Oh wow, I loved this book. My Last Innocent Year takes place in the winter of 1998 and follows Isabel Rosen, a senior at the prestigious, wea4.5 stars
Oh wow, I loved this book. My Last Innocent Year takes place in the winter of 1998 and follows Isabel Rosen, a senior at the prestigious, wealthy, and elite Wilder College located in New Hampshire. Isabel comes from a working-class Jewish family that owns a Lower East Side appetizing store. Her senior year starts out tumultuously when Isabel is sexually assaulted by Zev, one of the only other Jewish students on campus. The emotional upheaval in Isabel’s life escalates when she meets R.H. Connelly, a once-famous poet and non-tenure-track professor who’s teaching Isabel’s competitive writing seminar this semester. Their affair sets the shaky foundation for a series of events that transcends Isabel’s individual life and speaks to the broader landscape of gender and power of that era – and I’d venture to say, our current era as well.
I first want to applaud the writing in this book. Daisy Alpert Florin’s prose was so, so good, and so readable. I feel like she captured the atmosphere of a wealthy liberal arts college so well, as well as that period in your early 20’s where everything feels so intense and important. I found myself immersed in Isabel’s perspective in a way I haven’t felt since I read Ghosts by Dolly Alderton in February (though the two books are very different.) I was enraptured; I stayed up last night finishing the book and only got three hours of quality sleep, though it was worth it (the sleep thing may have also had to do with me drinking a Sprite right before going to bed but, whatever.) The scenes, the dialogue, Isabel’s internal reflection and the retrospective narration – I loved it.
I also appreciated the subtle yet prominent commentary about men’s mistreatment of women and the (white) feminism of the late 90’s. I thought Florin captured Isabel’s initial reactions and timidity around men so well, even when we as readers may be screaming and sighing in disdain as we witness what unfolds. Thanks to Florin’s high quality prose, the messages didn’t come across in a heavy-handed or distracting way. I also liked how Florin captured the shades of grey in certain relationships and situations, though of course not in a way that condones sexual assault or patriarchal violence. There were some elements related to female friendship that I liked and wished could have been more developed, but I didn’t feel annoyed about this enough to rate this book lower.
Finally, I loved Isabel’s growth arc. I appreciated the subtleness of it, how we see her develop some confidence though not in a particularly easy or linear fashion. This style of characterization felt keenly realistic to me, like how many of us learn about ourselves little by little as life unfolds, in a journey that doesn’t stop.
I’m rounding this one up to five stars because it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. I also liked the very implicit, maybe-not-even-there-but-I-read-it-as critique of Zionism/those who support it. Ugh, I want more people to read this book so I can discuss it with folks, especially Isabel’s relationship with Connelly which was wild (also he turned out to be such a… well… I’ll let you read it and draw your own conclusion.) I’m hoping for more books of this quality in 2024!...more
Another short review because I found this book cute though that’s about it! I think this might be a case of mismatch of genres. I like the idea of a nAnother short review because I found this book cute though that’s about it! I think this might be a case of mismatch of genres. I like the idea of a novel that doesn’t rely on conflict to keep the story going, though I still struggled to get much out of Legends and Lattes. The writing felt too simplistic for me, and the characters didn’t pop or come across as especially three-dimensional. Also, yay for the sapphic elements (even though I still didn’t like the book much overall)....more
An interconnected set of short stories about Palestinian Americans living in Baltimore, Maryland. The first few stories dragged for me; I did3.5 stars
An interconnected set of short stories about Palestinian Americans living in Baltimore, Maryland. The first few stories dragged for me; I didn’t feel like the characters were well-developed or that the stories accomplished an emotional arc by their conclusion. I agree with this review about Susan Muaddi Darraj’s writing perhaps perpetuating some stereotypes related to Arab men.
