I’ve now read this book twice in 2024 and can confirm it is one of my all time favorites.
Original Review: I would definitely encourage anyone interestI’ve now read this book twice in 2024 and can confirm it is one of my all time favorites.
Original Review: I would definitely encourage anyone interested in reading this book to not look too much into what this book is actually about.
If you have no idea what this book is about and are reading this review, here’s what I’ll say: this is a story about a girl growing up in confinement and how she learns to free herself through her mind. And yet along the way, she wonders is she really free?
Now you can pick this book up and have your own mind blown.
I loved how this had both a really intriguing plot, but also a deep philosophical examination of what it means to be a human, to live and love and laugh and learn.
I truly never knew where this book was going next. It’s quite a short novel and yet full of so much.
This would make an excellent bookclub selection as well.
I feel like I won’t stop thinking about this book for a long time. It’s one of those stories that gets a hook in you and doesn’t let go....more
When I read Elisa Shua Dusapin's sophomore novel,The Pachinko Parlour, last year, I finished it and immediately read it again. I felt like there wWhen I read Elisa Shua Dusapin's sophomore novel,The Pachinko Parlour, last year, I finished it and immediately read it again. I felt like there was so much beneath the surface I was just starting to glean from my first reading, and the second time around really solidified how expertly crafted the whole thing was. My experience with Winter in Sokcho was no different. After turning that last page, I knew I had to read it once more, and once again I was so glad I did.
In this story we follow the 24 year old unnamed female narrator who works at a guesthouse (like a hostel or small hotel) in the city of Sokcho. She sees her single mother occasionally and has a boyfriend who is heading to Seoul to pursue a modeling career. At her job she encounters various people—Japanese hikers, those recovering from cosmetic surgery—and one day a French graphic novelist comes to stay and work. Their encounters shape the story as we follow them on day trips around the city and surrounding area and the conversations they have about life, art, language, national identity, war, and more.
The narrator herself is French-Korean, her father being a French man who left her mother when the narrator was small and is not in her life. Her status as mixed race causes her to feel like an outsider in her community, and that sense of loneliness and melancholy permeates the story which Dusapin writes so well (I should note too this is another flawless translation from Aneesa Abbas Higgins).
I loved how multilayered this story is. There is the literal story going on on the page; but beneath it is so many nuanced and understated themes about personhood, belonging, identity, our relationship to food and art. It would be easy to write this off as boring or uninteresting if only read at the surface level. Our narrator gets up, does some cleaning, walks around, observes things. But those observations speak volumes to what she's focused on, what she thinks about, and in turn contrast and conflict at times with the French graphic novelist which creates a real tension in the story. Those moments of opposition made me think about what I think about certain things and who is 'right,' if anyone even is.
I could go on and on about this book but all I will say is I'm so glad to have found Dusapin! I adore her writing and the vibes of her stories, and I cannot wait for her 3rd novel to get translated into English!...more
First read: January 17-21, 2022 Second read: August 11-15, 2023
A compelling, complex story steeped in history with a touch of fantasy. A tale of a younFirst read: January 17-21, 2022 Second read: August 11-15, 2023
A compelling, complex story steeped in history with a touch of fantasy. A tale of a young woman turned monk turned warrior who makes her own fate in the world through cunning and prowess.
Based on the real figure of Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu, our main character, begins her life in a desolate village on the plains of Henan. Along with her father and brother, she scrapes by eating lizards and savoring tree bark after a famine has ravaged their land for years and the Mongol invaders who rule their land do nothing to help them. After an incident leaves Zhu orphaned and a fortune teller predicts her destiny of 'nothingness,' Zhu decides to take matters into her own hands and claim the fate her brother was slated for: greatness. From there, we watch as Zhu works her toward making a name for herself, facing foes, crafting alliances, and doing what it takes to be 'great.'
I have never read anything like this book. I enjoy fantasy books here or there, and have read a few in my time, but it's not my go-to genre. However, this is far more of a historical novel with slight fantastical elements; so if you are put off by too much fantasy, rest assured it is very, very minimal. It's much more about fate and destiny, exhibiting itself in a sort of 'mandate' or divine power given to a select few.
Zhu was a great main character. She is resilient and hard-working and truly paves her own path in life. She finds a way where there seems to be no path forward. I also loved how her story was mirrored by Ouyang, and through these parallel but conflicting stories we get to see different realities of what destiny or fate mean to different people.
