I can absolutely understand why this is such a timeless book, or dare I say a modern classic aready. Because it reads in an entirely timeless way. It I can absolutely understand why this is such a timeless book, or dare I say a modern classic aready. Because it reads in an entirely timeless way. It made me feel nostalgic for past years of my own life but also for a life that I have never lived. It is such a stark capture of emotions that are felt growing up, of the uncertainty that comes with love and relationships, with family and friends. And while I positively flew through the book and am surprised how much I feel like I wasn't actually reading, there is a profound weight to the story that settles on your shoulders quite early on. I'm absolutely not surprised to find out the author also writes poetry, because in a way, this novel felt like one big poem. The chapters are all very short (which I adore) and come together in such a unique manner, and my only complaint would be that sometimes I was longing for more insight into what was going on in Aristotle's head, because not unlike with poetry, a lot was left unspoken and meant for the reader to interpret at their own pace. Also how dare books like these always end right at the best part? I mean, I get it. I do. But sometimes I wish I'd get a gay book where we actually see the explicitly gay relationship on page.
But I guess that's what THE SEQUEL is about?? Which I only found out about yesterday and oh my god, am I lucky to not be one of the unlucky b!tches that have had to wait for it for nearly a decade. Anyway, this was a wonderful book. I think my favourite aspect was how vulnerable the men in it were. That is still such a rare thing to see, and I wish we'd get more platonic male affection, male emotion and male vulnerability. Also, thank fuck I finally read a good book. ...more
It's been a while since I've read something this offensive. I started out enjoying it, then loving it, but that final third ruined eveFuck this book.
It's been a while since I've read something this offensive. I started out enjoying it, then loving it, but that final third ruined everything. I feel betrayed and insulted and I'm so tired. When will authors that are not gay men stop putting a single gay character into their books and decide to turn him into the biggest psychopath of the bunch? When will gayness stop being equated to personal misery, lack of morals and evil intentions? I could honestly cry right now, because we all know how rare it is to come across queer characters in books that are not specifically about queerness, especially outside of YA. This book made me think it would be different, but nope. The same exploitative bullshit we've seen millions of times before.
I would love to know what my gay friends on here have thought of this book. I'm sorry I can't highlight any of the (admittedly many) things I enjoyed about the novel before the author ruined it, but I absoslutely do not recommend it. ...more
It took me like half a year to finally finish this tiresome, plotless collection of incoherent backstory and vIbEy snippets that amount to nothing, anIt took me like half a year to finally finish this tiresome, plotless collection of incoherent backstory and vIbEy snippets that amount to nothing, and it's only getting two stars because there's a scene where a woman slaps a cop which made up at least a little bit for all of the mundane shit that happens....more
"Come forward. I hate that term. When you tell your story, you don't come forward - you let people in. Into the dark place you've occupied for years. "Come forward. I hate that term. When you tell your story, you don't come forward - you let people in. Into the dark place you've occupied for years. And what happens when the public enters? Maybe they rush to you with open arms, tell you the things you've longed to hear. Or maybe these people stomp inside with their muddy boots, accusing you of crimes, confirming your worst fears about yourself. But how to know which future awaits? Maybe it's time to tell my story, our story. Pray we both survive."
My mind is a mess and my heart hurts, so I don't have it in me to create something focused and structured, but I want to say that this book deals with so many important, horrifying, ugly things, ranging from class and power to sexual assault and religious abuse, all through a lense that is unabashedly gay and hits all the much closer for it. I don't know how many times I'll have to say it, but it is so vital, so crucial that we get these kinds of stories from queer authors, that we support them and create more opportunities for other authors longing to share their work.
There is so much else I want to say but won't because some interpretations are very personal, others maybe a bit too spoiler-y for this review. However, just on a technical level I am so impressed by this novel. The writing was impeccable - I flew through the pages despite the smaller font. The characterisation, especially of the main character, was so complex and multi-faceted, and if you know me, you know that that's what I loved most. Jonah's actions often felt wrong and misguided, but they always felt real because they relied on the reader's empathy and their ability to see the connections in his past that have shaped him. And if you are also interested in how queerness and trauma intersect, I think that this novel is an incredibly strong combination of psychological assessment wrapped into one hell of an engaging story. This is definitely a 2021 release you don't want to miss if you like psychological, hard-hitting thrillers.
