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literatureaesthetic's Reviews (540)
I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS OMFG
I'll post an actual review soon, just know I LOVED THIS. WOW.
I'll post an actual review soon, just know I LOVED THIS. WOW.
4 Stars
This was my first Murakami book, and it was fantastic. I loved Murakami's writing style. Although the book was slow paced and full of long, unnecessary descriptions, I actually adored the writing. I can see why people consider it tedious, however I think it created the perfect tone. Killing Commendatore was atmospheric, and moody and gripping. Part of this is because the plot was excellently crafted. I had no idea where the story was heading, and just when I thought I did have an idea, Murakami threw a curveball and something completely bizarre happens (which I've heard is often the case with Murakami). I loved the motif of art in this novel. Art plays a key role in the plot and in the lead character's life. I enjoyed viewing the world through an artist's eyes.
I will say, one thing I found weird was the constant mention of breasts? There are so many different ways to describe a woman, yet Murakami constantly was describing women by the size of their breasts, as if their breast size provided enough insight into the character? Someone tell Murakami that breast size doesn't equate to personality
I do still recommend. My first Murakami book was a success, and I can't wait to discover more of his work!
This was my first Murakami book, and it was fantastic. I loved Murakami's writing style. Although the book was slow paced and full of long, unnecessary descriptions, I actually adored the writing. I can see why people consider it tedious, however I think it created the perfect tone. Killing Commendatore was atmospheric, and moody and gripping. Part of this is because the plot was excellently crafted. I had no idea where the story was heading, and just when I thought I did have an idea, Murakami threw a curveball and something completely bizarre happens (which I've heard is often the case with Murakami). I loved the motif of art in this novel. Art plays a key role in the plot and in the lead character's life. I enjoyed viewing the world through an artist's eyes.
I will say, one thing I found weird was the constant mention of breasts? There are so many different ways to describe a woman, yet Murakami constantly was describing women by the size of their breasts, as if their breast size provided enough insight into the character? Someone tell Murakami that breast size doesn't equate to personality
I do still recommend. My first Murakami book was a success, and I can't wait to discover more of his work!
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EASIEST 5 stars i've ever given.
This book is haunting and uncomfortable, beautiful and illusive. Reading this was a very unusual experience for me. On the surface, this is a simple story that doesn't offer much. The more you think about it, the more you begin to unravel layers after layers of darkness.
The male gaze defines this story. It's told from the perspective of a few neighbourhood boys, now in their thirties. We follow them as they attempt to uncover why the Lisbon sisters commit suicide. In their relentless pursuit for answers, they reveal an obsession with the girls that still continue to haunt them decades after their suicides.
The boys' fetishism and romanticisation of the Lisbon girls is nothing but unsettling. Consumed by their obsession, they spend all their time spying on the sisters, and even after their suicides, the boys create an "exhibit" pertaining a collection of the girls journals, photos, Lux's bra and candles. The girls are reduced to a projection of male fantasy and desire, even after they die. The boys witness these girls slowly deteriorate, and blinded by their own infatuation, they fail to help or realise the extent of the situation. It's disturbing, to say the least.
I think Eugenides excelled in his portrayal of the Lisbon sisters. The girls are mesmerising. Placed in the position of the boys, the reader can't help but feel the girls' strange hypnotism. Erased by the male narrators, the girls simultaneously exist and are non-existent. It's impossible to separate the girls from the warped male gaze and projected fantasies, and so it's impossible to determine how much of them is a constructed illusion. Personally, I couldn't help but feel this uncanny feeling of just wanting to know them. The girls are constantly just out of reach.
This was one of the most striking elements for me. How easy it is to be swept up in the male gaze and the boys' obsession. I think Eugenides is masterful at writing. The author's ability to blind the reader along with the boys and to be able to evoke such strong reactions from me - incredible. Like I was simulataneously distraught for the girls and sickened by the boys, while still feeling hypnotised by the sisters and being swept up in this male gaze. It's inteeeense lmao. There's a lot going on, with much to reflect on. Very quickly, let's not forget how the girls are also confined and controlled by religious parents. The girls become an emblem of repressed sexuality and oppressive parental control, along with projected male fantasy. Let my girls breathe, my god.
