iambookotter

[iambookotter]

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

5/5

How could I possibly give an objective take on a book as painfully intimate as this one? I refuse to do a disservice to the experience of a person’s confrontation of death and the intersecting concepts of time, life, and meaning – which served to illuminate others in its rawness – by calling this a review. It is not. This is merely an attempt to organise a messy stream of consciousness that has consumed me since I turned the last page.

In this deeply poignant memoir, I was compelled to address the mortality of human life and what it means to be pushed to the edge of a cliff that we were taught since young to give our all in scaling. Paul graciously uses his own life as a neurosurgery resident so close to the finish line and later, as a patient battling debilitating lung cancer to give us an insight into some of life’s biggest questions. To use one’s own experiences with life and death and everything in between as lenses for potential readers to better understand the journey toward the same end point we are all on is simply heart-breaking.

He talks about not being able to build a “coherent physiological-spiritual vocabulary” early in the book. But in writing WBBA, I feel like he might have done exactly that. He throws himself into the exploration of life and “human relationality” regardless of which end of the spectrum he found himself on – a surgeon or a patient. The product is a tale about death that reminds you to live with meaning; and I do not express this in the ‘live each day like it’s your last’ way.

The epilogue by Paul’s wife, Lucy, was exceptional in its own right. Her love for her husband and the wholesome way in which he approached life were so potent in the words she wrote. I can only imagine the amount of willpower it must have taken her to have been able to grapple with a painful reality of her own – how do you finish an unfinished book written by a man such as Paul? With love, strength, and honesty, the way Lucy did.

All in all, WBBA is a heartfelt and insightful memoir. But I acknowledge this may not be for everybody and that is okay as well. After all, this is not the kind of story that is a ‘one shoe fits all’. It is intimate and personal – what I take away from it is barely one speck of the experience Paul’s pen produced. I believe it will be different – sometimes positive and sometimes negative - for each person for varying reasons.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booknerd #booklr #when breath becomes air #paul kalanithi #Lucy kalanithi

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The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

5/5

As most of us know, some of the greatest Hindu epics – especially Mahabharatham and Ramayanam – have been retold in several modalities throughout the years. Therefore, it truly is a feat to take an age-old tale and breathe fresh life into it.

Told from the perspective of Draupadi, the book’s non-linear writing style adopted, omniscience, to a certain extent, in first-person narrative (is there a proper term for this?) through various devices – i.e., childhood stories, magical elements, prophetic dreams, heavy foreshadowing, etc. The beauty of this is that the author encapsulated the most impactful events, and the smaller collection of occurrences leading up to them, into a well-written and easily understandable book. Furthermore, the female voice she used to deliver a story that was largely male-dominated added a much-needed layer that is often sorely lacking in many a tale.

Draupadi started off as a free-spirited girl who did not fit into the template of femininity that was typical of that time period. Born from the fire of a man’s thirst for vengeance, her emotions often reflected the inexplicable nature of her very own fire that burned within. This translated well into the writing as well, which seized me with the intensity of her pain, suffering, yearning, and guilt – all of which leaped right off the page and straight into my fragile heart. I felt this book in such a pronounced way that I believe it will take me a while to truly recover, if at all.

Draupadi’s perspective also humanised some of the greatest heroes known to us in Indian literature, shedding unprejudiced light on both their most celebrated qualities and the resulting lesser-known flaws from those very qualities. She was no exception to this either, in that her narration often took on a retrospective tone that acknowledged her shortcomings and guilt.

But be warned, this is not an easy read. The depictions of the tragedies that any veteran Mahabharatham reader/follower would know of is portrayed in a raw and heart-wrenching manner. The only difference is that this time, I experienced them through the eyes of the woman who was at the center of it all. If anything, this only made the inevitable grief that much more potent.

