Oh, Fredrik Backman. I fear you may have bitten off more than you could chew with this one. I spent so much of this book thinking thActual rating: 2.5
Oh, Fredrik Backman. I fear you may have bitten off more than you could chew with this one. I spent so much of this book thinking this could have been rewritten or at the very least edited down to about three hundred pages because so many characters did not need to be added and several plotlines did not need to be explored as deeply as they were in order to drive home the emotion and what I thought were the main points of the trilogy at the end. While I liked how this book and this series concluded, this final installment was a slog to get through. The tone felt so completely foreign to its predecessors that I feel that we could have done with just a duology or even have Beartown as a standalone. An unfortunate downgrade....more
Aggressive in its honesty and brutal in its storytelling, Kapangyarihan is my first Ronaldo Vivo Jr. novel. And what an introduction this is to his woAggressive in its honesty and brutal in its storytelling, Kapangyarihan is my first Ronaldo Vivo Jr. novel. And what an introduction this is to his work! Admittedly I struggled a bit with the language, but from what I was able to absorb, I was gripped by his casual yet intentional use of imagery and common Filipino idioms and expressions to convey the dark reality of police brutality even way before the war on drugs entered Filipino vocabulary in the mainstream. I especially liked his endnote where he details the importance of giving the voiceless a medium through which to tell their stories. A stark reminder that many of our country's problems have deep roots in its flawed systems and corrupt institutions....more
This is probably one of the most deeply unserious books I have ever read and yet it still has Backman's signature charm! While I likActual rating: 3.5
This is probably one of the most deeply unserious books I have ever read and yet it still has Backman's signature charm! While I liked the humor well enough and definitely laughed out loud multiple times (Zara, the diva that you are), it became rather tiresome towards the end. It has a lot of hard-hitting quotes and emotional scenes to be sure, but having already read Beartown, I can't help but feel that this just simply pales in comparison. I was anticipating some semblance of the sobfest some fans seem to experience, but alas, maybe I have a heart of stone. Still, I have to respect just how much of a twisty ride this was, oddily reminiscent of Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game. This is also Backman's most unique work that I've read to date....more
Well, Morgan Matson, I believe you just got yourself a new fan. This book was so heartfelt and sincere that despite many scenes feelActual rating: 4.5
Well, Morgan Matson, I believe you just got yourself a new fan. This book was so heartfelt and sincere that despite many scenes feeling intentionally written to make one cry, it doesn't feel cheap. What a beautiful story about grief, complicated friendships, and the comfort that comes from being loved. I am looking forward to read more books from this author....more
I don't know if I should send Fredrik Backman the therapy bill or if I ought to thank him for the free therapy. In terms of craft I Actual rating: 4.5
I don't know if I should send Fredrik Backman the therapy bill or if I ought to thank him for the free therapy. In terms of craft I do think this is a little bit of a step down from the first book, with the writing more unnecessarily repetitive, lacking creativity, and unevenly paced. I also didn't particularly care for Richard Theo's plotline. But by Jove does this sequel hit so much harder emotionally. There were definitely times when the plot felt a little manipulative, but the end result is still heartfelt and strong. Believe what fans have been saying all this time: Fredrik Backman's books are a masterclass in empathy and nowhere is that more evident than in the Beartown trilogy. He displays such an affinity for humanity and an intimate desire to understand the best and the worst that individuals—and the towns they make up—have to offer. This is destined to be one of my favorite trilogies ever....more
I don't know if this is a book I wish I'd read when I was fifteen, because the fifteen year old me would not have been ready for this book, but somethI don't know if this is a book I wish I'd read when I was fifteen, because the fifteen year old me would not have been ready for this book, but something about this book healed the fifteen year old in me. As much as I love Dante as a character, I was more so deeply in love with Ari. He reflected so much of who I was as a young closeted teenager with the abundance of intense inner turmoil and the uncomfortable quietness that many queer boys are burdened to carry. Sáenz is deliberately straightforward and simple in his writing, and I felt that underneath the seemingly juvenile approach was a profound and intimate understanding of youth and boyhood. I don't think this is necessarily an incredible masterpiece of literature, but it moved me. And damn how it moved me so....more
This is my third Backman read, and by all counts, this has to be my favorite. This is Backman at his finest, from the immaculate writing to the exceptThis is my third Backman read, and by all counts, this has to be my favorite. This is Backman at his finest, from the immaculate writing to the exceptional character work. I have to admit that I struggled a bit at the beginning to keep track of the cast of characters as the POVs switch quite often, but as the characters grew more distinct as I got to know them, I soon got the hang of things.
Beartown is a tale that is probably more harrowing than it is hopeful. And yet it drips with so much empathy for the lot of humanity that as you read, you begin to understand that the best and the vilest of people you will ever know have so much depth to them. You may hate them or love them deeply and deservedly so, but underneath all of what you are able to see is so much more nuance than you will ever come to learn. The fact that Backman so masterfully accomplishes pointing this out while being firm in what he deems right and wrong within the span of a single novel is no small feat.