The Virgin Suicides is also a critique of 70s American suburbia. The story is a fabrication of various different perspectives (the boys being the overarching perspective). From the neighbours recounting their experiences with the girls, as well as newspaper articles etc. It is the neighbourhood's story just as much as it is the girls. The way that the suicides are perceived as a danger to the community rather than something that strikes concern. The way the neighbours are happy to watch the family slowly decay rather than help.
After their suicides, the death of the girls almost morph into a metaphor for the slow disintegration and decay of the neighbourhood. The trees that the sisters loved so much are slowly being consumed by disease and have to be cut down. The girls' suicides are portrayed as a cancer that slowly spreads and causes the destruction of the entire neighbourhood.
Sooo, the plot is unique, the story subtly offers a lot to discuss and explore, but I think where this book shines the most is in its writing. It reads more like poetry than a novel. The writing was flawless and added to the rapturing lure of this story. It almost felt dream-like, at times. Along with the boys, I was also consumed. Though I know this type of lyrical writing doesn't work for everyone, it definitely works for me. I found myself constantly rereading passages and underlining and posting quotes of this book on my story.
I think it's important to mention that this is a novel that blurs lines. Considering a lot of it is discussing issues that the author himself will contribute to, in some way or another, whether it's the male gaze or the discourse on american suburban culture. I think, for the most part, it's very clear, but there are instances where it is difficult to tell whether or not something was intentionally written, or unconciously included (so differentiating between the male gaze of the characters, vs the male gaze of the author).
Even the racial slurs (which there are a few of, something to keep in mind!!), I believe to be an extension of this critique of white american suburbia. A culture that is all about outward performance, the illusions, and aesthetics. On the surface, it appears welcoming and perfect. Underneath are layers of bitterness, ignorance, archaic views, and festering decay. I think that the racial slurs, like with the uncomfortable romanticisation of the girls, were purposeful and intentional. That doesn't erase its unpleasantness. I think it's one of those things that contributes to this books' polarising reception and will definitely be a deal breaker for a lot of readers.
If you're looking for a conventional story, this won't be for you. Nothing is explained. In fact, by the end, I was left more with more questions than answers. I think that contributes to the unsettling beauty of this story. But it definitely won't be for everyone.
Thankfully, it worked for me. This is a new all-time favourite book. It's one that I feel like I could discuss for HOURS. I'm so excited to read the rest of Eugenides' books!!
This book is haunting and uncomfortable, beautiful and illusive. Reading this was a very unusual experience for me. On the surface, this is a simple story that doesn't offer much. The more you think about it, the more you begin to unravel layers after layers of darkness.
The male gaze defines this story. It's told from the perspective of a few neighbourhood boys, now in their thirties. We follow them as they attempt to uncover why the Lisbon sisters commit suicide. In their relentless pursuit for answers, they reveal an obsession with the girls that still continue to haunt them decades after their suicides.
The boys' fetishism and romanticisation of the Lisbon girls is nothing but unsettling. Consumed by their obsession, they spend all their time spying on the sisters, and even after their suicides, the boys create an "exhibit" pertaining a collection of the girls journals, photos, Lux's bra and candles. The girls are reduced to a projection of male fantasy and desire, even after they die. The boys witness these girls slowly deteriorate, and blinded by their own infatuation, they fail to help or realise the extent of the situation. It's disturbing, to say the least.
I think Eugenides excelled in his portrayal of the Lisbon sisters. The girls are mesmerising. Placed in the position of the boys, the reader can't help but feel the girls' strange hypnotism. Erased by the male narrators, the girls simultaneously exist and are non-existent. It's impossible to separate the girls from the warped male gaze and projected fantasies, and so it's impossible to determine how much of them is a constructed illusion. Personally, I couldn't help but feel this uncanny feeling of just wanting to know them. The girls are constantly just out of reach.
This was one of the most striking elements for me. How easy it is to be swept up in the male gaze and the boys' obsession. I think Eugenides is masterful at writing. The author's ability to blind the reader along with the boys and to be able to evoke such strong reactions from me - incredible. Like I was simulataneously distraught for the girls and sickened by the boys, while still feeling hypnotised by the sisters and being swept up in this male gaze. It's inteeeense lmao. There's a lot going on, with much to reflect on. Very quickly, let's not forget how the girls are also confined and controlled by religious parents. The girls become an emblem of repressed sexuality and oppressive parental control, along with projected male fantasy. Let my girls breathe, my god.