Perhaps my only complaint, albeit a little nitpicky, was Draupadi’s skepticism. It did not fit well into the narrative considering a lot of what was happening around or to her were fantastic in nature. Yet the genius of the writing became a saving grace even at the last moment, when Draupadi’s skepticism – the same one that irked me so – is acknowledged on page in a conversation between her and divinity (I use this term for good reason). This effectively bumped it up a whole star rating because *chef’s kiss*.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booknerd #booklr #the palace of illusions #chitra banerjee divakaruni #palace of illusions

[iambookotter]

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

5/5

Xenophobia. Prejudice. Intolerance. Bias. Bigotry. Intolerance. Call it what you will, the meaning stays the same – racism.

Traci Chee’s hard-hitting novel documents a period in history that is not discussed enough; the displacement and incarceration of more than 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry between 1942 and 1946.

The book is written from 14 different POVs. Yes, 14. While it may seem overwhelming, I happened to thoroughly enjoy this. Traci Chee’s genius is evident in the distinctness of each POV with every chapter perfectly capturing the narrator’s emotions in their own unique voices. This was, in my opinion, masterful and evocative storytelling.

2 POVs in particular stood out to me – Hiromi ‘Bette’ Nakano and David ‘Twitchy’ Hashimoto. Bette’s optimism may have seemed a little out of place given the less than humane conditions they were subjected to and the weight of the racism that had landed them there in the first place. But I felt like she represented a much-needed dose of hope in the face of insurmountable challenges.

“Being an optimist does not make me stupid.” – Bette

Twitchy’s POV was especially difficult to read due to a variety of reasons. Reading his thoughts as he is forced to grow up way beyond his years is simply heart-breaking. He briefly rides the wave of his newfound maturity before the reality of people’s mortality hits home. Twitchy was just a young boy happy drunk on life who is sobered up by the cards he had been dealt.

Coming to the plot itself, the book does not pull back any punches. It is unapologetic in its depiction of the injustice that occurred in these camps. People were treated poorly, sometimes even as criminals, and made to feel like enemies on soil they had thought of as home. Being privy to the thoughts and feelings of 14 teenagers who were unfairly forced out of their homes and put through treatment that was driven by racial prejudice, I read this book to the sound of my shattering heart in the background.

In all honesty, I am not doing any justice to this book with my poorly written review. I have barely scratched the surface of everything that is covered in this powerful tale. All I can say in conclusion is that We Are Not Free is an important book and it needs to be out there. This one is a MUST READ!

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booklr #we are not free #traci chee

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The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

4.5/5

What an atmospheric and bittersweet story! Kicking off in 1950s Tehran against a backdrop of increasing political unrest, we are introduced to Roya and Bahman’s whirlwind romance that somehow manages to be soft in its execution despite its intensity. The story progressively evolves to encapsulate themes of war, heartbreak, familial bonds, being an immigrant, women’s rights, and the often bumpy road to recovery.

I adored the writing style in this one. The simple yet beautiful prose perfectly captured the essence of the story, transporting me back in time with ease. As Roya and Bahman stood in a quaint stationery shop falling in love in the company of books, Rumi’s poetry, and fountain pens, I felt like I was personally bearing witness in a quiet corner. Their growing feelings for one another soon swept me away right alongside them. And those mouth-watering descriptions of Iranian cuisine being prepared from scratch with so much of love! *chef’s kiss*

As for the plot and characterisation, Marjan Kamali did an exceptional job. All the characters, even the ones who featured only briefly, had so many layers to them. The author took her time peeling these layers off and bearing her characters’ vulnerabilities to us – an aspect that made the book that much more precious. Unhurried in its pace, we get to experience a plot that is nuanced in its pain and healing which spans over a long period of time.

It is important to note that there are a few trigger warnings for this one. However, stating them explicitly might pose as a spoiler. So here are some general content triggers: mental health, death, grief, and brief graphic violence. Please do reach out to me if you would like to have a clearer idea of what is in store in terms of triggers. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this one! It will certainly go straight for your heart.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookblr #bookish #amazing reads #booknerd #booklr #the stationery shop #the stationery shop of Tehran #marjan kamali

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People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

1.5/5

 I am going to the rip the band-aid off. I am just going rip it. Yup, I am.

 I did not enjoy this.

