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pineconek's Reviews (816)
Thank you, uncle Kurt, for your infinite wisdom.
Recommended if you want to laugh and get some life advice (don't we all?).
Recommended if you want to laugh and get some life advice (don't we all?).
I don't think I've ever read anything like this before. I'm confused in the best of ways. This is a very experimental novella but was an effective page turner that explored some really interesting ideas. Themes include parenthood, paranoia, and environmentalism.
Strongly recommended if you feel like experiencing a fever dream.
Strongly recommended if you feel like experiencing a fever dream.
I read this oh so slowly as I'm going through my own wintering right now and every page was alarmingly familiar. I need to get my hands on a copy so that I can annotate it as much as I virtually highlighted the library ebook.
Recommended for when you feel that life's just been throwing punches.
Recommended for when you feel that life's just been throwing punches.
I had a significant understanding of the manosphere for several years before picking this up this book but still learned a lot and got a chance to entertain new perspectives. I listened to the audiobook as read by the author as well as the bonus interview at the end and found the writing and narration absolutely stellar.
The author's central thesis is to take the online radicalisation of misogynists seriously, to take the men who commit murders because of their explicit (stated in manifestos) hatred of women as terrorism, etc. I really appreciate the author's bravery in shedding light on how persvasive the rise of these extreme beliefs are, as well as her nuanced perspectives on what can be done. What was most unique about this book was her interviews with deradicalized men and boys as well as with men who are actively fighting the dangerous ideas and promoting healthier masculinity. I highly recommend this book to both men and women, regardless of how much you know about incels, pick up artists, mgtow, etc...
The author's central thesis is to take the online radicalisation of misogynists seriously, to take the men who commit murders because of their explicit (stated in manifestos) hatred of women as terrorism, etc. I really appreciate the author's bravery in shedding light on how persvasive the rise of these extreme beliefs are, as well as her nuanced perspectives on what can be done. What was most unique about this book was her interviews with deradicalized men and boys as well as with men who are actively fighting the dangerous ideas and promoting healthier masculinity. I highly recommend this book to both men and women, regardless of how much you know about incels, pick up artists, mgtow, etc...
I really enjoyed this one.
This is a "follow a few characters from childhood onwards and watch them grow and intersect" type of book, which I love. This was an excellent way to drive home the aftershocks of residential schools. I really appreciated the balance of the writing, where difficult things were spoken of but not gratuously described. Instead, I feel like I got to know the character's inner worlds and empathize with many aspects of their pain.
Highly recommended if you're interested in character driven books exploring systemic trauma and/or want to gain a broader understanding of the harm done by residential schools in Canada. I also recommend looking up interviews with the author, who highlights how much of the novel was based on true events (including and especially Lily).
This is a "follow a few characters from childhood onwards and watch them grow and intersect" type of book, which I love. This was an excellent way to drive home the aftershocks of residential schools. I really appreciated the balance of the writing, where difficult things were spoken of but not gratuously described. Instead, I feel like I got to know the character's inner worlds and empathize with many aspects of their pain.
Highly recommended if you're interested in character driven books exploring systemic trauma and/or want to gain a broader understanding of the harm done by residential schools in Canada. I also recommend looking up interviews with the author, who highlights how much of the novel was based on true events (including and especially Lily).
I'm not sure whether to open this review up with "what a wild ride" or "what the actual fuck".
This book is dark and brutal in the best of ways. It's an atmospheric book set in a small town in Sweden and features beautifully written horrific events. Several content warnings are necessary for this book, one of the biggest of which is the overarching and quite graphic pedophilia. The other is the horrific bullying that takes place. Altogether, the events of the novel often leave the reader helpless but also engrossed (and grossed out).
I saw both movie adaptations about a decade ago and kept thinking "I don't remember this from the movie....". Thats likely because the bits that weren't adapted are too gruesome for the screen. All that said: excellent horror/thriller that I recommend to seasoned fans with strong stomachs.
This book is dark and brutal in the best of ways. It's an atmospheric book set in a small town in Sweden and features beautifully written horrific events. Several content warnings are necessary for this book, one of the biggest of which is the overarching and quite graphic pedophilia. The other is the horrific bullying that takes place. Altogether, the events of the novel often leave the reader helpless but also engrossed (and grossed out).
I saw both movie adaptations about a decade ago and kept thinking "I don't remember this from the movie....". Thats likely because the bits that weren't adapted are too gruesome for the screen. All that said: excellent horror/thriller that I recommend to seasoned fans with strong stomachs.
I can't quite decide if I overall enjoyed (3 stars) or didn't enjoy (2 stars) this gem that I would only recommend to specific people.
The writing is beautiful and really fun. I definitely found myself laughing a lot, especially during the scene where Howl has a cold (which I later learned is DWJs favourite scene). The book had a lot of flair and was a very cozy escape from the world. All that said, I didn't find myself compelled to keep reading. This was largely due to there being very little dramatic tension (which was a case in the movie as well) which is both a strength and a weakness of the story and turns this into a "not for everyone" book.
I do recommend picking it up if you enjoyed the movie (even if only to see all the bits that are different, and there's a lot of them!), if you like funny and intelligent children's fiction (this reminded me a lot of Gaiman's Stardust), or just want to cozy up with a not-too-serious fairytale.
The writing is beautiful and really fun. I definitely found myself laughing a lot, especially during the scene where Howl has a cold (which I later learned is DWJs favourite scene). The book had a lot of flair and was a very cozy escape from the world. All that said, I didn't find myself compelled to keep reading. This was largely due to there being very little dramatic tension (which was a case in the movie as well) which is both a strength and a weakness of the story and turns this into a "not for everyone" book.
I do recommend picking it up if you enjoyed the movie (even if only to see all the bits that are different, and there's a lot of them!), if you like funny and intelligent children's fiction (this reminded me a lot of Gaiman's Stardust), or just want to cozy up with a not-too-serious fairytale.
There's nothing I love more than a gentle, cozy book that explores the things unsaid between two people who love each other. The premise of this book is that people are given a final chance at meeting someone again - there's just a lot of rules, including the fact that the meeting can only last as long as the coffee gets cold. Another rule is that the meeting, which is effectively time travel, cannot alter the events of the past. The beauty of this book is exploring exactly why these "pointless" meetings are still beautiful.
Widely recommended if you're in the mood to have your heart crumpled and want a book to compell you to call someone you love. A tender five stars.
Widely recommended if you're in the mood to have your heart crumpled and want a book to compell you to call someone you love. A tender five stars.
I added this book to my TBR a few years ago and kind of wish I had read it then. I feel like it would have resonated with me a lot more at the time. As for where I am in my life now, it fell pretty flat. Recommended if you're looking for a literary "hero meets people who teach him about the meaning of life" a la alchemist kind of novella.
I'm a fan of books where nothing happens. They're atmospheric and give me the same feeling as looking at an unfamiliar painting in a museum. If you're looking to experience that about a South Korean town close to the North Korean border and think about race and beauty, I recommend this book.