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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
CURSED BUNNY contains ten short stories that blend different genres, ranging from horror, science fiction, magical realism, and fantasy. Chung further leverages her masterful writing to unveil humanity's cruelty with precision. With a combination of unsettling tales, imaginative plots, and captivating storytelling, CURSED BUNNY is a masterful book that packs a punch in each short story and has me at the edge of my seat on every page.
The Embodiment exposes the terrors of patriarchy most absurdly and refreshingly. Chung examines the traditional concept that women must be wives and bear children and the stigma of moms having kids outside of marriage. The ending left me so disturbed
The Embodiment exposes the terrors of patriarchy most absurdly and refreshingly. Chung examines the traditional concept that women must be wives and bear children and the stigma of moms having kids outside of marriage. The ending left me so disturbed
After years of incarceration, Tookie landed a job as a bookseller at a small independent bookstore in Minneapolis. Nonetheless, her peaceful life is upended when a white customer who claims to have indigenous roots dies and starts haunting Tookie in her beloved bookstore. In a year of unrest and grief, Tookie must try to solve the mystery of her haunting by facing her ghosts from the past and present.
THE SENTENCE is a remarkable novel that explores the complexities of relationships, the impact of historical oppression on individuals and communities, and the struggles of small business owners during times of social unrest. Erdrich's unique writing style immediately drew me in, with her masterful use of language and the interweaving of multiple storylines.
The novel is so much more than a ghost story and discusses other aspects, including Tookie's struggles with friendships and family, her husband working as a policeman as an indigenous person, the effects of the pandemic on marginalized communities, and the profound impacts of the Black Lives Matter movement. Erdrich deftly portrays how these events affect individuals and communities that are historically oppressed and discriminated against.
The title of the book, THE SENTENCE, takes on multiple meanings throughout the story. It can refer to the ghost's unfinished business, the legal consequences of a flawed justice system, the emotional burden of trauma, and the weight our words carry. Erdrich's exploration of the various interpretations of THE SENTENCE is thought-provoking and profoundly moving.
THE SENTENCE is a powerful and engaging novel that touches on a wide range of complex issues. While the story can seem meandering at times, it is a must-read for those interested in exploring indigenous literature.
THE SENTENCE is a remarkable novel that explores the complexities of relationships, the impact of historical oppression on individuals and communities, and the struggles of small business owners during times of social unrest. Erdrich's unique writing style immediately drew me in, with her masterful use of language and the interweaving of multiple storylines.
The novel is so much more than a ghost story and discusses other aspects, including Tookie's struggles with friendships and family, her husband working as a policeman as an indigenous person, the effects of the pandemic on marginalized communities, and the profound impacts of the Black Lives Matter movement. Erdrich deftly portrays how these events affect individuals and communities that are historically oppressed and discriminated against.
The title of the book, THE SENTENCE, takes on multiple meanings throughout the story. It can refer to the ghost's unfinished business, the legal consequences of a flawed justice system, the emotional burden of trauma, and the weight our words carry. Erdrich's exploration of the various interpretations of THE SENTENCE is thought-provoking and profoundly moving.
THE SENTENCE is a powerful and engaging novel that touches on a wide range of complex issues. While the story can seem meandering at times, it is a must-read for those interested in exploring indigenous literature.
Novelist Ruth lives with her husband and cat on a remote Cortes Island in British Columbia. One day, she discovers a Hello Kitty lunch box along with diary entries and old artifacts by the beach, possibly from the 2011 tsunami that devastated Japan. The diary reveals a 16-year-old girl named Nao and her lonely high school life. Being the subject of extreme bullying by her classmates, Nao has decided to end her life. Nao's last project is to document her great-grandmother's life, an anarchist-feminist-novelist-turned-Buddhist-nun. Through gorgeous writing that blends humor and sympathy seamlessly, Ozeki spins a tale of how two lonely souls separated by the Pacific Ocean are intertwined and their quest to find a home.
TIME BEING is like an onion; it has layers and made me cry so much. The book alternates between Nao's diary, which describes her life in high school and at home, and Ruth's reflections on the entries. TIME BEING has a slower start, and Nao's description of bullying is extremely disturbing, even though she writes in a distant and almost whimsical voice. I was initially tempted to DNF because of how depressing the topic is, but I'm so glad I stuck with it! TIME BEING picks up pace eventually, and as I learn more about Nao's family history and how the two women are connected, I couldn't put the book down at all. I particularly adore Ozeki's masterful writing in blending Buddhism and quantum physics! When do you get to read about Zen AND Schrödinger's cat in a novel?
I think Nao's POV is more intriguing, but Ruth's narrative is a suitable break between the heavy topics. TIME BEING is a beautiful book that explores life, death, and courage in a way unlike anything I've read before.
TIME BEING is like an onion; it has layers and made me cry so much. The book alternates between Nao's diary, which describes her life in high school and at home, and Ruth's reflections on the entries. TIME BEING has a slower start, and Nao's description of bullying is extremely disturbing, even though she writes in a distant and almost whimsical voice. I was initially tempted to DNF because of how depressing the topic is, but I'm so glad I stuck with it! TIME BEING picks up pace eventually, and as I learn more about Nao's family history and how the two women are connected, I couldn't put the book down at all. I particularly adore Ozeki's masterful writing in blending Buddhism and quantum physics! When do you get to read about Zen AND Schrödinger's cat in a novel?
