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willowbiblio's reviews
485 reviews
Authority by Jeff VanderMeer
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
“He was wary of that feeling; it was a space where shadows crept in that shouldn’t creep in, where people agreed to things that they did not actually agree with, believing they were of one purpose and intent.”
————————
I was almost anticipating a letdown after the excellence of Annihilation but this was an equally impressive book. What felt remarkable to me was realizing that the book spanned about 2 weeks. It never felt slow to me. Rather than the eeriness of book one, this book had a consistent undercurrent of doubt and paranoia.
Once again, Vandermeer used incredibly rich imagery/metaphors/similes for emotion. I liked the constant cognitive dissonance between what a character said and their body language. Whitby saying “I like it here” while sweating, fidgeting, and clearly uncomfortable conveyed the same doubt and distrust of others and experience that Control was constantly dealing with.
The rotting smell was a really cool allegory and literal experience for the invasion into Control’s mind and stability unraveling. In fact, his paranoia and instability increased in direct parallel to the information he gained about Area X and everything related to it. I hadn’t suspected a key element of what was happening to him, but it makes so much sense. I really enjoyed how much this felt like the more information gained and assumptions made, the further we got from the truth of any of it.
I liked that the reader was constantly questioning whether the biologist was herself or a replica until the very end of the book. Once again, an excellent introspective novel that kept me on my toes the whole way through.
————————
I was almost anticipating a letdown after the excellence of Annihilation but this was an equally impressive book. What felt remarkable to me was realizing that the book spanned about 2 weeks. It never felt slow to me. Rather than the eeriness of book one, this book had a consistent undercurrent of doubt and paranoia.
Once again, Vandermeer used incredibly rich imagery/metaphors/similes for emotion. I liked the constant cognitive dissonance between what a character said and their body language. Whitby saying “I like it here” while sweating, fidgeting, and clearly uncomfortable conveyed the same doubt and distrust of others and experience that Control was constantly dealing with.
The rotting smell was a really cool allegory and literal experience for the invasion into Control’s mind and stability unraveling. In fact, his paranoia and instability increased in direct parallel to the information he gained about Area X and everything related to it. I hadn’t suspected a key element of what was happening to him, but it makes so much sense. I really enjoyed how much this felt like the more information gained and assumptions made, the further we got from the truth of any of it.
I liked that the reader was constantly questioning whether the biologist was herself or a replica until the very end of the book. Once again, an excellent introspective novel that kept me on my toes the whole way through.
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“The effect of this cannot be understood without being there. The beauty of it cannot be understood, either, and when you see beauty in desolation, it changes something inside you. Desolation tries to colonize you.”
——————————-
What an incredible book this was, I’m really looking forward to continuing this trilogy. Vandermeer immediately creates intrigue with the opening about being abandoned near the lighthouse. It engenders curiosity that makes the reader eager to continue on.
The prose for emotion was stunning, and Vandermeer’s usage of similes/metaphors/imagery to enrich them was immaculate. With that said, it also felt so direct and simple, almost utilitarian. There is nothing declarative or overly done here. Every word, scene, and sentence had a purpose.
There was a constant eeriness to every setting in Area X, lifted only by flashbacks which served as a kind of relief from the near-constant tension.
This book wasn’t so much about Area X, or even a traditional science fiction novel. It was about the main character’s journey, internally and externally. Her metamorphosis and self discovery are as important as the landscape. This was not about clean plot or neat questions, but deep introspection. Even the removal and rejection of names was designed to bring the focus away from traditional character arcs and take the reader along her journey more immersively.
A stunning atmospheric novel.
——————————-
What an incredible book this was, I’m really looking forward to continuing this trilogy. Vandermeer immediately creates intrigue with the opening about being abandoned near the lighthouse. It engenders curiosity that makes the reader eager to continue on.
The prose for emotion was stunning, and Vandermeer’s usage of similes/metaphors/imagery to enrich them was immaculate. With that said, it also felt so direct and simple, almost utilitarian. There is nothing declarative or overly done here. Every word, scene, and sentence had a purpose.
There was a constant eeriness to every setting in Area X, lifted only by flashbacks which served as a kind of relief from the near-constant tension.
