Scan barcode
innerweststreetlibrarian's reviews
432 reviews
The Festival of Insignificance by Milan Kundera
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Perhaps I am too old to care about Kundera’s sad old men? At least it was a quick read, and I still enjoy his turn of phrase and philosophical musings, but this is literally navel gazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is quite a lovely read, a “cozy” sci fi where a few crappy things happen to nice but flawed people but they mostly overcome the obstacles in their way.
How Long 'til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A really excellent collection of short stories, I’ve been slowly working my way through all year to savour them properly. There are far too many highlights to review them all. I really loved The City We Became, and I sought this book out to see the original short story that grew into that book. So good!
From Here On, Monsters by Elizabeth Bryer
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I really enjoyed this surprise find from a lifeline book fair. It touches lightly on similar themes about the power of language to shape society that have been explored in a few other books I’ve read recently, such as The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Word Exchange.
This is quite different, and to me, much better. I enjoyed the mystery of the codex, the weird (and somewhat cynical) performance art elements, the links to Australian mythology, global exploration, the plight of refugees in Australia and the really beautiful descriptions of what it’s like to translate between languages.
It’s such an interesting mix of themes, that surprisingly to me really fit well together.
I don’t think the ending was as satisfying as it could have been, but it’s a really good read all the same.
This is quite different, and to me, much better. I enjoyed the mystery of the codex, the weird (and somewhat cynical) performance art elements, the links to Australian mythology, global exploration, the plight of refugees in Australia and the really beautiful descriptions of what it’s like to translate between languages.
It’s such an interesting mix of themes, that surprisingly to me really fit well together.
I don’t think the ending was as satisfying as it could have been, but it’s a really good read all the same.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racism, Suicide, Grief, and Colonisation
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found this disappointingly slow going. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the book, it just didn’t grab me enough to get through it quickly. Esme is quite passive for a protagonist. Things happen around her and to her. It’s a bit depressing.
The words are the real star of the story. I enjoyed the premise that there’s a gender bias in these original dictionaries and the process of collecting the women’s words and defining them was really interesting. The story could have benefited from more of that.
The words are the real star of the story. I enjoyed the premise that there’s a gender bias in these original dictionaries and the process of collecting the women’s words and defining them was really interesting. The story could have benefited from more of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility and Misogyny
Artemis by Andy Weir
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
I enjoyed this one, not as much as The Martian, but it’s still a fun read. I agree with the general sentiments from other readers that there’s something “off” about the character of Jazz. I think it’s possibly just Weir’s writing style, his voice is quite unique and I think it overshadows the voice of the character he is trying to develop to a certain extent. It doesn’t matter how many times you tell me who this character is if you don’t show me the evidence to make me really believe it. To me, Jazz was the same guy stuck on Mars. I really liked that guy, but it was strange trying to reconcile that voice coming from someone who was supposed to be a Saudi woman who grew up on the moon. I would love to see a visual re-interpretation of this story in film or tv though, there’s some really great roles for a very diverse and interesting cast that could be a lot of fun.
Overall, this was still a great read, lots of science, political and criminal intrigue and a really well constructed fantasy world that felt very believable.
Overall, this was still a great read, lots of science, political and criminal intrigue and a really well constructed fantasy world that felt very believable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Confinement
Zone One by Colson Whitehead
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
This was excellent! I’m a bit surprised by the negative reviews, but I’ve also never read a “zombie” book before so perhaps if that’s something you read a lot this might be slow and boring for you. For me, I found it fascinating. It’s got a good balance between the world building and the action, and the focus on the mental health impacts of post-apocalyptic survival is not something that I think gets enough attention. OF COURSE everyone would have trauma and PTSD. What I found really interesting was how that impacted on the plot and the character interactions. It all felt very believable to me.
I surprised myself a bit that I even wanted to read a book about the aftermath of a pandemic, (albeit a very rapid, destructive, and medically implausible zombie virus) it seems I was ready. Not sure exactly what it was about the blurb for this one that hooked me in, but I’m glad it did. I really enjoyed the quality of the writing and will definitely read more by Whitehead as a result. This one’s a keeper!
I surprised myself a bit that I even wanted to read a book about the aftermath of a pandemic, (albeit a very rapid, destructive, and medically implausible zombie virus) it seems I was ready. Not sure exactly what it was about the blurb for this one that hooked me in, but I’m glad it did. I really enjoyed the quality of the writing and will definitely read more by Whitehead as a result. This one’s a keeper!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Mental illness, Suicide, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Torture, Car accident, and Death of parent
Permafrost by SJ Norman
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
These stories are unlike anything I’ve read before.
Creepy, weird, a little confusing at times but also managing to pull something beautiful out of banal or frightening situations.
You don’t get a good sense of who the narrator is in most stories which gives an unusual sense of intimacy, you see the world through their eyes, their memories, their longings and fears, but never get an external perspective of who they are.
I think I’ll be pondering the collection for a long time, but “Unspeakable” was the standout for me. I have visited places with horrifying histories as a tourist many times too, I don’t fully understand the compulsion to do so but I felt like this comes close to articulating my own thoughts, being in these places where history sits very heavily, in close proximity to commercial tourism activities. There was a particularly challenging passage about eating ice creams at Auschwitz, that made me realise I really don’t know where Australia’s historical massacre sites are. I have more learning to do.
A lot of this book reads like a much better written version of my own internal monologue, or mimics the weird surrealism of my own dreams, yet from a totally different perspective and lived experience. It’s quite remarkable, very confronting, and I might revisit this review again after I’ve had more time to think about it.
Creepy, weird, a little confusing at times but also managing to pull something beautiful out of banal or frightening situations.
You don’t get a good sense of who the narrator is in most stories which gives an unusual sense of intimacy, you see the world through their eyes, their memories, their longings and fears, but never get an external perspective of who they are.
I think I’ll be pondering the collection for a long time, but “Unspeakable” was the standout for me. I have visited places with horrifying histories as a tourist many times too, I don’t fully understand the compulsion to do so but I felt like this comes close to articulating my own thoughts, being in these places where history sits very heavily, in close proximity to commercial tourism activities. There was a particularly challenging passage about eating ice creams at Auschwitz, that made me realise I really don’t know where Australia’s historical massacre sites are. I have more learning to do.
A lot of this book reads like a much better written version of my own internal monologue, or mimics the weird surrealism of my own dreams, yet from a totally different perspective and lived experience. It’s quite remarkable, very confronting, and I might revisit this review again after I’ve had more time to think about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Genocide, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Violence
The Swan Book by Alexis Wright
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I don’t understand this book.
I gave up on it halfway a few years ago and decided to try again. The blurb tells you essentially exactly what happens in the story, but I don’t feel like I gained much extra from actually reading the whole book, except some beautiful poetic descriptions of a hot world, getting hotter and more desperate.
It’s pretty weird.
I gave up on it halfway a few years ago and decided to try again. The blurb tells you essentially exactly what happens in the story, but I don’t feel like I gained much extra from actually reading the whole book, except some beautiful poetic descriptions of a hot world, getting hotter and more desperate.
It’s pretty weird.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Colonisation
It Doesn't Suck: Showgirls by Adam Nayman
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Well this was fun! Reading about bad movies is almost as fun as actually watching them. I was completely ignorant of the history behind the film when I first saw it, maybe 20 years after it was released and thought it was fascinatingly awful! I’ve since seen it again and enjoyed the great documentary “You Don’t Nomi”, it’s really interesting seeing the different perspectives on this film. It doesn’t suck, indeed!