80% of this is wonderful: a meditation on memory from a potentially unreliable, certainly charmingly reserved, possibly damaged narrator. 20% is compl80% of this is wonderful: a meditation on memory from a potentially unreliable, certainly charmingly reserved, possibly damaged narrator. 20% is completely implausible nonsense that ruins the rest. I'd like to think that interlude was in the narrator's imagination, but I can't quite convince myself based on the text....more
Like the first, the writing is still pretty cheesy and not shy of exposition, but for me this was a good example of a second book because the politicaLike the first, the writing is still pretty cheesy and not shy of exposition, but for me this was a good example of a second book because the political mystery that drives the plot is pretty self-contained. It doesn't suffer from the drop in pacing and lack of satisfactory denouement that often affects second books in trilogies.
The politics of Valdemar and surrounding lands was quite well developed and I wouldn't have minded more detail. I enjoyed seeing Vanyel having grown into himself, his powers and his responsibilities, as well as his building bridges with those who made his childhood such a misery. I could have done without the manufactured crisis in Vanyel's sexuality, although for me it rang true that he was still pretty confused and inhibited in his late twenties. I do wonder whether the types of homophobia - internalised and external - that Vanyel was dealing with would have rung more true in 1990 than they do now. Pretty much every interpersonal interaction he has foregrounds his sexuality as an issue to be addressed, which felt completely over the top to me, and most people think he is going to start molesting young boys at any moment. Lackey could have struck a more sympathetic note by leaving out the icky parts where various straight teenage boys do offer themselves to him. Those were completely unnecessary.
Overall, there's some weird crap in here, but some sympathetic characters and relationships that keep one's interest. I'm not sure I'd feel the same if it weren't for nostalgia value though!...more
I adored this trilogy when I was teenager and good lord it is probably the most teenagery book that ever teenagered. Nobody understands me! Nobody couI adored this trilogy when I was teenager and good lord it is probably the most teenagery book that ever teenagered. Nobody understands me! Nobody could ever love me! I will be alone forever! I will find my great love and it will end TRAGICALLY. The writing is fairly cheesy, including constant inner monologues from the characters, but the plotting, the strong female characters and waves of nostalgia are enough to make it just about stand up to rereading as an adult. Plus Lackey has to get credit for writing a gay protagonist in 1989, even if we have spent the intervening 30+ years learning to avoid the tropes she relies on. I cannot objectively rate this book so I'm not going to try.
Found this better on a second reading. The writing is laden and atmospheric. Many of the people are dreadful, and the protagonist is lonely, demotivatFound this better on a second reading. The writing is laden and atmospheric. Many of the people are dreadful, and the protagonist is lonely, demotivated and possibly depressed. Not a light read....more
A compelling circling narrative that gradually unpacks the tragedy at its heart. I loved the writing, and just wish Johnson hadn't felt the need to beA compelling circling narrative that gradually unpacks the tragedy at its heart. I loved the writing, and just wish Johnson hadn't felt the need to be quite so explicit about what she was rewriting, when most readers were probably congratulating themselves on having figured it out (I know I was ...more
Absolutely not my kind of thing, but I have given up trying to understand how my reading habits have changed as approach a year of non-normal life. I Absolutely not my kind of thing, but I have given up trying to understand how my reading habits have changed as approach a year of non-normal life. I seem to be on a jag of mysteries, atmosphere and unreliable narrators, which this fitted into perfectly.
I have to admit I'm a bit snobby about crime novels or psychological thrillers - I haven't read many that I have found that sophisticated. That's probably on me. In any case, I really loved the writing here, the engagement with the emotional lives of the characters, and the toll that the events of the book were taking on them. I can see that some people were disappointed with the resolution of the murder plot, but it wasn't really about that for me. I confess that after a while I got a but tired of portentous retrospective statements "if I had known then what I know now would I have done things differently": if I had one criticism of this book it would be the balance of build up vs payoff. However, it was exactly what I needed, and I'm looking forward to the next one....more
It's not often I give one star, because it's not often I finish a book I dislike so much. About halfway through I found out that the author was 17 wheIt's not often I give one star, because it's not often I finish a book I dislike so much. About halfway through I found out that the author was 17 when she wrote this, which figures. I'm not saying a 17 year old can't write a good novel (although I've not knowingly read any), but I can see how a 17 year old might write a book that is bad in this way. Ugh....more
Atmospheric thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, exploring some damaged characters. Three star rating reflects the fact it's not really my kind of Atmospheric thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, exploring some damaged characters. Three star rating reflects the fact it's not really my kind of thing. It's a good book....more
In Heroines, Kate Zambreno mixes an account of her life and her struggles to be a writer with an examination of the restricted, pathologised lives of In Heroines, Kate Zambreno mixes an account of her life and her struggles to be a writer with an examination of the restricted, pathologised lives of female writers from the early 20th century. She manages to drop in autobiographical details of people I didn't know much about (the Fitzgeralds, T.S. Eliot and Vivien(ne), Jean Rhys, Jane Bowles, among others-) very neatly. Many aspects of her thesis were familiar, but there were some great angles and phrasings. I particularly enjoyed the final portion where she celebrates the type of writing that women can do online (dating the book with reference to LiveJournal and Tumblr).
