“Midnight Diner meets cozy anime mystery” is the best way I can describe the gentle, introspective mood of this book. Each visitor who drops in to eat“Midnight Diner meets cozy anime mystery” is the best way I can describe the gentle, introspective mood of this book. Each visitor who drops in to eat at this restaurant is first rewarded with a warm, comforting meal and a conversation; what makes the Kamagowa Diner special is that each person who visits is also in search of a special dish. They come to ask Chef Nagare and his daughter to recreate food they can only describe from their memory, often in the most obscure terms.
You can practically feel the steam rising from a bowl of broth and find yourself savoring the delicate crunch of tempura dipped into its sauce. The dishes are not fancy, but they are made with exquisite care, and they stir a poignant desire to experience the same sense of discovery that the restaurant patrons do. At the heart of this story is the notion of food as art, as culture, as sustenance, but also of food as history, as memory, and as human connection. The patrons of this restaurant are in search of more than a nostalgic meal, they are seeking guidance, navigating broken bonds, and wistfully trying to recapture the last time they felt truly cared for.
The anecdotes are short and slight, the detective work is simple and nearly fable-like. But I left this diner feeling satisfied, in the same way I feel the rush of joy and pleasure when I eat at a restaurant I’m surprised by: not only does the food stimulate all my senses, but so do the dining experience and the companionship.
3.5 stars
A very nice addition to the many food-centered books and cookbooks I've been reading lately, as well as Ina Garten's memoir.
Audio Notes: So very lovely on audio, with thoughtfully precise narration from Hanako Footman. I especially loved hearing her charming meow as the diner’s cat at the end of each chapter. <3...more
Bored and completely incapable of mustering up interest in the murder or the past. Not awful, but very typical setting, structure, characters, writingBored and completely incapable of mustering up interest in the murder or the past. Not awful, but very typical setting, structure, characters, writing, with nothing particularly outstanding so far. Confusing/similar-sounding POVs, too.
Charming premise, but the middle 3 stories are pretty repetitive and the stories and characters are pretty simplistic. As such, this probably would'veCharming premise, but the middle 3 stories are pretty repetitive and the stories and characters are pretty simplistic. As such, this probably would've made a lovely middle grade book with some reworking. But as is, and though I enjoyed it enough to finish, it needed more depth and substance and poignancy to make it truly outstanding.
This gentle metaphor of a book, however, is a nice reminder that in times of crisis, caring for others can provide perspective and purpose. And cats are a master lesson in consent, independence, and complicated love; it's a relationship where you must give and give, without expectation that the feelings will be returned. But when it is, it's transcendent.
Audio Notes: I didn't love either of the two narrators, tbh. But it was fine....more
Listened to 90 minutes and can't muster up much interest. Some of it is also written like romantic suspense, but it's not really romantic nor suspenseListened to 90 minutes and can't muster up much interest. Some of it is also written like romantic suspense, but it's not really romantic nor suspenseful--nor is it thrilling. (view spoiler)[Thanks to a friend's spoiler-tagged review, I'm aware she does not end up with him, but the fact remains their initial interactions felt very much like a romance novel. It's the blatant obviousness of the inner dialogue, physical cues, and conversations--at least with These Silent Woods, you were well into the story before all the romance focus happens. And obviously, I am not against romance or romantic suspense at all, but the right tone/balance has to be established and sustained. I don't like things which are a mish mash of a bunch of things with none of them done particularly well. (hide spoiler)] I guess the writing is decent, but it's also slooooooow. And it's writing for the sake of writing.
Had lukewarm feelings about the other book by this author I read last year (another one marketed as a thriller that really wasn't), so I think this is just not the author for me....more
Not a thriller, in case you thought it was, as I did. But it's a very well-written post-mortem of what happens when a woman wakes up naked after a worNot a thriller, in case you thought it was, as I did. But it's a very well-written post-mortem of what happens when a woman wakes up naked after a work party with no memory of what happened to her.
I don't have the brain space to write the review this book deserves, but it's a good companion piece to Consent, Know My Name, and The Female of the Species. Like TFOTS, this one delves into sensitive subjects under the guise of riveting fiction, and also explores racism, cultural identity, complicated parental bonds, and various relationships. (view spoiler)[The amount of dismay and rage I felt when she finally tells her boyfriend about her rape and she ends up comforting him. Unfortunately a familiar dynamic for many women, as well as all the fallout that follows. (hide spoiler)]
I was not at all prepared for this, but I'm glad I read it nonetheless. Really well-written, and an author to watch.
Audio Notes: The audio performance by Rosa Escoda is absolutely perfect....more
There was a wound in me that kept unknotting its own sutures.