However, the stories in the second half of the book won me over much more. I felt like they captured how classism and racist manifest within the Palestinian American community, while also thoughtfully portraying nuanced Palestinian American female characters. My favorite two stories from the collection were “Behind You Is the Sea” and “Gyroscopes.” I’m looking forward to continuing to read Palestinian authors!...more
Pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up liking this book! When We Were Friends follows Fern, who was best friends with Jessica when they were in hPleasantly surprised by how much I ended up liking this book! When We Were Friends follows Fern, who was best friends with Jessica when they were in high school. They shared their deepest and darkest secrets with one another, slept over at each other’s places and had fun silly times together, and talked about school and boys and their parents. But Jessica did something that betrayed Fern’s trust so Fern cut her off. Ten years later, Fern works as a writer and an aspiring mental health counselor, when Jessica reemerges out of the blue. They start to rekindle their friendship, but can Fern trust Jessica after what happened in their shared past?
I will start with some of what I didn’t like about the book before moving onto the positives. I found the writing style kind of clunky, especially the first 50% or so of the book – the characters’ jokes felt a bit forced, some dialogue came across as awkward, and I couldn’t really fully immerse myself in Holly Bourne’s prose. I was definitely leaning toward three stars for a large portion of my reading experience.
But, around the 65% mark, something about this book really clicked for me. Part of it I think was the suspense of whether Fern and Jessica would be able to actually form a friendship again. I also felt like Bourne’s writing came across as more authentic in the latter half of the book. Finally, several of the book’s themes came together toward the end. Throughout the novel Fern is obsessed with the male gaze and what men think of her, and there’s also an emphasis throughout the novel of the casual violence and degrading ways boys and men treat women. While the delivery of those ideas didn’t feel 100% skilled in the first half of the book, Bourne really did make the feminist commentary about sexual violence and female friendship come through by the end of the novel. I was impressed by how she wrote about Fern and Jessica’s friendship and the ways they were both able to mature and grow.
Overall, if the story sounds interesting to you I’d recommend. I think there could have been a bit more unpacking of the male gaze theme (something that is unfortunately super prevalent in the gay male scene too), though I respect and appreciate Bourne’s overall commitment to her feminist message in this novel. Other friendship-focused novels I’ve liked included When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk and We Used to be Friends by Amy Spalding!...more
A cute and pleasant story about two queer siblings in New Zealand figuring out their love lives. I liked the thoughtful representation of OCD, the porA cute and pleasant story about two queer siblings in New Zealand figuring out their love lives. I liked the thoughtful representation of OCD, the portrayal of a wholesome sibling dynamic, and some deeper commentary about how past generations affect the present. I didn’t love the story because I found the writing style hard to get into. First, I felt like Greta’s perspective was almost trying too hard to come across as Fleabag-esque and quirky, which pulled me out of the narrative. Also, within the dialogue, there were some really long speaking turns that were either used to convey information or for a character to engage in an in-depth monologue. I also found these elements of the dialogue distracting. Overall, I thought this book was okay but it wouldn’t be the first I’d recommend....more
Unfortunately I did not enjoy reading this novel. I thought all the characters sounded the same voice-wise even though the book featured multiple poinUnfortunately I did not enjoy reading this novel. I thought all the characters sounded the same voice-wise even though the book featured multiple points of view. In addition to the dry writing, I felt that Godkiller focused so much on action (e.g., character does X, character does Y, character does Z) that it sacrificed more of the emotional component of each character and each character’s interiority. The characters were doing things and I found it hard to care. I don’t always naturally lean toward fantasy so maybe that contributed to my dislike. We’ll see if my book club liked it more than I did!...more
I think this book has some powerful themes related to gendered violence and trauma and how these dark experiences can shape our behaviors, both in relI think this book has some powerful themes related to gendered violence and trauma and how these dark experiences can shape our behaviors, both in relationships with others and toward ourselves. However, I found the execution of Hurricane Girl extremely lacking. The main character has a flat affect that I found grating, not because it made me judge the main character but more because it came across as a gimmick from the author instead of a genuine protagonist’s voice. The plot didn’t really go anywhere either; it just seemed like several events stacked on top of one another. In sum, I wish I had nicer things to say but I found the book boring and confusing and I’m thus hoping for a better read next....more