This book wasn’t so much about Area X, or even a traditional science fiction novel. It was about the main character’s journey, internally and externally. Her metamorphosis and self discovery are as important as the landscape. This was not about clean plot or neat questions, but deep introspection. Even the removal and rejection of names was designed to bring the focus away from traditional character arcs and take the reader along her journey more immersively.
A stunning atmospheric novel.
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
“Still less could I be afraid of those ghosts who touch my thoughts in passing. Any library is filled with them. I can take a book from dusty shelves, and be haunted by the thoughts of one long dead, still lively as ever in their winding sheet of words.”
———————————
I really wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It took so long to read because I was kind of avoiding it. About 400 pages in I accepted that it wasn’t getting better and started skimming dozens of pages at a time.
One of my major critiques is that everything felt so contrived. The misunderstandings between many of the main characters would have been easily resolved in a few more words of conversation. It felt like reading entirely new characters who had lost the ability to communicate effectively.
Claire was also a lot more impetuous, and then passive in her dynamic with family. I didn’t believe any of them the way I did and book one and parts of book 3.
It’s so hard to invest in a story when you were hyper aware that you’re reading fiction. That’s how I felt throughout this book, sadly. I think a lot of the plot points could have been removed and we would have ended up in the same place. Roger was my favorite character, but he too was problematic.
I think I’ll take a pause and read a few non-Gabaldon books after this. 😬
———————————
I really wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It took so long to read because I was kind of avoiding it. About 400 pages in I accepted that it wasn’t getting better and started skimming dozens of pages at a time.
One of my major critiques is that everything felt so contrived. The misunderstandings between many of the main characters would have been easily resolved in a few more words of conversation. It felt like reading entirely new characters who had lost the ability to communicate effectively.
Claire was also a lot more impetuous, and then passive in her dynamic with family. I didn’t believe any of them the way I did and book one and parts of book 3.
It’s so hard to invest in a story when you were hyper aware that you’re reading fiction. That’s how I felt throughout this book, sadly. I think a lot of the plot points could have been removed and we would have ended up in the same place. Roger was my favorite character, but he too was problematic.
I think I’ll take a pause and read a few non-Gabaldon books after this. 😬
Babel by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
“Violence is the only language they understand, because their system of extraction is inherently violent. Violence shocks the system. And the system cannot survive the shock.”
——————————
This may be one of my Kuang embodied the mental gymnastics of the oppressor so well: “those barbarians can’t call us barbarians!” books this year, and sparked the best discussions I’ve seen in the Reading is Subjective club to date. Kuang addressed so many deeply important issues: racism, white allyship, colonialism, government structures designed to oppress all but the chosen few, and so much more. Kuang embodied the mental gymnastics of the oppressor so well: “those barbarians can’t call us barbarians!”
The first sentence communicates the deadly seriousness of this book. The early interaction on the docks, before he knew Professor Lovell was his father and spoke Cantonese, forced Robin to become party to a racist structure or give up his life. This was a constant theme throughout the book.
I loved the stylistic choice to include footnotes. The major news being shared as a news clipping was phenomenal as it increased immersion by distancing the reader from the event and giving information the same way the characters received it.
I was surprised at many of the main character deaths, but they served the purpose. Letty was an enraging character to read, similar to Yellowface’s FMC.
Kuang is a truly phenomenal author.
——————————
This may be one of my Kuang embodied the mental gymnastics of the oppressor so well: “those barbarians can’t call us barbarians!” books this year, and sparked the best discussions I’ve seen in the Reading is Subjective club to date. Kuang addressed so many deeply important issues: racism, white allyship, colonialism, government structures designed to oppress all but the chosen few, and so much more. Kuang embodied the mental gymnastics of the oppressor so well: “those barbarians can’t call us barbarians!”
The first sentence communicates the deadly seriousness of this book. The early interaction on the docks, before he knew Professor Lovell was his father and spoke Cantonese, forced Robin to become party to a racist structure or give up his life. This was a constant theme throughout the book.
I loved the stylistic choice to include footnotes. The major news being shared as a news clipping was phenomenal as it increased immersion by distancing the reader from the event and giving information the same way the characters received it.
I was surprised at many of the main character deaths, but they served the purpose. Letty was an enraging character to read, similar to Yellowface’s FMC.
Kuang is a truly phenomenal author.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
“These were people like that. The ones who cared so terribly much – enough to risk everything, enough to change and do things. Most people aren’t like that, you know. It isn’t that they don’t care, but that they don’t care so greatly.”