I think Nao's POV is more intriguing, but Ruth's narrative is a suitable break between the heavy topics. TIME BEING is a beautiful book that explores life, death, and courage in a way unlike anything I've read before.
After dropping out of med school, Emma Starling moved back from California to New Hampshire to care for her father, Clive. Dying from a mysterious brain disease, Clive has been hallucinating small animals and befriending the ghost of a long-dead naturalist. Unprepared to face her father's illness and her brother's recent recovery from rehab, Emma is hit with another surprise, her best friend from high school is missing, and no one is looking for her. Emma, lost and without a clear career, teams up with Clive to search for a miracle, the return of her friend, a remedy for her ailing father, and a cure for a town haunted by the opioid crisis.
Even though the topics covered in Unlikely Animals are heavy — death, the opioid epidemic, and caring for a parent — Hartnett writes a beautiful story with a whimsical voice and comforting storytelling. Unlikely Animals is narrated by the spirits of those buried in the local cemetery, a brilliant way to break the fourth wall by having the dead talk to the readers directly. Through the lens of the spirits, Hartnett conveys the intricate links between the dead and the living in a small community. I also adore the animals in the book: Moses, a Great Pyrenees lab mix, and Rasputin, a red fox. Any story featuring cute & clever animals automatically gets at least a four-star for me.
I read Unlikely Animals in between heavier reads and find it an absolute pleasure to read a light-hearted book that still conveys powerful messages with a heartwarming story.
Even though the topics covered in Unlikely Animals are heavy — death, the opioid epidemic, and caring for a parent — Hartnett writes a beautiful story with a whimsical voice and comforting storytelling. Unlikely Animals is narrated by the spirits of those buried in the local cemetery, a brilliant way to break the fourth wall by having the dead talk to the readers directly. Through the lens of the spirits, Hartnett conveys the intricate links between the dead and the living in a small community. I also adore the animals in the book: Moses, a Great Pyrenees lab mix, and Rasputin, a red fox. Any story featuring cute & clever animals automatically gets at least a four-star for me.
I read Unlikely Animals in between heavier reads and find it an absolute pleasure to read a light-hearted book that still conveys powerful messages with a heartwarming story.
Marina Salles is dead at sixteen. But her life doesn't end. Instead, she transforms into an aswang, a shape-shifting creature that exists in Filipino folklore. With this new-found power, Marina can access people's memories, the women that came before her and even her killer's, and infuse new meanings into their pasts. While Marina seeks vengeance for her unjust death as an aswang, she retraces the steps of her life that lead to her final moment.
A Tiny Upward Shove is hands down the saddest, most disturbing, and at times unbearable book I've read. It is also a remarkable debut that sheds light on important issues we tend to overlook — missing girls and women. A Tiny Upward Shove is an intense examination of how adults fail children. We often talk about how it takes a village to raise a child. Similarly, it takes multiple failures for a kid to fall through the cracks, abusive parents, neglectful adults, and the underfunded foster care system.
Chadburn leverages her extensive investigation and reporting on the child welfare system and the true story of Canadian serial killer Willie Pickton to highlight the abuse and neglect children face. Its discussions of children forced to take on responsibilities due to the failures of adults remind me of Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley. A Tiny Upward Shove can be a very triggering read, and I'd advise those interested to check out the TW tags first.
Even if you decide not to read A Tiny Upward Shove, I want to highlight Chadburn's message in the author's notes. "According to the National Crime Information Center, to date, more than 5,800* Indigenous womxn, girls, and two-spirit persons throughout the United States and Canada have been reported as missing or murdered. This novel asks that we recognize those who have died, those who are still missing, those who have survived, and their beloved grievers".
To all the missing children, girls, and women, this book is for you.
A Tiny Upward Shove is hands down the saddest, most disturbing, and at times unbearable book I've read. It is also a remarkable debut that sheds light on important issues we tend to overlook — missing girls and women. A Tiny Upward Shove is an intense examination of how adults fail children. We often talk about how it takes a village to raise a child. Similarly, it takes multiple failures for a kid to fall through the cracks, abusive parents, neglectful adults, and the underfunded foster care system.
Chadburn leverages her extensive investigation and reporting on the child welfare system and the true story of Canadian serial killer Willie Pickton to highlight the abuse and neglect children face. Its discussions of children forced to take on responsibilities due to the failures of adults remind me of Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley. A Tiny Upward Shove can be a very triggering read, and I'd advise those interested to check out the TW tags first.
Even if you decide not to read A Tiny Upward Shove, I want to highlight Chadburn's message in the author's notes. "According to the National Crime Information Center, to date, more than 5,800* Indigenous womxn, girls, and two-spirit persons throughout the United States and Canada have been reported as missing or murdered. This novel asks that we recognize those who have died, those who are still missing, those who have survived, and their beloved grievers".
To all the missing children, girls, and women, this book is for you.