Olive, Again picks up right where the first book left off, just a few weeks after the last story iFull Review:
Olive, Again picks up right where the first book left off, just a few weeks after the last story in Olive Kitteridge. Olive is a former math teacher living in coastal town of Crosby, Maine. When the book begins, she is now in her seventies.
While Olive Kitteridge focused more on the nuances of depression, anxiety, happiness and joy, in her follow-up novel, Strout ventures out into somewhat more varied territory, with stories involving those same topics, but also aging, faith, class divisions, an adolescent’s troubling sexual awakening, and the intricacies of family relationships. Olive, Again also goes quite a bit darker at times than Olive Kitteridge, but is more hopeful as well.
I would say that the results are varied. I think the strongest stories in the collection often deal with characters facing their own mortality. The stories that help to advance Olive’s emotional development are also quite rewarding, but moreso if you read the first book, I think.
If you read the first book and loved it, you’ll probably enjoy this one as well. Even if I had some criticisms of a few of the stories, there’s plenty of other stories to enjoy, some of which are really thought-provoking. Like the first novel, this one is similarly a insular and contemplative book.
This book doesn’t quite have the brutal honesty of the first book, and is a bit more maudlin. But I think some people will like that. I preferred the first one, but people who are looking for more heartwarming narratives will prefer Olive, Again.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins has been the most talked about novel of the new decade so far (tFull review:
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins has been the most talked about novel of the new decade so far (though keep in mind that I'm writing this in January 2020), for both good reasons and bad.
It tells a well-paced story that is timely and accessible. However, it's also a book that has many issues and inaccuracies. I wouldn't rely on it to enhance your understanding of Mexico, and while it does contain some information about the difficulties migrants face, I would also take it all with a grain of salt. (Furthermore, there are clearly systemic issues that allowed those problems to be ignored on its way to publication. And I think recommending this book without making others aware of the problems with it is a little irresponsible.)
Aside from any cultural stuff, it doesn't take an expert to know that this story lacks realism in parts. The characterizations are questionable, and there's an odd lack of hard decisions that need to be made in this situation that necessitates hard decisions. This is not to say the story isn't suspenseful or interesting for people who enjoy thrillers, though.
Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells a series of interrelated narratives that involve, somFull Review:
Strout’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells a series of interrelated narratives that involve, sometimes more directly and other times only peripherally, Olive Kitteridge, a woman living in the fictional coastal town of Crosby, Maine. Olive is an “unlikeable� woman. She’s prickly, judgmental and unaccommodating. Olive teaches 7th-grade mathematics and Olive’s husband, Henry, is a pharmacist. They have a son, Christopher, who grows up to be a podiatrist.
Olive Kitteridge is an intensely interior novel and it focuses on the inner thoughts in these characters heads, in terms of what drives them or brings them joy or grief. The relationship between Olive and her son Christopher though is perhaps the most compelling. The book explores Olive's history and how it plays into Christopher's upbringing and how that evolves as Christopher grows into an adult.
If you're looking for something highly entertaining or something that doesn't require you to think at all, then this is probably the wrong choice. This is also not a upbeat, warm-hearted tale, despite is bright yellow cover.
I think this book is perfect for anyone who is feeling contemplative about the everyday aspects of life or someone looking for a book that is literary without being pretentious or inaccessible.
So, this is not quite a 4, but closer to a 4 than a 3, so we'll go with that.
Children of Blood aFull review:
So, this is not quite a 4, but closer to a 4 than a 3, so we'll go with that.
Children of Blood and Bone is a YA fantasy novel of the action and adventure variety, set in a vivid and imaginative world.
A group of teens are on a quest to resurrect magic within the kingdom of Orisha. They must travel the world and collect artifacts, all while fending off the royal guards. It's filled with unique locales, colorful characters, loyal allies and bitter foes. There's plenty of battles and a hearty dose of (adolescent) romance as well.
If the idea of a Harry Potter-type story rooted in African culture appeals to you, you'll probably enjoy this book. Overall, I found Children of Blood and Bone to be a delightful and adventurous ride. There are some aspects to the world-building that I think need more fleshing out (but it may happen later in the trilogy), and some tropes and cliches that run throughout the story -- but for whatever tropes the Children of Blood and Bone falls victim to, there is plenty of originality in this story as well.
I'd give this 3.5 if there was a half-star option. I thought this was a good mystery with an interesting story.
I had lukewarm feelings going into thiI'd give this 3.5 if there was a half-star option. I thought this was a good mystery with an interesting story.
I had lukewarm feelings going into this book just because the plot didn’t particularly appeal to me. Cults, hippies, growing drugs, living on the streets, stuff like that is not really up my alley.
