jedore's reviews
499 reviews

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.0

“...just because there are no ghosts it doesn’t mean you can’t be haunted. Nor that you shouldn’t fear the haunting.”

It's tough to write a horror book and not be cliché. But, I always hold out hope that the author will somehow find a way to do it differently. Unfortunately, that didn't happen with Mexican Gothic. The clichés start on the first page and don't stop until until you close the book. 

Although reasonably well written, this one just didn't do much for me. 

I found it distracting and mildly annoying that the author would throw in the occasional high-brow vocab word. There aren't many words that I've never heard or read before...yet somehow there were a small handful in this story. What is the purpose of using a word that no one ever uses...one that would never enter the brain or come out of the mouth of 99% of humans and definitely not a young woman in her 20s living in the 1950s whose first language was Spanish?

Although set in the 1950s, not much felt authentic to this time other than the occasional descriptions of the main character's wardrobe. 

Throughout the entire book, I felt like I was reading a book meant for the younger crowd—and that the author was writing with the explicit intent of being the next book-to-Netflix sensation.

I know others who really enjoyed this book, so if you're looking for a gothic horror story and don't mind clichés, just ignore me and give it a shot! 


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Less by Andrew Sean Greer

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"And at fifty, Less muses drowsily, you’re as likable as you’re going to get.”

Despite being a Pulitzer Prize winner, this was one of those so-so books for me. It wasn't the writing...in fact, it was extremely well written. It wasn't a lack of character development...there was great depth to the main character, Arthur Less. It was simply a chemistry thing. I just wasn't that into any of it. Except for the ending. I loved the ending. 
Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Compliance causes a shocking realization that must be registered by all women. That is, to be ourselves causes us to be exiled by many others, and yet to comply with what others want causes us to be exiled from ourselves. It is a tormenting tension and it must be borne, but the choice is clear.

First of all, I have to say that trying to choose a favorite quote from this book is absolutely ridiculous. Every page had at least one mind or soul blowing nugget for me.

This was not an easy book for me to read. If fact, quite often it felt like required reading for an undergraduate women's studies course. But, I vowed not to take a light-hearted reading break like I did nearly a decade ago and to power through to the end.

It wasn't difficult because it was boring or overly challenging. It just felt like every sentence had the power to change me and had me thinking deeply about my past, present, and future. There is much to digest here if you want to connect with the wild woman inside of you. 

And, trust me, YOU REALLY, REALLY DO. 

I was gifted the book back when I was still married, but it sat on my shelf until about a decade ago when I read the first third. This launched me into a belated initiation into wild womanhood. Although I did myself a disservice by not finishing it back then, living wildly didn't leave me a whole lot of time to do so! 

Now, as I prepare to move into the house I built out of my dreams where the jungle touches the sea in Panamá, I finally got around to finishing it. 

So much wisdom, love, and support of women on these pages! So many reminders and so much validation. And, just the guidance I needed for my latest chapter...and onward. 

Clarissa Pinkola Estes helped to fill a massive gap in my life. She's my surrogate mom and will always be one of my guides. 

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck

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dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

"It is a fact verified and recorded in many histories that the soul capable of the greatest good is also capable of the greatest evil."

I am a huge Steinbeck fan. “East of Eden” and “Grapes of Wrath”are high up on my list of favorite books.

But, this one was tough. I didn’t think I was going to make it, but my goal to read every one of Steinbeck’s books—and, I won’t lie, the short length of the book—powered me through to the end.

The quote above perfectly encapsulates the theme of this book.

“Tortilla Flat” is a deep dive into the lives of a group of dysfunctional alcoholic friends—Mexican paisanos (countrymen) living in the Hispanic neighborhood of Monterey just after the end of World War I.

The first detraction/distraction was the use of formal English (“thee”, “thou”, etc.) in the dialogue. WTH? 

You have to dig really deep to like any of the characters. I never made it there...even with the couple characters that were potentially likable.

These are men who abhor responsibility far more than struggle, who choose to live a hand-to-mouth existence, and whose morals are based purely on their personal opinions and justifications.