I liked this short story collection about Black women living in West Texas struggling with generational poverty, dysfunctional relationships, and struI liked this short story collection about Black women living in West Texas struggling with generational poverty, dysfunctional relationships, and structural and interpersonal racism. I found LaToya Watkins’s writing realistic and that she used a consistent voice throughout these stories. My rating perhaps reflects my difficulty with short story collections; I just checked, and of the past 20 short story collections I’ve read, I’ve only given one four stars (the rest three stars or fewer). This collection fell into the three-star category because I wanted more of a complete emotional arc from at least a few of the stories – to me they felt like snapshots that could have been developed more or more fully rounded. As with any rating or judgment of art though that may just be a me thing....more
Deeply enjoyed the last 150 pages or so of this novel, felt so bored by much of what came before that though. In Good Material we follow 35-y3.5 stars
Deeply enjoyed the last 150 pages or so of this novel, felt so bored by much of what came before that though. In Good Material we follow 35-year-old comedian Andy, who was recently broken up with by his girlfriend. After Jen breaks up with him, Andy struggles in all sense of the word – to find a place to live, to resuscitate his failing stand up career, and to get over Jen at all. We follow him through his meandering messy life post-Jen as he tries to cope with a new fitness regime, a new situationship, and eventually maybe a new perspective on what transpired in his old relationship.
One of my favorite things about this novel was that when I finished it, I had a renewed sense of empathy for my friends going through breakups. Ending relationships, even when it’s the right move, is tough! I thought Dolly Alderton did a great job of honestly portraying the messiness of the post break-up stage.
I really did struggle to get through the first half of this novel though. For the majority of the novel we’re in Andy’s head, then we move to Jen’s for the last bit. Andy… wow. He really was a self-absorbed white man who pitied himself and had little empathy for others. It was hard to get through his perspective and I can’t help but think Alderton wrote his point of view in an intentionally annoying way. I’m still not sure how much of my “eh”-ness about the first half of the novel stemmed from Alderton making Andy intentionally unlikable versus the actual writing quality lacking a bit. The first half felt repetitive to me and I was leaning toward two to three stars max.
But, Andy does grow a little by the end of the novel which was nice to read. And I loved when the perspective shifted to Jen’s point of view. As a more femme gay man/genderqueer person who’s not into the whole get married and have kids thing, I related a lot of Jen’s perspectives and experiences. I also found the writing in Jen’s section fluid and entertaining, while still feeling grounded and convincing.
So, mixed feelings about this one. I wonder if Alderton could have done anything differently to the first half of the novel – maybe actually exploring Andy’s emotions more in-depth like with some of his father stuff? Still, after thinking about it I think I will at some point read more of her work, especially given how people in my Goodreads community seem to be a fan of hers....more
An important book about a teenage girl who aspires to be a doctor, whose dreams get caught in the crossfires of the Sri Lankan Civil War. V.V. GaneshaAn important book about a teenage girl who aspires to be a doctor, whose dreams get caught in the crossfires of the Sri Lankan Civil War. V.V. Ganeshananthan does a great job of portraying the devastating and horrifying mistreatment of the Tamils in this context. I also thought she effectively showed the unfairness of when our individual desires clash with dire situations outside of our control. Unfortunately I found the writing style a bit dry and stilted, which lowered my enjoyment of the book even though I recognize its necessity....more
I picked this book up after hearing about it on a podcast episode celebrating being childfree. I liked the novel’s various messages about the pressureI picked this book up after hearing about it on a podcast episode celebrating being childfree. I liked the novel’s various messages about the pressure women and people face to have children, as well as how having children can potentially lead to dissatisfaction with one’s life. The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano also attempts a unique narrative form where we see nine different ways the main character’s life could have played out.