As I read, I found the style a little self-indulgent and thought the writing could be tighter. However, I was persuaded during the book club discussion that it was appropriate to the themes of the importance of journal writing, automatic writing, blogging. I also find that the distinctive style has stayed with me in a way that this review doesn't quite convey. It suffers a little in comparison with other books along these lines I have read recently (e.g. The Argonauts, Figuring), but it is definitely worth reading. It also provided me with a huge list of other books to seek out!...more
Well, gosh, that was affecting. This was for my work book club and I didn't know much of what to expect but I'd read and enjoyed The Underground RailrWell, gosh, that was affecting. This was for my work book club and I didn't know much of what to expect but I'd read and enjoyed The Underground Railroad and was happy to get stuck in.
The Nickel Boys feels smaller than The Underground Railroad. There is a feeling of narrowness in the story told and the options available to the characters. At times this almost seemed to reduce the impact, especially combined with the matter of fact way the horrors of the Nickel school were described. Ultimately however, the effect of such systemic brutality on a handful of lives is plenty to deal with, and there is an intimacy to the story that brings it very close. Whitehead also chooses an extreme example to make his point: my heart broke at the unfairness of smart, inspired, ambitious Ellwood being screwed by the system, but the less smart, more troubled boys shouldn't have been there either.
Racial injustice in the Jim Crow era onwards is also explored, and for me the author's treatment of this repeatedly brought to mind something I read in the Angela Davis collection The Meaning of Freedom a few years ago: that the 13th amendment to the US Constitution outlawed slavery, but it did not define what it was outlawing, and this allowed slavery to continue to exist in an altered form.
It also strikes me that this is an interesting exploration of intersectionality: the school brutalised and killed white boys too, but it was worse for the black boys at the time, and more risky for them to speak out later.
Overall, an excellent thought provoking read, with an epilogue that had me in tears....more
That was off the charts. It's incredible that Lanegan survived the 80s and 90s - and for that matter even the 70s when he was a child - in order to beThat was off the charts. It's incredible that Lanegan survived the 80s and 90s - and for that matter even the 70s when he was a child - in order to be saved by Courtney Love (who he didn't like) and Duff McKagan (who he'd never even met). He doesn't pull any punches describing the depths he went to in his addiction, and the honesty is bracing. The delivery on audiobook was fairly deadpan, and occasionally it could have done with some more emphasis, but his voice is great to listen to and frankly if read by an actor this would have felt like fiction. The ending was heart breaking. Poor Layne....more
This was a good read and I'm glad if this book helps people. There were some aspects I found very profound, but others I found insufficiently exploredThis was a good read and I'm glad if this book helps people. There were some aspects I found very profound, but others I found insufficiently explored. ...more
How is it possible for a book to be completely preposterous and yet completely wonderful at the same time? I give you Red, White and Royal Blue. The pHow is it possible for a book to be completely preposterous and yet completely wonderful at the same time? I give you Red, White and Royal Blue. The premise is beyond ridiculous, and the nemeses-to-lovers trope is so contrived and yet so enjoyable, but the best stuff comes after the cliched set up. The characters are really well put together, and the quippy banter stays just the right side of the line into parody (and I have read a few novels recently that go way too far past that line): I think the fact that this is basically a romcom helps. It is always refreshing to have a queer story where the actual coming out isn't the problem, and Alex's process of realising he is bisexual is thoroughly charming and endearing. I really enjoyed the slow reveal of Henry's actual character as Alex got to know him.
The resolution is possibly even less plausible than the set up, but that doesn't matter because it is so joyous and full of hope that I am sure everyone who gets that far will be wishing they could live in that world. (view spoiler)[I particularly like the fact that fannish behaviour was instrumental in mitigating the consequences of the scandal. Because I am quite sure everyone who got to that point in the book would have been out on the Mall with handmade signs supporting Alex and Henry. I know I would have been, after reading those emails. (hide spoiler)]
"I don't give a damn what Joanne has to say, Remus John Lupin is gay as the day is long, and I won't hear a word against it."
*~*~*~*~* Reread for book club in February 2021. With Trump out of the White House I feel like we need this book less, but it's still delightful. It was also pleasant to see a different version of 2020 play out.
After Henry my favourite character is definitely Amy, the trans Secret Service agent who embroiders a denim jacket for her wife on Air Force One....more
I read this whole novel waiting for the events that would justify the endless character development, and they never came. The main characters are veryI read this whole novel waiting for the events that would justify the endless character development, and they never came. The main characters are very well done, and it's easy enough to read, but I need more than that.
This applies especially when the characters are about 18-22: I don't find this period of development all that interesting (although enjoyed living through it myself!). One of the characters in this novel has been damaged by their family environment, but this isn't played out very subtly, and I'm not sure I took anything from it or had any idea whether it was realistic.
And oh god the descriptions. I'll add some quotes later, but why on earth did the author feel the need to explain the boring intricacies of everyday life down to the steps someone takes to open a bottle of wine. What does this add? I suppose it emphasizes that these people are living normal lives, but I live a normal life - and observe others doing the same - every day. I've had 37 years of that. I don't need to read about it. There was no special insight there.
One thing that can be said for this novel is that is shorter and way less grim than A Little Life....more
I just got lost in this one. The world building. The diverse characters. Aster. The Surgeon. I can see why some found the ending difficult but I thougI just got lost in this one. The world building. The diverse characters. Aster. The Surgeon. I can see why some found the ending difficult but I thought it was thematically appropriate. Will be looking out for more from Solomon in future.
ETA: I just convinced my book club to vote for this as I wanted people to talk to about it. Reading the blurb as I set up the listing, I can see why some people might have had a different experience based on a physical copy with that written on the back. I audiobooked it. An argument for putting your books in plain covers and forgetting about the blurb while reading. ...more
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