 Let me start with the good points first. After much contemplation, I gave this one 1.5 stars for the following reasons:

1)      The writing was good. Emily Henry is an excellent author, as evidenced by her previous novel, Beach Read. She delivers in this one as well with her easy and witty style that was perfect for my tired mind which was still recovering from a trying month.

2)      The vacations were described beautifully. As someone who has escapism tendencies, reading about the different places visited by Alex and Poppy served up a great experience. There was a touch of nostalgia and familiarity that came with the feeling of enjoying a foreign land with absolute abandon in the company of someone who felt like home being captured perfectly by the book.

 But that is all. This one just did not do anything more for me than the above. While the friends-to-lovers trope was reinvented admirably, the execution fell flat for me. After a point, I was not invested in the characters at all. The conflicts relied too much on miscommunication or dare I say, the complete lack of communication. I also felt like the foreshadowing was very much misleading in an attempt to keep readers hooked till the much-awaited twist, only to deliver the lacklustre truth of what actually happened. Truth be told, I was skimming through the last third of the book purely so I would not opt to DNF it when I was so close to the end.

 Just to add, it always brings me great joy to see representation in books when done correctly. But I would like to point out that as writers, it is incredibly important to be aware of when your material is dancing on that very fine line between representation and tokenism.

#book #book review #bookworm #book blog #bookblr #books #people we meet on vacation

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Crooked House by Agatha Christie

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

3/5

 The book starts off with an Author’s Foreword in which Agatha Christie describes this to be one of her special favourites and how much pleasure it gave her while writing it. So, I was sorely disappointed when I did not echo the same feelings by the end of it.

 Do not get me wrong, this one is right up there with the rest of her murder mysteries. The ending was, in typical Christie fashion, unexpected. In fact, I believe Crooked House has one of the most startling revelations I have ever encountered in the books that I have read by Christie. However, I felt very disconnected from the book throughout. The characters were meant to be interesting, but the narrator was so dry and boring that I started to struggle to keep my interest properly invested.

 However, while this may not have been my cup of tea, I do see its appeal and why Christie enjoyed writing this. Therefore, I will still recommend you give this a shot if her works interest you!

 Synopsis: “In the sprawling, half-timbered mansion in the affluent suburb of Swinly Dean, Aristide Leonides lies dead from barbiturate poisoning. An accident? Not likely. In fact, suspicion has already fallen on his luscious widow, a cunning beauty fifty years his junior, set to inherit a sizeable fortune, and rumored to be carrying on with a strapping young tutor comfortably ensconced in the family estate. But criminologist Charles Hayward is casting his own doubts on the innocence of the entire Leonides brood. He knows them intimately. And he's certain that in a crooked house such as Three Gables, no one's on the level.”

#book #book blog #bookblr #books #booknerd #agatha christie #crooked house

[iambookotter]

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

5/5

When we think about the most well-known authors of all time, Agatha Christie’s name is sure to pop up somewhere. Her works have received global acclaim and there is hardly a mystery reader, or If I may be so bold, any reader at all who has not heard of her. That being said, my love affair with Dame Christie’s works had only begun in 2016 before going full swing the following year. While relishing the journey of discovering her various works and jumping into the minds of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, And Then There Were None stood out repeatedly in ‘top lists’. Yet, it took me 5 years to finally get my hands on a copy and experience this wonder of a book.

And Then There Were None does not dawdle and kicks off with a bang. We are introduced to a whole host of characters with varying degrees of morality. The premise is baffling and intriguing all at the same time. I will not lie; it was a struggle to keep up with all the characters and their alleged indictments. I kept referring back to get my facts straight because Christie is a master of weaving details into the most unexpected places/instances. At less than 300 pages, this was an extremely quick read but packed so many punches, I was left breathless by the time I got to the end.

There is no Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple racing against the clock to unravel a baffling mystery. And Then There Were None was different in its delivery because it was a game of survival. 10 people are lured then stranded on an island, accused of being murderers who fell through cracks in the justice system, and slowly get picked off one after the other. We are also repeatedly reminded that cheating the system does not equate to innocence.

