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nolawords's reviews
12 reviews
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Okay. Grady Hendrix, are you one of my new favorite authors? In the spirit of spooky season, this book absolutely nailed it!
The Southern women, the friendship, the gore / ick, the mystery-building, the book club (!) - it all fit so seamlessly together to create a narrative I have not encountered before. This felt like Fried Green Tomatoes with a large swig of dark supernatural evil afoot. While not usually a horror fan, I thought Hendrix balanced well the overarching plot, punctuated by these fabulously horrific and visceral scenes. I found the writing terrific and the characters well-developed.
Quickly adding more of Hendrix's works to my TBR...
The Southern women, the friendship, the gore / ick, the mystery-building, the book club (!) - it all fit so seamlessly together to create a narrative I have not encountered before. This felt like Fried Green Tomatoes with a large swig of dark supernatural evil afoot. While not usually a horror fan, I thought Hendrix balanced well the overarching plot, punctuated by these fabulously horrific and visceral scenes. I found the writing terrific and the characters well-developed.
Quickly adding more of Hendrix's works to my TBR...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, and Sexism
Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Sigh. I really wanted to sink my teeth into an enjoyable thriller; unfortunately, this was a big meh for me.
This story revolves around our protagonist, Mallory, who accepts a nanny position for an affluent family while she is simultaneously on the road of recovery from an opiate addiction. At first, all seems normal… until aggressive and unrelenting paranormal experiences begin to take over the home and family. Mallory works to put the pieces together, provided by the spirit, to figure out what is so essential to convey.
The book started out promising (there are actual visual drawings, which I thought was a nice eerie and unique touch). Nevertheless, the characters felt predictable and flat in their roles. As the crescendo towards the ending neared, provided details felt sloppy and over the top. The storyline kept me coming back for more, but I ultimately felt elements could have been trimmed up to add more depth to others.
This story revolves around our protagonist, Mallory, who accepts a nanny position for an affluent family while she is simultaneously on the road of recovery from an opiate addiction. At first, all seems normal… until aggressive and unrelenting paranormal experiences begin to take over the home and family. Mallory works to put the pieces together, provided by the spirit, to figure out what is so essential to convey.
The book started out promising (there are actual visual drawings, which I thought was a nice eerie and unique touch). Nevertheless, the characters felt predictable and flat in their roles. As the crescendo towards the ending neared, provided details felt sloppy and over the top. The storyline kept me coming back for more, but I ultimately felt elements could have been trimmed up to add more depth to others.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Chanel Miller, thank you.
May I share my own story? Those gentle, unwanted brushes against me in crowded spaces. Strangers’ vulgar requests for favors. The use of my body while sleeping. The absence of consent. The terror that lies in what is not remembered.
Miller has given a voice to not only her own experience, but, as she states, “to girls everywhere.” I am one of those girls. There is a good chance you are one of us too.
Someone in my life remarked that sexual harassment / assault was almost a “rite of passage into womanhood.” How is this acceptable? How horrific is it that this is our cultural norm, so common, so ingrained, that it has become a “rite” on the journey into adulthood - one we have no choice but to take?
This book is a tour de force, the mark of a cultural change. It deeply moved me, it opened up old pain, it helped heal it anew. I make my remarks here with deepest gratitude.
True Biz by Sara Nović
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Dear True Biz: 🤟
This novel tells the story from various character perspectives, each representing a different lived experience related to the Deaf community. We come to know each character (primarily Charlie, February, and Austin), gradually watching their lives draw closer & intertwine. This is a story about friendship, community, disability representation, & cultural preservation.
I found each of the characters likable and enjoyed the varied backgrounds each brought to the narrative (while all sharing the thread of being intimately part of Deaf culture). What I loved most about this book was how Nović takes on a remarkable educational journey: without feeling too direct or information-driven, the reader learns so much about Deaf history, legacy, and personal, lived experiences. I listened to this book partially on audiobook and I loved how when the deaf characters spoke, you can hear the gentle whispers of ASL on their hands; this detail was fantastic!
