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annoyedhumanoid's reviews
176 reviews
Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
get ready to draw a family tree. Greta & Valdin acknowledges the complexity of its cast by prefacing with a character list, but even that's not enough to fully understand all the relationships.
i enjoyed the story lines of Greta and Valdin (the main characters). we're all such lovers, like truly what could be more important. despite complaining about its complexity, i admit to also liking the family drama. it felt like a telenovela but not tele, so just a novella, except it's a full-length novel, so really never mind. i feel the same about this book as i did with Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou: the execution was imperfect but the premise was so interesting and the atmosphere so unique that i will be on the lookout for similar books.
i didn't enjoy, though, howValdin could spend so much time away from his sister (and the rest of his family) without ever, in the text, thinking of her (or them) or offering a reason for ghosting. and then he comes back already like "I’m trying to be more responsible. I’m realising that just as many people rely on me as I rely on them" ("Mint") . it was unrealistic and felt like asking for forgiveness from the reader without having earned it. i was also uncomfortable with just how quickly time passes (several weeks between chapters). what happened in the interim? surely at least one noteworthy interaction—what am i missing out on??
i enjoyed the story lines of Greta and Valdin (the main characters). we're all such lovers, like truly what could be more important. despite complaining about its complexity, i admit to also liking the family drama. it felt like a telenovela but not tele, so just a novella, except it's a full-length novel, so really never mind. i feel the same about this book as i did with Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou: the execution was imperfect but the premise was so interesting and the atmosphere so unique that i will be on the lookout for similar books.
i didn't enjoy, though, how
Either/Or by Elif Batuman
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
this felt tedious at times, more so than The Idiot, but also funnier at others. it took a step back from the college aspect, which i had found so intoxicating in the first book. after the S&M -themed party, it veered into depressing, from the recitation of “The Rules” straight out of the 1800s to the consecutive unpleasant, even non-consensual, sexual encounters . reading these parts brought me less joy than those that preceded it, but it felt realistic and even relatable to my own experiences and remains important to portray.
finally, the ending was abrupt—does it even complete the academic year? surely Selin would return to Harvard in the autumn, presumably where a hypothetical sequel would begin, like its two predecessors, but then we would be missing her time in Russia. it feels disorganized for the series and like there was a deadline to meet.
gripes aside, the majority of this was a pleasure to read. i laughed out loud at work while listening to the audiobook. having read Either/Or immediately after The Idiot, the two felt like one continuous narrative, one stream of consciousness, split into two volumes—which i’m okay with! if they had been together, big book fear probably would have prevented me from experiencing this wonderful series altogether. this unbroken stream of consciousness never felt like being inundated with a self-important person’s world view: our narrator doesn’t have the answers and knows it, creating a feeling of learning and a conversation with the reader. it’s a conversation i want to keep having.
but Selin needs to stop sending her emails prematurely or to the wrong recipient. i can’t handle that trope.
further reading: Let’s Go: Greece & Turkey, 1998, with contributors including Elif Batuman. https://archive.org/details/letsgogreeceturk0000unse
finally, the ending was abrupt—does it even complete the academic year? surely Selin would return to Harvard in the autumn, presumably where a hypothetical sequel would begin, like its two predecessors, but then we would be missing her time in Russia. it feels disorganized for the series and like there was a deadline to meet.
gripes aside, the majority of this was a pleasure to read. i laughed out loud at work while listening to the audiobook. having read Either/Or immediately after The Idiot, the two felt like one continuous narrative, one stream of consciousness, split into two volumes—which i’m okay with! if they had been together, big book fear probably would have prevented me from experiencing this wonderful series altogether. this unbroken stream of consciousness never felt like being inundated with a self-important person’s world view: our narrator doesn’t have the answers and knows it, creating a feeling of learning and a conversation with the reader. it’s a conversation i want to keep having.
but Selin needs to stop sending her emails prematurely or to the wrong recipient. i can’t handle that trope.
further reading: Let’s Go: Greece & Turkey, 1998, with contributors including Elif Batuman. https://archive.org/details/letsgogreeceturk0000unse
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
at first, this book was such a refreshing view of the first-year college experience that i was disappointed when it got caught up in a man. but at the halfway point i began to appreciate it showing just how insufferable he is, that worst man you know, and how foolish you were to go back to what hurt you every time.
until: his charm worked on me too. i wanted more of him, more than even Selin did. what starts by holding up a mirror to your stupidity then gently redirects your gaze to the huge world behind your reflection, beyond the endless, ruinous chase for love.
but it also shows you, in that huge world, a whole throng of people who all want to love and be loved, like you. or, one other person who does. but if we aren’t the only one in something, mustn’t there be countless more? i’ve constructed playlists comprising dozens of songs written by hundreds of people that collectively capture to a tee how i feel, but never have i felt more solidarity in those feelings than i have from this one book.