As for the writing, Christie delivers as she always does and then some. In addition to making us constantly wonder who the murderer is, we are also left to guess who will kick the bucket next in the manner of the corresponding line in an otherwise macabre nursery rhyme. I guessed at the murderer and then guessed again, changing my position several times much like the characters themselves in the book – a clear indication of Christie’s talent to suck her readers into the world she has created and make them feel like a part of the story. In fact, I often emerge from the end of Christie’s books feeling like my brain had just gone through a high-intensity workout. Last night was no exception to this.

However, as with all her books, there is a slight chance of feeling cheated when the truth finally comes to light. This largely depends on the type of reader you are. I enjoy the wild ride that are Christie’s murder mysteries and am quite shameless about not being able to guess things correctly. So that feeling of being deceived is extremely fleeting for me and does not take away from my experience. Nevertheless, I should still acknowledge that every reader is distinct, and the story carries the prospect of deception for some.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booklr #agatha christie #and then there were none #murder mystery

[iambookotter]

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle

4/5

This one took me completely by surprise! Do not get me wrong, I knew this would be good; I adore fluffy romances. But I had picked it up as a palette cleanser and instead, got something so much more.

Let me start off by saying that the book’s pacing was P E R F E C T. With a plotline that hinges on miscommunication for its central conflicts, there was a lot to deliver – fleshing out the premise, showing readers how the protagonists, Nicholas and Naomi, ended up in a rut without taking on a patronising tone, mapping out their emotional journey back to each other, and wrapping things up in a satisfying conclusion. Sarah Hogle does all of this beautifully while maintaining a tasteful sense of witty humour throughout the story, which is everything that a romantic-comedy should be and more – cue chef’s kiss.

Might I also add that the setting was so atmospheric, and it reminded me why I often dream of living in a house or a cabin in the woods despite my crippling fear of a lot of the creatures as well as critters that live there too. Nicholas and Naomi’s journey was set against a stunning backdrop that is bound to warm you right up like a toasted marshmallow and give you all the feels. Given that I am more prone to internal screaming, bawling, and laughing while reading, even my husband was surprised that the book managed to get several bouts of chuckles and embarrassingly prominent pouting – which is a sign that I am going ‘awwww’ inside my head – out of me.

However (oh, the dreaded ‘however’), I did find one aspect of an otherwise great conclusion to be a little lacking. This is in reference to Nicholas’ overbearing mother and their relationship which despite being a significant source of conflict, felt slightly abrupt in its resolution to me.

Nonetheless, You Deserve Each Other as a whole was a solid read that has found its way into my overcrowded bookish heart. Highly recommended!

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booklr #you deserve each other #sarah hogle

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This is what Inequality Looks Like by Teo You Yenn

4.5/5

This is my second non-fiction of the year, and I am so glad I picked this up from @ethosbooks

Warning, this will be a looooooong review!

It is so easy to dissociate ourselves from or overlook the realities of those who fall into the low-income strata. Thanks to this series of essays that boldly expresses a portion of our society’s collective truth that is often tip-toed around or belittled, we are one step closer to hearing the voices of a group of people who are as much a part of Singapore as any one of us.

In all honesty, my interest was piqued by TIWILL because I grew up in a low-income family myself. I resonated deeply with a lot of the issues highlighted and identified with the feelings that were put forth so eloquently by the author. With a decade’s worth of experience living in a rental flat, I can personally vouch for the very real circumstances that often included bed bugs, poor living conditions, lack of personal space, inconducive environment for work and studies, and etc. Even prior to our move into a rental flat, we spent several years struggling to get by and my incredibly resilient mother braved taxing and demeaning procedures to keep the family afloat. This passage in particular from the book that really hit home for me:

“This sums up what people say when they tell me why they are reluctant to seek help after they have had prior experiences: they will ask me A to Z, all kinds of personal questions. They tell me to bring ten different documents, and then if one thing is wrong, I have to go again. I have no time to do this because I have to work, I have to pick up my kid, I have to cook, I need to do housework. My kids need me at home and I don’t want them to go astray like I did, but last time I went, the officer told there just told me to get a job. And finally, importantly, after I have done everything right and I qualify and everything, they give me a tiny bit of help, for which I am grateful, but which only helps me get out of this crisis but doesn’t prevent the next one. And then in another three months, six months, I need to go through the process all over again. This time, I need to answer questions about why I have this $50 in my bank account, what I did to improve my pay, why don’t my children want to go to Student Care. On and on the questions go.”

