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kristianawithak's reviews
1591 reviews
This Great Hemisphere by Mateo Askaripour
4.5
I loved Black Buck, by Mateo Askaripour. Askaripour’s sophomore novel is expansive and thought provoking! I can’t wait to see what he writes next. Both books are different, yet their themes are similar.
This Great Hemisphere is a vast story. I love a 500 year time jump, surprisingly not the only book I’ve read with a giant immediate time jump. A race of invisible people, subjugated to a lower class of people. It’s too close to real life to be pure sci-fi. This book has politics, coups, heroes, and villains. The politics of the world is well established and the hints at the world outside the Hemisphere were compelling. I love worldbuilding and Askaripour’s is deft.
Sweetmint is an excellent anchor to the book. I was completely invested in her journey.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but the last 25% is excellent and really made me appreciate the whole story more. There were so many scenes that stuck out and I can’t get out of my head. They are striking and lovely.
Askaripour is an auto read author for me. Can’t wait to see what he conquers next.
This Great Hemisphere is a vast story. I love a 500 year time jump, surprisingly not the only book I’ve read with a giant immediate time jump. A race of invisible people, subjugated to a lower class of people. It’s too close to real life to be pure sci-fi. This book has politics, coups, heroes, and villains. The politics of the world is well established and the hints at the world outside the Hemisphere were compelling. I love worldbuilding and Askaripour’s is deft.
Sweetmint is an excellent anchor to the book. I was completely invested in her journey.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but the last 25% is excellent and really made me appreciate the whole story more. There were so many scenes that stuck out and I can’t get out of my head. They are striking and lovely.
Askaripour is an auto read author for me. Can’t wait to see what he conquers next.
Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown
3.0
I love a book I can read over a weekend. Society of Lies is a compelling debut that was engaging to read. I enjoy the campus novel told through flashbacks. I think this works well for older readers who still enjoy a campus setting.
Mysteries are always fun and Lauren Ling Brown brings a great perspective addressing race, elitism and money.
I’ve read a few novels that discuss gaining admittance to prestigious schools and dealing with the outsiderness of never quite belonging due to race or economic status. It is an important theme to dissect.
Society of Lies does a lot to address race, elitism, family relationships, money, acceptance all within the walls of Princeton. I love the crap Princeton gets in novels. I think there are many novels spent talking about their secret societies and social clubs.
She studied at Princeton and this is her first novel.
I was frustrated by the miscommunication trope. It is not a plot device I enjoy.
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
dark
mysterious
4.75
This short novel broke my brain in the best possible way. It is mysterious, dark, and the prose is excellent.
Iðunn isn’t sleeping well. Convinced sleeping pills are the answer she’s disturbed to realize she’s not more rested with their help. She begins to realize she is sleep walking. When she tries to ensure she stays in her apartment, she wakes up injured. Where is her night guest taking her?
The book is chilling and enigmatic. I loved it. I hope more of her work is translated to English.
Thank you @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copies.
All of Us Strangers by Taichi Yamada
4.25
Love how different this was from the movie, both are excellent in their own ways.