However, there’s nothing objectively bad about any of it. In fact, after reading, my main thought was that the book is well-plotted and well-written as far as mysteries go. There’s a good cast of characters, an interesting plot, and Jewell has written a thriller that’s more than just some plot twists. Overall, I liked this book, even if the subject matter wasn’t to my tastes. The ending isn’t perfect (I was left with a few questions), but it’s not bad either.
The Giver of Stars is a pleasure read about books, love and friendship that’s rooted in a lesser-Full Review:
The Giver of Stars is a pleasure read about books, love and friendship that’s rooted in a lesser-known piece of history. It’s an unchallenging, accessible book with no pretensions that’s enjoyable and hopeful. I think the worst thing you could say is that it’s somewhat of a “safe� and slightly romanticized story, but it never veers into being cheesy or melodramatic, so that didn’t bother me at all.
I’d happily recommend this to anyone looking for a quick and pleasant read with a sort of “awww, shucks� kind of charm....more
The Starless Sea tells an inventive story dedicated to a love of stories and peppered with a rangFull review:
The Starless Sea tells an inventive story dedicated to a love of stories and peppered with a range of literary references (or at least literary name-checks). It’s a book filled with fable-like stories, intertwined tales and vividly imaginative places and things.
Morgenstern showcased her ability to conjure up dreamy and fantastical imagery that engages the senses in the Night Circus, and continues that with the Starless Sea. But the Starless Sea is a more ambitious novel, I think, than the Night Circus. From the ruminations on the permanence or impermanence of stories, to the wildly imaginative world and the many tributes to power of stories and the imagination, Morgenstern has offered up a unique and inventive follow-up to her debut novel that many will find thought-provoking and inspiring.
However, at some point the plot of the book gets consumed by its own conceit, and the characters get lost in the process. Apart from wanting to be with someone they love, very few of the characters have any other motivations or other personality traits. It makes for very flat character arcs and nearly non-existent emotional journeys across a lengthy book. Towards the latter half of the book, there’s a lot of characters sort of just wandering around aimlessly, speaking in metaphors and riddles and things happening for no apparent reason.
Morgenstern explores some genuinely interesting (albeit a bit meta) ideas about storytelling and tries to structure the story in a unique and imaginative way. But the lack of a strong emotional beat, the aimless plot and the overwrought execution drags the story down. Instead of being whimsical and adventurous, there’s a tediousness to the whole exercise and a lot of it feels extraneous. The Starless Sea is supposed to be a book about storytelling, but in its quest to seem clever, it forgets what good storytelling is about.
The Ninth House exists in a conceptually fleshed-out world, but because it’s the first book in theFull review:
The Ninth House exists in a conceptually fleshed-out world, but because it’s the first book in the series, it carries the burden of setting up the world and its many secret organizations. As a result, there’s a lot of information being flung at you on each page. There’s background information, descriptions of the mechanics of different types of magic, explaining the rules regarding the Lethe and all the secret societies, and so on.
In the Ninth House, Bardugo has dreamed up a thoroughly conceived fantasy version of New Haven. It’s a setup that undoubtedly has a lot of room to grow and maneuver. However, I would probably only recommend this book to people who think they want to follow this series. A lot of this book is focused on setting up the series. As a standalone book, the plot and the mystery are just okay. ...more
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow was released tFull review:
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow was released this week, and it's really good. The book spans a period of three years, between 2016 and 2019, covering Farrow's investigation into, publication of, related research and the aftermath of his in the New Yorker.
Catch and Kill reads a bit like a spy thriller (to some extent) and is a fascinating story on a lot of different levels. There's a bit of cloak and dagger involved with Farrow trying to research his story before Weinstein is able to find ways to kill it which adds a certain element of drama to the book.
On a more substantive level, understanding the many forces -- the enablers, the influential people, the unethical behavior -- that resulted in this story being buried for so long is obviously a more important part of this story. And it's worth taking a deep dive, as Farrow has done here, into the topic to understand it.
At the same time, it seems very strange to say that a book about an investigation into sexual harassment was fun to read, but it was. It's an interesting book, and it helps that we know in advance that some degree of justice is delivered in the end, even if far from sufficient. Plus, in addition to the spy thriller aspects of the novel, Farrow injects some humor into the book, mostly in the form of his conversations with Jonathan, his loving, but very exasperated partner.
The Institute is more of a thriller than a horror novel, I think, but it's a fun thriller that alFull review:
The Institute is more of a thriller than a horror novel, I think, but it's a fun thriller that also delves into the themes of how power can be abused and the dangers of dehumanizing people.
In terms of the plot overlaps with Stranger Things, they both have kids with telekenetic powers who are being used as test subjects by an evil organization. So, there's definitely some plot similarities, but they also diverge pretty significantly as well so you can easily enjoy both.
