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joshlynjavier's reviews
101 reviews
Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
overwhelmingly impersonal yet somehow so intimate. what do we turn our backs to?
i'm not entirely sure how kitamura achieved the effect, but this quiet, ordinary story reveals so much about complex dynamics, power struggles, and the significance of language and interpretation as a medium for connection/understanding. what goes left unsaid can often speak more to a situation, rather than the explicit. i enjoyed the exploration of loneliness, isolation, displacement, and the invisible yet tangible sense of yearning. unlike others, i actually really enjoyed the main character's perspective and behavior.
fair warning that this is not a plot-driven novel. it's a series of events and reflection examining beauty, authenticity, horrors, deceit, vulnerability, and power that's interwoven within every relationship we have.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
interpretation can be profoundly disorienting, you can be so caught up in the minutiae of the act, in trying to maintain utmost fidelity to the words being spoken first by the subject and then by yourself, that you do not necessarily apprehend the sense of the sentences themselves: you literally do not know what you are saying. language loses its meaning.
overwhelmingly impersonal yet somehow so intimate. what do we turn our backs to?
i'm not entirely sure how kitamura achieved the effect, but this quiet, ordinary story reveals so much about complex dynamics, power struggles, and the significance of language and interpretation as a medium for connection/understanding. what goes left unsaid can often speak more to a situation, rather than the explicit. i enjoyed the exploration of loneliness, isolation, displacement, and the invisible yet tangible sense of yearning. unlike others, i actually really enjoyed the main character's perspective and behavior.
fair warning that this is not a plot-driven novel. it's a series of events and reflection examining beauty, authenticity, horrors, deceit, vulnerability, and power that's interwoven within every relationship we have.
The Husbands by Chandler Baker
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
the gender inequality/second shift commentary was a bit too on the nose for me at times, but also pretty relevant and frustrating to see regardless. i think this is probably a super accurate description of how most wives and mothers feel lmao. the weaponized incompetence from men was honestly the scariest aspect of the book haha.
i’ve read a good amount of mysteries and thrillers and this one fell a bit flat. the characters were boring and one dimensional, you could see the giant twist coming from a mile away, but i at least liked the very ending and could sympathize with the main character (even though i found her inconsistent and insufferable for like 80% of the book)
Four Squares by Bobby Finger
this book made the mundanity of life feel magnificent.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
then you make a new one. that’s how life works. you keep making choices until you’re dead.
maybe the only way you can have a better year is to make the decision to.
the act of remembering was a new moment, a new experience in itself.
as i’ve gotten older, i’ve realized that’s what so much of life is. just endlessly figuring out what is and isn’t for you.
sometimes life made perfect sense simply by living it.
this book made the mundanity of life feel magnificent.
set in new york against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, we see the dichotomy of sickness for those experiencing it, and those pretending to ignore the reality. this was a reminder to love fearlessly, and that it is a privilege to experience life with your people.
a testament to new beginnings and a love letter to the complicated histories and relationships that make us, us. maybe growing old isn’t so bad, it’s never too late to make the most of what you’re given. even a story told in squares can come around full circle.
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“the time i spend this way is quiet, but also exciting -- waiting for the person i love to arrive. it somehow feels incredibly luxurious to sit in your favorite coffee shop, reading a book, waiting for your boyfriend.”
“there were places i wanted to go and people i wanted to see. and there was a place that was always ready to welcome me back. i can’t think of anything more wonderful than that.”
“rather than trying to force open the door that she had wanted closed behind her, it made more sense to start by getting her to open it from her side.”
“...i believed these gentle days would continue. and all the people i love would spend them laughing together. as we walked down the street at twilight, this is what i told myself, though i had no grounds to believe it.”
somehow even better than the original that i also really loved.
life can be messy and overwhelming, and the growth and learning that comes hand in hand is a universal, never - ending human journey -- there’s no finish line or end goal. but in the morisaki bookshop, within the shelves of the quaint and cozy used bookstore, the complexities of life can be unraveled, and all the simplicities can be revealed.
in each of the characters, there’s an exploration on the hesitations and difficulties with human connection, and how easy it can be to allow our previous traumas and heartbreaks to limit our new experiences and connections. these stories are an encouragement of breaking down the walls we build around ourselves, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable and let other people in.
i loved this book! thank you netgalley and harper perennial for providing me with a digital advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
“how do you feel all these heavy things for the rest of your life?”