Content warnings for rape, drug abuse, suicide, religious abuse and pedophilia....more
While this might not be the best thriller I've read this year, it's definitely not as bad as I've seen some people make it out to be. Ruth 3 1/2 stars
While this might not be the best thriller I've read this year, it's definitely not as bad as I've seen some people make it out to be. Ruth Ware's writing is wonderful, it's so easy to get sucked into the story and the at first beautiful setting, and I surprisingly had close to no trouble memorising all the different characters. The mystery starts out very solid and definitely had me paying close attention to each and everyone of their behaviours. Personally, I didn't find the killer to be as obvious as most other people. For the first half, I could see a motive for about half the cast and suspected each of them accordingly. However, I have to admit that I had a "number one theory" the whole way through, which turned out to be correct, so maybe that's where I have to agree that the entire novel was not completely unpredictable. Still, the first two thirds were wildly entertaining and constantly had me on the edge of my seat.
The final third, however, was the weakest of the book for me. The actual reveal is not very exciting, and while there were some pretty intense moments sprinkled throughout the last 100 pages, overall it felt slightly repetitive to me and was not as exciting as I feel it could have been. Still, I was rooting for one character in particular and was pretty pleased with how things wrapped up.
As a whole, I would definitely recommend this as a quick read (unless you fall into a reading slump halfway through like I did) for the wintertime, best read in front of a fireplace. Maybe it won't blow your mind, but it will definitely suck you in for a very fun couple of hours. ...more
To all the people whose negative reviews I saw, making me think this would be a flop: ????? what???
4 1/2 stars
I am in shock. Starting The Turn of the To all the people whose negative reviews I saw, making me think this would be a flop: ????? what???
4 1/2 stars
I am in shock. Starting The Turn of the Key, I was expecting a mediocre, if still fun and enjoyable, quick and easy thriller. But holy hell, I liked it way, way more than I anticipated. It's easily one of my favourite thrillers I've read.
All of its parts just played off each other so beautifully to create a spectacular atmosphere, and a tension that, in my opinion, did not let up once throughout the novel. I loved the main character Rowan and how we got to meet her through her own eyes, but in hindsight. She tells her story from prison, where she was incarcerated after something horrible happened at her job as a nanny. So in the present she is quite broken down and understandably exhausted, looking for a last way out in writing a letter to a reputable solicitor. But because of this, we kind of get a personal psychoanalysis of who she was before all these awful events, and that person was kind of a bitch and I loved that. You could tell right away that something about her was off, and that she would certainly go to extreme lengths to serve herself. As someone who adores tension created by characters and perspective, this was so blissful to read and right off the bat pulled me in.
And the book never let up. It just continuously shocked me. Another thing that was pulled of expertly was the setting. It kind of felt familiar, since it was essentially set in a (potentially haunted) mansion, but Ruth Ware twisted these seen before elements and added a touch that felt fresh and unused. Plus, oh my god, I love a good scare, and this was, I can safely say, super creepy. Like, actually creepy. As in "please can this scene be over" creepy. It was awesome. But even aside from the "obviously creepy" scenes, so many sequences kind of... rubbed me the wrong way. Like the main character looking through a keyhole and thinking, "What if someone sticks a toothpick through the hole and into my eye?" Such a clinical thought, but when it came up and even now it just gives me chills. I will never be able to look through a keyhole again. The book was very, very good at playing with fears I didn't know I had, but that awoke within me as I was reading.
The ending was what probably worried me the most. Up until the 300 page mark, everything was so perfect and I just kept thinking, "Please, please don't mess this up", and the author did not!! Those last 30 pages were just twist upon twist upon twist. And I don't want to give too much away, but the hinted at, sort of hidden emotional layers that mostly stayed in the back of the story made everything feel super well-rounded and not as one-dimensional as other thrillers tend to do for me, occasionally. I will admit that maybe it felt a little rushed, especially the one big thing the book was leading towards the whole time, and it is one of those "You will only understand what's going on on the literal last page", meaning I was super freaked out that I wouldn't actually get any answers, but rest assured - everything will make sense. And when it does, it will be a punch to the gut. At least to me it was.