Unfortunately the writing itself left a lot to be desired. Clumsy turns of phrase, clunky similes, emotions described awkwardly – it felt difficult to immerse myself in the narrative because of the prose. Still, I respect Donna Freitas for the book’s themes and for trying something a bit experimental....more
I found the plot of this book super well-written. One of the first novels in a long time where I felt like I was on the edge of my seat; I flipped thrI found the plot of this book super well-written. One of the first novels in a long time where I felt like I was on the edge of my seat; I flipped through the pages quickly so I could figure out what happened. Happiness Falls centers on a half-Korean, half-white family in which the white father goes missing, leaving the two older twin siblings, their younger brother who has autism/Angelman syndrome, and their mother reeling. Angie Kim did an excellent job both on the sentence-level and on the greater plot level of keeping me on my toes with their father’s disappearance. Each twist and turn made sense and added to the development of the story.
I did want a bit more from other elements of the story. I actually don’t think the characters were too well-developed. They each had somewhat distinct personalities and features that distinguished them from one another, but I honestly didn’t get too much depth from them. There were some interesting themes about disability and disability justice, too. But other than that I left this book feeling more like I just finished a well-written thriller that excited me, rather than a novel that made me reflect more deeply about relationships, issues of justice and equity, etc. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I think Kim was both sensitive and electric in her writing, even if I’m not sure if Happiness Falls will leave too much of a longer-lasting impact on me....more
Omg, I did not expect to be as moved by this book as I was! In The Rachel Incident we follow Rachel, a university student working at a bookst4.5 stars
Omg, I did not expect to be as moved by this book as I was! In The Rachel Incident we follow Rachel, a university student working at a bookstore who meets James, a charismatic and supposedly heterosexual fellow early-20-something. The two become roommates and form a close, affectionate, and at times intense friendship. When Rachel develops a crush on her married English professor Fred Byrne, James devises a plan for her to seduce him. When their strategy takes a left turn it sets into motion a string of events that dramatically affects both of their lives and their bond with one another.
I loved how Caroline O’Donoghue captured the layered emotions of being in one’s early 20’s. The mess, the yearning, the being in relationships with people who aren’t right for you and kind of knowing it but not really, the intensity of not yet loving who you are but wanting to. I resonated with Rachel’s emotions; O’Donoghue wrote her internal experience in a way that felt real, unguarded, and honest. Though the first third or even first half of the book meandered at times – I was wavering between three and four stars during that beginning portion – when things came to a head in the latter part of the book, I felt my heart clench. There were certain big moments, certain reveals (e.g., (view spoiler)[when Rachel learns that James is moving to New York, I was shaken, similarly when she and Carey reconnect later (hide spoiler)]), that made me pause and think, dang, I really am invested in these characters now. I felt both for and with Rachel.
I also deeply enjoyed the growth of Rachel’s characters. Her development felt realistic, happening in bumps and starts, not in a grand awakening in a single moment but in little choices that built up to subtly change the course of her life. I felt proud of her and her trajectory. Though people may compare this book to Sally Rooney’s novels given the parallels of white emerging adult protagonists living in Ireland, I liked The Rachel Incident much better, even though both books portray young adults being dysfunctional. I found this book more intentional, the drama more purposeful even if in a similarly slice-of-life way. I also felt that O’Donoghue’s writing was more earnest, refreshingly so, with bits of humor that didn’t come across as unnecessarily cruel.
Finally, I loved the subtle yet strong feminist messaging in this novel. There’s a clear commentary about abortion, though also themes related to class and how women can take things out on one another. All of these components of the novel felt smoothly integrated into the narrative, such that The Rachel Incident always felt first and foremost a story about Rachel’s life, her coming of age within a larger society.
Overall, I’m pleasantly surprised by how much this book moved me. 2023 is coming to a close though there’s still room for books to shine! The first third of the novel may have been a bit off pacing wise – though perhaps reflective of the ennui that can pervade one’s early 20’s – and one part of the novel’s ending didn’t sit exactly right ((view spoiler)[I found Rachel and Carey reconnecting, while definitely super cute and a great portrayal of how people can grow up while apart, a little too convenient/slightly amatonormative (hide spoiler)]). Still, The Rachel Incident had me rooting for Rachel even when I didn’t expect to invest that much, and it made me reflect on how much I know now at 28 compared to when I was like, 20, or 21, or 22. Furthermore, there were a few insights in the novel that struck me as deeply wise, without trying too hard. Overall, I’d say this book deserves its hype....more
A slight novel with spare prose that describes the impact of the Korean war through the generations. I appreciated this book’s emphasis on how war, coA slight novel with spare prose that describes the impact of the Korean war through the generations. I appreciated this book’s emphasis on how war, colonialism, and intergenerational trauma affect relationships. Unfortunately, I found the prose a bit dry and the voices of the characters hard to differentiate from one another, which made it hard to feel invested n these characters and their stories....more
I liked this novel about three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. Their labor is generally unseen and their working conditions are often poor. ThI liked this novel about three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore. Their labor is generally unseen and their working conditions are often poor. Then, a shocking murder accusation is made against one of their friends which disrupts their day-to-day status quo. Each of these women has secrets to keep and allegiances to maintain, though in part through their connection to one another they also gather the strength to challenge the structures that have silenced them for so long.
Balli Kaur Jaswal does a nice job of mixing aspects of different genres in this novel. On one hand, there’s a thriller element about the murder that runs throughout the plot. At the same time, Now You See Us thoroughly interrogates labor conditions of Filipina domestic workers in Singapore and the constraints imposed upon their autonomy. I liked that each of the three protagonists felt distinct in their challenges and desires and for the most part in their voices. I felt that Jaswal effectively captured their struggles while also highlighting their resiliency and capacity to support one another and resist their oppression. She doesn’t minimize their suffering though and how people with power mistreat them. I appreciated that she didn’t sugarcoat the workplace abuse they face. The final two pages brought me to near tears in relation to one of the protagonist’s journey with her grief.
I liked reading how she interviewed Filipina domestic workers in the acknowledgements section. While I didn’t love this book as much as Jaswal’s Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, I can’t deny that she has a talent for storytelling and can write a relatively complex set of plotlines smoothly. The book jacket describes this novel as Crazy Rich Asians meets The Help, and while I haven’t read the former, I’d say this book is definitely less problematic than The Help - so maybe a less problematic version of The Help blended with Big Little Lies....more
I felt underwhelmed by this book. At its core is a story about a couple who’s dissatisfied by their marriage. Somehow, Nathan Hill stretches this basiI felt underwhelmed by this book. At its core is a story about a couple who’s dissatisfied by their marriage. Somehow, Nathan Hill stretches this basic premise across 600 pages, when I think everything insightful about these two characters could’ve been communicated within 200 pages. I found some of the conflicts within their marriage and some of the flashbacks into their pasts interesting, though a lot of times the prose felt dry or the characterization came across as too try-hard.
Hill also includes a lot of commentary about the wellness industry which came across as a bit random to me. I felt like these portions of the book could have been better distilled into a few paragraphs of straightforward critique instead of being interspersed throughout the book. Finally, throughout Wellness he incorporates basic psychological principles in a name-dropping kind of way (e.g., here’s this psychological premise, here’s how this character uses it) which also felt distracting and oddly jammed into these characters’ lives (maybe I was particularly unimpressed because I am a Psychology professor, lol.) Onto the next!...more
Wow, what an absolute stunner of a novel that could not be more relevant to our times. Evil Eye follows Yara, a Palestinian American woman who grew upWow, what an absolute stunner of a novel that could not be more relevant to our times. Evil Eye follows Yara, a Palestinian American woman who grew up in a conservative and emotionally tumultuous family in Brooklyn, New York. Flash forward and she’s working at a local university teaching art, while at the same time raising her two school-aged daughters and doing the majority of the household chores while her husband focuses on his job. Yara is discontent with the makeup of her life, however, it’s not until she responds to a racist comment made by one of her coworkers that her emotions of disappointment and despair start to fester to a boiling point. Yara begins seeing a therapist and the difficult journey of unpacking her memories that are so dreadfully shaking her to her core.