“it is not a question of if you survive this, but what beautiful things await you if you do”
“so if you come on the worst day of your life, my hope is to catch you, to gently guide you back”
“...i wrote and imagined my future down to the coffee bean, to the children’s books i will illustrate, the chickens i will have in my yard, the soft cotton linens, the sauce - dipped wooden spoons on the counter. the need for it come true according to plan was not important. the act of imagining it was.”
the most affecting novel and memoir i’ve read in the last few years. i’m honestly still speechless, because there is nothing i can say that would do the beauty and vulnerability of this book any justice. this book was more than what was contained within the pages, and the force of it comes from experiencing this alongside chanel. i found myself enveloped in her journey even after i had put the book down.
as a victim, this book gave me the validation to allow my trauma to lay somewhere comfortable and safe, but also gave me the courage to confront some of the scariest and worst parts of my experiences and journey.
this is not a book about sexual assault or victimhood. it’s about humanity and incredible resilience. miller writes with so honesty and power and is living proof that you and you alone are entitled to what you make of your grief and pain: the most beautiful flowers can grow in even the harshest of conditions.
as a friend of mine said: this book should be a required reading for everyone. i don’t think i’ll ever stop thinking about her story and my admiration for her and her art. the grace she extends towards herself and the universe even when her circumstances were so unkind is so inspiring, and i truly hope that she never forgets her power and what she’s done for victims everywhere. thank you for telling us your name, chanel miller.
Almond by Won-pyung Sohn
a coming of age story with a neurodivergent protagonist. poignant, touching, and hopeful. highlighted the beauty in empathy and the joy of experiencing and understanding the full range of human emotions. how lucky are we to feel and know.
simple but effective writing style and a lovely story progression.
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lastly, and I know it sounds like an excuse, but neither you nor I nor anyone can ever really know whether a story is happy or tragic.
a coming of age story with a neurodivergent protagonist. poignant, touching, and hopeful. highlighted the beauty in empathy and the joy of experiencing and understanding the full range of human emotions. how lucky are we to feel and know.
simple but effective writing style and a lovely story progression.
Model Home by Rivers Solomon
4.25
such beauty invites pain, because such beauty invites possession, devouring. who sees beauty and does not want to experience it?
there are no mansions without a torn-down forest.
it"s terrifying not to see coming the things that might harm us, but it's more terrifying to be seen ourselves. the darkness hides us as much as it hides the ghosts.
many tw: read at your own discretion
grooming, sexual abuse, racism, violence, death
a fascinating and abstract blend of racism intergenerational trauma, identity, grief and tumultuous family dynamics. a telling of three siblings and the ways in which they experience their home -- one of the only black families in an affluent neighborhood in the south-- and their mother, their mother as their home, and the ways in which it shapes them into adulthood. it reminded me a lot of in the dream house by machado. it speaks volumes to how the horror of humanity and the blatant pain we endure can often be more terrifying than the monsters under the bed that we're taught to fear.
it was disturbing, uncomfortable, and often confusing at times - an optical illusion i couldn't tear away from. everything leading up to the twist was super captivating and i literally couldn't put the book down. i will say that the ending was not my favorite, but i think it made sense in the context of the story and the neighborhood they lived in. the more i was immersed in the story, the more questions i had. the prose is a beautiful whisper you're constantly searching for above the noise, breathtaking and intimately vulnerable, and i enjoyed getting lost in this book.
thank you to netgalley, fsg, and rivers solomon for the digital advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!
grooming, sexual abuse, racism, violence, death
a fascinating and abstract blend of racism intergenerational trauma, identity, grief and tumultuous family dynamics. a telling of three siblings and the ways in which they experience their home -- one of the only black families in an affluent neighborhood in the south-- and their mother, their mother as their home, and the ways in which it shapes them into adulthood. it reminded me a lot of in the dream house by machado. it speaks volumes to how the horror of humanity and the blatant pain we endure can often be more terrifying than the monsters under the bed that we're taught to fear.
it was disturbing, uncomfortable, and often confusing at times - an optical illusion i couldn't tear away from. everything leading up to the twist was super captivating and i literally couldn't put the book down. i will say that the ending was not my favorite, but i think it made sense in the context of the story and the neighborhood they lived in. the more i was immersed in the story, the more questions i had. the prose is a beautiful whisper you're constantly searching for above the noise, breathtaking and intimately vulnerable, and i enjoyed getting lost in this book.
thank you to netgalley, fsg, and rivers solomon for the digital advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!
Honey: A Novel by Isabel Banta
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
we are all still-adjusting worlds -- tectonic plates shaking in place, sometimes submerging, pushing up, up, up, only to crumble on the surface.
it is human nature to fall deeply when there is a wide distance to overcome.
it is the whispery part of a sleepover, when eyelids are heavy but we battle to hold them up, because this is when intimacy is really braided between girls.
a very fun read if you grew up obsessed with 90s/early 2000s pop princesses. the story was reminiscent of the life of young britney spears and challenges the sexism and odd obsession with young girl's and their sexuality within the music industry and hollywood.
the rise to fame, friendships, and romance were super entertaining but i think the heavy focus on sex overshadowed a lot of potential character/interpersonal development. the story started off really strong and revealed some heavier themes of addiction, ed, etc, but then eventually fell flat or remained unaddressed.