—————————-
This was absolutely an improvement on book 2, but still didn’t measure up to book 1 for me. I felt quite bored at the Claire/Frank introductory chapters, but really appreciated how Gabaldon switch to Jamie‘s POV when recounting his history. That definitely got me through that whole section of the book. I noted that it felt like Gabaldon was determined to make every sexual act Jamie had that wasn’t with Claire some kind of rape or coerced act, and wondered why subject him to such continual trauma/heartache?
Claire’s response to Laoghaire showing up and her deep, and frankly immature, self-pity felt so confusing to me. Why would Gabaldon write her female main character is so unlikable? Unless the author also doesn’t see what’s wrong with this behavior?
I liked how John Grey returned and his existence served almost as a foil for the dynamic with John Randall. Ned Gowan is still one of my favorite characters in the entire series. I felt like the coincidence of meeting the same naturalist Jamie knew was so far-fetched, as were many of the coincidences in this book.
I was uncomfortable with the slave owning storyline, and maybe that was because I didn’t fully trust where Gabaldon was going with it. The return of a book 1 character was intriguing, as was the theory about gemstones for the passage stones.
I really feel like Jamie, Fergus, and Lord John Grey were the saving graces of this book for me. Will continue the series but hoping for more from it.
—————————-
This was absolutely an improvement on book 2, but still didn’t measure up to book 1 for me. I felt quite bored at the Claire/Frank introductory chapters, but really appreciated how Gabaldon switch to Jamie‘s POV when recounting his history. That definitely got me through that whole section of the book. I noted that it felt like Gabaldon was determined to make every sexual act Jamie had that wasn’t with Claire some kind of rape or coerced act, and wondered why subject him to such continual trauma/heartache?
Claire’s response to Laoghaire showing up and her deep, and frankly immature, self-pity felt so confusing to me. Why would Gabaldon write her female main character is so unlikable? Unless the author also doesn’t see what’s wrong with this behavior?
I liked how John Grey returned and his existence served almost as a foil for the dynamic with John Randall. Ned Gowan is still one of my favorite characters in the entire series. I felt like the coincidence of meeting the same naturalist Jamie knew was so far-fetched, as were many of the coincidences in this book.
I was uncomfortable with the slave owning storyline, and maybe that was because I didn’t fully trust where Gabaldon was going with it. The return of a book 1 character was intriguing, as was the theory about gemstones for the passage stones.
I really feel like Jamie, Fergus, and Lord John Grey were the saving graces of this book for me. Will continue the series but hoping for more from it.
Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“I’ve known a lot of sadness, or rather, sad people, in my day. Maxine is that, in addition to angry. She doesn’t break anything or beat on people. Well, at least not physically. All of her anger she directs at herself.”
———————-
It’s clear almost almost from the start that Maxine is not the same as the other wives of Palm Springs. I wasn’t sure if the ignorance of her privilege was intentional until the Thanksgiving scene. It was then I realized McDaniel was very much tapped into at least one facet of female rage.
I didn’t love how Maxine forced Robert to out himself to her – I don’t think that’s a kind or safe thing to do to somebody you claim to be best friends with.
I did love the character of Chuck, and how smart he was. I think all of these characters felt like they were just fine in their own emotional deserts, but provided each other with sorely needed acceptance and, ultimately, family.
This was very readable, well paced, a bit camp, and highly entertaining. I will definitely seek out the show to see how it compares.
———————-
It’s clear almost almost from the start that Maxine is not the same as the other wives of Palm Springs. I wasn’t sure if the ignorance of her privilege was intentional until the Thanksgiving scene. It was then I realized McDaniel was very much tapped into at least one facet of female rage.
I didn’t love how Maxine forced Robert to out himself to her – I don’t think that’s a kind or safe thing to do to somebody you claim to be best friends with.
I did love the character of Chuck, and how smart he was. I think all of these characters felt like they were just fine in their own emotional deserts, but provided each other with sorely needed acceptance and, ultimately, family.
This was very readable, well paced, a bit camp, and highly entertaining. I will definitely seek out the show to see how it compares.
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
“Not the historians. No, not them. Their greatest crime is that they presume to know what happened, how things come about, when they have only what the past chose to leave behind – for the most part, they think what they were meant to think, and it’s a rare one that sees what really happened, behind the smoke screen of artifacts and paper.”
