his. They're the ones who truly matter and who kept me hooked. I鈥檇 definitely recommend this....more
I really enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written, and the different perspectives added depth to the story in a way that felt natural and engaginI really enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written, and the different perspectives added depth to the story in a way that felt natural and engaging. The author did a great job capturing what it means to be a parent and the depths you'd go to for your children....more
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