In the Institute, Stephen King showcases his ability to dream up intriguing premises and write convincing characters that encompass a broad range of ages and backgrounds. It's a varied and colorful cast that helps to enhance the realism of his fantastical premises. ...more
Maeve and Danny are siblings who grow up in a grand house in Elkins Park. The house is nicknamed The Dutch House, after the wealthy Dutch family that Maeve and Danny are siblings who grow up in a grand house in Elkins Park. The house is nicknamed The Dutch House, after the wealthy Dutch family that once inhabited it.
Maeve and Danny’s childhood has a fairytale-eque quality, as if Cinderella and Hansel & Gretel were mixed together. They grow up in a wealthy household but lose everything, their mother is presumed to be dead, Andrea plays the role of the evil stepmother, and their stepsisters Nora and Bright are brought in and given preferential treatment. Like Hansel & Gretel, Maeve and Danny are forced to lean on each other and, as adults, are trying to pick up the pieces of their childhood and find a way back home.
But The Dutch House is no fairy tale and instead the book provides a sober reflection on how the stories we tell ourselves are shaped and whether the roles we cast people in should be considered or reconsidered later, with more maturity and perhaps more empathy.
After reading this, I have no doubt it will help to cement Ta-Nehisi Coates’s reputation as someoFull review:
After reading this, I have no doubt it will help to cement Ta-Nehisi Coates’s reputation as someone with very sound and well-constructed thoughts about the black experience in America. The The Water Dancer is a powerful and evocative story, that somehow manages to be starkly realistic and boldy imaginative.
Coates doesn’t settle for just hammering away at about well-worn things we all know about slavery. Instead, he expends his words trying to pry at things few consider, and he dwells on the more nuanced aspects of injustice. Things like how bondage can bring out cruelty in otherwise well-mannered people with just a bit of drink and boredom. Or how someone can be fanatical in fighting slavery, yet with limited empathy for the slaves themselves.
In The Water Dancer, there are moments of great insight in this book and elements of an interesting and boldly imagined plot as well. It's not a perfect book though, and at times, the two aspects of the book seem to be fighting against each other. As a result, the quality of writing, the pacing of the story and the tone of the narrative can become a little uneven. If you read this, you will almost definitely get something out of it, but it's a story that will take some effort to get through.
And while this is technically Hiram's story, Coates is ultimately the chief protagonist of this story. His voice, his thoughts and his views are what stand at the forefront, and it often the plot becomes structured around the best way to highlight the thoughts he wants to showcase.
I DNF'd this book after reading too many cringey statements from Gladwell. He wants to categorize a whole range of evils -- from the victimization of I DNF'd this book after reading too many cringey statements from Gladwell. He wants to categorize a whole range of evils -- from the victimization of unarmed black people (Sandra Bland) to women being raped at colleges parties (Brock Turner) -- as mere "communication" issues between people.
Sure, there might be some element of miscommunication, but it completely misses the point that there are much larger problems and bigger things going on beyond that.
I get that he's trying to cram these situations into his premise in order to write this book, but the result is completely tone-deaf and helps to justify crimes and ignorance. Instead of encouraging people to be educated on things the don't understand like consent or why prejudice against black people can lead to excessive force against them, Gladwell chalks it up to "communication" barriers.
To be clear, Gladwell doesn't try to say that Bland was at fault for her death, but rather that the officer didn't properly de-escalate. However, he also takes time to explain why race had nothing to do with the situation. For example, he ignores the mountain of evidence that shows that black people are routinely pulled over more frequently. Instead, Gladwell explicitly states that the officer's decision was not race-motivated. However, he reaches this conclusion based on nothing. His sole support for that statement is the statistic that shows this officer often wrote tickets -- to the tune of 1,557 just that year -- but it's a meaningless number that doesn't prove anything if we don't know if those tickets were evenly or fairly distributed.
There's also the question of whether this book states anything new. The idea that black people are treated exactly the same as everyone else and racism is a myth or that women who drink are partially to blame for being raped are two extremely old arguments. There's nothing new or interesting about it. It's old, tired and not worth anyone's time.
There's also questionable logical leaps that Gladwell makes to put forth his antiquated arguments. Mystifyingly, a survey showing that people have different ideas on what constitutes "consent" leads him to the conclusion that there "are no rules" when it comes to consent. Umm what? So if I took a survey that showed that most people don't know where the Ukraine is located, does that mean the Ukraine has no location or does it mean that people are ignorant? Gladwell's tortured logic for the sake of justifying rape is mind-boggling.
Skip this awful, intellectually vapid book....more
Loading...