So, I am willing to say that this will likely be impossible to top by the author for me personally, since this was just an overall delight. Terrifying, spectacularly narrated, to-die-for setting and non-stop tension. I still can't believe how much I ended up enjoying this.
* * *
I enjoyed The Death of Mrs. Westaway, and this one sounds right up my alley as well, so if I end up disappointed I will be very angry....more
So I finally settled on a rating. To get the bad out of the way: The book sadly was not as terrifying as I thought it would be. Granted, the atmospherSo I finally settled on a rating. To get the bad out of the way: The book sadly was not as terrifying as I thought it would be. Granted, the atmosphere was immaculate the whole time, but I'd definitely describe it more as suspenseful than scary. The scariest bit was my expectations telling me that "Once you turn this page, it's gonna get super creepy!!" But it didn't really, apart from some imagery and certain passages. Because of this, somewhere in the middle I felt slightly discouraged because it didn't feel like enough had happened yet for my liking, though overall I would say that all 200 pages were very compelling and constantly called for me to keep reading.
That being said, I'm not sure I can truly give this novel the review I would want to give it. For being one of the shortest books I've read, it's also one of the most complex, ambitious, and mind-boggling stories I've ever picked up. I deeply related to a lot of the discussions on commitment, relationships, independence and self-discovery. Maybe it's because I've been asking myself a lot of similar questions recently, or maybe just the brilliance with which the author manages to weave them into the story and thus create two different characters we otherwise don't know a lot about.
The last 20 pages or so felt like a whole body experience. They were lived rather than read. I am simply in awe of how they give the entire story a bigger meaning and how the alter the atmosphere and the emotional weight completely. Of how I still keep going back to connect dots I hadn't even realised were there first. And it's so hard not to be able to say anything about it because I don't want to spoil anything, but I also struggle with finding the words of what really went on in my head as I was reading, and as I'm thinking back to it now. But I think that this is such an accomplished unraveling of human emotion and needs and I'll just stop talking now and just think some more.
EDIT: I just watched the movie adaptation and I will never forgive Charlie Kaufmann for this.
* * *
No idea what to rate this yet, but upon reading the last "chapter" a sob kind of freed itself from my body and I don't fully understand why but fuck, these last few pages were like a punch to the gut. (In a good way?)
A thought that just came to me is: This is kind of, sort of, basically We Were Liars but adult, and I can't say why I think so because it would spoil both books but holy shit.
One thing I absolutely love about Riley Sager's books is how clearly you can see the author's love for horror and common themes within it. 3 1/2 stars
One thing I absolutely love about Riley Sager's books is how clearly you can see the author's love for horror and common themes within it. He uses these tropes to lure you in with familiar excitement, but then there's always a moment when he flips the story onto its head and makes it very much its own. With The Last Time I Lied, for me personally, that moment came in a little too late. The last third is where the novel really shines, when twist after twist happens, but the two thirds that come before felt slightly stagnant to me.
My favourite aspect of a Riley Sager novel is without a doubt setting and atmosphere. Sager creates so much history and backstory for these fictional places that they almost feel alive, like they are also characters within the book. But I have to say that Camp Nightingale is probably my least favourite so far because it felt a little underused. There was no underlying sense of unease or discomfort that the Bartholomew from Lock Every Door or Baneberry Hall from Home Before Dark triggered in me. This book was definitely more of a classic disappearance mystery and the most whodunnit out of the three books of Sager's I have read so far. Thus, it reminded me quite a bit of Truly Devious, which was definitely some welcome nostalgia (even though that trilogy isn't very old yet but you know what I mean). Still, it was a bit too much boy-crazy teenie drama for me. It made sense for the story, but I wasn't digging it exactly, which took a bit of the usual appeal of Riley Sager's tendency to play with perspective and structure within his storytelling. However, there were three sequences where narration switches to 2nd person, and I don't know what it is about that this year but I absolutely love it. Many people don't, but I wish authors would use it more.
As I said, the final third was where this book really excels. Some things I did see coming, but most I did not, and the book definitely tricked me into believing some stuff that was merely a distraction from what was really going on, which impressed me quite a bit. The ending was incredibly satisfying because every mystery was resolved adequately. So ultimately, I can still say that while this might be my least favourite Sager novel so far, he still has yet to let me down and has quickly become a go-to thriller author for me. I can't wait to pick up Final Girls and be all caught up on his work.
