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cheesebagel's reviews
219 reviews
Five Wives by Joan Thomas
1.0
my personal bias may have impacted this rating but finishing this book was a relief. read for school.
The Institute by Stephen King
3.0
https://thebookmartian.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/the-institute-by-stephen-king-review/
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
1.0
I know some readers (for reasons unknown to me) like to pick up books they anticipate not enjoying. I am not one of these. Very rarely will I select a book to read that I think will disappoint me. I suppose, though, this makes the disappointing books even worse when I begin them expecting greatness.
This book attempts to tell a story in a departure from typical form. It’s laid out as a series of sources and speakers who alternate regularly throughout the novel. I’ve read a few books that experiment with form and personally, I appreciate the artistry and creativity involved in the endeavour. This form, however, copies much of its character from theatre. Is not a play written as a series of alternating speakers with no description in between? In my view, it’s not, then, much of a display of innovation.
Further, the form is distracting. I tried, I really tried, to get past it and become absorbed in the story. But the characters are so indistinguishable (except for the couple who swear a lot) that I had to keep checking who was speaking. Because of this it took me significantly longer than it should have to get through the book because I was so reluctant to pick it back up for how it bored and exhausted me.
Contributing to this effect was the flimsy plot and the lack of character development (or character at all). Very little of any substance occurs throughout the book. The plot is essentially this: dead ghost people realize they are dead and walk into the light. Lame, right? The graveyard’s occupants blurred together in my mind and their characters were not substantially developed by the end of the story.
Finally, I take issue with the use of the word n****r. Throughout the entire book Saunders censors profanity, yet this word he deems acceptable to print. Very suspicious. There was also some really weird stuff about poop and penises. Read at your own risk.
This book was a 1 star for me, but don’t let that discourage you from reading it. There are people out there who enjoyed this (including the Booker Prize committee, shockingly) and you might be one.
https://thebookmartian.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/lincoln-in-the-bardo-review/
This book attempts to tell a story in a departure from typical form. It’s laid out as a series of sources and speakers who alternate regularly throughout the novel. I’ve read a few books that experiment with form and personally, I appreciate the artistry and creativity involved in the endeavour. This form, however, copies much of its character from theatre. Is not a play written as a series of alternating speakers with no description in between? In my view, it’s not, then, much of a display of innovation.
Further, the form is distracting. I tried, I really tried, to get past it and become absorbed in the story. But the characters are so indistinguishable (except for the couple who swear a lot) that I had to keep checking who was speaking. Because of this it took me significantly longer than it should have to get through the book because I was so reluctant to pick it back up for how it bored and exhausted me.
Contributing to this effect was the flimsy plot and the lack of character development (or character at all). Very little of any substance occurs throughout the book. The plot is essentially this: dead ghost people realize they are dead and walk into the light. Lame, right? The graveyard’s occupants blurred together in my mind and their characters were not substantially developed by the end of the story.
Finally, I take issue with the use of the word n****r. Throughout the entire book Saunders censors profanity, yet this word he deems acceptable to print. Very suspicious. There was also some really weird stuff about poop and penises. Read at your own risk.
This book was a 1 star for me, but don’t let that discourage you from reading it. There are people out there who enjoyed this (including the Booker Prize committee, shockingly) and you might be one.
https://thebookmartian.wordpress.com/2021/01/14/lincoln-in-the-bardo-review/
The Shining by Stephen King
4.0
https://thebookmartian.wordpress.com/2021/01/19/the-shining-by-stephen-king-review/
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
4.0
https://thebookmartian.wordpress.com/2021/01/28/whered-you-go-bernadette-review/
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
5.0
Oh, my God, this book was so much fun. I might even go so far as to call it a perfect book. Quick, wildly amusing, easy, but also genuinely emotional and thoughtful. I keep thinking that maybe I should give it a 4 instead, mainly because the writing style is simple and that’s usually something I care quite a lot about, but I’m resisting the urge because, deep down, I believe this book is worth it.
Lillian is brilliant. I get so frustrated reading books sometimes because a character’s decisions are often necessarily flawed to further the plot, to the point where I’m yelling at pages of words because that’s not what I would do. Honestly, I can make peace with it because it’s necessary, but this book was such a pleasure to read because I didn’t need to make peace with anything. I loved how freely her character, and by extension, the entire plot, was written. It’s like Kevin Wilson decided to write a heartfelt book of unrestrained nonsense and succeeded fantastically. It makes me interested to read more of his work.
But combined with this luxurious frivolity is a real story about wealth and lack of it, and the ease with which rich people navigate the world at the expense of others. I resented Madison and Jasper at the same times as Lillian did, and felt (in her words) ‘tenderness’ for them when Lillian felt it, too. It made me angry that they were so willing to write off these two children, to whom the world had been so cruel thus far in their lives, basically for their own convenience. For shallow, silly things like ””public image.””
There’s a plot twist in this book that changes their minds that I really should’ve expected, but didn’t. I’ll blame that on the pure joy of reading this. Usually I don’t care about spoilers but I want anyone who reads this post to read this book, so I’ll err on the side of vagueness.
I loved this from the bottom of my heart. I loved the found family that develops between Lillian and the twins, proving biology is meaningless when it comes to family. I loved the realness of Bessie and Roland in their emotional turmoil. This book is excellent for anyone who doesn’t read much. It’s entertaining, short, and most importantly, an elegantly told story with a wholesome message. Stop reading this review and go and read the novel instead.
https://thebookmartian.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/nothing-to-see-here-by-kevin-wilson-review/
Lillian is brilliant. I get so frustrated reading books sometimes because a character’s decisions are often necessarily flawed to further the plot, to the point where I’m yelling at pages of words because that’s not what I would do. Honestly, I can make peace with it because it’s necessary, but this book was such a pleasure to read because I didn’t need to make peace with anything. I loved how freely her character, and by extension, the entire plot, was written. It’s like Kevin Wilson decided to write a heartfelt book of unrestrained nonsense and succeeded fantastically. It makes me interested to read more of his work.
But combined with this luxurious frivolity is a real story about wealth and lack of it, and the ease with which rich people navigate the world at the expense of others. I resented Madison and Jasper at the same times as Lillian did, and felt (in her words) ‘tenderness’ for them when Lillian felt it, too. It made me angry that they were so willing to write off these two children, to whom the world had been so cruel thus far in their lives, basically for their own convenience. For shallow, silly things like ””public image.””
There’s a plot twist in this book that changes their minds that I really should’ve expected, but didn’t. I’ll blame that on the pure joy of reading this. Usually I don’t care about spoilers but I want anyone who reads this post to read this book, so I’ll err on the side of vagueness.
I loved this from the bottom of my heart. I loved the found family that develops between Lillian and the twins, proving biology is meaningless when it comes to family. I loved the realness of Bessie and Roland in their emotional turmoil. This book is excellent for anyone who doesn’t read much. It’s entertaining, short, and most importantly, an elegantly told story with a wholesome message. Stop reading this review and go and read the novel instead.
https://thebookmartian.wordpress.com/2021/02/01/nothing-to-see-here-by-kevin-wilson-review/