“I’m not Turkish, I don’t have a Serbian best friend, I’m not in love with a Hungarian, I don’t go to Harvard. Or do I?”
“Long after I finished The Idiot, I looked at every lanky girl with her nose in a book on the subway and thought: Selin.”
we’re all the idiot.
or, at least, i don’t think i’m the only one.
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
the worst man you know, and you’re stuck in his orbit.
at first, this book was such a refreshing view of the first-year college experience that i was disappointed when it got caught up in a man. but at the halfway point i began to appreciate it showing just how insufferable he is, that worst man you know, and how foolish you were to go back to what hurt you every time.
until: his charm worked on me too. i wanted more of him, more than even Selin did. what starts by holding up a mirror to your stupidity then gently redirects your gaze to the huge world behind your reflection, beyond the endless, ruinous chase for love.
but it also shows you, in that huge world, a whole throng of people who all want to love and be loved, like you. or, one other person who does. but if we aren’t the only one in something, mustn’t there be countless more? i’ve constructed playlists comprising dozens of songs written by hundreds of people that collectively capture to a tee how i feel, but never have i felt more solidarity in those feelings than i have from this one book.
“I’m not Turkish, I don’t have a Serbian best friend, I’m not in love with a Hungarian, I don’t go to Harvard. Or do I?”
“Long after I finished The Idiot, I looked at every lanky girl with her nose in a book on the subway and thought: Selin.”
we’re all the idiot.
or, at least, i don’t think i’m the only one.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
i think the way to approach Lucy Foley mysteries is to create a grid with every seemingly distinct character across both the rows and columns and check off intersections of characters that are actually the same.
justice—who delivers it and who receives it—was a major theme, but its development felt potemkin. the righteousness ofextrajudicial community vengeance was established early on and never challenged. there was a missed opportunity for an interesting, meaningful conversation with Jake being an officer of the law and his mother a vigilante Bird . combined with the main antagonist being nothing more than a caricature (Lorde developed a better unwell wellness girlie in 3 minutes and 45 seconds on “Mood Ring”), the novel’s thematic exploration was over before it began.
i have to admit i fell for the red herrings. maybe they wouldn’t work if you’re a mystery buff but i’m not really.
in my ranking of the Foley mystery canon, it falls below *The Hunting Party* and *The Guest List* but above *The Paris Apartment* (but the latter set the bar very low)
justice—who delivers it and who receives it—was a major theme, but its development felt potemkin. the righteousness of
i have to admit i fell for the red herrings. maybe they wouldn’t work if you’re a mystery buff but i’m not really.
in my ranking of the Foley mystery canon, it falls below *The Hunting Party* and *The Guest List* but above *The Paris Apartment* (but the latter set the bar very low)
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
this was my favorite book as a child. revisiting it was a trying time. i had thought of myself as Nicholas (and the boy i had a crush on in gymnastics as John), and now i realize just how annoying Nicholas was, and how annoying i must have been too.
it is crazy long, especially for a middle grade. it took until the last fifth to reach and sustain an engaging pace.
but that last fifth… i forgive many of its faults just for the wonderful ending. and in my headcanon, unsupported by The Mysterious Benedict Society, Nicholas and John grow up to be high-society recluse lovers à la the Rothschilds.
it is crazy long, especially for a middle grade. it took until the last fifth to reach and sustain an engaging pace.
but that last fifth… i forgive many of its faults just for the wonderful ending. and in my headcanon, unsupported by The Mysterious Benedict Society, Nicholas and John grow up to be high-society recluse lovers à la the Rothschilds.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Body shaming, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, and Death of parent
Cosmoknights: Book Two by Hannah Templer
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
the art is gorgeous as always—especially the colors. although, sometimes the fight scenes were hard to parse, devolving into plotless mosaics of action poses. but overall 🤌🤌
the story, on the other hand, is confusing. the first book’s plot holes are not resolved here; in fact, some new ones join the fray. i think i need someone to answer several questions. but i’m for sure still reading the third book when it comes out (hoping it’s the final)
and now i can finally delete my one-year-overdue countdown for this book’s release.
the story, on the other hand, is confusing. the first book’s plot holes are not resolved here; in fact, some new ones join the fray. i think i need someone to answer several questions. but i’m for sure still reading the third book when it comes out (hoping it’s the final)
and now i can finally delete my one-year-overdue countdown for this book’s release.
Chlorine by Jade Song
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
the narrative wasn't cohesive, the writing wasn't my favorite, and the dialogue felt unnatural. i think i wanted more of a revenge story but we didn't really get that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Self harm, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Confinement, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the Twentieth-Century World by J. R. McNeill
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i found the clinical tone of the first part challenging, in contrast to the extreme readability of the second part with its masterful choice of narrator. the motifs seemed sparse, even for a novella, and a little heavy-handed, especially in the first part. but overall it was a worthwhile, important, haunting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Genocide, Gore, Racism, Torture, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail