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141
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| B09JVY9QZ3
| 3.69
| 109,586
| Jan 17, 2023
| Jan 17, 2023
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did not like it
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**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on abuse, child endangerment, violence, parental neglect, psychological distress, violence against a child, the death of a child, grief, & others. I won’t lie to you—I skimmed the bulk of this book. I always begin reviews with a recap. I go through, as a tertiary party, & reflect on what has taken place in an attempt to draw myself into what I have to say. I do not necessarily feel the need to do that in this case because the redundant, flippant nature of the horrifically mundane, trite, & dull plot was so graphically corny that my mind clocked out when the first hand struck the hour. This is very harsh criticism, I understand that. However, in 1993 R.L. Stine published “Night of the Living Dummy” for young readers & was able to incite, in under 200 pages, what this novel failed to glimpse in over 400. The reader meets Louise & is immediately aware of the lack of direction this story will undertake. The story circles around itself endlessly—all without reason. I became confused as to whether the author was simply trying to render Louise an unreliable narrator or if they had actually forgotten that we as the reader were meant to be engaged & attentive to the material they were presenting. Louise’s character adds to the false premise of security. Certainly, there are reasons why she is this way; always believing herself to be the only person on earth who had a less-than-stellar experience at some point in life. Though this ignorance might have added to her narrative it was incredibly dull to have to read. At once Louise tells the reader that she was never given anything by her parents, though certainly, money must grow on trees for her to have been able to have all the luxurious extracurricular activities that she was able to pursue on a whim. Yet, we then read that her family was in fact very financially insecure for several years of her childhood so, why does she believe that everything money can buy is her due? Louise tells the reader that money from her parent’s inheritance would help her buy a house with a yard so she could have a dog & give Poppy, her daughter, more freedom. Then, she turns around & tells us that she lied to Poppy for her complacency—she’s never going to buy a dog. What does this add to the story? I do not think that Louise is unreliable, I think that she is a poorly constructed character. This is supported by the same lack of continuity within the story at large. For example, in one scene Louise has not yet cried about her parents’ death. When she lay on her childhood bed she began to cry for the first time. This is evidently forgotten by the author because a couple of chapters later Louise is described as crying for the first time with Constance. This same formula is employed throughout the novel for a multitude of things which leaves me feeling that the author lost track of their original intention. I can appreciate that Louise felt disconnected within her family unit because her parents seemed to be coddling her brother, Mark, even when it seemed he didn’t deserve it. I suppose it’s an act of sheer ignorance that keeps Louise from noting her own failures as a human being. Her focus is locked into all the shortcomings of her brother, whom she cannot fathom as being anything less than a burden on society. I mention this fact because I grew tired of hearing about their quibbles. This is also why I reference R.L. Stine’s 1993 book—this relationship is identical to the one that the sisters share in his book. Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to have seen one member of the family act like a fully formed entity within this plot? Am I meant to think it’s funny that Mark has to attempt to validate his emotions after his sister sliced his arm off? Are we meant to all laugh & giggle about silly Mark, who almost died & was denied his experiences, trying once again to find solace in the heart of a person who was as hollow as the Tin Man? I think not. The crux of this story is technically one I might be interested in watching play out in a cinematic medium. Poltergeist stories are incredibly difficult to write. I believe that the author has to have the trust of the reader, before anything else, so that the reveals are subtle; actions leading the reader to question how they might interpret the situation if it were happening to them. I should not be laughing & rolling my eyes while reading about a demon-possessed hand puppet that is trying to murder & possess human beings. Though this story has been done a thousand times, a skilled author—someone with a mind for details & gore—would be able to present the essence of this fear in a way that makes a reader forget its familiarity. I should not be reading a book & think about all the times I had seen this same premise carried out in smoother strokes. I cannot fault someone for trying something; I know this book will be loved by many readers. Thankfully, the world is filled with people who are different from me—it’s part of our charm as human beings, there are so many of us, all a bit different though similar, to one another. Because of this fact, I can appreciate that some readers will come across this book & appreciate the cheesy dialogue. They won’t care that Pupkin—the poltergeist—leaps out of a closet like a demented frog in the middle of the night to hound a child who would just as soon forget he exists as spent her lifetime of energy following his orders. What would Pupkin achieve by having everyone kill each other? Genuinely, where do you go when the family that houses you is dead? You’re a puppet, you can’t just waltz out of the house given you rely on the energy & spirit of the living beings in the house. Or maybe you don’t? I don’t know, most of the details of his entity are—like those of every other character—unclear. Having said that I really enjoy stories of poltergeists. The premise is one that has great potential. I truly believe that with proper, steady & diligent editing, this story could make for a wonderful screenplay. I laughed my way through the scenes with the taxidermy squirrels. I could not find anything frightening about a trio of blinded carcasses standing around the room whilst Louise—a fully grown adult human—loomed in fear. In the region in which I live, squirrels are massive. They can become very, very chunky so I appreciate that if a 10+-pound squirrel was threatening me, my heartbeat would pick up but…I’m also a fully grown adult human being, I recognize my options in this situation. This leads me to my next point, Louise is intent on being useless. She never thinks ahead, & never takes a moment to reflect on how her actions will impact those around her. She is very selfish yet, she pretends that everything she does is because she is duty-bound to act. She simply shoots off to Poppy, right before she is meant to go to bed, that her beloved grandparents have died. She degrades Mark because he was drinking before calling her to tell her of their parent’s passing. She thinks that the funeral arrangements are wrong because she never thought to consider that her parents might be unknown to her, far away in her secret-keeping life. I digress, we could go in circles along with the story on these points. Louise is not a character worth following & her bickering is tiresome. Inconsistencies do not a scary story make. Perhaps for some readers, but, I am no such one. I would have appreciated it if Louise had remembered saying that the trash was going to be collected when she dumped Pupkin inside. Yet, we read about her freaking out because she didn’t see his doll body in the garbage, days later, when she looked. I didn’t care that the TV kept being turned on. I would have loved for this to have been the introduction to something eerie & torrential but, instead, I’m met with the comical squeaks of dead squirrels & an old possessed puppet that acted like a dead battery. All that to say, this book was not for me. I was eager to read it—I have heard so much praise for this author & their work. Ultimately, I wanted something more mature, something more pointed. I wanted bat caves of steaming breath without a body. I wanted limp ragtag arms swaying in dead air. I wanted the slightly slow-moving painted eyes of the possessed to glimmer in a sun that the characters would never see shine again. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 21, 2023
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Jan 21, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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140
| 
| 4.00
| 281
| unknown
| 1947
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it was amazing
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**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on sexual violence, rape, psychological distress, violence, & others. Every time I read what Bradbury has written I am overwhelmed. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to host so much depth; so many avenues in the mind for words to take shape. It is an understatement to declare Bradbury a titan, a Goliath among men. Yet, these words are all I have, so stunned am I by what I have just read. It starts like this; the introduction of a man standing in the shadow of his reflection. The mirror reflects him the man everyone sees but this person does not feel intertwined with his skin. The first words of this story drew me into my own mind. This experience is one that I long to be given, the shape-shifting of my surroundings by the invisible flicker of ink across my iris. When I come upon stories that allow me to blink myself into their world I feel that I have come upon a tale that I am sure to love. In this case, that deduction proved factual. I was standing alongside Mich as he placed the gun in the drawer, as he regained the fractured parts of himself to form a whole; categorizing everything around him. This is a story that will require you to think; ask you to reflect; demand you make note of every detail, in the hopes that the final scenes might be made more clear. Yet, what happens in this story is wholeheartedly up for debate. I remain nudged by the descriptions of the autumnal days that have passed. When Mich remembers the sadness that consumed him, leaving him with a tear-soaked face, my feet plant themselves in the frosty earth never to move again. This scene is very comprehensive & yet I cannot move past it. Bradbury’s use of words has a bludgeoning effect on me. It never really matters what he is describing or where the story is going, Bradbury makes the journey feel like an Odyssey through the darkened waters of Atlantis. In this case, I found the ways in which he described the changes brought on by autumn to be both fascinating & relatable. I felt so sad for the young child who wept into the leaves, alone. The greater question that arises from this story is whether or not Mich murdered his daughter. I do not believe that he did. There are two reasons why I believe this to be the case: firstly, there was not enough time for the act of desecration to take place. Even accounting for the ride down the slide in anticipation of the arrival in the cellar, during which one might say that Marion was stabbed to death, there was no time in between the descent & the commencement of the 1-3minute monologue which would have left sufficient time for Marion’s body to have been sliced open, pieced & shared around the room. The game is intended for children and therefore follows very obvious rules; one presents what the child-like mind can fathom. My second reason for feeling this way is because that is not whom I believe Mich to be. During the entire build-up, we never see Mich as being a violent person, especially not toward his child. The scene in which he describes Marion’s character leads me to believe that she resembles him more so in character than in appearance. He feels sorrow for Marion because she suffers the consequence of living between two adults who are jaded from the world & each carries too much of their own load to ever give her the love & tenderness she deserves. In these moments, Mich describes Marion as the pinnacle of innocence. It would not be ignorant to note that the innocent are often penalized by sheer proximity to those of us who have lost that spark. Therefore, some readers might choose to believe that because Marion had no choice she fell victim to the preying knife that her father wielded. The question that remains, in that case, is, why? Why would Mich have murdered his daughter? Why would he have cut up her body to pass it around to a group of random people—people who had no ties to the business at hand? This lessens the value of his goal which was to directly harm Louise. If her pain is drowned out by the soaring terror of everyone else, Mich does not get the validation that would arise from murdering the child that Louise was forced to birth. The card that Mich chooses to play is one that he does not yet hold. The relationship that he shares with Louise is something of a mystery to him &, I would wager to say, to her as well. Their interactions are plagued with disgust & distrust. What would lead two individuals who avoid each other so intently to pursue a lifetime commitment? Perhaps because this story was published in 1947 we might gleam the answer to their lack of action. Perhaps it is enough to say that two people who dance to similar tunes do not know how to begin anew. I cannot say for certain. This fact, however, supports my choice of interpretation. In the introduction, Mich explains that a gun is too quick, & there is no suffering; what is needed is duration. He then goes on to mention that pursuing legal action against his wife to seek full custody of Marion would be the thing that would bring her the most pain. This, I believe is true. Should Mich be granted full custody of their daughter he would certainly not allow Louise to ever see her child again. Though I am not a parent, I can speak to the level of distress that exists with knowing that someone you love is alive & out of reach. This is simply amplified by the legal details that would prevent Louise from ever seeking to free Marion from the guardianship of her father. What would Louise be left with in her solitude? We learn that Louise was forced into having a child; Mich wanted something like himself to exist in the world. When Marion was born it was almost out of spite that Louise poured all her genetic makeup into Marion’s appearance, ensuring that Mich could not look at their child & recognize any part of himself. The ostracization that took place within this throuple is catatonic. The person who suffers the most in these situations is the child. Marion is described as being a silent partisan to life. This fact is then used against her when her father encourages a situation in which Louise would lose her sanity in the company of guests in their home. I’m sure he knew that the thought of losing Marion would send Louise over the edge. This situation does nothing but highlights her as being unstable. Why is she screaming at the top of her lungs during a children’s game? What part of this make-believe scenario would lead her to believe that Mich murdered their child? I am not taking sides. I’m not trying to insinuate that Louise was at fault nor am I saying that Mich holds the blame. What I am saying is that their joint efforts lead the reader to feel a growing urge to have the lighted room revealed to them. This fact is withheld & we are never given the gift of knowledge; the truth outside our grasp. This fact allows the story to carry as much weight as it does. Who is to say what really happened? Mich carried Marion down the slide while Louise sat waiting in the dark. Was the knife already in the basement alongside the rest of the scene’s set-up? Why would Louise put down her guard to appease guests when she feared her husband so much? Why is fear equated to darkness? What then of the third option? What if we have misjudged the scene? What if what we are watching takes place is simply taken out of context? Marion is said to have known what she was going into. She remains on the sidelines as she watches everyone else approach a slide that leads to a place she helped create. What if she manufactured, inadvertently, the terror by simply being herself? Her silence, poise, disconnect, & youth grant her the benefit of neutrality. A shared initial with her father leads me to believe they are, as I posited earlier, more alike than the author wants us to remember. When all is said & done, I hold feelings above love & adoration towards this story. I cannot wait to read it again, to be met with minute dust mites that I had missed the first time around. Language has built a haunted house out of five pages of text; a mansion of doom murkier than the grime that birthed the Orcs in Mordor. I am so pleased to have found my way through the window as a slinking spider learning to transform flies on the walls into demons of the past. If you would like to read this story, please visit this •LINK•. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 20, 2023
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Jan 20, 2023
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Unknown Binding
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139
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| unknown
| 3.97
| 63
| 1957
| unknown
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really liked it
|
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on the death of a child, violence, psychological distress, & others. When Arnold wakes early in his bed, snug under covers that keep him warm from a home that has succumbed to the cold of night, his emotions get the better of him. He is eager & excited to begin his day—he has important plans to fulfill with his older brother, Eugene. The first scenes of this short story are the saddest because they allow the reader to glean the normalcy of the relationship that Arnold & Eugene share. Even in the wee hours of the morning, Eugene does not bemoan or begrudge Arnold for his earnestness to pick peas. Instead, he bundles him into his bed next to him & slowly begins welcoming the day. It is sad to watch this scene play out as an older sibling. There are many ways to interpret the relationship that the brothers share but, ultimately we are not given the chance to form deeper conclusions than what is gifted to us in the tenderness that Eugene offers Arnold when they are not yet ready for the world. In his reflections as to what Eugene meant to him, as a brother, a friend, & a person in the world, Arnold admits that Eugene was the person he wanted to be with the most & yet he is the only one absent when it counts. This is no fault of Eugene’s. Depending on whom you might ask this is no fault of Arnold’s either. Why did the gun need to be brought on a jaunt through fields when both boys knew they wouldn’t have any livestock to hunt? Perhaps, because Arnold is a child, & children often act in a very similar fashion, he wanted to bring along his possession because it was one of the few things he felt he had agency over—acting as a liberated adult in his small world. I cannot say, I did not grow up around weapons of this sort. What is indisputable is that the accident that results in Eugene being shot at the base of his head, is overwhelmingly saddening. This young person who wandered the world via their assigned responsibilities, as an elder among the young, was refused the longevity of life due to fluke chance. I felt the acute absence of Eugene as the story moved forward; longing for the kindness he exhibited to return. I am not entirely sure how to interpret this story's inner workings. On the one hand, I felt myself anticipating the blow of anger that was certain to be aimed at Arnold for shooting Eugene. The fact that anger never came gave this story an air of unsettling dread. Every moment felt like the creeping of a shadow down the halls of our childhood home; a monster in disguise, a reaper comes to claim us at last. Only for the ghoul to be grief, tendrils secured into the clavicles of the heart. Reading this story in 2023 leaves me with, perhaps, more clarity about the diversity in grief. Certainly, there still exists a perception of how grief is meant to be manifested so that it is palatable for others. People are still expected to cry or at least have sea-soaked eyes. They are expected to have drooping shoulders or perhaps become the very shadow of the person who has passed. Yet, in all of that, it appears practically impossible for others to appreciate the nuance of grief. What Arnold chooses to do—continue picking peas instead of running back home—can be interpreted as behaviour as the result of fear. Arnold lives on a farm & has many independent responsibilities. When one is raised without the nuance of occasion, it is increasingly difficult to understand how a situation is meant to be approached. Of course, we can clearly look at this specific situation & state that Arnold should have gone home immediately. However, Arnold is a young child. If he had abandoned this task, what makes it different from any of the others he is deliberately instructed to carry forward? Would he have ever been given a lesson in mortality? Does he understand that there are exceptions to the rule? I suppose a part of his father’s mind chooses to believe that his son is not a murdering psychopath who feels no empathy. It’s bizarre to assume that because a child is scared straight, this should mean they are not experiencing other emotions. We benefit from the development of explorations into the psyche. Maybe that is the point of this story. Perhaps every reader might view Arnold as both the sword & the stone; impossibly grifted into his assigned role, against his will & desires. If you would like to read this story, please visit this •LINK•. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 15, 2023
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Jan 15, 2023
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137
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| 1433841495
| 9781433841491
| 4.39
| 131
| unknown
| Jun 13, 2023
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really liked it
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This picture book is very simple in both its writing & the message it seeks to share; kindness is found when we put it out there. As the pair in this
This picture book is very simple in both its writing & the message it seeks to share; kindness is found when we put it out there. As the pair in this book wanders around their city, they note all of the ways that kindness can take place & all of the ways that people can share kindness with each other. For very young readers, this picture book presents the ideal format. It is simple & stylish; encouraging the wandering eye to make connections between what is seen while the mind imagines how those in the book might feel. I particularly appreciated Teresa Martinez’s illustrations. They shaped the words of kindness so as to demonstrate how the act, intention, & reality of being kind alters the world. When we make time & give space for actions of kindness we are allowing all the colour of the world to be brighter & for people to be able to bask in it with joy. The book will be a wonderful addition to learning lessons between very young readers & their guardians. I am encouraged by the format of this little book & all the ways in which we might be reminded, at any age, how important it is to be kind—to ourselves & to others. Thank you to NetGalley, American Psychological Association, Magination Press, & Amy Ludwig VanDerwater for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Dec 05, 2022
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Dec 05, 2022
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Hardcover
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136
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| 089598962X
| 9780895989628
| 089598962X
| 4.23
| 7,770
| May 06, 1950
| Jan 01, 1989
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really liked it
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**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on death, post-mortem practices, the death of an animal, & others. Here we find ourselves once more with a short story read with my friend « Scott ». Around this time of year I think back on all the masters of the craft; writers who build a world of their own in my mind, lingering from the stories they’ve created. Bradbury is once such Titan. Though my first introduction to him was through reputation alone, I was not disappointed upon reading his more reputable work, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” (1962). Everything about Bradbury is memorable; his writing is enthralling, a rapture of what is expected from storytellers, & something altogether magical. This short story embraces a landscape that has been destroyed by what we presume to be nuclear products; by whom & why we cannot know. The entire premise of this story is the ticking of a clock, one that is unseen. The hours pass & they rattle against the only house that remains in a town which has experienced mass devastation. While reading this story I found that I was unable to imagine what the house might look like; its wallpaper, the stovetop burners, how large the windows might be, & where the bedrooms were located. In my mind, this house was a maze. This feeling of imagining myself in a darkness that the author could envision but which I could not fostered feelings of unease & not ones that I had anticipated. It is bizarre that, alongside all of the destruction we witness every day both at home & abroad, I could not bolster the gumption to pretend it to be fictional; untrue & something that hasn’t quite touched us yet. The unfortunate reality is that what is written in this story does affect people. The destruction caused by war is a ravaging beast that consumes without prejudice, save for the one that its instigator safeguards in their principles. The robotic-style mice that linger in the walls of this home, cleaning like they were driven to the brink of despair, as though cleanliness would filter through the consequences of death, was an interesting touch. So few creatures survive in nuclear-ravaged environments. I wonder what the rodents & roaches must think of us. They might wonder why we would be so stupid as to strip ourselves of the only environment in which we can survive; a silly course of action indeed. With the story somewhat revolving around Sara Teasdale’s poem by the same name—“There Will Come Soft Rains” (1918)—it is not difficult for the reader to form feelings of fondness for the world that Bradbury has inserted around the enchanting prose left behind by Teasdale. Both of which grant us all the opportunity to change, to think twice, & to remember. Before the final moments of the house’s agency are stripped from it; after the dog has died, after the incinerator’s flames have cooled, & before the sky darkens once more, there is a moment of remembering. We can look back at our lives individually or as a collective, if we are so inclined, & remember all the days of our lives that led us here. How quickly they escape us when guided by giant orbs in our skies. When all is said & done, this is why I appreciated this story so much. Perhaps it is not so much what Bradbury writes as how he approaches writing it. I feel in his words the space to reflect before understanding; a moment of reprieve before the pages collapse in my hand. If one has the chance to waltz alongside the storytellers & word sharpers, one is certainly in good company. If you would like to take a moment to read this story please consult this •LINK• ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
|
Nov 29, 2022
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Dec 01, 2022
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Paperback
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135
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| B0B9KVLPQF
| 3.79
| 11,704
| Jun 06, 2023
| Jun 06, 2023
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did not like it
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**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on violent crime, substance abuse, sexual violence, sexually explicit content involving a minor, psychological distress, body fluid, domestic violence, animal cruelty, & others Before moving forward I would like to highlight that the content warning should be heeded. The plot is filled with detailed descriptions of graphic violence both physical & sexual in nature. Many of the behaviours exhibited in this story are done under mental distress & by characters who experience heightened levels of personality, emotional, & psychological disturbances. Scenes in this book do not necessarily delve into the detailed performances of said acts but rather, encourage readers to hold on to the imagery these occurrences would produce. There is also a mention of the possible possession of explicit images involving children, though this is not explained in detail. I would strongly encourage readers to stop here if they are not in a position to read about said details & the logistics behind them. This review will be delving further into the reality & repercussions of violent acts as well as sexually extreme/explicit behaviour (consensual & non-consensual). Twenty-seven-year-old Maeve Fly is a girl who believes herself to be more than she is. In the age of cringeworthy internet content; the self-imposed alpha nomenclature & the practice of imagining the human species to rival the Canis Lupus, we find many people who are in fact, just like Maeve, except they don’t peal the skin of other people’s faces & boil their bones like the witch in the beloved & terrifying Classic by the Brothers Grimm, “Hansel and Gretel” (1812). Regardless of these small details, Maeve is simply a product of the preposterous personas that extremists adopt to dissociate themselves from the facets of life they cannot escape. Every aspect of Maeve’s life unravels itself as a visually un-stimulating & mentally devoid carcass might as it tumbles down the side of a stony & tree-protected hill. What is initially interesting about this story is the direction it wishes to take, which it simultaneously ignores. Maeve is introduced to the reader during a shift at what one may assume to be a Disney theme park. Maeve goes into great detail about the joys & requirements of working with the corporation; this is her dream, to be the shiny winner in the sea of equally shimmering wigs, crowns, jewels, & sing-song ladies all dressed as the favourite imaginary girl in imaginary worlds. This scene reveals itself as the only one worth reading because, alone, it stands to garner all the excitement that the story itself fails to present. In that same breath, this scene holds the core issue that I have; it is diluted & disillusioned. What leads Maeve to believe that the princess she performs is the only princess worth knowing, worth loving, & worth her weight in revolutionizing feminism? I began to feel a disconnect between what I hoped the story was trying to achieve & what Leede actually meant to write. This happens when a character roams on unstable ground & is given very little depth to their person, leaving the reader to fill in the blanks where the author neglected to gorge their creatures. On the one hand, I wondered if Maeve knew that what she believed to be true was in fact, false. On the other hand, I wondered if Leede understood that what she was writing about, made no sense. Elsa, from Disney’s “Frozen” (2013) is not the person that Maeve believes her to be. She is not someone who is honing her dark forces, nor is she someone who is going against the grain because she’s super cool & wants to live life differently. Any well-adjusted adult can see that this character suffers significant levels of mental unease. In the world in which this story is set, magic resides in every aspect of life, even if it is not acknowledged or commonplace—people know that it is there. Elsa experiences a dissociation with her magic powers in the same way that people experience a disconnect with themselves when they feel at odds with their being, their person, & the world around them. It certainly did not help that her parents died at sea when she was a child; a child struggling with her identity & the awareness that who we are can hurt other people, even when it’s not our intention. How does Maeve look upon this character & imagine her to be some wicked force the likes of Gnorga, from “A Troll in Central Park” (1994) would quiver from? I return to my confusion here because I cannot grasp whether or not this was the point. I say this because as the story evolves, we never see Maeve behave differently. It is as though her beliefs & the coincidental occurrences within this plot are meant to cushion the delusion of her person. Certainly, if a person believes Elsa to be a wicked witch of Scandinavia, they can turn the actual story into whatever it is they wish it to be. Anna can be viewed as a titan against agency & free will; her parents might have deserved their death for trying to intervene, in any capacity, in Elsa’s life. We can all imagine things that are untrue & make them into rubies of reality if we really want to. However, that doesn’t change the chemical composition which dictates their true form & purpose. While Maeve watches porn, doxes people online, & neglects to feed & nurture Lester the Cat; her grandmother—a serial murderer—lies in a coma awaiting death. This elderly woman whom Maeve met later in life after some unknown rift sent her packing from her parent’s house, is able to evidently see some ‘darkness’ in Maeve the likes of which the human species has yet to encounter. Yet, we have many many many many many times. What is funny about this story is that it could be great but, it’s not, & it never fails to try & remind the reader that this is the first story of its kind to ever try & do such a thing. Any reader who has been at the game long enough, or even any reader who reads a vast array of books; truly, any person who pays any semblance of interest to the news & history recognizes the patterns that this story undertakes. Perhaps