I read this in my ongoing effort to get through the National Book Award longlist, and I’m glad I did. In some ways, its themes are reminiscent of thosI read this in my ongoing effort to get through the National Book Award longlist, and I’m glad I did. In some ways, its themes are reminiscent of those of another finalist, Rumaan Alam’s Leave the World Behind, but I much preferred Lydia Millet’s approach to his. Her voice is deeply idiosyncratic — wry and observant and surprising — and she leans into her off-kilter worldview with a welcome consistency. I especially loved her depiction of the wise and sensitive child Jack, and I felt like she did an excellent job of never letting me get ahead of where her strange and disturbing and darkly humorous tale was headed. I’ll definitely seek more of her work out after this. ...more
This is a dark, intense, mysterious, and evocative exploration of one woman’s troubling journey into an unusual kind of madness, and the causes and efThis is a dark, intense, mysterious, and evocative exploration of one woman’s troubling journey into an unusual kind of madness, and the causes and effects of that madness. Cleanly and sparingly crafted, Kang has created an effectively disorienting and disturbing dreamlike tale that never tries to find easy answers to the tough questions it poses. ...more
I admire Steph Cha’s ambitions, to explore and examine the legacy of the 1992 Los Angeles riots on a pair of families, one Korean-American and one BlaI admire Steph Cha’s ambitions, to explore and examine the legacy of the 1992 Los Angeles riots on a pair of families, one Korean-American and one Black. And in many ways, in many scenes, she succeeds in resisting any impulse other writers may feel to simplify the complexities of that legacy. But unfortunately, her plot winds up feeling a bit too neat, and ultimately a little too melodramatic, to hang together in a convincing manner, and she sometimes lacks the ability to bring a nuanced feel to the more emotionally fraught scenes she’s created.
I hope more writers follow in Cha’s footsteps, and continue to mine the rich and difficult terrain of that painful chapter. And I hope Cha keeps striving to shine a light on stories that are largely untold. ...more
This is an intriguing book: a chilly, cerebral examination of a woman’s grief after her sister is violently murdered. I’m left a little distanced by BThis is an intriguing book: a chilly, cerebral examination of a woman’s grief after her sister is violently murdered. I’m left a little distanced by Berry’s approach, but also impressed by her subtlety and interest in examining the complexities of investigating violence against women.
My 3-star rating is reflective of my experience of very little dramatic tension, but I do think that Berry is a talented writer, and I’d be curious to see where she went from here....more
Nell Zink is a truly original novelist, with tons of wit and intellect, and an especially impressive depth of understanding of the complexities of whaNell Zink is a truly original novelist, with tons of wit and intellect, and an especially impressive depth of understanding of the complexities of what it means to try to live as an enlightened liberal human in an era of unfettered global capitalism. Where she falls a bit short is in piercing the hearts of her vibrantly drawn, oddball characters. But she’s intensely perceptive, and skilled at depicting recognizably weird and specific behavior, and I really never was able to remotely predict where her narrative was heading next.
I can imagine her style would be off-putting to some, but I really enjoyed this examination of a family living in ripped-from-the-headlines contemporary NYC & DC. And I look forward to reading more of her work. ...more
This is a fascinating portrait of the intimate inner life of a woman navigating marriage and motherhood. At first, I wasn’t sure whether Offill’s fracThis is a fascinating portrait of the intimate inner life of a woman navigating marriage and motherhood. At first, I wasn’t sure whether Offill’s fractured, allusive style would work for me, but it won me over in the end; form and content felt inseparable.
I don’t think Offill’s approach will work for everyone, but I’m inspired by what I read. ...more
I picked this up in the mood for a quick, light read, and it delivered on that front. There’s a breeziness to the simple approach that never allows itI picked this up in the mood for a quick, light read, and it delivered on that front. There’s a breeziness to the simple approach that never allows it to really amount to much more than a snack of a novel, but snacks can be pleasant enough to enjoy. And enjoy it I did, for the most part. A bit too much info dumping and some shallowness kept me from enjoying it more. A kind of relic of its time, I suppose. ...more
A very unusual book, which starts out in an intensely creepy manner, and then takes some surprising and strange turns along the way. It feels both verA very unusual book, which starts out in an intensely creepy manner, and then takes some surprising and strange turns along the way. It feels both very personal and sort of at a remove, which is in a way appropriate, since Helen Phillips seems to be exploring the primal forces that must always push and pull at the heart, mind, and soul of a mother of small children.
I’m definitely going to be thinking about this one for some time....more
C.J. Cherryh does it again, creating a compelling, inventive, unusual world, and peopling it with alien beings who feel truly alien and altogether autC.J. Cherryh does it again, creating a compelling, inventive, unusual world, and peopling it with alien beings who feel truly alien and altogether authentic. As usual, I imagine her somewhat oblique style would be off-putting to some, but I treasure the confidence with which she goes about telling her story, never giving away too much, and always managing to craft surprising turns. Her depth of understanding of how cultures shape people creates endlessly fascinating moments. I look forward to continuing with this trilogy. ...more
This novel attempts to encapsulate both the personal and societal impacts of a decades-long brutal dictatorship, and it is most successful in depictinThis novel attempts to encapsulate both the personal and societal impacts of a decades-long brutal dictatorship, and it is most successful in depicting the cold, calculating depravity at the core of the dictator. But something about Llosa’s approach left me feeling mostly at a remove; perhaps it’s the enormous cast of characters, most of whom seem to be quite similar to one another, that made it difficult to feel as invested as I’d have liked to be.
I’m glad, though, to have learned about a chapter of the Dominican Republic’s turbulent history that had been unknown to me. And I’d be curious to seek out other examples of this Nobel Prize-winner’s work. ...more
There’s so much to admire about this novel, not the least of which is the fact that it’s a first novel. Tommy Orange is unafraid of taking big, bold rThere’s so much to admire about this novel, not the least of which is the fact that it’s a first novel. Tommy Orange is unafraid of taking big, bold risks in his approach, and many of them pay off in very satisfying ways. The multiplicity of POVs is, for the most part, well done, and always interesting. I did feel like the weaving together of the various connections between all the characters was a little contrived and muddled, and the climax was a little rushed and overly ambiguous.
But as a portrait of some contemporary Native American characters’ experiences, as told by a contemporary Native American writer, it’s well worth reading. It very much makes me want to continue seeking out the work of other Native writers. ...more
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