This story begins with a young woman receiving a stroke of good luck: she’s hired for a pThere was a wound in me that kept unknotting its own sutures.
This story begins with a young woman receiving a stroke of good luck: she’s hired for a plum job as a handler for one of several individuals plucked from various points in history so that the effects of time travel can be studied. Her assignment is “1847,” a Victorian polar explorer named Graham Gore who died on an Arctic expedition...in 1847.
Unlike so many synopses, this one describing the novel as “a time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy,” is pretty accurate. Readers who are more interested in the mechanics of science and hows and whys probably won't enjoy this as much; this is a literary sci fi novel along the lines of Never Let Me Go where the focus is on the characters, ethical dilemmas, and emotion. It gently, stoically explores imperialism and the refugee/immigrant/person of color experience in a white culture, as well as ethics and personal responsibility. The writing is provocative and lovely, with piquant observations, moments of wry humor, an appreciation for history, and clear-eyed candor on the marvels and trappings of our modern world.
A couple hours before the end, the narrator referenced entering the “final weeks,” and I thought a slightly despairing oh no because I didn’t want it to end. This begins as an enormously entertaining book (especially if you’re prone to, ahem, romances with Victorian gentlemen), but towards the end, it shakes off its restraints and also provokes genuine anxiety, tenderness, and empathy. This story surprised me in the best of ways and left me both yearning and hopeful.
4.5 stars for an astonishingly assured debut.
Audio Notes: I LOVED Katie Leung’s narration. Her voice, accent, and subtly nuanced delivery were absolutely perfect from beginning to end. Please hire Cho Chang to read more books! And not just those with Asian characters. (The male narrator does a nice job, too.)...more
I was going to rate this a 3 without comment, because it’s fine. It has an interesting sorta twist, though not much is done with it.
But then another I was going to rate this a 3 without comment, because it’s fine. It has an interesting sorta twist, though not much is done with it.
But then another reveal came which annoyed me. Not EVERYTHING has to tie together, especially when not enough groundwork is laid to make us believe it.
So…still a 3, I guess, though a cranky one.
Audio Notes: I don’t really know why a “full cast” was necessary, and is it really a full cast-type performance if they’re just reading the different parts featuring their character, in third person? But all the voice actors did a nice job....more
This is a tricky one to review, but I’ll just say that I hope this is taken in the spirit with which it’s meant.
This started off pretty well with theThis is a tricky one to review, but I’ll just say that I hope this is taken in the spirit with which it’s meant.
This started off pretty well with their office dynamic as she demonstrates her smarts, but the plot is all over the place after that. It goes fairly in depth into the burlesque job she takes when she loses the internship she was counting on, and then it goes into even more batshit territory with family drama and (view spoiler)[an incest scare (hide spoiler)] subplot. I know people like their dark romances, but this felt like a whole lotta plots stuffed into one book.
Overall, it’s a weird mix of solid angst porn/erotica combined with extremely melodramatic, cliché romance scenarios and occasional purple prose and clunky language. I’ll have to admit that that a good part of this was done convincingly enough (their chemistry, most of his faith in her abilities, and the his devastating emotional fallout over the part in the spoiler), but there’s just as much material that is cringey, if not more.
Perhaps the most tactful way to put this is that it feels as though the author is still early in her writing and reading career. But there are sparks of genuinely interesting things here—honestly, some of the hardest parts were the most well-written. It’s a case where it feels as though the technical skills and self-editorial eye haven’t quite caught up with the emotional intelligence yet. I’d keep an eye on this author, though—it’ll be interesting to see what happens with time.
And PSA: a lot of people already literally cringe at karaoke IRL or on tv. (Seriously, I’m hunched down in my seat trying to make myself smaller in case someone notices the subject coming up.) I cannot adequately describe to you the acute flaying agony of reading about it in a book, especially in a work outing/boss performance scenario. Staaaaahpp. I beg of you, please, please, please stop the madness....more
The amount of "sallow" skin, "inscrutable" faces, and countless other micro-aggressions and painfully dated terminology is insufferable, even by HP stThe amount of "sallow" skin, "inscrutable" faces, and countless other micro-aggressions and painfully dated terminology is insufferable, even by HP standards. There is an attempt to not be racist, but only through a portrayal of the white heroine with an earnest we-are-all-equal speech provided by the author so she looks good in our eyes.
Oh, and he's fucking married throughout most of the book and she's pretty uninteresting....more
If you were to publish an outline of this book, it sounds overstuffed and completely unworkable and unbelievable. But it somehow it does work, becauseIf you were to publish an outline of this book, it sounds overstuffed and completely unworkable and unbelievable. But it somehow it does work, because the author does such a good job of writing and balancing everything.