this was the point. Perhaps, we are meant to meander through this story & be reminded of every single other book, every single historical figure, & every single social event, that finds itself cloned into a ghoulish crone within this plot. I cannot say for certain, I am not the author. Talullah has been killing in her home for many moons—just as another fictional character that I hinted at in the introduction has done. When Maeve comes to live with her they realize that they are the same, not only in looks but in psychopathy too. Within the cellar of the great Hollywood mansion sits the bones of people that Talullah has murdered. Maeve adds to this collection because she’s just that kind of quirky, weird, wolfy girl. Except, why did Talullah tell Maeve that she alone in the world was the way that she was? Was her goal to ostracize her granddaughter? This entire murderous ploy rings true to the crimes committed by Ed Gein. Are we supposed to feel the proximity between the fictional world & our own? Are we meant to giggle & moan about how terrible the world is, here reflected back to us via the word of a person who lives in the world alongside us? What is the point of having everything in this book be a cosplay of the monstrous original? In all the years of her tutelage, Maeve has murdered ample individuals. We find her at the precipice of carelessly killing for sport except, it’s not sport because she’s not actually the person she claims to be—she is not a wolf, she is a girl who is wormed with ineptitude & vapid of intelligence. These things don’t matter in the realm of this story because whatever it is Maeve seeks to achieve, she finds success in doing. With ease, she ruins the vaginal cavity of a woman who was annoying & stuffs an unsuspecting mouse through a tube to die inside her acidic pelvis. She slices ears & eyes from bodies, she smears gloop on the visions of those who might see her for who she truly is, without consequence or struggle. I might be able to forgive all these coincidences if the story had moved with gumption. Had Leede written Maeve as being a monster, I would have welcomed the world in which monsters live—my world. The world of every single human being who is aware of the fact that gruesome murderers loom & wander; the world where slavery, sex trafficking, child abuse, animal cruelty, crimes against humanity, & wars like none we could imagine, exist & thrive. How, alongside all of this knowledge, am I meant to view Maeve as anything other than inconsequential? It made me laugh every single time Maeve was written as trying to be edgy, trying to be spooky, to be ghastly & weird. It was so ludicrous as to be hilarious. As a seasoned reader of Horror, I acknowledge that the line between horror & humour is very thin but, there is a way to tread this string without snapping it. In this case, we are meant to view Maeve’s actions as outlandish when in fact they were just her imagining herself as every online figure who believes themselves a wolf hidden in the skeletal structure of a skin-walking human being. When Maeve tells Kate that certainly, it would be a slow death in the pits unless the wolves came, we are meant to see Kate repel & worry about the ‘darkness’ of Maeve’s thought process. Is this meant to be a joke? For someone who loves Disney so much, you would think Maeve would have made Kate familiar with Disney’s “The Lion King” (1994) in which there is an entire scene depicting the circle of life—the antelopes eating the grass where once a body decomposed, etc. Here again, we covet the point. The point is that none of what is happening is particularly shocking in the least. Every sexual encounter that Maeve has is described along the lines of deviancy but really, there exist far more polarizing encounters in both the consenting & non-consenting world. Everything that Maeve does is for rookies; having sex on the ice of a rink, biting, using toys, & casual objects around the house—people have been at this game for many, many, many years. This series of events reads as exposure to the already well-developed world of sexual extremism. A key factor of which is finding your ideal match, given lighting someone aflame requires a level of confidence & trust that the majority of people never encounter in everyday life. Here, again, we see the image that Maeve wants us to believe, rip at the seams. Everything she does is for someone else. When she abuses Liz & Andre, she is doing it both for herself & for Kate whom she views as a victim. When she desecrates Derek, she is doing it for Kate whom she knows is being sexually & physically abused. When she kills Gideon she does it because the truth would unravel the origins of her behaviour & would ruin the reputation that her grandmother sought to cultivate for all those years. Here she maroons the corners of steeples as though set to pray to the God who made her this way, knowing fully well that her delusions of self are imposed by her misunderstanding the basics of literature & the human species at large. When attempting to derive a comparative point between males & females, Meave stands that men always question violence, as though they didn’t know of its existence. Whereas women know, & therefore do not beg for answers because they believe that this is life. However, this is untrue. We can certainly view Maeve’s statements as generalizations & given the fact that I don’t think she would know her own anus from a hole in the ground, I don’t put much weight behind her words. Regardless, the essence of evil & the derivatives of violence always has reasons, even if we believe them to be inadequate. These facets of reality are worthy subjects for debate but I cannot rightly say that they were approached with any level of tact, depth, or general ability. By this time I must ask myself the ever-present question; what is the point of this story? Who is this book for? I thought it was going to be for me; a lover of Horror & a literary enthusiast. One who has in fact studied most of the authors, in their original languages, that Maeve flings around the room. An act that proved more shocking than graphic sexual encounters; bulbous violence; morose inner monologues; & tedious interpersonal relationships. The desecration of books. When all is said & done I cannot fathom who would find this enjoyable, which is not to say that the ideal reader does not exist—I am sure that they do. I found this book to be very disappointing because it relied wholeheartedly on shock value. What was forgotten is that, by crafting a plot in which the main character boasts about being extravagant in their desires & behaviours, the reader knows that the inordinate will certainly follow. After the pleasantries are done & the beginning of bile, blood, gunk, & guts flow through the pages, but once, we know that it will follow again. Recycling the same tone, the same morbidly disconnected & imbecilic view, twinged with a lack of awareness & depth; the reader is left with little else to do but wait for the inevitable, that which they gauged from the start. Leede has great potential, they know what is gross & what leaks curiosity in the mind like the dead & diseased in the ground. I hope that their target audience finds this book & that they appreciate it for all that it is; a serpent’s egg in river water, sure to drown due to the natural transgression of a rain cloud too weak to hold its own load. Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, & CJ Leede for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Nov 25, 2022
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Nov 25, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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134
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| 0812998626
| 9780812998627
| 3.30
| 79,368
| May 16, 2023
| May 16, 2023
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it was ok
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**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on promiscuity, threats of violence, substance abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor, physical description of a minor in the context of sexual intimacy, financial insecurity, & others. I will preface this review by stating that the terminology I use might not be appropriate & should that be the case, I welcome being corrected. I will be using terminology which I am aware of to reflect the actions & career choices in this story but, should there be titles that are more sensitive or up-to-date from the moment of my writing to any moment in the future, I will revisit this review & edit them. Some books, such as this one, exist purely for a specific reader's pleasure. Objectively, Cline writes well. So well, in fact, that I lost track of time throughout my reading experience. It is easy to become immersed in this story even accounting for the fact that this story isn’t worth becoming immersed in. I do not mean to offend with this last sentence. I mean simply to state that for anyone who reads as I do & has read for as many years as I have, this plot does not constitute the ideal literary format & highlights its own flaws in a repetitive way making it so I had no choice but to keep in mind the reader who would salivate at the mouth every time Alex spoke about pain killers, luxury handbags, gratuitous sex, nipples, dollar bills, & the sandy beach of East Coast America. Alex is twenty-two years old & has found herself an avid enthusiast of the adult industry. I use the word enthusiast quite liberally given the fact that Alex expresses no form of common enthusiasm for anything except maintaining her clientele & thieving from every single person she comes across. This story poses an interesting premise because there is nothing to appreciate, empathize with, or enjoy about Alex & yet, even given the fact that this was the purpose of her character, she remains a void to mirror the holes in the hearts of men. She explains to the reader that she has not chosen to work as an escort—in the adult sex industry—because anything particularly traumatic occurred in her youth. She has simply chosen this path because it was something she chose to do. Throughout the course of this story, we watch as Alex maintains a disconnected stance in relation to everyone & everything around her. Certainly, this can work to the benefit of the book. There is no need for a character to be a garden of roses for the reader to be able to make their way through the story; this is evidenced by the acclaim given to Emily Brontë’s novel “Wuthering Heights” (1847). This being said, Alex does not appear to be a person who is well-rounded in the realistic sense of the word. She has had experiences with other human beings, knows the value of currency, & understands how to barter social interactions for profit but, she doesn’t actually read as a person anyone might know. Alone, her traits & characteristics may be linked to individuals who reside in the non-fictional world. Alex is at once a person who values money but has no problem ignoring her physical needs, which money is necessitated to maintain. Therefore, leading her to rely on money when it is gifted but never earned. I would not want my comment to come across as shade towards people who work in the adult industry & therefore let me clarify, this comment is specific to Alex—a make-believe character. Alex has no issue with embarking on a journey with a man because he gave her a nice handbag. She has no problem stealing a large sum of money because she thinks it is her due—her gift. But, when she is behind on rent she does not think to seek other hours of employment to care for herself. Arguably, housing is part of the basic needs of everyone. The unfortunate turn of events which has increased the number of people who live in financial insecurity is staggering & a true crime against humanity given the absurd violence & devilish behaviour that we force upon those who are without a traditional home. Alex lives in a city where this is abundantly clear. For many individuals, the fear of homelessness has never been part of their reality. For those amongst us for whom it has, reading this book presented a curious dilemma. Should I set my feelings & experiences aside to simply accept that Alex was hard-done-by because Simon asked her to leave? Or should I feel annoyed that I read an entire book about a girl who chose the hard route rather than making any choices that would have helped her case? Why didn’t Alex try to get a part-time job while she was living in the city? Her roommates were very lenient with her until they finically could no longer carry the burden. It feels unkind to take advantage of other people who were faced with the same circumstances but who were trying their best to ensure that they & the other housemates were able to stay afloat. Everything I have said up until this point can certainly be taken with a grain of salt. My personal experiences make it very difficult for me to view this situation neutrally. I can appreciate that this review might appear to be overly personal & that some readers might be able to appreciate Alex at face value. As I said in the introduction of this critique, I am no such reader. Putting aside the fact that Alex relied on clients to remain financially secure rather than budgeting her money & properly scheduling her time, we are faced with several bizarre occurrences & a conclusion that sheds light on none of them. First of all, how much money did Alex steal from Dom? Did Dom ever catch up with her? Did he kill her? Did Simon go berserk after seeing Alex in his home? Why didn’t Lori remember Alex—it hadn’t been a week since she dropped her at the train station. How did Jack miraculously get Alex’s phone to work again when it’s common knowledge that you have to put your phone in rice immediately after water contact, not days following the incident, for the technique to work? What happened with Dana? What makes Alex such a horrible person to those around her? Are her tendencies a product of her boredom? I can forgive a story that gives me very little given I am habituated to Literary Fiction which requires of my brain its full attention & power. However, this story was a puddle masquerading as the sea. There was no rhyme nor reason for anything that took place & the main character was never given enough depth for the reader to grasp any sequence of events that might reveal the essence of the story. Was I meant to deduce that sometimes things happen & that’s why certain things happen? Why did it take Alex nearly a week to brush her teeth when she was bumming in other people’s mansions? How can you think yourself the product of physical wealth & neglect to shower, choosing instead to linger in a swimming pool or a hot tub with your eyes set on stealing sunglasses? Again, these comments aren’t meant to be taken generally, they are dedicated solely toward the main character. Throughout all of her escapades & in which we are meant to believe she is setting her mind to the task of finding a safe place to spend the night, she never jumps at the opportunity to be in a bathroom. I suppose this might be used to read into her person & how little she values anything other than property & possessions. However, I found it really gross to watch her steal sunglasses rather than check for a toothbrush in any of the bathrooms in the house. How would she think that this behaviour would be appealing to Simon? The man with the meticulous lifestyle? If I reflect on the story that I read I find myself wondering why it was worth writing. This is not a knock on the author—this is a question I pose every time I read a book, ever. In this case, I wonder why this series of events was worth making note of. For whom is this story for? Who gets a glimpse at the evasive & empty roaming of a woman in late August? Were we given more details regarding the situation at writ large, I might have felt that the plot was foaming at the bit with immersive lessons & tangible bits of relatability. Certainly, many of us have been faced with a situation in which we had to choose; toothbrush or sunglasses? Yet, over the course of this story, nothing was very much worth noting as nothing really happened. After the first couple of chapters, it was already very apparent that Alex would do whatever Alex thought best, regardless if it was best or not. Why did Alex kidnap a child only to think about abandoning them rather than bringing them back to the nanny? Why was she not able to be in the presence of a person who had a sad life when all she did was spend time with men who led sad lives? Why was she not able to anticipate that Simon wouldn’t want her back at the house? Why did she flirt with Nicholas? Why, why, why, why. None of my questions will ever be answered & that’s ok. This book is not for me. This book is for readers who enjoy a minimal glimpse of reality whilst simmering in the luxury provided to them in stories that glimmer & gleam like jewels & gems. This book is for readers who don’t ask many questions & are happy to read simply because a book is a book & they are unbothered by the rest. This book is for readers who enjoy a bit of nothing much in particular with a sprinkle of crime—criminal activity ranging from a bit of everything—but nothing so serious as to induce consequence. Ultimately, I applaud Cline for what she has produced. I read this entire book because it was well written & I was curious to know how she would conclude the story. I’m not upset to have read this book & I’m not upset that it didn’t end up being a book meant for me. I have in my mind the ideal reader & I know they exist in plenitude out in the world around us. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, & Emma Cline for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Nov 14, 2022
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Nov 14, 2022
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Hardcover
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133
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| 1636550304
| 9781636550305
| 1636550304
| 3.67
| 91
| unknown
| Nov 15, 2022
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really liked it
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The world around us is so big & is filled to the brim with so many people, places, & things. For young children, the world is even bigger, even grande
The world around us is so big & is filled to the brim with so many people, places, & things. For young children, the world is even bigger, even grander, & seems an impossible place to be part of. Within this picture book, the author focuses on the imagery of hearts; little beats of warmth in everything around us. I hold high praise for Jacqueline East as she was able to welcome the story that Ghigna wanted to tell young readers all while incorporating imagery that is tender to the touch; round shapes, soft colours, & miraculous detail in simple strokes. East has provided the ideal backdrop for this poem to take shape. This picture book is ideal for very young readers, those who will appreciate finding hearts in everything around them. From the back of a ladybug’s wings to the joined heart shape formed by the swans in the local lake. This is the style of book that will nestle snuggly in the hearts of young readers & remain with them as they grow. I should hope that everyone is given the opportunity to find books that remind us, ever so gently, of the love & beauty around us from the first moments in this life until the last. Thank you to NetGalley, Red Comet Press, & Charles Ghigna for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Nov 11, 2022
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Nov 11, 2022
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Hardcover
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132
| 
| 1632174049
| 9781632174048
| 1632174049
| 4.20
| 15
| unknown
| Nov 08, 2022
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liked it
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This picture book explores the many ways that animal species in Alaska & the Arctic grow & the ways in which their guardians ensure they are safe. The
This picture book explores the many ways that animal species in Alaska & the Arctic grow & the ways in which their guardians ensure they are safe. The concept of this story is rather interesting & I am sure that for the young readers among us who are not so very interested in detail, this book might be the ideal fit. I was not one such child & subsequently remain a reader for whom the details weave the strength of the tapestry. This picture book approaches every set of pages with the presentation of a different animal species. My first qualm is that some animals are called upon by their name & others with a nomenclature that was adopted through casual speech such as “killer whales” versus “Orcas”. Given the purpose of this book is to gift young readers with tender thoughts about the growth & development of these animals when they are babies, it seems an odd choice to call these animals “killer whales” — focusing on their reputation rather than the fact that is being presented. When the story reaches its end, the illustration draws on a guardian reading to a child. The story ends rather abruptly & I think it would have been to its benefit to introduce one way that the guardian teaches the child about the world. This can be as simple as stating that they would read to them from books containing stories of life & the world—tying into the actual practice being performed in real-time. These little qualms aside, this is a nice book & is filled with stunning illustrations of a world filled with depth & brimming with life. I feel confident that it will find its target audience & be appreciated for what it is at face value. Thank you to NetGalley, Sasquatch Books, & Sarah Asper-Smith for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Nov 04, 2022
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Nov 04, 2022
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Hardcover
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130
| 
| 1534323252
| 9781534323254
| 1534323252
| 3.56
| 1,550
| Jun 01, 2022
| Oct 18, 2022
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really liked it