* * *
Had a chat with the person who was responsible for my lack of reading (me) and we agreed that if Riley Sager isn't powerful enough to end this reading slump, then no one is....more
And there goes another Riley Sager book I had a great time with.
There's just something about the stories he tells and how he tells them that feels soAnd there goes another Riley Sager book I had a great time with.
There's just something about the stories he tells and how he tells them that feels so incredibly cinematic. He basically writes the movies I'd love to watch, and he does it so well. This is yet another great example of a setting that feels almost alive, atmosphere you could cut with a knife, and an arresting blend of personal trauma and life-threatening horror.
I love how descriptively Sager sets the stage, which here comes in the form of a reputable, gothic apartment building. With places like these, I really feel like more is more, as it helps me as the reader to not only get a feel for the story, but also makes following along much easier and instantly gave me a sense of claustrophobia, doing a great job of setting off my internal alerms and have me screaming, "Please, let's just leave!!" As with Home Before Dark, most of the novel takes place in one location, so the setup felt vital to the rest of the tale, and I definitely think it's one of his best qualities as a writer. Another is how he plays with perspective, which he also showcased in his most recent release. He did this once again here, and I'm a very, very big fan of it.
I also couldn't help but feel for and really grow to like Jules. Her life has definitely not been an easy one, and it felt tragic seeing her find hope in a situation that was quite obviously a red flag, but at the same time I couldn't help but admire her perseverance and her determination to not give up. Additionally, I really respect her for not letting a stranger's tragedy be just that. It can be so easy for us to only focus on our own lows, which is fair, but she constantly tried to help and support those around her, who were doing just as bad as she was. (This nearly gets her killed, but anyway.)
To be quite honest, I saw the big twist coming within the first 50 pages. I'm not sure if it says more about the book or my sick imagination. But actually, I wouldn't say that this takes away from the book all that much. There were one or two moments when I wanted to yell at Jules for not seeing the signs, but then again, how likely is it that you just go into a situation expecting it to be straight out of a horror film? And especially when you need to hope for the best? So this brought its own suspense with it, feeling like I knew more than she did. It was still super fun to see the mystery unfold, and let me tell you, those final 100 pages were intense. Like, really intense. Shit got wild. (And Jules was being a queen.) Everything fit together very nicely, and I loved how things were wrapped up in a way that didn't feel too abrupt.
That's a 2/2 with Riley Sager for me so far, and I positively cannot wait to read the other half of his work! ...more
Gonna give rating this some thought, because while I liked the majority of it, I think I was expecting something a little more exciting an3 1/2 stars
Gonna give rating this some thought, because while I liked the majority of it, I think I was expecting something a little more exciting and fun. Like the story was nice and actually more profound than I expected, but I was also expecting a page turner mystery, and I felt it lacked the main focus to really be that. Still found myself impressed by athmosphere, characterisation and writing in general, though, and the ending was super satisfying. Definitely not my last Ruth Ware book, even if I didn't love it. ...more
"That is the way of being a woman, to carve away at herself, to fit herself to the task, but, also, to be able to carve herself in a different way, wh"That is the way of being a woman, to carve away at herself, to fit herself to the task, but, also, to be able to carve herself in a different way, when a different shape is needed."
I really don't understand why the ratings for this are so low.
At least I don't think it has to do with the book, necessarily? But I believe this was marketed as a "basic YA fantasy", if you know the type of book I mean by that, and released at a time when that was the new Thing that everyone was going crazy for. Well, Damsel is not that. In fact, it feels more like the gritty, gnarly flipside of those books. If anything, this novel holds up a cracked mirror to all those stories about male heros who save the day by slaying the dragon and saving the poor princess and asks: What if the princess didn't need saving in the first place? Why do we jump on this narrative just so we can have a man to worship?
There were moments when I felt that Damsel almost didn't read like a novel at all, but rather like a novelised critique piece on fairy tales and those narratives that include women only as the puzzle piece of the plot necessary to give a man an adventure. It is the story of a woman who wakes up in the arms of her alleged saviour and suddenly finds herself no longer the protagonist of her own life, but a side character to his, with no regard for her own wishes. Set in a deeply misogynistic, sexist fantasy world, we follow protagonist Ama as she tries her hardest to fit into this tiny, airless box of who she is supposed to be, even though in the back of her mind she can tell that this is not what she wants.
