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rmnedder's reviews
88 reviews
Sadie by Courtney Summers
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Sadie is a fast-paced split narrative novel that had me tuned in from the very start. It's tense and sharp, moving at break-neck speed, with an incredibly well-crafted atmosphere and a complex central character. It manages to handle incredibly challenging material with a surprising amount of grace; along with its themes of loss, it asks us about all the various forms of exploitation we're willing to stomach in our daily lives. The split narrative of Sadie and the podcast is inventive - I love a good chance to play with the form, and the use of the podcast transcript is clever, even if it did leave me longing for more than what's on the page.
Stomach churning and deeply moving despite (or perhaps because of) its sharp edges, Sadie left me disturbed and uneasy, which is the highest praise I can offer for this kind of book. As always, read the content warnings. This one's a doozy.
Stomach churning and deeply moving despite (or perhaps because of) its sharp edges, Sadie left me disturbed and uneasy, which is the highest praise I can offer for this kind of book. As always, read the content warnings. This one's a doozy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
Prisnms by Garth St. Omer
reflective
slow-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? Yes
2.75
I found myself to be pretty unimpressed by this book. Prisnms is pretty much what it says on the tin - a reflection of one man's journey of self and status as an immigrant, done by a thoroughly untrustworthy narrator. While the through line about the main character's sense of self (or lack thereof) is compelling at times, that's really about it. He's such a reprehensible person, which isn't inherently bad, but the narrative style is dull and the actual content of the story feels a little underdeveloped, so there's not really anything to balance it out. And, despite the promise of uncertainty about knowing what to believe/trust, I didn't find that to be as urgent of a concern as the abstract made it out to be; it's certainly a feature of the story, but I think it lacks the degree of import it's given. It's a short "character study" style novella that ultimately does little to keep the reader engaged.
Read the content warnings.
Read the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Death and Murder
Bones & All by Camille DeAngelis
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm such a sucker for the "cannibalism as a metaphor for love/lust" motif, so it's really no surprise how much I enjoyed this book. This book moved and it kept me super engaged the whole time, and I really liked the characters. Maren's relationship with Lee and with the world around her, their attitudes about cannibalism, and her journey of self-discovery through the book were really well-crafted. I was a little let down by the ending; I kind of expected more, but I do understand why it ended the way it did. (I also do wonder how much more impactful some of the themes/motifs could have been if the book wasn't constrained by YA genre expectations, but that's just me.)
I devoured this book (pun intended). It was a fast, dark, disturbing look at what it means to accept all the darkest parts of yourself. As always, read the content warnings.
I devoured this book (pun intended). It was a fast, dark, disturbing look at what it means to accept all the darkest parts of yourself. As always, read the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content
The Man Who Spoke Snakish by Andrus Kivirähk
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Man Who Spoke Snakish was quite the romp through the forest! The world-building is fantastical and incredible - it's such a richly constructed world and it draws you in from the very beginning. It's actually quite a funny book; I wasn't expecting it, but the dark humor of it all works pretty well. It took me a minute to figure out where exactly the story was going to go, but I was definitely along for the ride. Admittedly, I wasn't a fan of how the women were treated in this book; obviously everyone is secondary to the protagonist, but the women of this story felt tertiary at best.
All things being said, this is a funny and deeply engaging story that, underneath the humor, makes powerful statements about identity, language loss, and the preservation of culture. As always, read the content warnings.
All things being said, this is a funny and deeply engaging story that, underneath the humor, makes powerful statements about identity, language loss, and the preservation of culture. As always, read the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Ableism
Theatre of Marvels by Lianne Dillsworth
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-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
4.5
Theatre of Marvels is quite an impressive debut! While I came in expecting an interesting historical mystery, what I got was so much more impactful. Zillah is one of the best literary women I have encountered all year; she's so wonderfully written and developed, built with a complexity and care that's a rare gift. The world itself is also well-built - as someone with some familiarity with the 19th century London theatre scene, all the attention to detail was so lovely. The book explores some pretty hefty themes in a way that feels both graceful and deeply thought-provoking. The pacing was good for most of the book, but I feel like the final stretch got a little rushed and slap-dashed. Everything made sense, and worked out well, but! I think it would have benefitted from the breathing room more pages could have offered.
It was a truly lovely surprise to see how much more there was to this book than what meets the eye. Lianne Dillsworth is a skilled storyteller, and Theatre of Marvels is a wonder itself. As always, read the content warnings. This book gets intense.
