postmodernblues's Reviews (465)

The Odyssey

Lara Williams

3.5

challenging dark funny mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"Ingrid, he's a guest. He's not real. None of it is real." - Lara Williams, The Odyssey, page 223

Precisely the kind of bizarre, perverse book it is so easy for me to fall in love with. I like to think this is what Captain Stubing does to keep his crew members compliant.

Bluesman

Andre Dubus III

2.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

It took me a long time to get into this book, and I probably would have DNF'd it if I hadn't been so enamored with the premise. But honestly, it was really kind of a drag. Started strong, but quickly devolved into

a treatise on why abortion is a sin, which is just ugh

, not to mention

the fact that Leo ended up joining the army at the height of the Vietnam war, which was some real Forrest Gump type shit.

Additionally, there was a startling and somewhat unsettling lack of black characters for a book with such an appreciative, reverential attitude toward the blues as a musical styling.

Generally, I was disappointed with this, which sucks, because I was so excited going into it.

Lore

Alexandra Bracken

DID NOT FINISH: 19%

ugh so boring I'm sorry

Ghostbusters International Vol. 1

Erik Burnham, Dan Schoening

4.25

adventurous funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Another great addition from my beloved Ghostbusters IDW team. The extended Olympia Cafe reference definitely got me, guys!

The Mabinogion

Anonymous

3.0

challenging informative tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Rather difficult to even comprehend. My edition had footnotes where the translator was frequently at a loss as to what was even meant certain sentences.

An Object of Beauty

Steve Martin

3.25

funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Also known as Steve Martin's fanfiction about the 90's-2000's NYC art scene. Definitely my favorite of his novels.

Babbling Corpse: Vaporwave and the Commodification of Ghosts

Grafton Tanner

5.0

challenging informative medium-paced

A fascinating slice of academia. I'm really glad I read it. I'm a huge vaporwave enthusiast and Tanner's analysis of vaporwave as a vessel for anticapitalism in the internet age was truly enlightening. The broader cultural strokes regarding nostalgia were gripping, too. Not to mention the brutal but fair takedown of Taylor Swift.