There are a lot of characters and locations in this book. Get ready for a lot of names, and I'd recommend you keep a small list of who each person is and what side of the battle they are on to start. But eventually you will get the hang of it. I think on a re-read it will be even better because from the start I will understand who is who and be able to keep track of what is going on (Can confirm, my re-read was even better because of this!). Somehow, though, Parker-Chan never loses the thread of each character's mission. It's an extremely tightly-plotted and well-crafted novel, the first in a duology!
All in all I loved this one. I was always excited to get back into reading it. While I think the characterization is a bit slow to start, it really builds up by the end and I cannot wait for the conclusion of this series to come out!!...more
This has to be one of the best YA fantasy novels I’ve ever read. I need the sequel now! August can’t come fast enough. In fact, after I finished it I This has to be one of the best YA fantasy novels I’ve ever read. I need the sequel now! August can’t come fast enough. In fact, after I finished it I went back and re-read the whole first chapter...very tempted to do a re-read immediately after which NEVER happens. But I'll hold off and probably do a re-read before Redemptor comes out!
What is Raybearer about? Well, it follows a young girl name Tarisai who was raised in isolation with only her tutors and caretakers. No other children were around, and she rarely saw her mother whom she only knows as 'The Lady.' One night she sneaks out of her walled-in mansion of a home and discovers a secret about her inception that changes her fate forever. From there she's thrust into her journey of self-discovery as she travels to the capital and vies for a chance to be part of the Crown Prince's council of elders. In this world, each Emperor has a gift called the Ray in which he selects eleven elders—one from each region of their world—to form a council that can hear each others' thoughts, share emotions and rule together. Tarisai is commanded by her mother to attempt to infiltrate the prince's council so that she can earn his trust...and kill him.
That's all I will say about the plot because there is SO much wonderful, intricate but never confusing world-building in this novel. Jordan Ifueko has crafted a world that's reminiscent of many fantasy worlds you have seen before but still something all its own. I think that familiarity makes it easy to sink into, but it's uniqueness keeps you turning the page to discover a rich and incredible fantasy world heavily inspired by West Africa.
Somehow she's balanced rich characters, a compelling and twisty plot, and a beautifully created world that makes for a knockout of a novel. And it's all in about 380 pages! I honestly am shocked she made something with such depth and breadth in less than 400 pages, especially in the fantasy genre. It's massively impressive. I think the decision to make it a duology is so smart because while this novel has a great conclusion and a satisfying ending, it clearly sets up the plot for book 2 and I cannot wait to see how it ends. It seems like Ifueko had both books planned out before she wrote Raybearer which I appreciate so much.
Overall, I can't recommend this novel enough. If you like fantasy of any kind (adult or YA) I think you should read this. If you're looking for something unique, exciting, heart-breaking and yet uplifting, this is the book for you....more
This is one of the best collections of poetry I've ever read. They are by no means easy or accessible poems to read, but they reward so much on the reThis is one of the best collections of poetry I've ever read. They are by no means easy or accessible poems to read, but they reward so much on the re-reading. Digging into this particular collection forced me to read poetry in a whole new, almost meditative way. I could sit for a few minutes just thinking about a single stanza of one of Prikryl's poems. I re-read the first 30 pages or so of this collection more times than I can count, each time revealing something new and exciting. I also have a fond memory associated with this book because I picked it up in Brooklyn, NY and the author very clearly lives and writes about NY, so it felt especially timely and fated. Nonetheless, I see myself returning to these poems again and again. I appreciated how she had continuity throughout with many poems bearing the same title; you could definitely spend lots of time reading only the poems titled "Waves" or "Anonymous" or "Sibyl" and the collection would take on a totally new vibe. Prikryl is a poet I will be paying attention to moving forward, and I'm eager to go and read her first collection now....more
Loved it just as much the 2nd time reading it. I adore these characters and would read 100 books about them. ----- 4.5 starsUpdate: Bumping this one upLoved it just as much the 2nd time reading it. I adore these characters and would read 100 books about them. ----- 4.5 starsUpdate: Bumping this one up to a 5 stars because after a few months of thinking about it, it's definitely my favorite in the series. I keep finding myself thinking of certain scenes and elements of this installment, and I love it. ----- I'm not sure if I can write a coherent review of this book right now. There are so many layers to this story, so much to unpack, and yet still, as this is book 2 of 4, so much left to discover.
I am incredibly impressed by Ferrante's ability to develop characters that are real, more real than almost any other characters I have read before. They have ambition, are flawed, fight and love and inspire.
There is high probability I will come back and give this book a 5 star rating later, but for now I want to finish the series and accumulate my thoughts. Oh, and this book has one of the best pages of literature I've ever read, so there's that.
No doubt, a favorite. I loved it just as much, if not more, the second time reading it. I love Mandel's ability to infuse hope into such a hopeless siNo doubt, a favorite. I loved it just as much, if not more, the second time reading it. I love Mandel's ability to infuse hope into such a hopeless situation. The persistence of art, the interdependent nature of humanity, and the world's inevitable chaos are all themes that appear and reappear throughout the novel. They intertwine like the lives of these characters, and the clarity and precision with which Mandel presents these multiple narratives is impeccable. It moved me again and again, and I can't wait to revisit more and more in the future....more
I'm not sure if I've ever changed my mind so much about a book before. When I first read this back in late 2015, I listened to the full cast audiobookI'm not sure if I've ever changed my mind so much about a book before. When I first read this back in late 2015, I listened to the full cast audiobook. It has great production and is really entertaining, but I didn't connect with the story. As a child, I never read this book, so in my head it was in the same realm of Narnia or Harry Potter, where readers have a special attachment to it for nostalgia's sake. I didn't have that, and because I also realized I don't get on well with fiction in audio format, I enjoyed the listen but it didn't blow me away.
Then a couple years later the TV adaptation came out on HBO which I started watching and fell in love with. So I've always been curious about returning to this series, especially now as we wait for the 3rd and final season to arrive. When I stumbled on these books in a used bookstore and a Little Free Library near my home, it felt like fate—time for me to pick them up again. And I'm so glad I did!
I absolutely loved revisiting this fantasy epic. I think for me watching the show actually helped me with the re-read, since I had a visual connection to the world and also was better able to discern the various characters, their motives, and picture it all in my mind as I read it.
Lyra, our hero, is truly one of the great protagonists of children's literature, or really any literature. Her journey is a true coming-of-age tale that is extremely fantastical and yet relatable at the same time. What happens when everything you thought you knew turns out to be false? How can you trust others when the ones you have trusted betray you? These, and many other questions, come up throughout the novel, all while we are taken on a fantastic adventure.
I am super excited now to keep going in this series. I know some of what happens in book 2 because of the show, but after re-reading book 1 I can tell they kept as much as possible while adding in new elements or bringing plot points from later in the series to earlier episodes which I think was really smart. I think with the way this is going this could turn out to be one of my favorite fantasy series and one that I will re-visit time and time again....more
Updated review - 2024: Still hits every. single. time.
Original review: Do I need to even explain myself? No? Well, I will anyway.
This book has it all:
TUpdated review - 2024: Still hits every. single. time.
Original review: Do I need to even explain myself? No? Well, I will anyway.
This book has it all:
The best characters. Maggie (I feel like we're on a first name basis) doesn't neglect developing any of the characters. Whether they show up for one scene or are a main character, they are real, fleshed-out people. I have a hard time believing Blue and the Raven Boys aren't walking around somewhere in Virginia right now on their search.
Perfect writing. It's almost frightening how accurately the writing fits the mood of this book. It's dreamy and magical and moody, but still very real and honest and grounded in reality. How she manages to combine to polar opposite things in such a well-executed way baffles me. Ex: "She recognized the strange happiness that came from loving something without knowing why you did, that strange happiness that was sometimes so big that it felt like sadness. It was the way she felt when she looked at the stars." Enough said.
The most unique plot. Talking trees in a magical wood, dead Welsh kings, and fast orange cars. But it's set in rural Virginia in the present day, and it's all tackled by sixteen and seventeen-year-old students and psychic women.
And all of the feelings/
The first time I read this book I gave it 4 stars, but this book is like a fine wine; it gets better with age. I don't even think that metaphor works, but I don't care because I can't write as well as Maggie anyway and you need to go read this book now. The more I return to this series, the more secrets I will uncover, I'm sure. And that is what makes it a 5 star book for me. I enjoyed this even more the second time around....more
I'm not sure how to do this book proper justice in a review. Just Kids is a book that enthralled me, surprised me, and ultimately, a book that I have I'm not sure how to do this book proper justice in a review. Just Kids is a book that enthralled me, surprised me, and ultimately, a book that I have fallen in love with. Not only is it one of the best books I've read this year, it is one of the best books I have ever read.
Knowing very little about Patti Smith or Robert Mapplethorpe going into reading this, I figured I would enjoy it but not quite appreciate it as much as someone who is a big fan of either. And while that might be true, I still came out of this book with the utmost appreciation for both and for those people living, breathing, and being artists today.
Because, this book is about art.
It's about art that you love so much that you make sacrifices like sleeping on doorsteps or eating anchovy sandwiches. It's about art that consumes you, that frustrates you, that makes you feel alive.