———————
I think if the sections of this book had been ordered differently, this would’ve been four stars. As it was, opening with the knowledge that Claire and Jamie have been apart for 20 years was devastating coming after their epic love story in book 1. That was in the back of my mind throughout the book, and also spoiled that their efforts to stop the war had been in vain. It was also jarring to integrate Roger’s POV.
I felt quite frustrated at the pacing of their time in France. Although there was a lot of melodrama both between Jamie and Claire and with other characters, it felt like nothing of merit was happening.
Once they were back in Scotland, this book really picked up for me. I especially loved the choice to bring Alec, the stable hand, back. We get this intensely stark contrast of an aging but otherwise healthy and boisterous man to a starving shell of human being. That more than anything drove home the utter catastrophe that was the Prince’s war.
The words in the wedding ring were also so special because they confirmed that Jamie’s love started long before Clare was aware of it.
I found Clare to be often unlikable, especially in regards to Jamie. That felt like an odd choice, to make her so selfish someone regarding she loved so deeply. I will definitely continue the series, but this was a letdown.
———————
I think if the sections of this book had been ordered differently, this would’ve been four stars. As it was, opening with the knowledge that Claire and Jamie have been apart for 20 years was devastating coming after their epic love story in book 1. That was in the back of my mind throughout the book, and also spoiled that their efforts to stop the war had been in vain. It was also jarring to integrate Roger’s POV.
I felt quite frustrated at the pacing of their time in France. Although there was a lot of melodrama both between Jamie and Claire and with other characters, it felt like nothing of merit was happening.
Once they were back in Scotland, this book really picked up for me. I especially loved the choice to bring Alec, the stable hand, back. We get this intensely stark contrast of an aging but otherwise healthy and boisterous man to a starving shell of human being. That more than anything drove home the utter catastrophe that was the Prince’s war.
The words in the wedding ring were also so special because they confirmed that Jamie’s love started long before Clare was aware of it.
I found Clare to be often unlikable, especially in regards to Jamie. That felt like an odd choice, to make her so selfish someone regarding she loved so deeply. I will definitely continue the series, but this was a letdown.
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
dark
sad
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
3.0
“Because in real life, unlike in history books, stories come to us not in their entirety, but in bits and pieces, broken segments and partial echoes, a full sentence here, a fragment there, a clue hidden in between.”
———————-
Another excellent Reading is Subjective book club experience! I only wish that I had enjoyed this book as much.
My biggest critique is that with such rich subject matter at hand I felt very little about the characters or the stories. Shafak attempted to create this ever changing timeline, which I often like, and used the fig tree as a kind of omniscient narrator and constant for the reader.
Unfortunately, the character of the fig tree left a lot to be desired. This was part of the reason the novel felt so disjointed, and that the time skips weren’t executed quite well enough to be good to me. I felt disconnected when I shouldn’t have.
To go from a YA perspective (and writing) with Ada to a very intense love affair in the midst of war to an information dumping tree felt like whiplash. I could never fully get my bearings or stay with any character long enough to connect.
Despite that, there were flashes of brilliance here. This needed a few more rounds of edits for me to really enjoy it.
———————-
Another excellent Reading is Subjective book club experience! I only wish that I had enjoyed this book as much.
My biggest critique is that with such rich subject matter at hand I felt very little about the characters or the stories. Shafak attempted to create this ever changing timeline, which I often like, and used the fig tree as a kind of omniscient narrator and constant for the reader.
Unfortunately, the character of the fig tree left a lot to be desired. This was part of the reason the novel felt so disjointed, and that the time skips weren’t executed quite well enough to be good to me. I felt disconnected when I shouldn’t have.
To go from a YA perspective (and writing) with Ada to a very intense love affair in the midst of war to an information dumping tree felt like whiplash. I could never fully get my bearings or stay with any character long enough to connect.
Despite that, there were flashes of brilliance here. This needed a few more rounds of edits for me to really enjoy it.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
“Without one word of explanation or apology, he had given me the message he intended. I gave you justice, it said, as I was taught it. And I gave you mercy, too, so far as I could. While I could not spare you pain and humiliation, I make you a gift of my own pains and humiliations, that yours might be easier to bear.”
———————
This was such a sincere book. The start was immediately engaging and left me excited to read more. Throughout, the pacing of this book was phenomenal and so readable.