The Virgin Suicides is also a critique of 70s American suburbia. The story is a fabrication of various different perspectives (the boys being the overarching perspective). From the neighbours recounting their experiences with the girls, as well as newspaper articles etc. It is the neighbourhood's story just as much as it is the girls. The way that the suicides are perceived as a danger to the community rather than something that strikes concern. The way the neighbours are happy to watch the family slowly decay rather than help.
After their suicides, the death of the girls almost morph into a metaphor for the slow disintegration and decay of the neighbourhood. The trees that the sisters loved so much are slowly being consumed by disease and have to be cut down. The girls' suicides are portrayed as a cancer that slowly spreads and causes the destruction of the entire neighbourhood.
Sooo, the plot is unique, the story subtly offers a lot to discuss and explore, but I think where this book shines the most is in its writing. It reads more like poetry than a novel. The writing was flawless and added to the rapturing lure of this story. It almost felt dream-like, at times. Along with the boys, I was also consumed. Though I know this type of lyrical writing doesn't work for everyone, it definitely works for me. I found myself constantly rereading passages and underlining and posting quotes of this book on my story.
I think it's important to mention that this is a novel that blurs lines. Considering a lot of it is discussing issues that the author himself will contribute to, in some way or another, whether it's the male gaze or the discourse on american suburban culture. I think, for the most part, it's very clear, but there are instances where it is difficult to tell whether or not something was intentionally written, or unconciously included (so differentiating between the male gaze of the characters, vs the male gaze of the author).
Even the racial slurs (which there are a few of, something to keep in mind!!), I believe to be an extension of this critique of white american suburbia. A culture that is all about outward performance, the illusions, and aesthetics. On the surface, it appears welcoming and perfect. Underneath are layers of bitterness, ignorance, archaic views, and festering decay. I think that the racial slurs, like with the uncomfortable romanticisation of the girls, were purposeful and intentional. That doesn't erase its unpleasantness. I think it's one of those things that contributes to this books' polarising reception and will definitely be a deal breaker for a lot of readers.
If you're looking for a conventional story, this won't be for you. Nothing is explained. In fact, by the end, I was left more with more questions than answers. I think that contributes to the unsettling beauty of this story. But it definitely won't be for everyone.
Thankfully, it worked for me. This is a new all-time favourite book. It's one that I feel like I could discuss for HOURS. I'm so excited to read the rest of Eugenides' books!!
3.5/75☆ — in a similar vein to sci-fi classic 'solaris' by stanisław lem, ‘fractal noise’ is a thoughtful mediation on existentialism, grief and the human search for purpose
we follow xenobiologist, alex, as he ventures on a brutal expedition to study an anomaly on a seemingly uninhabited planet. very quickly, the novel descends into an almost nihilistic rumination on loss and suffering. the closer the crew gets to this hole on the planet, the deeper they sink into madness (imo, it felt reminiscent of ‘solaris’, specifically in the way that the characters are forced to confront past traumas - but i did enjoy this book more)
i think it’s important to state that this book is nothing like ‘to sleep in a sea of stars’, and going into this expecting tsiasos 2.0 will leave you feeling disappointed. i was quite surprised at how different in tone this book was. it felt hopeless and bleak (it almost reminds me of the feeling i got whilst reading ‘i who have never known men’). all in all, a stark contrast from the fun adventure story that is tsiasos
while this book had interesting enough concepts - the man vs environment dichotomy as they traverse this harsh planet, as well as the more psychological and existential explorations - i found that the way some ideas were delivered got repetitive? almost all of the looks into existentialism were introduced through 2 members of the crew who are just arguing the entire time. having two insufferable characters non-stop shouting at each other about life and religion and god gets boring very quickly
i do recommend 'fractal noise', but idk there’s just something about this book that makes it difficult for me to evaluate exactly how i feel? maybe it’s the fact that i went in with the wrong expectations, i’m not sure. it was okay, i did enjoy it, but i do also think there’s something lacking (i can’t quite pinpoint what that is). maybe that feeling of "something is missing" is the whole point? i really do not know lmao
