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This book. THIS BOOK. I really loved it. It's about Barry and Sophie, an American ex-bonds salesman from Cleveland with dreams of being a painter and a French architect on her honeymoon, who are the two survivors of a plane crash on their trip to a Polynesia. They end up stranded on a small island in the South Pacific and have to learn to survive. As the only two inhabitants of the island besides a menacing octopus they’ve dubbed Balthazar and some birds, Barry and Sophie must learn to work together if they want to live long enough to maybe someday make it home.
I saw a few reviews of this book where people said they were unsure how the felt about it until they got pretty far in the story. That was not how I felt at all. I enjoyed the writing the entire time. The omniscient narration was witty and quirky. That aspect reminded me of John Boyne in The Heart’s Invisible Furies, which I just recently finished, only this book is about a third of the length. I also loved that in this book, the author incorporated both playful foreshadowing a chapter or few paragraphs ahead of time in places along with longer glimpses into another time or life scattered throughout the book.
Another thing I really appreciated was that Barry is extremely nearsighted and has to make three pairs of contacts last, well, maybe forever? Or until he is rescued. As a nearsighted contact-wearer, I’ve semi-often wondered how I would fare in a zombie apocalypse or desert island situation if I didn’t have a spare pair. I also appreciated the realistic challenges Barry and Sophie faced, like having no access to modern medicine or a well balanced diet, weather issues, and lack of survival skills due to being normal people.
Yet another aspect of this book that I really liked were the parts that provided short bits of character development for people who were involved or reasons for why the situation unfolded the way it did, like why the pilot flew off course, who the only other two people on earth were who knew about the island (and why that meant Sophie and Barry were very much in a pickle), and why the island was populated with banana trees. As unbelievable as you would think survival on a desert island is, the author made it more reasonable by including these details.
And finally, the plot. Sophie and Barry, the island, two strangers forced to live and learn together… I don’t want to say too much here, as the gist is “stuck on a desert island and trying to survive”, but their relationship and experience on the island is a delight to read about.
The bits of humor and smart writing mixed with a captivating plot, well developed likable characters, and attention to detail really brought everything together into a five star read for me. It’s a shame that I hadn’t heard of this book until bookstagram brought it to my attention. Also, this was the only copy at Powell’s - why?! More people need to hear about this book. It’s deserving of love and attention and praise. Highly recommend!
I saw a few reviews of this book where people said they were unsure how the felt about it until they got pretty far in the story. That was not how I felt at all. I enjoyed the writing the entire time. The omniscient narration was witty and quirky. That aspect reminded me of John Boyne in The Heart’s Invisible Furies, which I just recently finished, only this book is about a third of the length. I also loved that in this book, the author incorporated both playful foreshadowing a chapter or few paragraphs ahead of time in places along with longer glimpses into another time or life scattered throughout the book.
Another thing I really appreciated was that Barry is extremely nearsighted and has to make three pairs of contacts last, well, maybe forever? Or until he is rescued. As a nearsighted contact-wearer, I’ve semi-often wondered how I would fare in a zombie apocalypse or desert island situation if I didn’t have a spare pair. I also appreciated the realistic challenges Barry and Sophie faced, like having no access to modern medicine or a well balanced diet, weather issues, and lack of survival skills due to being normal people.
Yet another aspect of this book that I really liked were the parts that provided short bits of character development for people who were involved or reasons for why the situation unfolded the way it did, like why the pilot flew off course, who the only other two people on earth were who knew about the island (and why that meant Sophie and Barry were very much in a pickle), and why the island was populated with banana trees. As unbelievable as you would think survival on a desert island is, the author made it more reasonable by including these details.
And finally, the plot. Sophie and Barry, the island, two strangers forced to live and learn together… I don’t want to say too much here, as the gist is “stuck on a desert island and trying to survive”, but their relationship and experience on the island is a delight to read about.
The bits of humor and smart writing mixed with a captivating plot, well developed likable characters, and attention to detail really brought everything together into a five star read for me. It’s a shame that I hadn’t heard of this book until bookstagram brought it to my attention. Also, this was the only copy at Powell’s - why?! More people need to hear about this book. It’s deserving of love and attention and praise. Highly recommend!
The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing follows Amina as she visits her parents after her mom, Kamala, calls to tell her that her brain surgeon father, Thomas, is talking to dead relatives. This book jumps back and forth in time to slowly explain how the family got where they are, including a trip to India to visit family when Amina was a child.