Patti Smith is an artist through and through. And I am completely inspired by her story and her companionship with Robert. Hearing about their lives in 1960's and 70's New York City was incredible, meeting the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin, William Burroughs, and so many more incredibly talented artists, poets, musicians, writers, etc.
For a short time I was transported into the mind of an artist, into the time of her creative birth, and came out of it with an experience that I won't soon forget. I am sure that I will read this book again in the future and each time take away something more. 5/5 stars...more
Upon re-reading this, I am more confident giving this a full 5 stars than the first time I read it. It still has some slow paced sections because of tUpon re-reading this, I am more confident giving this a full 5 stars than the first time I read it. It still has some slow paced sections because of the planning and set up it does for the end of this book and later books in the series. However I just love the characters SO much that it’s all worth it. Going to be diving right into book 2!
Original Review 4.5/5 stars but definitely leaning more towards the 5 star rating than 4, so I'm giving it 5 here on Goodreads. Essentially, this is a fantasy book with AMAZING world-building. The magic system, Allomancy, is so very cool and well explained. The action scenes with it are incredibly well written as well.
The only problems I had with it were minor ones that I can't get into without spoiling, so I'll just say that they were minor and that shouldn't keep anyone from reading this book!
I'm really unsure where the next two books in the trilogy will go, which is good I suppose. I've heard they are even better though!...more
Jennifer Egan does something that I fear many people would attempt to do and utterly fail at doing. This is a novel like no other. Some might argue itJennifer Egan does something that I fear many people would attempt to do and utterly fail at doing. This is a novel like no other. Some might argue it's not really a novel at all. I'm honestly not sure how to label it. But that's fine, because it doesn't really need labels.
This is a novel comprised of 13 short stories, following characters from San Francisco to New York to Kenya. The best part? These characters from each story intertwine into other characters' stories. To me, that's just like life. These are my favorite kinds of books to read, telling stories of human interactions and the interweaving of narratives, and how one person can influence another and so on and so forth.
It was so beautifully written, and the characters were so real. They were messy and flawed and sometimes detestable. But they were visceral. It was fun seeing how they would come in and out of one another's lives in each story.
The stories are so imaginative that they almost seem real, as if there was no other way Egan could've come up with something like this unless she had lived it herself.
With this form of narrative, there isn't much driving plot, but each story is a strong character sketch. And as you read, you grow attached to this 'goon squad,' and the fun comes from staying with them and seeing their interactions and how their lives play out.
Perhaps some people may not like how this book is structured, but I love stories that interweave like this, similar to the first three stories in Margaret Atwood's Stone Mattress.
5/5- I can't wait to revisit this some time later in life. (2022 update: I did re-read it later in my life and I loved it just as much! Will definitely revisit in the future.)...more
Adichie has really hit her stride in this one. After having read and adored her previous works, I knew I would love thiEveryone should read this book.
Adichie has really hit her stride in this one. After having read and adored her previous works, I knew I would love this one, and it didn't disappoint. It is by far her best work, and you can see the progression of her writing skill in Americanah.
Characters are what Adichie does best. Her books become progressively less plot-driven, but her ability to engage the reader with flawed, true characters is where she excels. Ifemelu is brazen and perhaps, to some, unlikeable at times. She speaks her mind, and her blog posts, which Adichie utilizes to speak openly about race issues in America (never getting too preachy) are hard-hitting. Obinze is a bit more of a flat character in comparison to Ifemelu, but he is steady.
The narrative structure is loosely, based mainly around the framework of present-day Ifemelu returning home to Nigeria after over a decade in America. At times we also get flashbacks to her university life with Obinze, and his own storyline, though in less detail than Ifemelu.
Adichie's prose is infused with emotion; it is effusive and genuine. She is best when she is being philosophical. Often we get inside the characters mind, not only to hear what they are thinking but to understand how they are processing their thoughts and relating them to their general opinion of the world. We get more than just a flurry of consciousness with Adichie; we get parsed out wisdoms and failures, all from the minds of great characters.
Without a doubt I can say Adichie is one of my favorite authors of all time. I will automatically buy and read anything she releases, because she is just. that. good.
If you've yet to read anything buy her, I recommend starting with The Thing Around Your Neck which is a short story collection, or her first novel, Purple Hibiscus.