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**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on abuse, psychological distress, domestic violence, parental neglect, mental illness, the psychological duress of a child, & others. Jamie is four (4) years old & is an only child. He has a favourite stuffed toy in the form of a bat with a heart-shaped nose; he never goes anywhere without it. The reader learns so much about Jamie as a consequence of his parents paying him no attention. Though he is but a wee lad in the background, he carries the weight of the world on his tiny shoulders & is a person worth knowing. What I want to stress with this short introduction is that for those of us who recognize ourselves in Jamie, or for those who find the subject matter of parental neglect & the psychological distress of a child, overwhelming &/or debilitating, I would strongly suggest you be kind towards yourself when deciding whether or not to read this story. I am both pleasantly surprised & terribly disappointed in this book. On the one hand, I had not selected it because I thought it would scare me—seldom do Horror stories set anything in my heart alight but the malignant beat that prevails over the hours. I enjoy Horror because there is so much that can be done under the umbrella that shelters the genre; so many stories to tell, & so much innate terror to be shared. What left me feeling disappointed was not the story itself but how it made me feel. I am disappointed that after all these years, people are unable to recognize psychological distress when it presents itself so outwardly. I am disappointed because night terrors & sleep paralysis are domains that have been more clearly spoken about, if not fully understood. It does not take a child psychologist to know that Jamie is experiencing excruciatingly high levels of stress. All the while, as he cries for his parents to help him, to keep him safe from the ghoulish alien-shaped monster that haunts his closet, they ignore him & focus on their screaming bouts which do nothing but spook the termites eating the base of the home from the inside. I really loved this story because it became something I hadn’t thought it would be. When I requested this book I thought I might come upon a classic tale of goblins on the rooftop; demons under the sheets; boogeymen in the corners. What was held within this story was far scarier than the worst villains the mind can fabricate because it is real. Thom & Maggie exist in the world today as adults who are struggling to find their way. Yet, that is not enough. It is not enough to ignore your child who is evoking signs of serious anxiety due to the neglect & toxic environment they foster. The illustrations by Gavin Fullerton are a marvel. The sombre colour pallet stroked across the seams by Chris O’Halloran marks a story worth investigating. Together, the two set the stage for the horrors that are found within a domestic setting, the homes where children & parents sleep under stilted roofs with flowers littering the property. I was hopeful every time someone clocked Thom for the annoyance he was. Everything was so acutely about him & his experiences; his development, his life, his memories, his age. So little time was spent looking at the child in the room who had tears drenching the elbow crevices of their pyjamas. It frustrated me to read the monologues of a person who could not seem to get a grasp of real life; could not muster the courage to be who they were, ever so much as that being was a hollow trunk of a human person. It made me happy to see other adults vocalize what I felt. In all, I am glad to have read this story. It was horribly sad but, I suppose that was the point. So often we view the dangers as creeping from darkened forests, sloshing through the neighbourhoods, & knocking from outside the house. Whereas, in reality, the danger is perpetrated by those who know us best; the demonic entities we have no choice but to trust, the vampiric beasts that linger when we go to sleep; those we know dearly as caretakers. Like flowers in the attic, we grow through the floorboards & meet the goons that transform the unconscious state into a minotaur’s lair of terror. Thank you to Edelweiss+, Diamond Books, & James Tynion IV for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Oct 14, 2022
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Oct 14, 2022
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Paperback
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126
| 
| 0735845042
| 9780735845046
| 0735845042
| 4.03
| 414
| 2017
| Oct 18, 2022
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liked it
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¿Cuáles son los tesoros que mantenemos muertos y cómo afectan nuestras aventuras? En este libro hermoso ilustrado, un elefante camino con su paraguas
¿Cuáles son los tesoros que mantenemos muertos y cómo afectan nuestras aventuras? En este libro hermoso ilustrado, un elefante camino con su paraguas verde, uno al que ama mucho. Mientras camina, se encuentra con un erizo que dice que el paraguas es suyo. Este primer encuentro presenta a cuatro animales diferentes que afirman que el paraguas verde es suyo. Las ilustraciones de esta historia son encantadoras e invitan al lector a imaginar todas las aventuras de las que ha sido parte el paraguas verde. Maral Sassouni, ha hecho un trabajo maravilloso al hacer que esta historia cobre vida con colores e imágenes que transportan al lector a través de las páginas. Todas las aventuras de los cinco animales son tan claras y brillantes gracias a las ilustraciones. Esta es una historia muy adorable sobre mantener nuestras posesiones cerca de nuestros corazones mientras podemos dar la bienvenida a que puedan significar algo diferente para otras personas. No estaba mal que el elefante pensara que la sombrilla verde era solamente para él y que le pertenecía. Tampoco estaba mal que ninguno de los animales recordara grandes aspectos del paraguas verde. Cuando los personajes se escuchan y aprecian que un solo artículo puede ser apreciado y amado por todos, aprenden que compartir da la bienvenida a las experiencias de nuevos amigos y nuevas aventuras. Cuando un niño lea esto, creo que podrá disfrutar de múltiples aspectos de esta historia porque hay mucho que apreciar. Las imágenes, los personajes, las aventuras y viajes, y el valor detrás de toda la historia. Esta es una historia perfecta para leer durante un día lluvioso o en algún momento del otoño cuando el sol aun brilla pero el clima está cambiando, al igual que varios aspectos de nuestras vidas y como el valor del paraguas verde. ¡Gracias a NetGalley, North South Books Inc y Jackie Azúa Kramer por la copia gratuita de este libro a cambio de una reseña honesta! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Sep 25, 2022
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Sep 25, 2022
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Paperback
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125
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| 4.23
| 31
| 2006
| Jan 16, 2006
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it was amazing
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**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, theref
**spoiler alert** It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on racially derogatory actions & beliefs, the death of an animal, grief, terminal illness, & others. The appropriate response to walking the streets of a familiar town, one that sheltered the growth of a person from childhood into the digits of double & large soled shoes of old, does not exist. For Beatrice, returning on Thanksgiving weekend to the farm where she grew up brings nothing but a set of three (3) questions, sectioned into three blank spaces where she thought her answers lay. A brief moment of reprieve is granted to her when she realizes that life—as the one she knew, the one she lives, & the one making its way to her—intertwines to form her reality, no matter where or who she is. This story was chosen at random as « Scott » & myself continue our weekly short story jaunts through days filled with reading much heavier topics than a bizarre pit in a parking lot & a famously named horse who drowned in its bodice. I suppose this is why I appreciated this story so much. That is to say that Hunt’s style of writing is one that I adore very greatly though, I acknowledge & recognize that it is certainly one that might leave many readers with feelings of unfulfillment. The author presents chapters of life in such as way as to reveal only a sliver in what is certainly a wooden cabin-style house; so much is withheld without necessarily leaving the reader feeling cheated or in the dark yet, one knows that nothing is truly given to us, just as nothing was ever truly given in truth, to Beatrice. As we maneuver through this short jaunt of a three (3) day weekend, we note how dissected Beatrice feels in comparison to everything & everyone around her; familiar faces are shadowed by secrets they reveal to have kept from her because they know her more than she knows them; blanketed over snowy grass & green flakes Beatrice is someone who is trying to be herself however much that ideal person is someone yet unknown to her. The imagery that Hunt produces in such a short family history is stark, demented, & tragic. One wants to understand how Beatrice remains such a lost figure in her own life whilst being presented with opportunities to glimpse that, though her circumstances certainly abled her to become the person that she is in adulthood, they are not the sole reason for which she is so amputated from her lived experiences. This can be gleaned in her flashbacks when she walked through the property with her father; imagining him to be a man she loved romantically via the dismembered hand that held hers. It’s rather fascinating in a ghoulish manner how deeply Beatrice longed for her life to be anything other than what it was. I do not think this to be an unnatural practice in principle. Surely, many people have disconnected from their experiences to pretend the desired outcome of their fate. Yet, Beatrice’s entire life span has been a concept formatted to fit her hopes & dreams—those unachievable due to her stance on the imaginary. If she had come home being different, maybe things might have been different. What would have happened if she had become her brother; a person settled in his own makeshift home, one that is amongst the changing tides of a society that doesn’t understand him & can be reflected in the discarded items left behind years prior by a woman who once loved him. Would Beatrice be better or worse off living in the real world? Would her horse have wandered, as she often does herself, into a hole in the ground where it could not come out? What part of Beatrice might ever change to be the person she dreams herself to become? In all, I really enjoyed this story. I liked how little was written about the experiences of the family as a whole yet how immensely these silenced seconds mattered in the timeline; forming a story that rang true for all the burned hopes in a life desecrated by the imaginary. If you would like to read this story, please visit this •LINK•. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Sep 20, 2022
|
Sep 25, 2022
|
ebook
| ||||||||||||||||
124
| 
| 3.39
| 133
| Oct 27, 1933
| 1995
|
liked it
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There is a time in the life of every reader when one looks upon the words written on a page & wonders at the writer’s ability to transform such a glob