I liked that Jamie was so open hearted, communicative, and in many ways much more emotionally mature than Claire. Their intimacy was very beautiful and tender, and as well written as other sequences in this book.
I found the contemplation of seriousness of consequences so intriguing. In the modern world a blunder doesn’t mean death like it does in Jamie‘s world. I also thought the inclusion of Duncan as a kind of foil for Claire was a great move. One woman chose to take advantage of “when” she was in a very different way to the other.
I noted that it was interesting the book didn’t end with Claire’s choice to stay, but continued on to the Lallybroch/prison/abbey sequence. It felt like a natural place to pause and continue in a sequel. I wonder what the reason was – to wrap up the Randall storyline?
Speaking of which: I thought Gabaldon’s analogy of Jamie’s inner fortress and how such acute trauma had destroyed it was incredibly apt.
The MacRannoch’s support to Claire and assistance during the snowstorm embodied a beautiful culture of community and kinship that was shown in the Highland culture throughout this book.
I loved this book and struggled to put it down. Really looking forward to reading how the story progresses from here.
———————
This was such a sincere book. The start was immediately engaging and left me excited to read more. Throughout, the pacing of this book was phenomenal and so readable.
I liked that Jamie was so open hearted, communicative, and in many ways much more emotionally mature than Claire. Their intimacy was very beautiful and tender, and as well written as other sequences in this book.
I found the contemplation of seriousness of consequences so intriguing. In the modern world a blunder doesn’t mean death like it does in Jamie‘s world. I also thought the inclusion of Duncan as a kind of foil for Claire was a great move. One woman chose to take advantage of “when” she was in a very different way to the other.
I noted that it was interesting the book didn’t end with Claire’s choice to stay, but continued on to the Lallybroch/prison/abbey sequence. It felt like a natural place to pause and continue in a sequel. I wonder what the reason was – to wrap up the Randall storyline?
Speaking of which: I thought Gabaldon’s analogy of Jamie’s inner fortress and how such acute trauma had destroyed it was incredibly apt.
The MacRannoch’s support to Claire and assistance during the snowstorm embodied a beautiful culture of community and kinship that was shown in the Highland culture throughout this book.
I loved this book and struggled to put it down. Really looking forward to reading how the story progresses from here.
No One Is Talking about This by Patricia Lockwood
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“What do you mean you’ve been spying on me, with this thing in my hand that is an eye?”
——————-
This book was so unique and its style. I felt like Lockwood saw right through to the essence of what life is like today, especially the essence of being so online that your references and reality become a segment all their own.
The prose captures the absurdity of life and society, but also the earnestness – how can you not be moved by stories of loss of complete strangers, delivered in under two minutes?
The tone of this book and the narrator shifts to something devastatingly serious. Lockwood addresses the legislation around pregnancies and women’s bodies through what appears to be a deeply personal lens. The main character’s father represents many men who believe they *must* know better and more than women and then are confronted with the consequences of their beliefs and no longer want to stand behind them when it is too late.
The way Lockwood wrote about loving and grieving a child who was wanted, but brought into the world to live only assisted and in struggle felt like such an immense emotional experience to witness. This pivotal experience, this re-ordering of priorities and perspective, left her disconnected from the Portal and her previous self.
What does any of it matter when you experience something so profoundly altering? Hilarious, zany, sad and thought-provoking. An excellent book.
——————-
This book was so unique and its style. I felt like Lockwood saw right through to the essence of what life is like today, especially the essence of being so online that your references and reality become a segment all their own.
The prose captures the absurdity of life and society, but also the earnestness – how can you not be moved by stories of loss of complete strangers, delivered in under two minutes?
The tone of this book and the narrator shifts to something devastatingly serious. Lockwood addresses the legislation around pregnancies and women’s bodies through what appears to be a deeply personal lens. The main character’s father represents many men who believe they *must* know better and more than women and then are confronted with the consequences of their beliefs and no longer want to stand behind them when it is too late.
The way Lockwood wrote about loving and grieving a child who was wanted, but brought into the world to live only assisted and in struggle felt like such an immense emotional experience to witness. This pivotal experience, this re-ordering of priorities and perspective, left her disconnected from the Portal and her previous self.
What does any of it matter when you experience something so profoundly altering? Hilarious, zany, sad and thought-provoking. An excellent book.