It has so many of my favorite PNR/urban fantasy things. Vampires. Cat shifters. Dragons. Wyverns. Strong, silent warriors. Incredible action scenes. Sexy sex. Purring. Pizza parties. Skeleton armies bursting through the fucking window. There’s so much to enjoy and I love how Shara has come into her power and already uses it so wisely.
More things done well: distinctly appealing characters, which is hard when you’re building a big reverse harem. Power dynamics that acknowledge alpha/shifter/harem culture but are respectful of individual feelings, agency, and consent. The sheer physicality of the way shape-shifting, magic, and mental and physical bonds are portrayed. The humor and care for others present throughout the story.
I think understanding that this series is independently published erotic PNR rather than your regular paranormal romance is important, as I can see how all this might be too much for some readers—and there are times when I’m worried at the dizzying speed at which the harem is growing and wild new creatures and lore are introduced, too. But for me, so far it’s been a ridiculously fun ride.
3.5 stars Author Jesse Sutanto has got to be the most fun date at any party. I’m ready to circle the room with her, drink in hand, as we smile our soc3.5 stars Author Jesse Sutanto has got to be the most fun date at any party. I’m ready to circle the room with her, drink in hand, as we smile our social smiles and surreptitiously let savage remarks drop as we pass. This is the second novel of hers I’ve read, and while a lot of books try to write toxic female friendships and professional rivalries, I’m not sure I’ve come across a popular author who skewers them in such an entertaining way.
This one is particularly interesting since its two protagonists are influencers. There are a fair number of thrillers doing this lately, but not many have so believably and relatably portrayed how online friendships can be so intense and personal, yet so rapidly spiral into a seething storm of bewildering resentment and pain. It's a strange disjunction that will be familiar to anyone who's spent any time online, how you can know a stranger's deepest and truest feelings contrasted with the distrust and disillusionment that can come with not having shared history and context. It’s also a fascinating look at the weaponization of social media, all done with ice-pick sharp observations and healthy side-eye at all of us who get wrapped up into it. If this author ever decided to delve more deeply into the themes she portrays in her satirical books with such light razor cuts, I’d be very interested in reading it.
As a mystery, the sudden big thing halfway through threw me for a loop, and it never really regained its believability for me, and the ending gets a pretty big shiny bow on it—and a few of the subplots I probably could have lived without. Still, the various relationships kept me interested and invested, and it’s always great to have more Asian-American stories that are just…stories. I love Sutanto’s writing and keen interest in human behavior, even if this particular plot wasn’t quite as gripping as I’d hoped.
Audio Notes: Literally drafting this on my phone, so I’ll look up the names later. But both audiobook narrators were fantastic....more
A couple of nice moments describing short excursions during an Antarctic cruise, though not nearly enough of them. You don't get enough sense of the vA couple of nice moments describing short excursions during an Antarctic cruise, though not nearly enough of them. You don't get enough sense of the vastness and isolation and snowiness of the setting, though a curious penguin does make an appearance. Mystery and characterization are underwhelming, the heroine is unremarkable, and the art element felt shoe-horned in.
Why can't we get a good cruise ship mystery? I guess The Woman in Cabin 10 renewed interest in this subcategory, but this is the third one I've tried in a few months and each one has been lacking. It's not much different from isolated house mysteries, except with more expansive buffets, no?
2.5 stars Not terrible, but I'm not feeling all that generous. It doesn't bring nearly enough to the genre....more
So much fun! Started out sort of typically, but then my ears perked up at a particular spot and it got better and better as it went along.
Acid-sharp So much fun! Started out sort of typically, but then my ears perked up at a particular spot and it got better and better as it went along.
Acid-sharp writing and shrewd, ego-centric characters playing cat and mouse. It's interesting that Sutanto wields her canny pen with such knowing insights into publishing, marketing, and the complex love-admiration-hate relationships with which so many authors seem to circle each other. She also believably portrays neurodiversity, narcissism, female friendships, and sociopathy with assured style and humor. I also appreciated one character's re-examination of everything she thought she knew about herself and her relationships, which was approached with just the right touch--though I'm curious what the end means for the character in that respect! It's fun to speculate.
Similar themes as the excellent Death of a Bookseller, but with more thriller elements and wider scope. I very much enjoyed this and am excited to read the author's other books.
Audio Notes: This is a case where I borrowed this book because I saw that Saskia Maarleveld voices one of the characters, so a happy find indeed. All the audio performances are terrific, perfectly shading the words of each character with fixed intensity, careless arrogance, and manipulative charm. A very nice marriage of text and interpretation....more
Wendy Darling
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