There is a time in the life of every reader when one looks upon the words written on a page & wonders at the writer’s ability to transform such a globally utilized tool into the mind-bending experience of a story. This is far from being my first exposure to the titan whose works span longevity that exceeded his life’s & it certainly shall not be the last of Hemingway’s stories that I read. One might easily read pieces written by the man himself & wonder that others should have felt confident in their own abilities, to sit & write at all. I suppose that is the beauty of the world of literature. In this story, the reader hovers above a scenery macabre with tendons, fluids, raw bone, burnt herbs, a dry wind & a valley desolate of beating hearts. The consequences of war ravaging the countryside function as the highway on which Nick Adams manoeuvres through life. What struck me the most & is subsequently the aspect of this story that has remained nudged in my brain like a serpent in the soil, is the imagery that Hemingway is able to achieve without relying on a flowery array of rainbow petals. The opening scenes present something that is too close to home to be foreign & yet is settled as being a war in land abroad. As Nick works through the carnage to arrive at the rendezvous, meeting his companion in arms, Captain Paravicini, we are immediately aware of how little anyone truly knows about the man leading this story onward. Certainly, most of my expressions may be tainted by the lag in my mind, stuck in the mud along with the deceased at the jump. However, it appears to me that Nick is a character who is intimately known to the author & who as yet, is able to maintain secrecy & disconnect from those whose eyes wander alongside his. I appreciated this story very much & attribute a great deal of that enjoyment to the person who encouraged me to read it, the familiar & comforting reader who remains something of a Hemingway in my mind, « Scott ». There is a multitude of ways to interpret this short story & I suppose that is, once again, part of the beauty of a story that has been exceedingly well-crafted. I wanted to know more & had questions for the expert previously named. However, this did not dissuade me from grafting memories of the muffled attempts to conceal & overcome Shell Shock; conversations nearing no end; morbidity cunning in its consistency & a delicious prose tender to the author. Ultimately, I would like to see Nick more often & I hope that there is a story where he receives the repose he merits. As yet, I do not know him quite as much as I would like, however, I appreciate where we remain; in a tango set against tides & through decades spanning events I should hope never to experience first hand though many of our secrets tie into each other like weeds carnivorously masticating the stem of a rose. If you would like the opportunity to read any of Hemingway's short stories, please see this PDF where a number of them have been compiled. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
|
Sep 16, 2022
|
Sep 20, 2022
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Paperback
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123
| 
| 0711270473
| 9780711270473
| 0711270473
| 3.94
| 111
| unknown
| Sep 20, 2022
|
really liked it
|
June is moving to the United States from China with her Mama & Baba. Though she has her parents alongside her, she cannot help but feel apprehensive;
June is moving to the United States from China with her Mama & Baba. Though she has her parents alongside her, she cannot help but feel apprehensive; everything is changing & it becomes difficult for June to know where things are headed—life is so full of uncertainty. However, luck seems to be on their side as a Maneki-Neko (Lucky Cat) is sitting on the counter of the building they hope will help them prosper in this new adventure. What Eunice Chen brings to the illustrations is heart. June is a little girl who could have been any of us in our youth & is most certainly any number of children picking this book off the self. The neighbourhood welcomes readers with the presentation of strangers with critical opinions & reminds them that criticism can be constructive if said & taken in the right way. Beautiful colours strengthen this story to make it one that lingers in the mind as a kindness. What June learns is that, as much as one can rely on luck, or hope that luck is on their side, sometimes things don’t work out. We might have the very best of intentions or the greatest drive to see a project succeed but, for whatever reason, it might fail. Becoming acquainted with these lessons is difficult for June & her parents. They were so eager to come abroad & endeavour to make a new life for themselves but everything they try flunks. No matter the circumstances of June’s family in their home country, I appreciated the imagery that their various business attempts brought to this story. Certainly, this family arrived in a different country with the hopes of making it their home & the reader is privy to all the dedication & effort that each character puts forth in order to make their dream a reality. Every broom sweep & curtain hung brings June & her parents closer to the goal of bringing joy to their new community. I can certainly appreciate how difficult it must have been for June to feel cheated by Lucky Cat. As adults, I would wager to say that we have all felt a bit cheated, once in a while, by the tides turning in a direction we were unprepared or unwilling to ride into. To trust in the process of trial & error without degrading ourselves is something that is of the utmost importance, for all. We each deserve the kindness to find our way whether luck is on our side, or not. Ultimately, after some time spent sitting with each other & moments taken to reflect & realign their goals & priorities, the family finds the niche that works best for them. There are so many positive aspects to take from this story & we are all better off for reminding ourselves of them. Young readers will be greeted with fantastic imagery that transports their imagination to the city where Maneki-Neko comes to life—similarly to how it feels when you know you’ve got a clover in your pocket. I am so glad that June & her family were able to find their way through effort, with support from each other, hopefulness, big dreams, & a special Lucky Cat to guide them on their journey. Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, Melody Cheng, Janet Wang, & Helen Wu for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Sep 14, 2022
|
Sep 14, 2022
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Hardcover
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122
| 
| 1952782619
| 9781952782619
| 1952782619
| 3.82
| 22
| unknown
| Sep 13, 2022
|
liked it
|
Life is filled with quaint moments like the ones the two siblings come across when a fresh layer of snow covers the earth. This story explores the joy
Life is filled with quaint moments like the ones the two siblings come across when a fresh layer of snow covers the earth. This story explores the joys that we can associate with the aspects of this life that feel, at a glance, simple in nature but bring us memories we can cherish for all the years to come. The illustrations by Carol Hill Quirk remind me of many little books I had on my shelves growing up. The colour scheme is warm with a hint of cool that allows the reader’s mind to engage with the imagery without necessitating the linguistic ability to follow the stanzas. I have an image in my mind of the ideal reader & perhaps, I might venture to say, so did Hodgson when writing the kindly poem that saunters across a backdrop of woodland forest, a cottage home, young siblings wrapped snuggly in snowsuits & the animals who come out to start their day with a fresh blanket of crisp white snow. This book would do well to be read by those who adore the season; perhaps a story to accompany some hot chocolate or a snuggle in a favourite blanket. There is not any conflict or climax to this story, it simply exists to present a tender moment & I think there is something wonderful to appreciate in that. Thank you to NetGalley, BQB Publishing, & Harriet Hodgson for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Sep 14, 2022
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Sep 14, 2022
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Hardcover
| |||||||||||||
119
| 
| 9798985018707
| B0B6WY5NTP
| 4.33
| 3
| unknown
| Aug 20, 2022
|
liked it
|
In the middle of a heat wave raking the Florida coast, Jesse, Josie, Jack & their two parents decide that a day at the beach is in order. Noticing the
In the middle of a heat wave raking the Florida coast, Jesse, Josie, Jack & their two parents decide that a day at the beach is in order. Noticing the broken air conditioning unit, the family eagerly scrambles to prepare all the things that they will need to enjoy the beach. This book confused me at first because it reads as older than a story that would be intended for children. I think that it’s important & positive to include vernacular that seeks to teach readers something new. However, within the first chapters of this story, we see scientific terminology when referencing a centipede & I was curious if a young reader would be eager to pursue a story filled with terms they couldn’t pronounce. Ultimately, I think that the illustrations crafted by Arina Krivtsova, lend a huge helping hand to the story. Because so much is taking place within this book—every chapter a new adventure with a new call to action—the colourful images that litter the pages of this book eases the read. For those readers who might not be able to follow along with the words, I think that the inclusion of so many vivid images will lead them to want to explore this book. That being said, there is a lot happening within this plot. The twin siblings engage in a challenge to find clean towels & boogie boards in time for the family to head to the beach, with the promise of ice cream as their reward. Then, there is the scramble for ice cream flavours & fun in the water. It made me question who this book might be for. Perhaps had it included longer chapters I might say this would be perfect for Middle-Grade readers. I do think that this story is a good introduction to complex plots. Given the fact that the family is so diverse, numbered, & dimensionally sound; readers can easily reference the development of so many occurrences in tandem with the illustrations. Should a reader be moving towards chapter formatted books, this would be a good introduction to longer literature that asks a reader to remember ages, geography, characteristics, events, & others. The story is sweet, diverse, encompassing & complex enough to open the mind of the reader to all the possibilities that can be found in the Fantasy genre as in life. I look forward to seeing what other books come of this series. Thank you to NetGalley & Megan Lucker for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
|
Sep 09, 2022
|
Sep 09, 2022
|
Kindle Edition
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117
| 
| B07L8Z2SRJ
| 3.92
| 36
| unknown
| Dec 21, 2018
|
really liked it
|
Manny is a boy who feels things deeply, greatly, & in an all-consuming way. Depending on how he feels, Manny’s mood cloud changes colour. This can som