And, they are masters at justifying anything and everything.

Every time you’re happy that they catch a break, they find a way to totally screw it up...and, they don’t care who they take down in the process.

If you’re looking for a tragic tale, you’ve found one in “Tortilla Flat.”

Only a discussion with Steinbeck could make me go higher than a 3-star on this one...but, unless I come across a genie, my rating stands.

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Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins

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challenging funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves."

Wow, what a ride! This book was recommended to me by a fellow member of an online book group in response to my request for a book to restore my faith in humanity. 

This was my first Tom Robbins book...and there will definitely be more. 

After the first several chapters, I was concerned it was going to be one of those books that serves as a platform for the author to profess her/his intellectual superiority. (These go straight to my DNF pile these days.) I was just starting to wonder if I was smart enough when something clicked.

The conversations between characters—or inside their own heads—totally won me over and I started crushing on Tom Robbins writing style. 

It's not my usual style at all. I'm not usually a fan of Quirky (with a capital Q)—and definitely not of interludes where the author stops telling the story and talks directly to me (in this case, ranting about a typewriter). 

But, the talks and thoughts about how to make love last, the difference between a criminal and an outlaw, the fascinating theories about good and evil and discrimination, and Tom's theory on tunnel vision were downright brilliant.

It was a blast to get out of my literary box with this fun book! And, it brings me comfort knowing that people like Tom exist.



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Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

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dark emotional sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

"But no matter how much the tortoise may wish to fight, he has no fingers."

Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree
is a fictionalized story of the kidnapping of a group of Nigerian schoolgirls by Boko Haram, an extremist Islamic terrorist group on a mission to take over the northern portion of the country.

Not an easy book to read when you're on a mission to restore your faith in humanity….but, a necessary read to gain perspective on the tragic plight of our fellow humans living in Nigeria. Lots of sensitive topics, including kidnapping, slavery, sexual assault, Stockholm syndrome, and suicide bombing to name a few. Despite the horrific topics, I couldn't put the book down and am really happy I read it.

I appreciate that the author separated the actions of the "Muslim" terrorists from true Muslims, calling them out for what they are — psychopathic criminals using religion to justify their actions.

This book is good for both young and old adults. It's a very fast read with most of the chapters ranging from a couple sentences to a single page. It's unusual for me to finish a book in two days! I do think the fast pace of the book diminished my connection to the story a bit...although it was emotional, it was all over too fast.

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The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson

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funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

"Problems never stop; they merely get exchanged and/or upgraded. Happiness comes from solving problems."

There are SO many awesome quotes in this book, it was super challenging to pick just one to highlight. I chose this one because it represents the central theme of this book.

I've observed a ton of entitlement in the younger generations for decades now...they want it all and they don't want to work for it. Of course, I'm totally generalizing...but, you can't argue that social media has warped out the expectations of the kids who grew up watching children make millions from testing toys on their YouTube Channel or adults make billions by selling a lifestyle. 

After a few chapters of this book, I realized I was entitled! I'm not the kind of entitled that expects to work a little and have a lot; I'm the kind of entitled that gets miffed when life isn't fair, when problems continually crop up, or when humans keep messing things up. 

We're all reading the same global headlines and have experienced the past two years. Our collective butts have been kicked.

Add to that my move to Panamá last year and taking on the challenge of building a retreat here, and my butt has been pretty pulverized. 

So, I asked my online book groups for suggestions of books to restore my faith in humanity and life. This book came up multiple times...and, it turns out, I had it in my Kindle library so I dove in. 

PERSPECTIVE CHANGED.

Mark doesn’t say anything earth shattering in the book, but what he does say he says in a way that really resonated with me at this point in my life. And, because he speaks my (foul) language, it was fun to read about heavy stuff. 
 
The biggest lesson I am walking away with from this book is that it’s absolutely ridiculous to expect life to go smoothly. Life is really just a series of problems and the key to happiness is doing what you can to make those problems be the kind you want to solve and then solving them. 
 