I love a complicated family story, and this book is no exception. The way this book deals with grief, and particularly with grief over time and how life goes on regardless, felt realistic and moving, like with lingering resentments and family members blaming themselves. I also felt like Jacob perfectly captured the kind of anger and hurt you only feel towards or from someone you really love, and how you respond to that, whether it be by sinking into your work or following a new religion.
Somehow this book manages to feel lighthearted at times despite the heavy topics, which is exactly how it feels when you deal with grief in real life - there are still lighter moments in heavy times. So many emotions rang true. Also, this book did make me cry, and I love when a book makes me cry!
If you like family stories where the family has to come to terms with a complicated past, or come together despite a complicated past, I’d highly recommend this one.
I love a complicated family story, and this book is no exception. The way this book deals with grief, and particularly with grief over time and how life goes on regardless, felt realistic and moving, like with lingering resentments and family members blaming themselves. I also felt like Jacob perfectly captured the kind of anger and hurt you only feel towards or from someone you really love, and how you respond to that, whether it be by sinking into your work or following a new religion.
Somehow this book manages to feel lighthearted at times despite the heavy topics, which is exactly how it feels when you deal with grief in real life - there are still lighter moments in heavy times. So many emotions rang true. Also, this book did make me cry, and I love when a book makes me cry!
If you like family stories where the family has to come to terms with a complicated past, or come together despite a complicated past, I’d highly recommend this one.
Well I finished Sweetbitter in two days flat and I loved every second of it. The story, the nostalgia of being your early 20s and starting somewhere new, the nostalgia I somehow feel for NYC despite never having lived there... strong feelings, people. I felt all of the things.
And like, no, I probably won’t quit my life and work in a restaurant, but the messed up yet familial-feeling relationships in this book kind of made me want to?
This book just worked for me. The writing took me there and I deeply cared for the characters. I’ve heard it’s not for everyone and many people seem to loathe this book, but I just loved it.
And like, no, I probably won’t quit my life and work in a restaurant, but the messed up yet familial-feeling relationships in this book kind of made me want to?
This book just worked for me. The writing took me there and I deeply cared for the characters. I’ve heard it’s not for everyone and many people seem to loathe this book, but I just loved it.
(Thanks to @riverheadbooks for the free book) • Real Life by Brandon Taylor is so good. It lived up to the hype and went beyond for me. Before you read my thoughts I do want to highlight some other reviews that made me want to pick this book up: @parisperusing posted a brilliant own voices review back in October. @idleutopia_reads captured the reading experience perfectly in her December review. @shelfbyshelf and @allisonreadsdc posted beautiful reviews in January. @lupita.reads posted about it in February. Their reviews are in my story today!
Real Life takes place over the course of a late summer weekend, following Wallace, a gay black graduate student in the Midwest. He’s surrounded by white friends and high expectations. Wallace is a beautiful character, fully formed and complex. I felt like I knew him, I was tired for him, and my heart hurt for him.
Many reviews have written about how Taylor poignantly articulates the experiences of a gay black man in an environment that is unfortunately overwhelmingly white. Beyond that, for me, Taylor perfectly captured the pressures and loneliness and exhaustion of graduate school, the unsettled feeling of “when will my life start” or “should I be here”, the isolation, the way you are thrown in to a group of friends, the imposter syndrome, the constant pressure and wondering if it’s worth it. As someone who left a PhD program early after never quite feeling good enough, this aspect resonated so much with me.
The writing is immersive and beautiful. The late summer melancholy feeling was so strong. These characters will stick with me. I’d highly recommend this one.
Real Life takes place over the course of a late summer weekend, following Wallace, a gay black graduate student in the Midwest. He’s surrounded by white friends and high expectations. Wallace is a beautiful character, fully formed and complex. I felt like I knew him, I was tired for him, and my heart hurt for him.
Many reviews have written about how Taylor poignantly articulates the experiences of a gay black man in an environment that is unfortunately overwhelmingly white. Beyond that, for me, Taylor perfectly captured the pressures and loneliness and exhaustion of graduate school, the unsettled feeling of “when will my life start” or “should I be here”, the isolation, the way you are thrown in to a group of friends, the imposter syndrome, the constant pressure and wondering if it’s worth it. As someone who left a PhD program early after never quite feeling good enough, this aspect resonated so much with me.
