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pineconek's Reviews (816)
I think this may be the first time I solved an Agatha Christie mystery before it was actually revealed (thanks to a pretty obvious clue about two chapters before the reveal) and I couldn't be more proud.
This is a fun little mystery that set a great precedent. The solution to the murder is now a familiar one but it's nevertheless enjoyable to read when viewed as a modern classic. I split my reading between an ebook and an audiobook, the latter being an excellent older recording, and both were easy and engaging to read. A solid 3.5 stars.
(On another note, I'd forgotten how hilarious Hercule Poirot is. What a sasspot.)
Recommended if you want to discover the excellent roots of modern thrillers, enjoy "did the butler do it" style settings, and want to spend a "cozy" evening (murder is cozy, right?).
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
This is a fun little mystery that set a great precedent. The solution to the murder is now a familiar one but it's nevertheless enjoyable to read when viewed as a modern classic. I split my reading between an ebook and an audiobook, the latter being an excellent older recording, and both were easy and engaging to read. A solid 3.5 stars.
(On another note, I'd forgotten how hilarious Hercule Poirot is. What a sasspot.)
Recommended if you want to discover the excellent roots of modern thrillers, enjoy "did the butler do it" style settings, and want to spend a "cozy" evening (murder is cozy, right?).
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
Ok I need a minute to process what just happened and I have no idea how many stars to give this.
Does this book go too far with the ick factor? Honestly, yes. But is the writing also stellar and made me really said and empathetic towards the characters? Also yes.
Did I enjoy reading the book? Enjoy is not the word I would use. Was I captivated? Mostly. Was I disgusted and horrified? Yes, at moments. Do I regret reading it? Not really.
I feel like this book is meant to be a commentary on naivety, the banality of evil, and the horror of extreme parental neglect. But I think the commentary potentially boils down to "sometimes, bad circumstances don't have silver linings. They're just bad".
My thoughts haven't been clarified at all while writing this review. I'm giving this 2.5 stars rounded up, because I think this book has something to say that I haven't quite put my finger on yet.
Not recommended to most people - this book is graphic and depraved, the likes of Hurricane Season and Earthlings. But if you liked those and are looking for another like it, this is it.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
Does this book go too far with the ick factor? Honestly, yes. But is the writing also stellar and made me really said and empathetic towards the characters? Also yes.
Did I enjoy reading the book? Enjoy is not the word I would use. Was I captivated? Mostly. Was I disgusted and horrified? Yes, at moments. Do I regret reading it? Not really.
I feel like this book is meant to be a commentary on naivety, the banality of evil, and the horror of extreme parental neglect. But I think the commentary potentially boils down to "sometimes, bad circumstances don't have silver linings. They're just bad".
My thoughts haven't been clarified at all while writing this review. I'm giving this 2.5 stars rounded up, because I think this book has something to say that I haven't quite put my finger on yet.
Not recommended to most people - this book is graphic and depraved, the likes of Hurricane Season and Earthlings. But if you liked those and are looking for another like it, this is it.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
I will happily read Lemony Snicket's grocery list, but I suppose the itemized list of his breakfast components will do.
This book made me so nostalgic for reading A Series of Unfortunate Events as a child. This book resonated with the same macabre wit and constant breaking of the fourth wall that are characteristic of Snicket's writing.
Recommended widely, but especially if you think there are two types of stories (a stranger comes to town or someone goes on a journey, which really are just the same story), love libraries, and want to have a nostalgic laugh.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
This book made me so nostalgic for reading A Series of Unfortunate Events as a child. This book resonated with the same macabre wit and constant breaking of the fourth wall that are characteristic of Snicket's writing.
Recommended widely, but especially if you think there are two types of stories (a stranger comes to town or someone goes on a journey, which really are just the same story), love libraries, and want to have a nostalgic laugh.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
This is a "write the review then figure out the star rating" kind of situation. .
The good: this is a very easy and accessible read. Like a "shut off my brain a bit and enjoy the ride" kind of thriller. Easy to skim, pages turn quickly, suspense builds when it should build. This thriller remains engaging and fun to read.
The bad: the writing is a bit stiff with lots of familiar cliches or moments that remind you that you're reading (and not in a good way). The word "flicker" is overused a lot. The resolution is ultimately quite predictable and the red herrings are bright red.
The ugly: weird and illogical things happen and some inconsistencies jump out at me. A few other reviews mention the line about getting a PhD first and then a master's, or the fact that our main character has "separated herself from her past" in words but not at all in actions, and that several familiar tropes are overused. While a lot of the mental health stuff was questionable, I'd still compare it favourably to the Silent Patient (which I loathed).
Ultimately, this was a quick read and felt like watching a "straight to dvd" thriller. Comforting and engaging, but not novel or particularly memorable. With that, I think I'll settle for 2.5 stars rounded down.
