Unreliable narrators, just like unreliable people, always give me a massive headache.
Writers who know their grammar but can’t tell a story always givUnreliable narrators, just like unreliable people, always give me a massive headache.
Writers who know their grammar but can’t tell a story always give me the shivers.
Books that make me feel stupid really upset my stomach.
And every time I waste time with pretentious stuff like this, my belly just starts rumbling and I have to run to the toilet.
Now, where the hell did I leave the bloody painkillers??
By now, and I apologise for having mentioned it over and over again in the past, and also for all the times I’m going to do it in the future, it’s no By now, and I apologise for having mentioned it over and over again in the past, and also for all the times I’m going to do it in the future, it’s no secret to anyone on here how much I appreciate nuance, understatement and subtlety in storytelling.
This need of mine of not being told and shown everything is strongest when I read a short novel because I believe a short piece of fiction like this one shouldn’t just pack a punch; it needs to be a punch in itself.
Ian McEwan’s On Chesil Beach, Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man, Elena Ferrante’s The Days Of Abandonment and Elizabeth Strout’s My Name is Lucy Barton are all good examples of what makes a powerful short novel for me.
Unfortunately, this novel, with its quiet tone and simple (but very stiff) writing, just fell flat as a pancake to me. The first person narrator sounded like a whinging little thing that was about to start crying at any second. Most of the time, I found her so annoying that all I could do was pray for her not to break a nail.
At some point, I thought she was going to turn into a relentless nymphomaniac and show the way to heaven to all the other sad little birds. There was another instance where I thought she was going to feed everyone some extremely toxic fish and send them all straight from the beach to hell.
Needless to say I was wrong both times, right?
By the end, like I predicted, there was no subtlety, nuance or understatement but just a whole new level of� nothing!!
I’m not here just trying to ruin anyone’s party, so I’m going to admit I was completely “book hungover� when I started this.
At this point of my life, and after more than two years waiting for a “pandemic� to fizzle out, it seems like I have (far) less tolerance for boring books (and people) than I used to.
This one definitely gets a “no� from me.
I still love the cover art though.
Finally, I’d just like to thank my buddies (you know who you are ...more
It’s probably just me, but the fact that someone would feel the need toAnother arty hot mess of a read completed.
This one was actually cringeworthy.
It’s probably just me, but the fact that someone would feel the need to write about their sex life (using the actual word fuck) in a letter where they’re attacking their mum just made me want to throw the book out of the window.
I said it before (very recently), and will say it again, pretty writing on its own doesn’t make a good novel.
Nearly everyone but me seems to be very pleased with this book and this type of messy storytelling where authors literally throw all sorts into it (sexuality and race being the favourite themes in recent years) in an attempt to catch as many emotional reactions as possible.
I’m bored of it now and am really starting to dread the day when this sort of book will become the new normal.
Or maybe it is the new normal already?
I don’t know if this was a memoir, a novel or something else. And honestly, I don’t care.
Hurry up, Donna Tartt - I miss proper storytelling....more
This has to be one of the most incoherent, unauthentic and pretentious novels I’ve ever read. I found the whole thing to be overwritten to the point oThis has to be one of the most incoherent, unauthentic and pretentious novels I’ve ever read. I found the whole thing to be overwritten to the point of ridiculousness. Dull as a Sunday sermon.
What’s up in the literary world anyway? Why couldn’t anyone say to this guy “I’m sorry, mate, but this thing you’re presenting me here is just a load of rubbish. How do you expect anyone to see anything worth seeing under such over flowery writing?�
But no, instead, they had to tell him something like “Mate, this is not very good but there’s gay people in it and all this thing about race is so relevant nowadays that I believe this is going to become the book of the year. It will be out by the beginning of 2021. We have a deal. Congratulations!�.
At this point, and especially when considering what’s going on in the world, there’s one thing I think that needs to be clear: a good idea or a relevant subject matter on their own don’t make up for bad storytelling. And jesus, this was bad storytelling! A lot of sections were completely incomprehensible and totally unnecessary; basically, a rambling religious mess!
And don’t even get me started about the practically nonexistent character development and the number of times the author decided to change the point of view because even a simple and uneducated guy like me can see that it’s not a good idea to change the point of view so many times if the characters aren’t properly developed or fleshed out. Who’s going to give a damn about what feels like just a draft version of a character? Well, definitely not me.
I didn’t care at all about the fact that they were gay, enslaved, raped, beaten and exploited. Not because I’m a heartless bitch but because I read to be entertained and this whole thing was far from entertaining. Let’s just say this story was just an excuse for the author to show off his writing and views about religion, sexuality and race.
If I could give the author any advice it would be for him to look for a different editor. Or maybe stick to Sunday school. ...more
Don’t be misled by the kind of cute little (short-eared) Mogwai on the cover because if you ever decide to open this book what you’re going to find inDon’t be misled by the kind of cute little (short-eared) Mogwai on the cover because if you ever decide to open this book what you’re going to find inside it can only be described as a Gremlin.
This novel starts like a light YA novel but very quickly evolves into a nightmare.
The writing is deceptively simple with a dreamlike quality to it and the narrator’s (young) voice very relatable.
As I said, it didn’t take long before I realised this wasn’t going to be what the cute cover suggested. In a very subtle way, some new elements were added to the narrative and it all started to feel a bit odd (in a good way). After the first hints of weirdness it became just plain weird. In a wonderful and intriguing kind of way, I mean, but weird nonetheless.