the added interviews, press releases, wiki pages, emails, song lyrics, and magazine quizzes were super cute and i loved the overall nostalgic quality of the story. honestly banta's voice was also really moving and surprisingly beautiful at times, and i found myself underlining and highlighting a ton of sentences simply because they were pretty.
thank you to celadon books, netgalley, and isabel banta for providing me with a digital advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!
the rise to fame, friendships, and romance were super entertaining but i think the heavy focus on sex overshadowed a lot of potential character/interpersonal development. the story started off really strong and revealed some heavier themes of addiction, ed, etc, but then eventually fell flat or remained unaddressed.
the added interviews, press releases, wiki pages, emails, song lyrics, and magazine quizzes were super cute and i loved the overall nostalgic quality of the story. honestly banta's voice was also really moving and surprisingly beautiful at times, and i found myself underlining and highlighting a ton of sentences simply because they were pretty.
thank you to celadon books, netgalley, and isabel banta for providing me with a digital advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!
Professional Lola by E. P. Tuazon
these short stories offered glimpses into filipino american culture in a way i am yet to see replicated. each story hit home, landing somewhere in the vast ocean that separates or unites the philippines to america, depending on where you stand.
i found the writing so simply beautiful, and the writing style and cadence often emphasized the complications we often bring to life, while simultaneously neglecting the significance we’re able to create. throughout, tuazon invites you to admire the rich beauty in our culture -- the love, joy, respect, care and humor we will always share for and with one another. he highlights the the beautiful storytelling culture and our connection to our spirituality, as well as the sacrifices we so willingly make everyday for those we love. the authentic elements of my culture were so tenderly and carefully interwoven into the empty spaces between family, friends, and interpersonally.
but tuazon also suggests an analysis of our culture for some of its shortcomings: our lack of acceptance for the abundant lgbtq+ community, our passive aggression, and the survivor trauma that leads to holding on too tight to things we’re afraid to lose --manifested in objects, people, and beliefs.
as a child of immigrants, there’s also an exploration of the yearning to understand our parents and the home they walked away from in exchange for our futures, and the continuous desire to understand what was left behind and translate their ambitions and fears.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
and at the end of it, the aftermath is the same as it was before. the train goes from point a to point b before where we are and were we come from, before the mountains and the valleys and the sharp horizons sunk beyond our reach
what was art without its lights and darks? what was love without its contrasts
one day, it would return. one day, it would land
these short stories offered glimpses into filipino american culture in a way i am yet to see replicated. each story hit home, landing somewhere in the vast ocean that separates or unites the philippines to america, depending on where you stand.
i found the writing so simply beautiful, and the writing style and cadence often emphasized the complications we often bring to life, while simultaneously neglecting the significance we’re able to create. throughout, tuazon invites you to admire the rich beauty in our culture -- the love, joy, respect, care and humor we will always share for and with one another. he highlights the the beautiful storytelling culture and our connection to our spirituality, as well as the sacrifices we so willingly make everyday for those we love. the authentic elements of my culture were so tenderly and carefully interwoven into the empty spaces between family, friends, and interpersonally.
but tuazon also suggests an analysis of our culture for some of its shortcomings: our lack of acceptance for the abundant lgbtq+ community, our passive aggression, and the survivor trauma that leads to holding on too tight to things we’re afraid to lose --manifested in objects, people, and beliefs.
as a child of immigrants, there’s also an exploration of the yearning to understand our parents and the home they walked away from in exchange for our futures, and the continuous desire to understand what was left behind and translate their ambitions and fears.
The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
hmm i really wanted to enjoy this book but truthfully, almost DNF'd it. i feel that the premise aimed to have the same charm as books like "before the coffee gets cold" or any of the japanese magical realism books, but missed the mark in a few areas for me.
first, the repetitive nature of the chapters became redundant quickly, as our perspective was limited to observations and almost no action. additionally, i didn't have any particular or strong interest in the characters, and wasn't convinced that the narrator did either. also, the characterization and observations of grimalkin felt very insignificant and inconsistent throughout. the chapters became bogged down with many superfluous details and strange language.
one of the redeeming aspects of the book was the sweet relationship with eidilh, but due to the pacing of the book and limited interactions, the relationship lacked depth. overall, loved the concept but i feel that the execution could have used some work.
thank you to netgalley and black & white house publishing for providing me with an advanced digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!
first, the repetitive nature of the chapters became redundant quickly, as our perspective was limited to observations and almost no action. additionally, i didn't have any particular or strong interest in the characters, and wasn't convinced that the narrator did either. also, the characterization and observations of grimalkin felt very insignificant and inconsistent throughout. the chapters became bogged down with many superfluous details and strange language.
one of the redeeming aspects of the book was the sweet relationship with eidilh, but due to the pacing of the book and limited interactions, the relationship lacked depth. overall, loved the concept but i feel that the execution could have used some work.
thank you to netgalley and black & white house publishing for providing me with an advanced digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions!