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emily_kathman's reviews
57 reviews
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
An interesting exploration of family dynamics and how violence leads to more violence.
Very readable with short chapters that keep the plot moving
Very readable with short chapters that keep the plot moving
The Push by Ashley Audrain
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
The husband is soooo in the wrong here. He is a VILLAIN
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Daddy by Emma Cline
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
These stories are more like vingettes than stories- like they don’t follow a typical plot structure- they set a vibe- which is kind of disturbing but ultimately constantly lurking in the world.
Themes of sexual dysfunction/ deviance/dominance are present in A/S/L, Marion, Los Angeles, and The Nanny. Which makes sense considering the title of the book. Cline leaves a lot unsaid in these stories, paints a picture with all the circumstances and details surrounding “the thing” without ever naming it. Although it’s more present in some stories than others. - these are all written from women's pov.
In contrast, What Can You Do With a General, Menlo Park, Northeast Regional, Mack the Knife, and Son of Friedman explore more loss or lack of masculinity/ feelings of inadequacy and are written from men’s pov.
Arcadia was an interesting outlier as a man was both witness to and a victim of sexual abuse by another man.
Themes of agency?
Themes of sexual dysfunction/ deviance/dominance are present in A/S/L, Marion, Los Angeles, and The Nanny. Which makes sense considering the title of the book. Cline leaves a lot unsaid in these stories, paints a picture with all the circumstances and details surrounding “the thing” without ever naming it. Although it’s more present in some stories than others. - these are all written from women's pov.
In contrast, What Can You Do With a General, Menlo Park, Northeast Regional, Mack the Knife, and Son of Friedman explore more loss or lack of masculinity/ feelings of inadequacy and are written from men’s pov.
Arcadia was an interesting outlier as a man was both witness to and a victim of sexual abuse by another man.
Themes of agency?
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Would have been 5 stars but for the writing style. I’m just picky.
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
- My favorite sister to read was Bonnie
- I was captivated by the story
- Mellors knows how to write an argument between sisters or between mother/daughter in the most accurate way. We say the most hurtful things
- Appreciated the complex, morally ambiguous, female characters
Would have been 5 stars but for the writing style. I’m just picky.
Cures for Hunger: A Memoir by Deni Ellis Béchard, Deni Y. B. Chard
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Gathering Blossoms Under Fire: The Journals of Alice Walker by Alice Walker
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Aviary by Deirdre McNamer
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I did enjoy reading this book. It gave vignettes into each character’s life and past.
However- the prose was a bit dense. It was beautifully written. The text challenged me to look up words I haven’t heard before- what a beautiful thing. And- my preference in books is not to be bogged down in my captivation by dense prose. It was almost giving Hemingway in the rambling-ness of it all (which for some might be a plus but for me just isn’t my preference).
Also- there were a lot of characters that we heard their pov maybe once or twice and then it just dropped- only to have their “loose ends” tied up in another characters pov. Maybe that was the point, that things aren’t always neat- but i would have loved another chapter from both Leo and Claytons pov.
Overall, a nice read especially for November. It captured that sad vibe of the days getting shorter, and was an example of beautiful prose. I think it would have been better if there would have been less povs and more time developing 3-4 characters more in depth.
Check it out if you like more dense, many character pov stories, or if you need a big zoom out in perspective.
However- the prose was a bit dense. It was beautifully written. The text challenged me to look up words I haven’t heard before- what a beautiful thing. And- my preference in books is not to be bogged down in my captivation by dense prose. It was almost giving Hemingway in the rambling-ness of it all (which for some might be a plus but for me just isn’t my preference).
Also- there were a lot of characters that we heard their pov maybe once or twice and then it just dropped- only to have their “loose ends” tied up in another characters pov. Maybe that was the point, that things aren’t always neat- but i would have loved another chapter from both Leo and Claytons pov.
Overall, a nice read especially for November. It captured that sad vibe of the days getting shorter, and was an example of beautiful prose. I think it would have been better if there would have been less povs and more time developing 3-4 characters more in depth.
Check it out if you like more dense, many character pov stories, or if you need a big zoom out in perspective.