The writing is immersive and beautiful. The late summer melancholy feeling was so strong. These characters will stick with me. I’d highly recommend this one.
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami (translated by Allison Markin Powell) is an unconventional love story set in Tokyo. Tsukiko runs into her old high school Japanese teacher, who she calls Sensei, at a bar. After they first run into each other, they regularly meet at the bar to eat and drink and chat, as Tsukiko slowly develops feelings for Sensei.
This book is short and sweet. It’s quiet and introspective, and I just really loved the sometimes awkward dynamic between Tsukiko and Sensei. The writing is somehow both sparse and atmospheric. It left me feeling a little bit unsettled, and maybe a little bit lonely.
I’d recommend this if you like understated yet still emotional short novels. I’m not sure if it’s just the way Japanese gets translated, but the writing reminded me of Convenience Store Woman, so if you like that writing style, you’d probably enjoy this one too.
This book is short and sweet. It’s quiet and introspective, and I just really loved the sometimes awkward dynamic between Tsukiko and Sensei. The writing is somehow both sparse and atmospheric. It left me feeling a little bit unsettled, and maybe a little bit lonely.
I’d recommend this if you like understated yet still emotional short novels. I’m not sure if it’s just the way Japanese gets translated, but the writing reminded me of Convenience Store Woman, so if you like that writing style, you’d probably enjoy this one too.
This book follows Ruth who moves back in with her parents after a breakup, after her dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It's definitely my type of book - contemporary, main character in her late 20s, quirky humor, etc etc... and I liked it. However, something just felt lacking. I think... it could have been longer? There were moments when I wanted more detail - like about Joel (the ex), about her brother, about how they were feeling. Basically having those side characters more fleshed out.
I did really like the diary-style, especially towards the end. I did find Ruth's relationship with her dad heartwarming, too. I especially loved the diary entries from her dad from when Ruth was growing up.
Even though this book didn't become an absolute favorite of mine, I'd still really recommend it because I feel like the humor and style would really work for a lot of readers. Goodbye, Vitamin is a quick, witty but still sweet book.
I did really like the diary-style, especially towards the end. I did find Ruth's relationship with her dad heartwarming, too. I especially loved the diary entries from her dad from when Ruth was growing up.
Even though this book didn't become an absolute favorite of mine, I'd still really recommend it because I feel like the humor and style would really work for a lot of readers. Goodbye, Vitamin is a quick, witty but still sweet book.
In The Undocumented Americans, Villavicencio writes about her experience and the experiences of many undocumented people with frankness, with humor and composure, despite the unfairness of it all. The additional injustices faced by undocumented people of things that are already injustices - for example, the Flint water crisis - are difficult to read because it’s just all so unfair. At the same time, I couldn’t put it down - reading it feels urgent. This one will be weighing heavily on my mind and heart for, honestly, the rest of my life.
Don’t let this book get lost on your TBR shelf, or to-read list, or whatever. Especially right now, it’s more important than ever to read these stories. Bump this to the top. Everyone needs to read this.
Don’t let this book get lost on your TBR shelf, or to-read list, or whatever. Especially right now, it’s more important than ever to read these stories. Bump this to the top. Everyone needs to read this.
“Perhaps this is how racism feels no matter the context—randomly the rules everyone else gets to play by no longer apply to you, and to call this out by calling out “I swear to God!” is to be called insane, crass, crazy. Bad sportsmanship.”
It’s been quite a long time since I sat down and just read an entire book, but that’s what I did a couple of nights ago, with Citizen, and I’m not even a big poetry person, but it was entirely urgent and readable and too stunning for me to look away.
In Citizen, Claudia Rankine shares experiences of racism, especially in the form of microaggressions, but overt racism, too. It combines essays with lyrical prose. It’s smart and sharp, too - I’m sure I will get more out of this one with every re-read (which I almost never do, but I will do with this one). I highly recommend this one.
It’s been quite a long time since I sat down and just read an entire book, but that’s what I did a couple of nights ago, with Citizen, and I’m not even a big poetry person, but it was entirely urgent and readable and too stunning for me to look away.
In Citizen, Claudia Rankine shares experiences of racism, especially in the form of microaggressions, but overt racism, too. It combines essays with lyrical prose. It’s smart and sharp, too - I’m sure I will get more out of this one with every re-read (which I almost never do, but I will do with this one). I highly recommend this one.