First read: February 17-22, 2015 Second read: December 18-23, 2016...more
An absolute must-read. Moving, inspirational, raw and real. This book will take everything you think you know about your self-perception and cause youAn absolute must-read. Moving, inspirational, raw and real. This book will take everything you think you know about your self-perception and cause you to reconsider how you express that....more
This absolutely holds up on a re-read as an incredible story with so much heart and emotion. It's poetically written, hilarious in its depiction of evThis absolutely holds up on a re-read as an incredible story with so much heart and emotion. It's poetically written, hilarious in its depiction of everyday life, but filled with heartbreak and joy. Janie is a fantastic main character. This time I also listened to the audiobook which is performed by Ruby Dee, and she truly performs this story. Would highly recommend that format! I can see myself revisiting this again and again in the future and it has definitely cemented itself in my favorite books list.
2013 review: A new favorite of mine. The writing is beautiful, that's what got me. But the story is moving, heart-wrenching, and full of life....more
Fifth reading: September 8-11, 2021 I can't believe it's been over 4 years since I last read this masterpiece! Part of me is glad that I waited a bit bFifth reading: September 8-11, 2021 I can't believe it's been over 4 years since I last read this masterpiece! Part of me is glad that I waited a bit between re-reads since it let me forget some of the elements of the story, which made rediscovering them even more enjoyable. However, what I didn't forget is how much I truly love this book. And it remains my favorite book ever. I know I'm super biased, but I just think it's fantastic, and I find it hard to believe any book will ever beat this one for me. Even though I can see its criticisms (particularly the lack of well-rounded female characters in this story), my pleasure in falling headfirst into this world every time I read this book is unlike any other reading experience. I can't wait to keep visiting it with the other books in this series soon.
Fourth reading: May 7-17, 2017 Of course I love this book soooo much. It's my all-time favorite. This is the 4th year in a row I've read it, and it never gets old. If you haven't already read this at my suggestion, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!
Third reading: May 14-21, 2016
Second reading: May 23-25, 2015- Okay, I can confidently say, upon re-reading this, that it is one of my all-time favorite books. It was just as surprising and enchanting and delightful as the first time I read it, if not more so. The writing is impeccable. The weaving together of so many storylines and characters is remarkable. I can't gush enough about this book, so I will just say EVERYONE GO READ THIS NOW PLEASE. You won't regret it.
First read: May 12-17, 2014- Everything about this novel was captivating. The story follows Daniel, a young boy, whose father is a bookseller. He is taken to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and allowed to pick out one book that he is expected to 'save' or, in a sense, remember throughout his life. He picks a novel by Julian Carax titled "The Shadow of the Wind," and is immediately sucked into the story. From there, the novel follows Daniel as he begins to learn more about the illusive author, Julian Carax, and about the web of lies and intrigue that he gets trapped in.
The writing is absolutely gorgeous. The book is full of incredible quotes, wonderful, beautifully strung out sentences. I never underline in books. This book, however, required a pencil at the ready at all times, because I couldn't pass up underlining some amazing parts.
Though the plot isn't super strong, there is a mysterious and magical quality to the book that propels you through it, page after page. The characters feel so real, and thus their lives seem to be playing out for you in such a real way that you are concerned and invested, wanting to know what happens next.
I loved the setting of Barcelona. This is also a book translated from Spanish, which is even more impressive on the part of the translator. I think the translation was incredible.
Overall, this is a book that I will return to again in my life, I am sure. It is captivating and a new favorite. 5/5....more
What can I really say about this book? It's one of the most special books to me. Reviews are never objective, but it's extra difficult for me to even What can I really say about this book? It's one of the most special books to me. Reviews are never objective, but it's extra difficult for me to even try to be an objective reviewer with this one because it just means so much to me. It was one of the first books I ever read as a young adult that got me into reading back in 2012. I fell in love with how this book made me think and feel about life and love and all the big things out there. And revisiting it now at 30 years old I feel exactly the same towards it which is so unique and special. I can't say much else but here are some of my favorite quotes to show you why I love it so much.
-"My life story is the story of everyone I've ever met."
-"...it was one of the best days of my life, a day during which I lived my life and didn't think about my life at all."
-"I like to see people reunited, maybe that's a silly thing, but what can I say, I like to see people run to each other, I like the kissing and the crying, I like the impatience, the stories that the mouth can't tell fast enough, the ears that aren't big enough, the eyes that can't take in all of the change, I like the hugging, the bringing together, the end of missing someone."
-"I couldn't explain my need to myself, and that's why it was such a beautiful need, there's nothing wrong with not understanding yourself."
-"So many people enter and leave your life! Hundreds of thousands of people! You have to keep the door open so they can come in! But it also means you have to let them go!"
-"Time was passing like a hand waving from a train that I wanted to be on."...more
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