It was a truly lovely surprise to see how much more there was to this book than what meets the eye. Lianne Dillsworth is a skilled storyteller, and Theatre of Marvels is a wonder itself. As always, read the content warnings. This book gets intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Sexual content, Torture, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence and Pregnancy
Women of Sand and Myrrh by Hanan Al-Shaykh
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
I was very excited to revisit Hanan al-Shaykh with Women of Sand and Myrrh, which follows four women in an unnamed desert state and provides us with vignettes of their lives and their relationships to the desert. Each of these four women has their own distinct narrative style, and while their stories technically stand on their own, they all subtly intertwine. I found all of the women to be interesting, but I particularly enjoyed Tamr's story. I think some of the writing felt very clunky at times, but I think that is probably a fault of the translation, rather than of al-Shaykh's prose.
It's important to note that the English translation of this work was very heavily altered. Not only was the title changed, the order of the chapters were completely rearranged. I truly think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had the chance to read it as it was intended to be read, without the integrity and impact of the story being flattened and exoticised in translation.
All this being said, Edward Said was right when he said that this is a book that "Western feminists should read."
It's important to note that the English translation of this work was very heavily altered. Not only was the title changed, the order of the chapters were completely rearranged. I truly think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had the chance to read it as it was intended to be read, without the integrity and impact of the story being flattened and exoticised in translation.
All this being said, Edward Said was right when he said that this is a book that "Western feminists should read."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, and Xenophobia
Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler
challenging
dark
reflective
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
5.0
This is somehow even more moving, disturbing, and relevant than the first book. Octavia Butler truly knew exactly what she was doing. The multi-faceted narration, the new viewpoints on Lauren Olamina, the wonderfully intense thematic scrutiny—truly a masterpiece.
Read the content warnings. This book is a difficult read.
Read the content warnings. This book is a difficult read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Suicide, Grief, War, and Classism
Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
emotional
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
A beautiful, poignant coming-of-age story that holds at its heart, among layers of humor and disillusionment, the relationship between a mother and daughter. Kincaid's masterful grasp on the language creates a clear, vivid voice for young Annie: full of life and longing, urgency and immaturity. She is so real, so lucid and clear. Her complex and dualistic relationship with her mother—sometimes fraught, sometimes loving, sometimes both at once—is the lifeline that pulses through this entire novel, culminating in a fantastic parallel.
It is rare that a book is able to so acutely reach into my heart and hold the hand of my younger self. What a gift Jamaica Kincaid has given us.
It is rare that a book is able to so acutely reach into my heart and hold the hand of my younger self. What a gift Jamaica Kincaid has given us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, and Death
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent
The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan
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? It's complicated
2.75
While an intriguing premise, The Comfort of Strangers is a monotonous novella following a young couple on holiday whose encounter with a local puts them in the center of a dangerous drama. McEwan's writing is simple and inoffensive, but lacks a degree of vibrancy required to truly engage the reader. While the local couple, Caroline and Robert, are graced with disturbing backstories, the main characters, Mary and Colin, barely feel like real people. The pacing is wildly imbalanced, with the action of the book taking a backseat plain, unembellished description. This, combined with the relatively minimal characterization provided, leaves the ending feeling rushed and underbaked; I still have a lot of questions about how we arrived where we did.
While the ending delivers on the "shocking violence" it promises, there is a notable lack of "breathtaking terror," and despite the lure of "sexual obsession," any sex in this book feels wholly un-erotic and sterile. It was a quick read, and while I didn't hate it, I found myself entirely unaffected by this book.
As always, read the content warnings.
While the ending delivers on the "shocking violence" it promises, there is a notable lack of "breathtaking terror," and despite the lure of "sexual obsession," any sex in this book feels wholly un-erotic and sterile. It was a quick read, and while I didn't hate it, I found myself entirely unaffected by this book.
As always, read the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infertility
Ghost Season by Fatin Abbas
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
Ghost Season provides us with a somber, beautiful look into the lives of five strangers in a Sudanese border town at the turn of the 21st century. Fatin Abbas's prose is simple, yet striking, deftly weaving together the lives and stories of the vastly different characters. I found all of the main characters to be deeply human, compelling in all their idiosyncrasies—even if there were moments I was left wanting more for them or from them. The pacing is a bit slow to start, but begins to pick up and move at a clip after the first third of the book.
While the ending feels bleak, it feels fitting for a story that is ultimately about borders, identity, and the stubbornness of life, persisting. What a truly moving debut.
As always, read the content warnings.
While the ending feels bleak, it feels fitting for a story that is ultimately about borders, identity, and the stubbornness of life, persisting. What a truly moving debut.
As always, read the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual assault, Torture, Police brutality, and Kidnapping