I especially respect the author’s excellent delivery of the contradictions that have shaped our society. I had not realised how deeply ingrained these contradictory schools of thought were in us until I read it on page and deliberated it earnestly. Furthermore, what I saw in her essays was a vicious cycle that took physical, mental and emotional sacrifices to truly break out from. Yes, there are several avenues available for those who need it. But to get that help, one has to keep reliving the same painful circumstances they are trying to overcome while repeatedly being forced to associate being defeated with needing help. Why is seeking assistance only acceptable when one has supposedly ‘failed in life’? If you have a broken thumb, would you not visit a doctor just because it is not as a bad as a broken hand?

Another aspect of the author’s writing that I admired was her openness to acknowledging the questions that would surely be raised when a person tries to disrupt a narrative that an entire nation has become comfortable with. She gracefully highlighted that while there are admittedly people who are much worse off in other parts of the world, the purpose of TIWILL was to look at the struggles of Singaporeans in the context of Singapore. It is easy for people to belittle another’s problems because they had overcome the circumstances and succeeded in life, or by just chalking it up to delinquent behaviour/poor attitude/a lack of motivation to help oneself. Is it not unfair to take the complexity of years of difficulties, tragedies, and pain and prematurely compress it into a behavioural issue simply because humanising their circumstances might force us to confront uncomfortable truths? Another quote that hit the nail on the head with regards to this is as follows:

“Stories about people living in 2017-Singapore inhabiting what sounds more like their 1965-Singapore are stories that are troubling – they challenge the coherence of their stories, they disturb the moral goodness of their trajectories, they raise questions about their deservedness.”

I could go on and on about everything that is tackled in this incredible book. Probably why I broke one of my biggest bookish rules by heavily annotating TIWILL (no offence to those who enjoy annotating; I just happen to be an old maid when it comes to my books). But I should end this review here for now. I would love to discuss this in more detail with anyone who is interested though!

Once again, my heartfelt thanks to Teo You Yenn for putting this out there and shining a spotlight on the realities of social mobility, income gaps, and social policies. TIWILL truly hit differently for its representation and gave me the satisfaction of seeing my family’s as well as several others’ lived experiences being acknowledged.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booklr #this is what inequality looks like #teo you yenn #non fiction #non fiction books

[iambookotter]

Why do you read so obsessively? I am asked this question time and again. As if the greatest love affairs known to mankind were purely a product of rationality.

 

Yet, for the sake of curiosity, I will give you one reason.

 

I used to think stories, unlike dreams, were built on nothing. In retrospect, I see how wrong I have been.

 

Stories are built on everything.

 

They are built on lived experiences and emotions. They grow like wildflowers in the hearts of people who feel with absolute abandon – which more often than not is each and every one of us even if we do not quite realise it. Stories flourish in the brightest spots of one’s heart just as well as they do in the darkest corners. The beauty, my friend, is that they thrive anywhere and everywhere all at the same time. Or at least that is how I feel.

 

I would like to think that there are wildflowers in my heart as well. But sometimes the world is quick to point out my delusions. So I seek out the ones that braved the world instead and listen to them as they live to tell their tales.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads

[iambookotter]

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

Special shoutout to Marin Ireland who narrated the audiobook fantastically!

5/5

Leave it to Backman to take a story that had seemed to be wrapped up neatly and crack it wide open again without missing a single beat. Frankly, I assumed that Us Against you would pick up a few years after Beartown or with different characters. But it kicks off mere weeks later and settles into a good pace with both the old cast and new additions.

There I was, spending another week with the residents of Beartown again, experiencing a mix of emotions that bordered on giving me a whiplash. But what truly terrified me was how every single chapter ended either on a heavy note of foreshadowing or a gut-wrenching cliffhanger. THIS BOOK WAS INTENSE. The cliffhangers in particular were cruel in that they left me hanging with its subtle implications without quite confirming anything. I was squirming for a long while before the plot reveals what actually happens. A few chapters in, I realised that I could not afford to let my guard down at any point!