Recommended if you don't mind being able to predict where the thriller goes, enjoyed the Silent Patient (can't relate but hey, it's widely popular), and are looking to be entertained.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
The good: this is a very easy and accessible read. Like a "shut off my brain a bit and enjoy the ride" kind of thriller. Easy to skim, pages turn quickly, suspense builds when it should build. This thriller remains engaging and fun to read.
The bad: the writing is a bit stiff with lots of familiar cliches or moments that remind you that you're reading (and not in a good way). The word "flicker" is overused a lot. The resolution is ultimately quite predictable and the red herrings are bright red.
The ugly: weird and illogical things happen and some inconsistencies jump out at me. A few other reviews mention the line about getting a PhD first and then a master's, or the fact that our main character has "separated herself from her past" in words but not at all in actions, and that several familiar tropes are overused. While a lot of the mental health stuff was questionable, I'd still compare it favourably to the Silent Patient (which I loathed).
Ultimately, this was a quick read and felt like watching a "straight to dvd" thriller. Comforting and engaging, but not novel or particularly memorable. With that, I think I'll settle for 2.5 stars rounded down.
Recommended if you don't mind being able to predict where the thriller goes, enjoyed the Silent Patient (can't relate but hey, it's widely popular), and are looking to be entertained.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
Ok I need a minute to digest this one. Holy moly guacamole.
This book details the rise of the Sackler dynasty from the early 20th century to the fall of 2020 and our good old pandemy. I had some vague understanding of the corruption within big pharma and how the opioid crisis was linked to prescription painkillers but was largely ignorant of the big picture. This book laid it out in such exquisite detail and made it impossible to look away.
I love nonfiction audiobooks read by the author, and this one was absolutely excellent. The afterword where the author describes his sources, indirect dealings with the Sackler family, and direct dealings with victims of the opioid crisis, is particularly poignant and personable.
Recommended widely, especially if you enjoy reading about harsh truths, are fascinated by the cruelty and greed of human beings, and love some good investigative journalism.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
This book details the rise of the Sackler dynasty from the early 20th century to the fall of 2020 and our good old pandemy. I had some vague understanding of the corruption within big pharma and how the opioid crisis was linked to prescription painkillers but was largely ignorant of the big picture. This book laid it out in such exquisite detail and made it impossible to look away.
I love nonfiction audiobooks read by the author, and this one was absolutely excellent. The afterword where the author describes his sources, indirect dealings with the Sackler family, and direct dealings with victims of the opioid crisis, is particularly poignant and personable.
Recommended widely, especially if you enjoy reading about harsh truths, are fascinated by the cruelty and greed of human beings, and love some good investigative journalism.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
This is specifically a review of the Blackstone audio radioplay adaptation.
This was fine and pretty cute, in an "episode of wishbone" kind of way. The Halloween tree follows a group of boys reaching their friend and learning about the traditions of Halloween, and rituals honouring the dead, across time and culture. I'm far from the target audience for this but enjoyed it for what it was.
Recommended if you like songs in Disney movies, don't mind a cast of characters that says "gee goly" and "aww shucks" and the like, and are feeling a little spooky.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
This was fine and pretty cute, in an "episode of wishbone" kind of way. The Halloween tree follows a group of boys reaching their friend and learning about the traditions of Halloween, and rituals honouring the dead, across time and culture. I'm far from the target audience for this but enjoyed it for what it was.
Recommended if you like songs in Disney movies, don't mind a cast of characters that says "gee goly" and "aww shucks" and the like, and are feeling a little spooky.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
Things I like: mysterious landscapes, glaciers, secret underground cities, fungi, old myths of sleeping demons, astrophysics, etc...
Things in this book: see above.
Underland is a difficult book to pin down. It's a travel book, a nature book, an urban exploration book, a science book, a mythology book, and all tied to the concept of what lies below our feet or deep in the caves. This book is fascinating and claustrophobic.
Highly recommended if you like documentaries about creepy places, enjoy the intersection of myth and science, and are curious-scared about spelunking.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
Things in this book: see above.
Underland is a difficult book to pin down. It's a travel book, a nature book, an urban exploration book, a science book, a mythology book, and all tied to the concept of what lies below our feet or deep in the caves. This book is fascinating and claustrophobic.
Highly recommended if you like documentaries about creepy places, enjoy the intersection of myth and science, and are curious-scared about spelunking.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
Don't mind me, I'm just having a little cry.
I wish I'd read this before going to Hiroshima but my heart may not have handled it (not that it handled things well anyway).
Recommended if you want a children's book to make you sad.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
I wish I'd read this before going to Hiroshima but my heart may not have handled it (not that it handled things well anyway).
Recommended if you want a children's book to make you sad.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
It's always frustrating to rate a book that you wanted to like more than you did.