It’s really hard to put into words things that are just a little bit not okay.
In all honesty I must admit there was even a moment when I felt like all of it was just getting a bit too strange for my liking, but then the story turned a different and unexpected corner again, this time towards discomfort (Ugh!) and Murata totally had me back in her hands.
Taboos are just a form of brainwashing too. Seen through an alien eye none of them are worth bothering about. They are irrational.
When I was halfway through it and perhaps because I’ve read Murata’s Convenience Store Woman I was then sure this wasn’t going to be the same kind of story. Both novels share the same views of alienation and loneliness in today’s society but the similarities end there. Convenience Store Woman is a “down to earth� kind of story while Earthlings is the kind of story that brings to mind Haruki Murakami’s magical realism. However, I’m not going to place this novel next to Sputnik, Sweetheart or 1Q84. I think the right place for it on my book shelf is right next to Yoko Ogawa’s The Memory Police.
It was also from the middle section onwards that the story became a lot darker and even weirder but the author managed to make me feel like I had at least one foot on the ground at all times and that’s what made this a winner for me.
The ending was just crazy over the top; literally like watching a bunch of over fed Gremlins in my bedroom after midnight....more
Oh-my-god, this was weird! And Nightmarish! And so bloody addictive!!!
I usually don’t do plot summaries in my reviews but this time I’m making an excOh-my-god, this was weird! And Nightmarish! And so bloody addictive!!!
I usually don’t do plot summaries in my reviews but this time I’m making an exception. Here we go then: so this is the story of some f*cked up place inhabited by equally f*cked up people doing f*cked up nasty things to one another (and animals).
I know, I know, it all sounds fascinating, doesn’t it?
There was a constant eerie feeling throughout and I couldn’t wait for the next nasty thing to happen. I’ll have to be honest though and admit I didn’t know what was happening most of the time.
So yeah, this was a totally crazy read packed with gothic (and also some dystopian) elements and the ending left me with more questions than answers. But because I couldn’t quite manage to stop myself from turning the pages and actually read it in two sittings I guess I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was weird, yes, but I love it weird anyway.
4 stars for the most addictive literary weirdness of the year (so far).
Thank you to the Newest Literary Fiction Group for bringing this novel and its author to my attention. I’m certainly checking out more of Sara Mesa’s daring work.
Did I already say how much I love weirdness?...more
I’ve been reading all my life. I started with comics at the age of eight. I read hundreds of them. In my teenage years I was mainly reading PortugueseI’ve been reading all my life. I started with comics at the age of eight. I read hundreds of them. In my teenage years I was mainly reading Portuguese YA (kids living unbelievable adventures) and by the time I was at the end of my teen years and early twenties I was reading thrillers and horror. Even romance (ahaha!!!).
Then in 2005 the unexpected happened. I found and read Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History� and I knew things would never be the same again (how could they after that work of genius?). All this to say that from the moment I turned the last page of Tartt’s debut novel, I knew my reading standards had moved to a new level and it would take a LOT more to leave me satisfied. I felt like I’d been having just bread and water and finally had the chance to taste a marvellously delicious banquet.
After that, I became too demanding. I wanted a story to shake me to the core, to slap me around the face or kick me in the balls, taking the air out of my lungs in the process!!
None of this happened with ‘Miracle Creek�, I’m afraid. I was entertained I admit it. But that was it. I didn’t like the way the book started (almost never a good sign). I didn’t like the way each chapter was about a different character. I certainly didn’t like any of the forced sexual scenes and references (awkward!) and, most of all, I didn’t like the ending.
What I did like though was Kim’s writing (better than mine!) and the way she “showed� and depicted the lives of parents of children with special needs. The immigration factor was good as well although I have a lot more to say about that topic.
I didn’t love this but I enjoyed it and can appreciate why so many people loved it but this was not my “thing�. After all the stunning books I’ve read (even this year) this was like having to go back to just plain bread and water.
Stretching the boundaries between fantasy and reality, ‘Night Film� is an atmospheric page turner packed with gothic details, cineT.N.T for the brain.
Stretching the boundaries between fantasy and reality, ‘Night Film� is an atmospheric page turner packed with gothic details, cinematic imagery and pop culture references.
The first thing that came into my mind as I got further into the book was Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut�. It didn’t take long until I found some reference to Kubrick’s work. Going deeper into the story I started thinking about the matryoshka doll in my grandma’s living room. Again, it didn’t take long to find a reference to this Russian handicraft.
A story within a story, within story...
Mixing symbolic details, signs, magic, premonitions and superstitions, Pessl certainly likes to play with readers� minds and to question their values and beliefs.
I don’t think this is a book for everyone, but if you like a challenging and thoughtful story with some hints of fear, this might be the right choice.
“Didn’t the art in some albeit small way reflect the values of the creator’s life?�
Starts well enough for you to think it’s going to be great. It’s not. It’s just ok. Time hasn’t been kind to this book and I think Spielberg, when dirStarts well enough for you to think it’s going to be great. It’s not. It’s just ok. Time hasn’t been kind to this book and I think Spielberg, when directing the film, has done well in leaving out some parts of the story, not because they’re the worst ones but because they’re just pointless fillers written down on a failed attempt to add some humanity to the characters. ...more
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