But Backman did not stop there. His story was also painfully honest. The plot prepared me for a thorough wrecking yet when the devastation finally arrived, I was still left gasping for air because while the blow was delivered all the same, it came in an entirely unexpected form.

I would like to point out that by ‘plot’ I mean an in-depth character study. Us Against You moves at a fast pace and has a heavy plotline that focusses on every character who appears in the book. We are privy to the most intimate thoughts and emotions of each person on the page, even if he/she appears in just a single paragraph. If this is not genius writing, I do not know what is. In fact, this track Backman takes to bare his characters’ hearts to readers results in humanity being displayed in its rawest form. Almost everyone does something shameful or disappointing, but I was less inclined to judge them or hold on to my negative feelings – a direct effect of the writing.

Finally, I must share that everything came full circle by the end of the book. Actions have consequences and the conclusion is not an exception to this message. It broke my heart in so many ways but left me with a ray of hope, nonetheless.

All in all, Us Against You is a perfect sequel to Beartown with its powerfully evocative writing. The book was so incredibly intense but also had moments that forced laughter up from my splintering heart and past my unwilling lips. I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook as well! The narration by Marin Ireland was amazing and completely redefined my reading experience.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booklr #fredrik backman #us against you #beartown

[iambookotter]

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

5/5

I am not okay.

This book is so beautiful yet intensely painful. It ripped my heart to shreds. For a change, I cannot find it in myself to put into words my thoughts or emotion. Maybe later on I will be able to discuss the book objectively. For now, I leave you with the knowledge that this one is a must-read, but tread with caution because it could possibly wreck you.

Ps. The writing in this is G E N I U S. Delivered in the form of progress reports from Charlie himself, Daniel Keyes conveys the book’s machinations smoothly with the subtle transition of the writing style. It beautifully echoes Charlie’s own rising intelligence, fluctuating emotions and finally, his rapidly deteriorating mental faculties.

Synopsis for the curious:

‘The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?’

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookish #bookblr #amazing reads #booklr #flowers for algernon #daniel keyes

[iambookotter]

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

5/5

*This book has some major triggers. However, to keep this spoiler free, I am leaving this warning here instead. If you would like to know the exact trigger warnings, feel free to reach out to me and/or do a quick Google search.*

I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to start this review only to end up backspacing and taking a break. After several attempts, I am finally powering through the overwhelming feelings Beartown gives me to pen this.

The story is set in a struggling town that is obsessed with hockey because they believe everyone’s fate hinges on their success in the sport. This premise is explained to us in painstaking detail through Backman’s writing and exploration of the various happenings in the townspeople’s lives. It also helps readers truly understand the gravity of everything that follows in the plot and the polarising choices people make when push comes to shove.

Although it is slow-moving initially, the pace becomes worthwhile in that it amplifies the gross injustice that occurs at the halfway mark. My reading experience felt a lot like listening to an orchestra reaching a crescendo. Twice.

I must say that Backman’s writing is absolutely genius. Every chapter (or character perspective) begins and ends with gems of wisdom or hard-hitting truths that just redefine entire passages. Something about his writing style forces readers to experience the story with a lot more depth than we would have thought possible (I am not sure if I am explaining this right, but it is the only way my muddled brain is letting me put it across).

Despite the extremely heavy topic Beartown deals with, it left me with a bittersweet taste in my mouth throughout the second half. Sometimes, I was drowning in the disappointment caused by the choices and judgements of certain characters. Other times, I was lifted up by the glimmers of hope that showed in the actions of a few characters.

My heart was repeatedly shattered and pieced back together.

What sealed the deal for me though was the ending. It was different but realistic and highly satisfying. The realities of the situation are conveyed excellently; it at no point diminishes the subject matter of the book and still manages to leave me with hope for a better future.