Manny is a boy who feels things deeply, greatly, & in an all-consuming way. Depending on how he feels, Manny’s mood cloud changes colour. This can sometimes frighten his younger brother, Elijah because he doesn’t know when Manny’s mood cloud might change, without warning. As Elijah explains to the reader, we all have mood clouds but Manny’s are different because they take over every aspect of his life & are difficult to control. With the support of his parents & younger brother, Manny starts seeing a therapist to learn how to approach life with a mood disorder. The illustrations in this book truly lend themselves to an important overall message & one that I am overjoyed to see presented in such a format. It’s important for children to feel they have the ability to speak about things that might be affecting them, even if they aren’t certain how to put these feelings into words. In this story, we see how mood disorders affect a great array of people & look different per the person they affect. Bringing forth books with this type of message is crucial & arguably an essential part of our social community. Even if you are not someone who lives with a mood disorder or someone who knows another person who does, it remains important to be aware that this is a reality for many folks. We all participate in making this world a welcoming & safe environment for each other. This effort starts at home & it begins when we are children. As per the author’s note at the end of the book, ensuring that children have a safe, calm, kind, & healthy environment is vital. I think that books such as this allow us all to grow & learn. There are gentle tips & tricks within this book that allow any reader of any age to learn something. Most of all, I was glad for Manny. I’m happy to see that he was given love & support from his family & was able to pursue therapy as a means of maneuvering through life with his mood disorder. Though the opposite is often true, I am glad that children will be able to see the positive possibility explored in this narrative & one that is hopefully experienced by them in their own lives. Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, & Lourdes Ubidia for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
|
Sep 02, 2022
|
Sep 02, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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118
| 
| unknown
| 3.73
| 96
| 1940
| Feb 03, 2020
|
it was ok
|
**spoiler alert** When reviewing Horror I keep in mind that the genre is brimmed with occurrences, ghouls, goblins, ghosts, & shadows that will be sub
**spoiler alert** When reviewing Horror I keep in mind that the genre is brimmed with occurrences, ghouls, goblins, ghosts, & shadows that will be subjectively interpreted. Who is to say that what I find frightening is the pinnacle of horror? Who is to say that a book recommendation cannot be taken as a window into the mind & experiences of the reader? In this case, I would say that on both such questions, the answer would be no one, no one at all. Keller has written a story that seems to transcend the ages & plays on a palpable fear for many young people. This fear of the basement; the unknown cavity laying dormant in the nucleus of a home, unvisited, unseen & riddled with ghastly monsters. At some point in time, many of us grow up & realize that the silent darkness that is the cellar, the attic, the basement, a closet, or even any room, in particular, is a rather peaceful aspect of a home—something we can appreciate when surrounded by the high energy & fast pace of life. I was once a child who was convinced that the basement of my childhood home housed demons of the most stealth kind—those who wander around you but whom you cannot see. I cannot say that I was particularly afraid of them, they were simply an aspect of life I was certain existed & therefore what could I, in my little entity, do about that? In this story, Keller presents a child who does do something against the ‘thing’ that inhabits the cellar of his family’s home. This child, Tommy, screams & cries, he wines & rolls out of the room that leads to the cellar. At every opportunity, he finds a way out of the kitchen so that he is not confronted by the vicious evil that inhabits the cellar. His parents remain convinced that he’s a ninny & has no substance to his being acting as scared as he does by a simple room in the house—a room pray tell that is used for who knows what, during the hours that Mrs. Tucker does who can tell? The substance of this story & the family at play is essentially inconsequential. The Tuckers roam around & do things the reader might assume they do. Keller encourages the reader to leap & bound through assumptions so that the bones of the story fit into skeletal formation. When Tommy is old enough—a child rather than an infant—a doctor tells his parents that he should be left to face his fears, alone. Tommy’s parents bolt the kitchen door, ram the cellar open & place Tommy in a chair like an offering to an elderly spirit, marbled in the walls. After some time & a transition later, the doctor returns to the family asking them what has become of Tommy. Due to a colleague's advice, he realized that perhaps scaring the bejesus out of a child in forced disconnect was not the ideal way to work through their fear. Unfortunately, there was indeed something or someone in the cellar. Tommy is dead on the floor when the adults barge into the kitchen. Then the story ends. I would like to say a special thanks to my personal friend & book-fiend confidant, « Scott » who gave me a laugh when this story left me flustered in annoyance. Certainly, this premise holds true for many people & if you can imagine yourself now or in the past, feeling as Tommy felt, you might even chance a sentiment of fear. As for myself, I have been too acclimated to life, literature, & everything in between to find this anything but a substantial blow to the eagerness I fostered when reading the synopsis. This brings me to the introductory portion of my review—fear is subjective. The experience is different for everyone & is lived in varied ways throughout life. I have no one to whom I would recommend this story but I think it would play out well as a tale of horror during slumber parties or as an episode on my beloved “Freaky Stories” (1997). If you would like to read this story too I direct you to : Weird Fiction Review who have the full story & a dedicated introduction listed on their website & Horror Babble who have a wonderful audiobook format of Keller’s tale on their website available to all. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Sep 06, 2022
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Aug 31, 2022
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Audiobook
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128
| 
| 1950259269
| 9781950259267
| 1950259269
| 3.29
| 11,004
| Jan 01, 2015
| Mar 31, 2020
|
did not like it
|
A story, starkly devoid of substance with such acute poverty of plot; I have not read a book so depraved of merit as to compete with this one, in a ve
A story, starkly devoid of substance with such acute poverty of plot; I have not read a book so depraved of merit as to compete with this one, in a very long time.
...more
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Notes are private!
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1
|
not set
|
Oct 10, 2022
|
Aug 27, 2022
|
Paperback
| |||||||||||||
116
| 
| 0439568382
| 9780439568388
| 0439568382
| 3.58
| 12,016
| Mar 1993
| Sep 01, 2003
|
liked it
|
**spoiler alert** In this sixth instalment of the Goosebumps series the main character, Max, recounts events that led him to discover a magic mirror h
**spoiler alert** In this sixth instalment of the Goosebumps series the main character, Max, recounts events that led him to discover a magic mirror hidden within a secret room within his parent’s attic. The initial chapter instigates the series of events in something of a reflective manner; remembering the moments where everything went downhill & the trick of the trade became the haunting of a Changeling within his younger brother. This is a peculiar book. On the one hand, I found the second half of the story, in tandem with the first few chapters, to be riveting & a wonderful approach to a timely fright. However, the middle section of this book required deep-seated patience that I have never truly had. Had I been twelve or my current age, I would have had no desire to read about the boisterous & flamboyant disrespect that Max’s friends had for his environment. That is to say that the majority of the plot is moved forward by the secondary characters’ continuous pull to try the magic mirror. Before moving forward, a bit of background about the object in question—we have none. There is never any explanation given as to why this mirror is in the family home. We know that the house was previously under the possession of Max’s grandparents, whom he describes as being sullen & distanced. These characteristics can possibly be attributed to the prolonged usage of the magic mirror. In any case, the reader is to take the appearance of the mirror as a normal particular of the house—truly this is not asking for much given the fact that most homes do have at least one mirror. However, what makes this particular artifact of interest is that the attached light transforms the onlooker to be invisible to those around them. I really appreciated this play on traditional lore that is well-known by a great number of communities. I think had there been fewer instances wherein we had to read about a ‘challenge’—who could remain invisible the longest—I might have found the story riveting. The appearance of Changeling-style apparitions within the mirror—known to Max & his friends as being their reflections—poses a true horror. There doesn’t seem to be a way to escape these monsters & until Lefty, Max’s younger brother, shatters the mirror with his softball, our hero appears to be at the mercy of the Changelings who have taken over his friends’ bodies. The conclusion is spooky in its own right. Notwithstanding the fright that would ensue once the characters discover that the mirror is possessed by demon-like reflections of their own selves. Sadly, Lefty is lost to the mirror as his own Changeling has prevented him from ever returning to the real world. Ultimately, with some trimming of the complaints, the extroverted need to demean their friend & force their way to toy with the unknown, this book would have been incredible. Max is a wonderful main character who is well-rounded, complex, & insightful. I appreciated the details Stine gave to his character so as to ensure that he brought a great deal to the story as a whole, rather than have him be the exact clone of his friends & the reflection in the mirror. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
|
Aug 28, 2022
|
Aug 17, 2022
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Paperback
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|
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my rating |
|
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
141
|
| 3.69
|
did not like it
|
Jan 21, 2023
|
Jan 21, 2023
|
|||||
140
|
| 4.00
|
it was amazing
|
Jan 20, 2023
|
Jan 20, 2023
|
|||||
139
|
| 3.97
|
really liked it
|
Jan 15, 2023
|
Jan 15, 2023
|
|||||
137
|
| 4.39
|
really liked it
|
Dec 05, 2022
|
Dec 05, 2022
|
|||||
136
|
| 4.23
|
really liked it
|
Nov 29, 2022
|
Dec 01, 2022
|
|||||
135
|
| 3.79
|
did not like it
|
Nov 25, 2022
|
Nov 25, 2022
|
|||||
134
|
| 3.30
|
it was ok
|
Nov 14, 2022
|
Nov 14, 2022
|
|||||
133
|
| 3.67
|
really liked it
|
Nov 11, 2022
|
Nov 11, 2022
|
|||||
132
|
| 4.20
|
liked it
|
Nov 04, 2022
|
Nov 04, 2022
|
|||||
130
|
| 3.56
|
really liked it
|
Oct 14, 2022
|
Oct 14, 2022
|
|||||
126
|
| 4.03
|
liked it
|
Sep 25, 2022
|
Sep 25, 2022
|
|||||
125
|
| 4.23
|
it was amazing
|
Sep 20, 2022
|
Sep 25, 2022
|
|||||
124
|
| 3.39
|
liked it
|
Sep 16, 2022
|
Sep 20, 2022
|
|||||
123
|
| 3.94
|
really liked it
|
Sep 14, 2022
|
Sep 14, 2022
|
|||||
122
|
| 3.82
|
liked it
|
Sep 14, 2022
|
Sep 14, 2022
|
|||||
119
|
| 4.33
|
liked it
|
Sep 09, 2022
|
Sep 09, 2022
|
|||||
117
|
| 3.92
|
really liked it
|
Sep 02, 2022
|
Sep 02, 2022
|
|||||
118
|
| 3.73
|
it was ok
|
Sep 06, 2022
|
Aug 31, 2022
|
|||||
128
|
| 3.29
|
did not like it
|
Oct 10, 2022
|
Aug 27, 2022
|
|||||
116
|
| 3.58
|
liked it
|
Aug 28, 2022
|
Aug 17, 2022
|
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