I really have no critiques or notes on this novel. It was one of the most unique books I have read, and I deeply appreciate Nović for sharing this world with us.
4.5 / 5 stars
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book: a comet – a brief, bright, delightful arc.
Flowers for Algernon tells the story of Charlie, an intellectually disabled adult who is selected as the first human to undergo the interventions of a clinical trial aimed at increasing a species’ IQ. What transpires is an overwhelming journey for Charlie who, in a flash, confronts and must wrestle with the human experience. The novel is told from the point of view of Charlie’s own writings (called “progress notes”) that he dictates throughout the course of his contact with the experiment.
This book provides a rollercoaster of emotions - from sympathy, grief and anger to love, tenderness, and acceptance. Feeling the full range of human emotion, through the lens of Charlie’s experiences, was sharp, poignant, and insightful. I thought that Keyes provided great depth into larger questions of life and existence, impressively achieving this through a very narrow perspective and time frame.
I believe reflective of the times this book was published, some of the language and terminology around persons with disabilities seemed antiquated. I craved more drawn out development of Charlie’s transformations, but I understand the style choice to create a short timeline which made this book a punchy read.
I enjoyed this very much. 4 / 5 stars.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Wow. This novel is an absolute treasure.
Demon Copperhead was on my TBR for some time, thanks to reading other works by Kingsolver and always being left very impressed. My timing for finally picking up this book serendipitously coincided with renewed buzz around it, thanks to the release of the NYT Best Books list of the 21st century.
This book took me around 2 weeks to get through, and I savored every minute of it. Kingsolver created such a rich story that was aching, heartbreaking, hopeful, and informative. The centers of these characters are their flaws, but they are developed with such nuance and humanity you cannot help but love them, root for them, and grieve with them deeply. I cannot say enough good things about this book - of every accolade it is most definitely deserving.
5+ stars.
Demon Copperhead was on my TBR for some time, thanks to reading other works by Kingsolver and always being left very impressed. My timing for finally picking up this book serendipitously coincided with renewed buzz around it, thanks to the release of the NYT Best Books list of the 21st century.
This book took me around 2 weeks to get through, and I savored every minute of it. Kingsolver created such a rich story that was aching, heartbreaking, hopeful, and informative. The centers of these characters are their flaws, but they are developed with such nuance and humanity you cannot help but love them, root for them, and grieve with them deeply. I cannot say enough good things about this book - of every accolade it is most definitely deserving.
5+ stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, and Abandonment
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.5
The Martian by Andy Weir
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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? No
4.0
What a fun ride this was - and thank goodness for the ending we all wanted , ha! The standout aspect of this book was Weir's undeniable, deep knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and how these apply in a space setting. The environment design was so detailed, down to each equipment component and maneuver, I couldn't help but ogle at the complexity. This was balanced nicely by the voice of Mark Watney, whose prose was clipped, succinct, witty, and irreverent.
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, and being stuck on Mars sounds absolutely terrible.
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, and being stuck on Mars sounds absolutely terrible.
The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.0
This is one of the most unique storylines I have read for some time. Chana Porter creates a dystopian world (one that is almost frighteningly clear to imagine) that entwines the extremes of capitalism, climate crisis, socioeconomic inequity, and religious fervor based around physical form (i.e. thinness).
I enjoyed the parallel stories that followed Beatrice and Reiko - two women born in the "lower" tiers of this world, who each ascend (literally) in attempt to find themselves and their own lives of success. The way their stories progressed and closed in paradoxical ways - and the satisfying way they actually cross paths - was a lovely way to lay out this narrative. This book is layered and complex; I will be thinking about it for a long while to come.
I enjoyed the parallel stories that followed Beatrice and Reiko - two women born in the "lower" tiers of this world, who each ascend (literally) in attempt to find themselves and their own lives of success. The way their stories progressed and closed in paradoxical ways - and the satisfying way they actually cross paths - was a lovely way to lay out this narrative. This book is layered and complex; I will be thinking about it for a long while to come.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Alcohol