And this is where one of the book's strongest factors comes into play: The atmosphere. It lulls you in (and keeps you captivated) with this gorgeous prose, these delectable sentences, while slowly, you begin to feel discomfort. Much of the dialogue has an unsettling undertone, and as the reader you immediately feel that something is very, very wrong, even while the protagonist still tries to justify other people's words and actions to convince herself of their good intent. It felt hauntingly realistic and, to me, like a rather accurate portrayal of what it still means to be a woman today, when you have to simultaneously be 30 things in one but also, most importantly, not a burden. Ama's reasoning from the outsider's perspective often felt flawed, but it was a product of the world she was living in, a world that was constantly telling her to be this and not that and please be quiet. The terrifying thing about her situation is such a real one, being that there is no way out of this idea people have of you when society thinks this idea is a desirable, good one.
The setup of the book was not too extensive, but rather concise with regard to what the author wanted to accomplish, and so it still offers an adequate amount for the following exploration of gender roles and sexism on surface level/within the story, and through it in real life and other popular tales of heroism. I thought it was done brilliantly and incredibly effectively. My emotions were constantly running wild, and I. Was. So. Angry. Almost all the time. But it felt empowering to have that reaction in this setting, because while exaggerated, it rang true with the anger I have long been feeling at the majority of the so-called stronger sex, and I know it's an anger that others are feeling as well, probably even more intensely. And I don't want to spoil anything, but don't worry. While the whole world isn't burning at the end of the novel, you will get a very, very satisyfing final act.
The only real criticism I have with the book is that I felt in the middle, not quite enough was being said. It's a short book, and I think this length works perfectly for the scope of the tale, since, had it been any longer, the reader would have required some more groundwork to justify it, but like this, the main focus could be on the criticism and the characters. But there were some instances where I felt the author could have potentially pushed a bit further. Additionally, and this is not a negative point so much as an observation, given the structure and setup of Damsel, I don't think it is meant to be a book that offers the reader a lot of material to create a deep sense of connection with the characters. Granted, most of them are assholes, yes, but while I liked Ama, it read pretty much like a fairy tale, and you don't read Hansel and Gretel and think "Oh my god, Gretel is so me!" At least that's something I was thinking about. Just as a heads up for when you get into this, so you know what to expect.
At the end of the day, Damsel feels like a proper accomplishment. I think Elana K. Arnold really wrote something special here, and not just because her writing is splendid, but because of the atmosphere it creates and the feminism that is woven into it. I will always and forever commend authors on taking risks, and this definitely feels like a risky book, which is sadly reflected in the average rating as well. Personally, I think it will linger with me for a while, not just because of the lovely full-circle moment the story had within itself, but also in the way it comments on other stories and womanhood and sexism as well. I am thoroughly impressed.
Lastly, if you're thinking of giving Damsel a chance, I want to point out some content warnings that the book would have profited from, had they been pointed out beforehand. This is probably not a complete list, but I still want to make it clear that this book has heavy themes of sexual assault, rape, emotional manipulation and animal cruelty/death. I would say that this very much feels more like an adult book than a YA novel and is probably more "enjoyable" consuming it as such. ...more
Absolutely not what I was expecting, and 100%, positively not for me.
I don't know why I forced myself to finish this. I guess since I just came out oAbsolutely not what I was expecting, and 100%, positively not for me.
I don't know why I forced myself to finish this. I guess since I just came out of a bit of a slump, I should finish a book. But honestly, I knew within the first 50 pages that I wouldn't like this. And I don't usually want to rate a book 1 star unless I dnf'd it, but frankly, I dnf'd this one many times in my head. And there was close to nothing I liked about it even the slightest bit. So this rating feels fair for the braincells I lost.
The first thing I came to dislike was the writing. It felt awkward and boxy, the sentences were structured in a way that was unnecessarily convoluted, at times overly discriptive (I swear this novel was one fifth about basketball. There was so much basketball talk. And when it wasn't about basketball, it was about motorcycles. I am gay. I didn't understand and didn't care) and at others, it just failed to give essential context, leaving me confused, lost and frustrated. Part of this would be the cultural background of the four main characters. Granted, the author does not owe me an explanation on how Native reservations 'work' and certainly doesn't have to give me a history lesson, but as someone who loves learning new information through good fiction, this was a real missed opportunity for me personally.