I loved this book. Loved it. First, Etaf Rum’s writing is immaculate. Not flashy, and so compulsively readable and so clear and concise. The prose didn’t get in the way of the story and in fact conveyed Yara’s emotional state with immense clarity and heart – her post-traumatic stress disorder, her depression and anxiety, and all the intergenerational and present-day racism and sexism that contributed to her mental health. I flew through about 200 pages of this novel last night because I felt so invested in Yara, and Rum’s writing, similar to her debut A Woman is No Man, was enthralling in its simple effectiveness.
The depiction of mental health in this novel got me floored. I was shaking, and by the end I was in near tears too! The way Rum described intergenerational trauma and how Yara’s mother was both a victim of and perpetrator of abuse, whew I was emotional. And Yara’s long, arduous journey of learning how to stop blaming herself for other people’s mistreatment of her, of opening up to her friend Silas and her therapist(s), and of starting to actually sit with the physical sensations of her body and self-regulate all made me both devastated and proud of her. Even writing this review makes tears come to my eyes because as a PTSD survivor Yara’s fight for her life is relatable to me, though of course we come from different backgrounds even though we share immigrant parents displaced by war.
All in all, one of my top books of this year and that I’ve read in my life. Rum does such a fantastic job of portraying the micro and macroaggression Yara experiences, as well as her use of journaling and coming into her own voice to heal. Yara’s friendship with Silas and how friendship acts as a conduit for Yara’s healing, increased self-compassion, and learning to open up to other people had me near tears. Also, the portrayals of therapy were excellent, top-notch, so thoughtfully written without sacrificing either the momentum of the plot or what therapy actually looks like. Etaf Rum, you have my whole heart!
Also, this book came out in March of this year (2023), and unfortunately is so relevant. In the novel Yara’s grandparents were displaced from Palestine by Israel’s colonial oppression, which is literally what is happening right now. Here are some actions you can take to advocate for a ceasefire. While it’s already way too late for thousands of people, we need to take action to *prevent* intergenerational trauma, not just provide care for people after the trauma happens. You can also read The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Jewish historian Ilan Pappe if you want to educate yourself on the matter. I’m appreciative of Rum for speaking out about this on her café’s Instagram. FYI, if you leave an oppressive remark about my pro-Palestine, anti-genocide stance in the comments, that’s whatever, I probably just won’t reply. Anyway, this book was spectacular and I don’t want to divert from that, I just felt it’d be disingenuous not to comment on the genocide happening in Palestine now....more
Wanted to get into this one but couldn’t, sad to say it’s my third two-star review in a row. I think within The House of Doors lies some interesting tWanted to get into this one but couldn’t, sad to say it’s my third two-star review in a row. I think within The House of Doors lies some interesting themes related to the secrets we keep in our relationships as well as how power dynamics related to gender, race, and sexual orientation affect our relationships. Unfortunately I struggled to feel invested in the story and the characters though. One, the writing style felt both flowery and dull – like it came across as both intellectualized and distanced, while still trying to convey emotion, and it didn’t work for me. The characters also felt flat and unintriguing. We’ll see what my book club thinks of this one....more
This one missed the mark for me. I think that Emily Austin did a decent job of portraying a woman struggling from social anxiety, intrusive thoughts aThis one missed the mark for me. I think that Emily Austin did a decent job of portraying a woman struggling from social anxiety, intrusive thoughts about death, and relationships where she doesn’t open up to people. However, by the end of the novel I didn’t feel like I got a deeper understanding or connection with the main character. I felt like Austin put a lot of effort into making the prose and the protagonist “quirky,” instead of fleshing the protagonist out more deeply. Finally, I felt that some of the prose was heavy/heavy-handed.
I can see how the book may feel relatable to people with anxiety, though. The search for my next five-star read continues!...more
I liked the message about how women face so much pressure to get married and live a heteronormative, amatonormative life by their late 20’s. Other thaI liked the message about how women face so much pressure to get married and live a heteronormative, amatonormative life by their late 20’s. Other than that, though, this book confused me – I found the pacing off and the fantasy elements difficult to buy into. Appreciate the naming of racism and sexism, though unfortunately this book won’t stick with me much....more
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