songmingi's Reviews (199)

This was a really interesting read. It was different to what I was expecting but I still found it worthwhile. 

This book feels really intimate, parts of it was actually a bit triggering as someone who grew up as a young girl in Ireland at the cusp of the digital age. While the majority events themselves were unlike things I myself experienced, the feelings and thoughts expressed in this book is I definitely could. The feelings of being outcast, lonely, changing yourself to fit in to survive, the escape to the online world where you identity can be finetuned and tailored, all things I can relate to. 

Another standout moment for me was how the impact of seeing pornography as a young girl has. The strange obsession to understand sex, the want to to experience it and link to your self image was so well done. Its uncomfortable, it made my skin crawl but its cutting that its a reality for a lot of young people. To some maybe it'll come across extremely bleak, its hard to comprehend someone thinking of themselves in such a negative light for so many years but to many others it mirrors the life they lived themselves. 

I can't say that I "enjoyed" the reading experience because lots of these things were hard to read but I again would say that it was worthwhile. It portrays some difficult topics around growing up with the impact of the interenet in an earnest way. 

My only critique is I feel like things wrapped up a bit hastily, I think the build up could've been a bit better towards the main character breaking out of her toxic cycle but overall I still have a positive view of the book. 

I put off writing this review for a few days because I wanted to reflect on it, so that my review could be as thorough as possible. 

The subject matter of this book is bone chilling, the writing is cold and concise which paired with the brutality of the imagery leave you in shock. If body horror is not your thing, this book is NOT for you, that is for certain. However I'm a fan or horror especially that written to reflect on society we live in. I think the author executed this idea excellently, and given the subject matter that was no easy feat.

The book is split into two halves, this first half is focused on explaining how the world has changed after what the book calls "the transition" when humanity legalises cannibalism after a deadly pandemic destroys the food supply. It answers many horrifying questions on how commercialised cannibalism could exist, there is almost no stone left unturned. Some of the imagery left me feeling queasy but what made it worse was it was so realistic. The way human meat or "head" is treated in this book is exactly how we treat animals. It made me question even more how we justify our actions in meat and dairy consumption to meet our needs. The second half does the same but we also follow the main character make some difficult decisions around the care of his ailing father and a female "head" he is gifted. I enjoyed the first half a bit more but the second part still made for an interesting read. 

I think ultimately my take away message the ability of mankind to be extremely self centered and the extremes it'll go to have it wants met. Not needs but wants. Within the book there is mentions of the impact the media has on shaping public narrative around the pandemic and public opinion as a whole. This is mirrored in reality. Similarly as a reader you could understand why meat and dairy maybe needed, but what of leather making and hunting for sport. 

While the events of the book seem extreme, in our capitalist society and recent pandemic on our minds, is this reality completely unfeasible? I leave this book rather terrifyingly thinking no. 

A masterful piece of writing.

The will of the many is unlike any other fantasy book I have read before. Reading it truly felt like stepping into another world: a sci-fi ancient Rome, a prince in hiding infiltrating an elite academy; such a wonderful, unique plot. I think at first it can be hard to process all the new terms and understand the world; however, as you read, things begin to fall into place. I really loved the twists and turns in the storytelling; the smallest details end up being important elements in the overall narrative. There is so much at stake and so many elements to consider; this book continually keeps you on your toes. Similarly, I think Vis was an amazing main character; he is driven, and the somewhat mysterious nature of his backstory makes you question him as a reliable narrator. When you begin to think you know what's coming next, the book takes you by surprise and leads you somewhere else. Even as it ends, it leaves you wondering what really happened and how on earth what you have learned will play a role in what's next. It's action-packed, it's touching, it's mysterious and full of surprises. It's everything you would want in a fantasy book. 

It feels weird to put a star rating on this, it's a really intimate look into the life of someone I've never met before. However this in itself highlights the inherent tragedy of Shari Franke's life.  a
Atleast this time her life story is being shared on her own terms. The story of Ruby Franke became something so sensationalised, something shared as strange devastating tale, therefore its good to hear the incident told by someond who is affected by it. To see the very real and devastating effects Ruby had on her children even before she got involved with Jody Hildebrant. The Ruby franke case is not a horror story or creepy tale it is a very real event that devastated the lives of her children. 

I think this was really well written, it was easy to connect to Shari and understand her thoughts and feelings throughout her life. I admire her for not writing about her siblings stories and instead focusing on her own, so as to not exploit them like her mother did.  I also really found her reconnecting with her faith really touching. I wish her and her siblings the best. A really interesting listen.

White Nights has had a resurgence in popularity in the past year or so, and being a shorter Dostoevsky work I thought it would be a good introduction to his works, so I was looking forward to enjoying reading it. However, I find myself a little underwhelmed. 

I really enjoyed the prose, it is very vivid and heartfelt, especially when discussing emotions. The bitterness of being lonely, the warmth and excitement of love and heartache when your dreams do not come true are all discussed in intricate detail. My disappointment lies however in the progression of the plot. It just feels so basic for how much this book is celebrated. I was just expecting a bit more. 

However I do think white nights is still worth the read at least for the use of language, cos that's where it really stands out. 

This was a really popular book among my mutuals on booktwt so when it was picked for booclub this month I decided it was finally time to pick it up.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a whimsical and heartfelt read, it has a children's storybook type of feel but is an adult fiction book. It reminded me of old disney movies in a way. Its not really my usual type of read, I don't really gravitate towards cozy or romance books but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was easy and entertaining to read and despite the subject matter not very predictable.  The plot twists actually took me by surprise, especially at the end. 

I think the author did a good job of world-building and defining the magic system, but I just continuously was curious to learn more about it. Some of the mysteries remain unexplained even after the story is completed and that disappointed me a bit as a magic lover. Nonetheless, the characters are what make this book what it is, I really adored Mika and was rooting for her healing journey and personal growth throughout. The cast of characters at Nowhere House made me smile too, although I would say Jamie is an Irish man in a romance novel stereotype and I found it hard to ever take him seriously. I enjoyed seeing the themes of healing from past hardships and breaking cycles portrayed in the book. For a book that's overall very lighthearted, it was nice to see more serious themes being discussed. 

Overall I'm pleasantly surprised by The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and Im glad I picked it up. 

Incredibly interesting and so informative. Cultish is bursting with information, but the writing is anything but overbearing or dry. It well structured, witty and empathetic to victims of cults. I feel like it really opened my mind to the power of language and the role it plays in society as a whole. A really worthwhile read if you're interested in linguistics and role of language in cults, MLMs and concerning fitness groups. 

Marigold Mind Laundry was a really charming and healing read. Its messaging was a little heavy-handed at times, but overall, it was a really warm and comforting experience. 

The concept was super unique, despite the individual characters having trauma and stress about very real situations, the storytelling itself had a very dreamy fairytale-like quality to it.  I enjoyed all the different scenarios discussed and I like how different characters dealt with their past pains and traumas. It showcased how people heal in different ways and that there is no one right way towards healing and growth. My favourite storylines were of Jaeha's mother and Eunbyeol the influencer, they really stuck with me, as they both showcased how women struggle to be providers for their families in different generations. 

I rate it slightly low because while the description of the love story was sweet, I don't think so much time needed to be spent on it. However, I dont think it took away from my overall enjoyment that much. 

A quick lighthearted read for when you need a pick-me-up.