The second thing I came to dislike was the characters. This is the type of book where I won't remember a single person in one week. Because they had no personality aside from being dumb idiots. I swear, the bullshit that came out of these men's mouths. All their actions felt supremely irrational, made no sense due to lack of motivation, and gave me a lot of "I'm an angry man and I shall deal with this violently!"-vibes. Often times a character would jump to a conclusion without literally any sort of evidence, solely based on speculation, which would then often just... result in murder?? I was at a loss for words.
The third thing, and by far the biggest issue I had with the book, is that it is not scary. It is actually super boring despite being very short. The only 'shocking' things it does, to me, is be incredibly, disturbingly violent towards animals. There was so, so much animal death in this book. As someone who is not usually bothered too much by human violence, but heavily affected by animals suffering, dying or being killed, it was an absolute nightmare to read, and not in a fun way. Four dogs were murdered in this novel. And for no reason. (view spoiler)[The 'villain' of the book is a pregnant elk cow the four main characters shoot, who is so angry about her death and that of her offspring that she decides to go on a revenge spree. This somehow seems to involve stomping dogs to death. So you're telling me she's angry about men killing animals and in turn... kills other animals? (hide spoiler)] Plus, while the big, horrifying thing the four protagonists do in their early 20s was definitely a sickening passage to read, I can't help but feel it did not offer enough of an incentive for the revenge plot that then kicks into place. Those feelings probably make more sense if you also know what happens, but to me, it felt a little hypocritical to condemn their (undoubtedly idiotic and heartless) actions while turning a blind eye on other, similar transgressions.
So overall, what I got was a horror book that was not scary, had flat characters, and was mainly violence against animals, stupid men, basketball talk and motorcycle mechanics. Miss me with that....more
If you do not like miscommunication or lack of proper communication between characters which leads to them standing in the way of their own happiness If you do not like miscommunication or lack of proper communication between characters which leads to them standing in the way of their own happiness - RUN.
Personally, I am so, so glad we're getting Fence content in novel format now, too, and I'm tempted to immediately ask, "When are we getting more?" To me, this whole universe is such a wonderful place of low stakes, stupid fun and just a cast of adorable, heartwarming characters. While the experience was definitely a different one from the graphic novel series, I think that aside from some characterisations that were, for my liking, a little exaggerated, the essence of the story was captured very well by Sarah Rees Brennan, and I am eager to see how these events influence the comics in the future.
I absolutely appreciated that this book was focused more on characters and personal relarionships than the actual fencing, which is the other way around with the graphic novel series, I would say. While a lot of their emotions and personal struggles are implied there, they were spelled out and expanded upon in this novel, and I thought that was wonderful. It didn't have a super elaborate plot, but the writing and understanding of the relationships were what really shone.
Another difference would be that where the comics are more focused on Nicholas and Seiji, this book surprisingly spent the most time following Aiden and Harvard. And that was such a pleasant surprise!! I loved getting to see more of them for a change, and oh my god, the drama they put me through. The pain. The happiness. The FRUSTRATION. I swear no one has more than two braincells but I love them still. I cannot wait to see where their relationship goes next. (Also, not to give anything away, but... the spicy scenes in this were a 10/10.)
Fence has very quickly become one of my biggest comfort universes ever. I highly recommend any and all content related to it if you want something light and funny set in a world where queerphobia doesn't exist and you're looking to yell at boys to JUST KISS ALREADY....more
My only complaint is that all this slowburn romance is TOO SLOW for how slim these volumes are. But still, the progression of particularly the relatioMy only complaint is that all this slowburn romance is TOO SLOW for how slim these volumes are. But still, the progression of particularly the relationships is so fun to watch, and I think a great deal is being said implicitly. (As is the art of slowburn, if it doesn't make me scream AND NOW KISS in my head, then it's not working.) I cannot wait for the Fence novel that's releasing later this year, I'm super excited to experience the story through a different format! ...more
This is THE superior volume so far. (And I still don't know how to rate graphic novels but this had everything I missed in the other two, so I want thThis is THE superior volume so far. (And I still don't know how to rate graphic novels but this had everything I missed in the other two, so I want the rating to reflect that for now.)...more