we follow xenobiologist, alex, as he ventures on a brutal expedition to study an anomaly on a seemingly uninhabited planet. very quickly, the novel descends into an almost nihilistic rumination on loss and suffering. the closer the crew gets to this hole on the planet, the deeper they sink into madness (imo, it felt reminiscent of ‘solaris’, specifically in the way that the characters are forced to confront past traumas - but i did enjoy this book more)
i think it’s important to state that this book is nothing like ‘to sleep in a sea of stars’, and going into this expecting tsiasos 2.0 will leave you feeling disappointed. i was quite surprised at how different in tone this book was. it felt hopeless and bleak (it almost reminds me of the feeling i got whilst reading ‘i who have never known men’). all in all, a stark contrast from the fun adventure story that is tsiasos
while this book had interesting enough concepts - the man vs environment dichotomy as they traverse this harsh planet, as well as the more psychological and existential explorations - i found that the way some ideas were delivered got repetitive? almost all of the looks into existentialism were introduced through 2 members of the crew who are just arguing the entire time. having two insufferable characters non-stop shouting at each other about life and religion and god gets boring very quickly
i do recommend 'fractal noise', but idk there’s just something about this book that makes it difficult for me to evaluate exactly how i feel? maybe it’s the fact that i went in with the wrong expectations, i’m not sure. it was okay, i did enjoy it, but i do also think there’s something lacking (i can’t quite pinpoint what that is). maybe that feeling of "something is missing" is the whole point? i really do not know lmao
3.5☆
this was a very interesting study of temporality and reality. we follow 4 different characters, all connected through a temporal anomaly, or a lapse in time. 'sea of tranquility' spans 500 years, exploring anxieties, fears, existential dread... a bunch of things that have been plaguing people for a millennia
it's a piece of post-pandemic literature that questions the concept of the "apocalypse", and humanities obsession with the end of the world. mandel almost suggests that the world is always ending, to some degree. the world is ending when we lose a loved one, or when a pandemic strikes, etc. the concept that the end is ongoing was so interesting, and it's such a unique way to reframe apocalyptic literature
this leads into the novel's core message of living in the present, finding beauty and moments of tranquility in everything the world has to offer, reassessing where we find value, etc. it's a little cheesy, but i didn't mind that
i found this book to be introspective, full of heart, subdued, and quietly powerful. it kinda replicated the feeling i get when i read becky chambers' work? (take that with a grain of salt PLEASE lol)
saying alll of that, the ending left something to be desired. i found the way that all these character's narratives connected to be a little cliché?? it was so impactful throughout, but the ending ultimately left me thinking, "oh, that's it?" i think it began going a little downhill after olive's section (who was my fav character)
i'm definitely in the minority because everyone seems to love the ending, and i would still recommend this book, for sure!! but i did go from tearing up over how impactful it was to feeling quite dissatisfied by how things wrapped up
this was a very interesting study of temporality and reality. we follow 4 different characters, all connected through a temporal anomaly, or a lapse in time. 'sea of tranquility' spans 500 years, exploring anxieties, fears, existential dread... a bunch of things that have been plaguing people for a millennia
it's a piece of post-pandemic literature that questions the concept of the "apocalypse", and humanities obsession with the end of the world. mandel almost suggests that the world is always ending, to some degree. the world is ending when we lose a loved one, or when a pandemic strikes, etc. the concept that the end is ongoing was so interesting, and it's such a unique way to reframe apocalyptic literature
this leads into the novel's core message of living in the present, finding beauty and moments of tranquility in everything the world has to offer, reassessing where we find value, etc. it's a little cheesy, but i didn't mind that
i found this book to be introspective, full of heart, subdued, and quietly powerful. it kinda replicated the feeling i get when i read becky chambers' work? (take that with a grain of salt PLEASE lol)
saying alll of that, the ending left something to be desired. i found the way that all these character's narratives connected to be a little cliché?? it was so impactful throughout, but the ending ultimately left me thinking, "oh, that's it?" i think it began going a little downhill after olive's section (who was my fav character)
i'm definitely in the minority because everyone seems to love the ending, and i would still recommend this book, for sure!! but i did go from tearing up over how impactful it was to feeling quite dissatisfied by how things wrapped up