My comprehension and enjoyment of this book skyrocketed when I switched to the audiobook around a third of the way through...but then dragged towards the end, where things got weird but not in a good way.
One thing I really appreciate about SGH is how unique his writing is. I find it difficult to follow sometimes because he breaks a lot of narrative rules on a micro level, using sentences that "speak around" the action and are interrupted by random thoughts the way an inner monologue can be. This works incredibly on audio and I highly recommend listening to his work if reading this kind of writing doesn't work for you (it doesn't for me).
My Heart is a Chainsaw is overall a good book. I loved the main character with her fierce teenage defences and her sharp wit. I loved the atmosphere and worldbuilding. But something about the execution still seemed off - this book is horror about horror but in a detached way that didn't quite click with me. I also felt this about The Only Good Indians, so I think SGH should stay friends but otherwise see other people.
While I don't think I'm the right audience for this book, I think it's masterful in what it attempts to do. Recommended if you enjoy movies like The Lighthouse and VVitch, are also a fan of slashers, and have a soft spot for sarcastic teenagers.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
My comprehension and enjoyment of this book skyrocketed when I switched to the audiobook around a third of the way through...but then dragged towards the end, where things got weird but not in a good way.
One thing I really appreciate about SGH is how unique his writing is. I find it difficult to follow sometimes because he breaks a lot of narrative rules on a micro level, using sentences that "speak around" the action and are interrupted by random thoughts the way an inner monologue can be. This works incredibly on audio and I highly recommend listening to his work if reading this kind of writing doesn't work for you (it doesn't for me).
My Heart is a Chainsaw is overall a good book. I loved the main character with her fierce teenage defences and her sharp wit. I loved the atmosphere and worldbuilding. But something about the execution still seemed off - this book is horror about horror but in a detached way that didn't quite click with me. I also felt this about The Only Good Indians, so I think SGH should stay friends but otherwise see other people.
While I don't think I'm the right audience for this book, I think it's masterful in what it attempts to do. Recommended if you enjoy movies like The Lighthouse and VVitch, are also a fan of slashers, and have a soft spot for sarcastic teenagers.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
I think I may be a Celeste Ng fan in theory but not in practice.
I wanted to really love this book. It has all the elements I usually enjoy in a near-future dystopia. Political unrest told as a family drama? Yes please. The importance of words? Give me. Unconventional activism and La Vie Boheme? I can enjoy that...provided it's done well (you see where I'm going with this).
But then, when I finished the book, I found myself drawn to the lower star reviews. I want to echo a few sentiments I saw: something feels off about this book.
I'm not quite sure what bothered me the most. The balance of some of the themes seemed all wrong. The characters made confusing choices. And the narrative tension was drawn out in a way where it was no longer tension. I'm not sure if this makes sense since I can't quite put my finger on it.
I did however like the worldbuilding. I'm biased as I heard similar stories of societal collapse and resistance when I was growing up and my parents told me about living through Poland's 70s crisis and 80s uprising. I found Margaret's storytelling of the crisis compelling, and I conceptually enjoyed the various depictions of resistance. My favourite thing about the book was the exploration of "do you look away when an injustice doesn't concern you" and would have loved a bit more of that.
I feel conflicted, but I think I'll remember this book fondly and some scenes will stick in my brain for the foreseeable future, so let's settle on a 3 star rating.
Recommended if you're not sick of the dystopian genre, looking for beautiful prose, and are ok with a smol plot against a big backdrop.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA
I wanted to really love this book. It has all the elements I usually enjoy in a near-future dystopia. Political unrest told as a family drama? Yes please. The importance of words? Give me. Unconventional activism and La Vie Boheme? I can enjoy that...provided it's done well (you see where I'm going with this).
But then, when I finished the book, I found myself drawn to the lower star reviews. I want to echo a few sentiments I saw: something feels off about this book.
I'm not quite sure what bothered me the most. The balance of some of the themes seemed all wrong. The characters made confusing choices. And the narrative tension was drawn out in a way where it was no longer tension. I'm not sure if this makes sense since I can't quite put my finger on it.
I did however like the worldbuilding. I'm biased as I heard similar stories of societal collapse and resistance when I was growing up and my parents told me about living through Poland's 70s crisis and 80s uprising. I found Margaret's storytelling of the crisis compelling, and I conceptually enjoyed the various depictions of resistance. My favourite thing about the book was the exploration of "do you look away when an injustice doesn't concern you" and would have loved a bit more of that.
I feel conflicted, but I think I'll remember this book fondly and some scenes will stick in my brain for the foreseeable future, so let's settle on a 3 star rating.
Recommended if you're not sick of the dystopian genre, looking for beautiful prose, and are ok with a smol plot against a big backdrop.
More thoughts here: https://youtu.be/vMa3vzClYkA