5 stars. My first time reading a "literary thriller," but the writing was utterly superb, but let's be honest, I'm sure the original text is amazing b5 stars. My first time reading a "literary thriller," but the writing was utterly superb, but let's be honest, I'm sure the original text is amazing but Sophie Hughes is the GOAT. Even for a bad book like Perfection she somehow made it readable.
Clean is absolutely a slow burn, but with short chapters, and rather accessible prose, while still being deep, thoughtful, and at times a bit like a fever dream (can we always trust what the narrator is witnessing or what she perceives the situation to be?). But this is a dark book with the right amounts of bleakness and existential ponderings that I personally eat up. Little to no dialogue and mostly just this domestic worker recounting her life and the events leading up to the crime she is defending herself from from this unknown, unseen, and unheard of jury? Sign me up!
The final 60 pages really clinched this for me, and the final few in particular I haven't been able to stop thinking about. Everything culminated beautifully here in terms of the story and is just open ended enough to leave you questioning everything you just read. I would widely recommend this book, but trigger warning for animal death at the end - personally, I cried....more
Ah, this could have been a 5 star for me - what a shame. I really enjoyed my reading experience of this book, I found the writing style to be absorbinAh, this could have been a 5 star for me - what a shame. I really enjoyed my reading experience of this book, I found the writing style to be absorbing from page 1, and the novella incorporated many elements of things I tend to enjoy - critique on religious organizations, moody/atmospheric vibes, little to no dialogue, a dystopian/post-apocalyptic setting, and there are many subtle details to various aspects of the text that could be analyzed and discussed in greater detail.
Bazterrica is an incredible writer, and the translator Sarah Moss does a fantastic job of conveying this in English - the writing is by far this book's greatest strength, and far exceeds Tender Is the Flesh in terms of prose, in my opinion. The writing needs to be this good because where The Unworthy falters is in the story itself - I don't mind we don't get many answers, or that things are left purposefully vague or obfuscated. This is a series of clandestine diary entries of a person trying to make sense of herself and where her past self crosses with the person she is in the present.
But some details didn't need to be added (like about artificial intelligence), some of the phrasing about Circe being an enchantress and sorceress came off as heavy handed, and ultimately the conclusion, the final three or so pages, was pretty predictable and underwhelming. While I think the overall length of this novella is fine, some parts could have easily been fleshed out a little more. And ultimately, while there isn't much of a story here, what little we do have is stuff we've seen time and time again in other media formats.
For the right person, I think this will be a success - but it absolutely depends on the kind of book you like to read....more
4.5 rounding down to 4. This was a very well written and executed short story collection, I found it very entertaining and easy to read, which, being 4.5 rounding down to 4. This was a very well written and executed short story collection, I found it very entertaining and easy to read, which, being in a slump, was much appreciated. Not perfect, it had its flaws, like some unexpected speculative elements thrown in at the very end that made no sense to the rest of the collection or were in line with the narratives, but generally speaking, this is an intriguing look at various Mexican women voices and how they come to terms (or not) with the lives they've been dealt with....more
Invisible Monsters started off strong with an intriguing opening chapter, but it lost steam for me quickly. The writing is beyond pretentious, and I dInvisible Monsters started off strong with an intriguing opening chapter, but it lost steam for me quickly. The writing is beyond pretentious, and I definitely get the feeling the author deems himself to be incredibly smart, funny, and witty, so slay for him, I guess. I just don't think this turned out to be as brilliant as he probably had in mind, at least not for me.
I just didn't care about these characters, the jumping back and forth didn't do much for me, and haha wow everyone is gay or trans, how subversive. I did enjoy the main character's parents though, one line by the father (I think) was epic: "Honey, I think we're finally being hate-crimed."
I could see why someone would be fascinated by this train wreck of a book, but it just didn't work for me in the slightest - some interesting ideas that ultimately went nowhere because the book never seriously wanted to go anywhere with its non-existent story....more
4.25 rounding down to 4 for Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ - I just LOVE this author and her writing style so much. As usual, her books don't get much love here, I see so 4.25 rounding down to 4 for Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ - I just LOVE this author and her writing style so much. As usual, her books don't get much love here, I see so many low ratings, and I fully get that for the most part, but I think the way Kawakami approaches the subject of love, relationships, affection, and how these things take shape across a lifespan and vary between different people and contexts was so well done here.
I would say this is one of my least favorites by her, or at least it isn't quite as deep or meaningful as others are, and there is more that could have done to flesh out some of the characters more (basically make the book longer), but for what this is I really had a good time and enjoyed my reading experience immensely....more
Definitely not a book for everyone, but this book is hyped and for absolutely good reason (not often I say that, either) - if you're chronically onlinDefinitely not a book for everyone, but this book is hyped and for absolutely good reason (not often I say that, either) - if you're chronically online and born sometime between the 1980s and 1990s, there will be something in this book you can relate to on some level. It's very American, and very of the time, so I won't say this is some new all time masterpiece, but it hit me hard and I was thoroughly entertained and enjoyed my time reading this hot mess of a book. Easy 5 stars....more
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