I could write pages of endless praise for this book, especially given how effectively Backman uses various literary devices to drive home his layered messages, but to do so feels almost irreverent given how simple and somber of a read this is. But I will say this, while reading in general helps many people develop empathy, it is stories like this that strike a chord in their readers' hearts that enables it....more
This is my first Bob Ong novel, and wow was I floored by how good it was! Bob Ong's writing style is so accessible yet so beautiful Actual rating: 4.5
This is my first Bob Ong novel, and wow was I floored by how good it was! Bob Ong's writing style is so accessible yet so beautiful that there were so many seemingly simple lines that hit hard for me. He displays such an intimate understanding of human nature, what it means to love, and how our experiences and the people around us shape us. Phenomenal. Will definitely be reading more of his works in the future!...more
A relaxing light read that often feels like it doesn't know what to do with itself. There's a certain appeal to this story, even thoActual rating: 2.5
A relaxing light read that often feels like it doesn't know what to do with itself. There's a certain appeal to this story, even though it is arguably bland and boring. It can be the kind of book you read to soothe your nerves and let your guard down. But there are so many scenes here that feel unnecessary and didn't really contribute to the plot....more
With such a short page count, I thought this would have significantly less impact on me than the show did. But it's almost just as brilliant and stunnWith such a short page count, I thought this would have significantly less impact on me than the show did. But it's almost just as brilliant and stunning....more
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well what do you know, Randy Ribay does it again! I tActual rating: 4.5
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well what do you know, Randy Ribay does it again! I truly believe he is a master of writing beautifully yet accessibly while tackling issues that are often difficult to grapple with through characters who feel larger than life because they are inspired by real people and well-researched events. Despite making me cry multiple times (again), this book healed something in me. But fair warning, don't go in expecting a heavy focus on the plot. More than anything, it's an excellent collection of character studies across four generations, unpacking something that I am aware of but haven't really read much on previously: generational trauma, how it develops, and how it manifests in different forms in different people. This story drips with so much empathy that despite presenting hard truths about identity, manhood, mental health, and social responsibility, it refuses to be prescriptive in its narrative. Rather, it helps one to understand where these individuals are coming from. I learned so much about myself and even my own family members in the process of reading this book, which is impressive in itself considering how short this is. I'm definitely revisiting and annotating this once I get my hands on a physical copy. Rush to the bookstore on release date because this is not a book you want to miss!...more
This is such a solid young adult romance! I love how it really leaned into its K-drama-like characteristics and absolutely refused to be unnecessarilyThis is such a solid young adult romance! I love how it really leaned into its K-drama-like characteristics and absolutely refused to be unnecessarily dramatic. Whenever the tension would heighten a little bit, the story would kind of reel it back in as if allowing you to just relax and see how things would pan out. The entire cast of characters are all so endearing and their relationships are just so wholesome in the best way possible. The atmosphere also has a comforting feel to it that you can't help but feel a sense of reassurance that things will turn out fine and that everything will lead to a happy ending. This may seem like an odd suggestion, but I'd honestly recommend this to people like me who experience anxiety because Axie Oh's writing has this calming quality to it that is almost reminiscent of childhood classics like Winnie the Pooh and The Little Prince....more
I was provided a digital copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Both an excellent primer on Southeast Asian superstitions anI was provided a digital copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Both an excellent primer on Southeast Asian superstitions and a humorous—and sometimes emotional—glimpse of domestic life in Malaysia, this repository of the author's semi-fictionalized recollections of their childhood is bound to put a smile on readers' faces, both those who relate to these experiences and those who find them bizarre. The stream-of-consciousness writing style renders this book honest and sincere, and the overall message of adherence to superstition and avoidance of taboos as expressions of familial love is one that will resonte with many readers but particularly strike a chord on Southeast Asian hearts....more
I received a copy of the audiobook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. And that's how recommend consuming this story: listen to the incredI received a copy of the audiobook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. And that's how recommend consuming this story: listen to the incredibly narrated audiobook and optionally sight read the text, at least if like me, you are not into physics and self-indulgent writing styles go over your head.
There's a lot to respect in this book. It's funny yet thought-provoking, especially in its nuanced discussion on "cancel culture" and the failings of both right-wing and left-wing parties in their approaches to morality and accountability. But reading this felt a lot like my experience with many Oscar-nominated films that lean more on the artistic than the commercial side: I get what it's trying to do and I admire the approach, but it didn't work for me entertainment-wise. I didn't find myself attached to the characters, I thought the dialogue was long-winded at times, and it didn't necessarily help that there are a lot of programming references here—something that I don't like in my entertainment as a software engineer who doesn't like to be reminded of work during my off-hours.
That said, I recommend this to those who want a more humorous version of the film Tár or to those who were left wanting more after reading R. F. Kuang's Yellowface....more
Tons of fun and tons of heart! This is exactly what I love about Gordon Korman's books. The characters are memorable and the humor iActual rating: 4.5
Tons of fun and tons of heart! This is exactly what I love about Gordon Korman's books. The characters are memorable and the humor is top-notch, but it also delivers some great lessons for middle-graders. Recommended for fans of Freaky Friday....more
All I say is, Mae Coyiuto has gone a LONG way from this to Chloe and the Kaishao Boys. I didn't really enjoy this one and the writing was very much juAll I say is, Mae Coyiuto has gone a LONG way from this to Chloe and the Kaishao Boys. I didn't really enjoy this one and the writing was very much juvenile. But I didn't completely hate it because it did get a couple of laughs out of me....more
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