Even though I don't usually read much horror, I pushed myself to read this because so many bookish friends liked it. Definitely glad I persevered, eveEven though I don't usually read much horror, I pushed myself to read this because so many bookish friends liked it. Definitely glad I persevered, even with all the body horror. I love Moreno-Garcia's writing and characters; I'm not sure it would have been worth wading through the ick factor for most authors. If you want to read this and are squeamish, I recommend picking up an ebook or hardcopy so you can skim through the more visceral parts.
Lots of content warnings for this one, it'd honestly probably be easier to list out the common ones not in the book. Message me if you'd like specifics....more
4.5 stars. I really, really enjoyed this. So much so that I was watching the pages dwindle at the end, feeling so sad that it'd be over so soon. Loved4.5 stars. I really, really enjoyed this. So much so that I was watching the pages dwindle at the end, feeling so sad that it'd be over so soon. Loved the characters, loved the way the story unfolds both linearly and out of order. ...more
4.5 stars. Really loved this one. May bump it up to five stars after sitting with it for a while. Horn takes seriously the question of what life would4.5 stars. Really loved this one. May bump it up to five stars after sitting with it for a while. Horn takes seriously the question of what life would be like if you couldn't die and the result is a lyrical, meditative, complex story. At a mere 256 pages, it's extremely readable and the main character, Rachel, fascinated me and was someone I loved spending time with. ...more
3.5 stars. I wasn't really in the mood for this book so maybe I would have liked it more at a different time. Definitely worth reading if you like sli3.5 stars. I wasn't really in the mood for this book so maybe I would have liked it more at a different time. Definitely worth reading if you like slightly magical love stories. Would not recommend the audio version which has an annoying click every time a chapter ends. ...more
Magical realism is generally not my cup of tea, but I really liked the way it’s employed in Exit West. Hamid clearly didn’t want to tell the story of Magical realism is generally not my cup of tea, but I really liked the way it’s employed in Exit West. Hamid clearly didn’t want to tell the story of the process of migrating, he wanted to tell the story of what makes someone want to migrate and how they deal with it afterwards. By using tightly guarded magical doors to whisk characters quickly across the globe, Hamid didn’t get bogged down in the arduous details of immigration. Using this technique made it easier to explore the thoughts and lives of Nadia and Saeed as they try to build their lives together.
I loved Hamid’s writing style. His concise sentences were almost poetry in places, but not in a showy way. He has the ability to put words to unspoken ideas and feelings. This short little novel had a huge impact and I find myself thinking about some ideas put forth in it weeks after finishing it. I highly recommend picking up this timely book, even if you don’t usually do magical realism....more
This read was a fascinating dive into magical realism, not a genre I frequent very often. The story flips between Mexico City 1988 and Mexico City 200This read was a fascinating dive into magical realism, not a genre I frequent very often. The story flips between Mexico City 1988 and Mexico City 2009 from chapter to chapter and centers on a trio of friends. Meche, Sebastian, & Daniela, all fifteen, are the freaks of their high school. They’re on the poor side and not exactly conventionally attractive, but they enjoy each other’s company while longing to rise in social standing. Meche had always been told stories of magic by her grandmother, but one day she discovers magic in her very own records and quickly spills the beans to her friends. Cut to 2009 and Meche is back in town from Oslo to attend her father’s funeral. The reader doesn’t know exactly what happened back in the 80’s, but it’s clear Meche isn’t on speaking terms with her old friends.
My resistance to magical realism usually flares up when things get too weird, but Signal to Noise keeps the magical parts pretty simple. The focus here is Meche and her relationship with her friends and family. None of these characters are perfect and Moreno-Garcia isn’t afraid to make them unlikable in places, but I never stopped caring about them. I also really liked the writing style. Even though I’ve never been to Mexico City and I was a child in the 80s, I felt transported through time and place by her writing. I imagine that if you’re a big music lover or were a teenager in the 80s, you’ll love this book for the nostalgia factor. I’d also really recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique book or well-written characters....more
I was seriously afraid that I’d be wasting my time on yet another damsel in distress story where the awkward boy gets to find himself and be the hero,I was seriously afraid that I’d be wasting my time on yet another damsel in distress story where the awkward boy gets to find himself and be the hero, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Bone Gap played with all those expectations and tropes in an unexpected way. This was shortlisted for the National Book Award, so I was hoping it’d be good. It was!
Bone Gap is a strange town with some serious secrets. Finn and Sean are two young men/boys just trying to survive after their mother left them for an orthodontist when a mysterious young woman, Roza, shows up in their barn one morning. The small town isn’t sure what to make of her because she’s a stranger and won’t divulge her backstory, but she eventually wins everyone over. Everyone loves her, but no one more than Finn and Sean. Unfortunately their lives are turned upside down when Finn witnesses a man kidnapping her. Because he can’t remember the man’s face, the town (including Sean) doesn’t believe his story. What saves this novel from being a regular old damsel in distress book is that we get Roza’s perspective. She’s in a tight spot, but she’s not some helpless beautiful creature who becomes more of a prize than an actual human being.
As someone who used to live in a small town, I loved all the seriously on-point commentary about small town life. That kind of setting really worked for this book. Ruby developed some strange and lovely characters that felt like real people by the end. The writing was beautiful and his book really has everything: romance, adventure, magic, family issues, illness, etc. Definitely one worth putting on your TBRs!...more
Although this book wasn’t everything I hoped it would be, it was an enjoyable read. There are several mysteries in The Book of Speculation and it’s fuAlthough this book wasn’t everything I hoped it would be, it was an enjoyable read. There are several mysteries in The Book of Speculation and it’s fun to try to puzzle them out as you’re reading. Swyler wrote some wonderful, complicated characters. Unfortunately, the main character, Simon, wasn’t one of them. He fell a bit flat for me and his constant “I know what’s best” attitude towards his little sister was obnoxious. Even with that caveat, I’d still recommend this one to fans of magical realism, books about books, or circus novels (nowhere as magical as The Night Circus or as weird as Geek Love though)....more
3.5 stars. I love Lauren Beukes because her books combine really high quality writing with propelling plots and this one is no exception. It took a we3.5 stars. I love Lauren Beukes because her books combine really high quality writing with propelling plots and this one is no exception. It took a weird magical realism turn towards the end that I was iffy about, but that's really just a personal taste thing. I would recommend this, just be aware that it's not for the faint of heart!...more
Overall this was a really fun read. Magical realism in short story form definitely keeps you on your toes as a reader. Just as you start to get the haOverall this was a really fun read. Magical realism in short story form definitely keeps you on your toes as a reader. Just as you start to get the hang of one world, the story is over and you're on to the next one. Several stories were brilliant, one was a clunker, and the rest were all worth reading at least once. I would recommend reading them all because they create something bigger than themselves together, but here's the ratings breakdown of each story:
The Summer People - 4 Stars I Can See Right Through You - 3 Stars Secret Identity - 5 Stars Valley of the Girls - 2 Stars Origin Story - 5 Stars The Lesson - 3 Stars The New Boyfriend - 4 Stars Two Houses - 5 Stars (This story was soooooo well done. Instant classic.) Light - 3 Stars ...more
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