As I read the book to the sound of monkeys and vision of a lush tropical landscape, I fully realized that I DID’ THIS! I have created an authentic and incredibly beautiful life for myself and I’m literally ruining it by acting like an entitled brat. 
 
In terms of the state of humanity, my biggest problem has been giving WAY too many fucks. It's too heavy to take on all of the pain and struggles going on right now. This is a time of massive transition…hopefully awakening as many claim. But, as Mark Manson says..."giving too many fucks is bad for your mental health" and "...the world is totally fucked and that's all right, because it's always been that way, and always will be." What a relief! 😆 

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Jungle: A Harrowing True Story of Survival by Yossi Ghinsberg

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

3.75

"A mochilero changes beds almost every night, but every place he rolls his sleeping bag open is home."

I live in an area in Central America where a lot of Israeli backpackers (AKA "mochileros") come, so I was interested to read the story of one (Yossi Ghinsberg) whose journey turned into a nightmare. 

The beginning of the story enlightened me a bit about the Israelis' strong motivation to backpack after their mandatory military service and the incredible support system that awaits them throughout the world (particularly South America...and definitely in my community).  

While bound for Machu Picchu in Peru, Yossi got sidetracked by a hunger for adventure and gold. The result was a 20 day fight for his life in the Bolivian jungle. 

There were four main characters in the story — Yossi, an American backpacker named Kevin, a Swiss backpacker named Marcus, and a suspicious older Austrian named Karl. Not one of them was likable. The former three were all 20-somethings with an abundance of unrealistic optimism and a serious lack of wisdom...the latter was, at the very least, a sociopath and very likely a psychopath. It kinda detracts from a book when you're constantly wanting to (figuratively) smack the characters upside the head!

In the first half of the story, not a whole lot happens so it drags a bit. But, once you hit the halfway point, it pulls you in. Living inside of a house in a tropical area has been mildly harrowing for my partner and I, so I had a fairly good idea of Yossi's painful experiences.

This is a quick and interesting read that will fill you with gratitude for your dry bed and kitchen full of  food.

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

3.75

"Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you're not alone, you will overcome."

Even though fantasy is not my favorite genre, there was no way I was bypassing this book—it was getting a ton of rave time in my online book groups and I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. 

After just a few pages, I was surprised to find out that it's actually young adult fiction. (If it's not officially classified as such, somebody was sleeping on the job or had some sort of literary agenda.) While very pleasantly and well written, it's definitely way more simplistic than most adult novels. And, it's far lighter than Harry Potter.

On the politically correct scale, it's a heavy weight. Even Lucifer (AKA Lucy), the son of Satan, is not to be feared or judged. 😄 

If you're looking for a marshmallowy feel good book, you've found it. It's basically the equivalent of watching one of those intelligent animated movies that speak to both kids and adults. (In fact, if this isn't made into a movie, I will be shocked.) Thanks to TJ Klune, I could literally see each character on my mental movie screen.

For me, this was an enjoyable romp into young adult land. I'm not a raver, just a liker.



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Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain

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funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

"If you are easily offended by direct aspersions on your lineage, the circumstances of your birth, your sexuality, your appearance, the mention of your parents possibly commingling with livestock, then the world of professional cooking is not for you."

Although I am what I would call an entry level "foodie," I'm not into food-related shows or celebrity chefs. For some reason, Anthony Bourdain caught a bit more of my attention than his peers before his death. There was just something about him.

When he intentionally ended this life, I became intrigued. Not in a morbid way. I just hoped to get a better understanding of what it is I had sensed and why he did what he did. So, I picked up Kitchen Confidential to see if I was right.

I'm glad I did! This was an enjoyable and insightful read. Eating at a busy urban restaurant will never be the same for me again...wow! I'd heard it was heavy on drugs and alcohol and high on stress, but Anthony opened my eyes wider. This is definitely not a habitat I would survive in...and, honestly, I have a difficult time understanding those who not only do, but who thrive in it.

Turns out I was right about Anthony. He was a sweet and sensitive man underneath his surly exterior — and, I can understand how the world was finally just too much for him.

Looking forward to reading Into the Weeds by Tom Vitale, Anthony's long-time director and producer.

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