This might very well be my favourite read of 2021.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookblr #bookish #booklr #fredrik backman #beartown

[iambookotter]

Vengeful by V.E. Schwab

4/5

The sequel to Vicious kicks off 5 years later with a host of tension-building situations, new villains and ethical dilemmas.

I will be honest and say that my initial thought when reading about Victor Vale in the first few chapters was ‘I stand corrected’. After Vicious, I was convinced that while he may seem like an anti-hero, he was more selfish than anything else. However, the first few chapters of Vengeful had me reevaluating this. But it does not end there. As I kept reading, I switched back to my original position before questioning it yet again - a dance that continued on in my head throughout the book. Which brings me to my next point: Schwab is a genius.

Please bear with me as I deviate a little and tell you more about the book (I promise there is a valid reason for this). Vengeful is different from its predecessor in that it fleshes out the backstories and current activities of both the new characters and the recurring cast. This is especially true of the veteran villain, Eli Ever, and the newly minted villainess, Marcella Riggins. But all of their paths do not coincide for a good portion of the book, travelling down seemingly individual tracks, leaving me on the cusp of disappointment. But my, oh, my, does the climax pack a solid punch. In fact, it is the inevitable convergence of every character’s path that had me reevaluating my thoughts (again).

With that, I bring us back to my earlier statement about the author being a genius. In addition to a fast-paced, action-packed, heart-wrenching and highly satisfying sequence of events, reading all of the key characters’ perspectives and actions that are finally happening simultaneously, a realisation hit home; Schwab beautifully puts across the very definition of morally grey by showing us varying degrees of what we consider ‘evil’ with her characters. It dawned on me that the question was never about how good a character was. It was about how evil they could be.

That being said, I docked a star because the ending fell a little flat for me with how conveniently things wrapped up after a life-threatening dilemma and an explosive climax.

Frankly, I do not know if this qualifies as a proper review. It’s mostly just a miserable attempt at trying to turn my stream of consciousness into a coherent appraisal 😂

But in any case, the Villains series officially rank among my favourites. Highly recommended!

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #bookblr #bookish #booklr #amazing reads #vicious #vengeful #ve schwab #victor vale #eli ever

[iambookotter]

Vicious by V.E. Schwab - Book Review

5/5

After finishing Addie LaRue’s compelling tale earlier this year, I was thoroughly convinced to pick up more of Schwab’s books. While all of her books written for adults sounded rather interesting, Vicious and it’s sequel Vengeful were what intrigued me the most. Morally ambiguous characters and a question of bad vs worse - I was instantly sold.

True to form, the author weaves a complex yet highly engaging tale with time jumps that somehow seem to fit. They were not jarring and felt perfectly timed, complementing the fast-paced plot set in the present day.

For the curious, Vicious is the story about ExtraOrdinaries - people who have, you guessed it, extraordinary powers. It particularly focuses on Victor Vale and Eli Ever. What started out as an idea soon turns into a realer than life experiment that brings about results they wished for, and consequences they did not. This is followed by a swiftly moving storyline of strategy and revenge.

I was especially captivated by the commentary on the perceptions of good and evil conveyed through the characters. The author perfectly breathes life into thoughts that are often just fleeting - for me, at least. Victor Vale is by no means a good man and is acutely aware of his actions as well as the motives behind it. He may seem to fit the mould of an anti-hero, unwittingly picking up strays along the way and not wanting to cause hurt where it is unnecessary. He shows a shadow of what could be care or concern. Yet, when the author allows us to peek into his mind, it is evident that he is driven by an intense, self-serving need to deliver retribution. Eli Ever, on the other hand, fancies himself a deliverer of retribution as well. A hero, even. Yet the thought processes and belief system that led him to that juncture could not be more different than Victor’s journey.

Basically, what my rambling means is that I loved this book. Yes, I adore Cinnamon Rolls. But morally grey characters and revenge plots are what I live for. Whether they admit how messed up they are to themselves or not (in the case of Vicious, we get both), their journeys often make for one hell of a story.

Highly recommended!

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Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett – Book Review

4/5

I did not like this book. I was disappointed. Or at least, that is what I thought for the first few chapters. Boy, oh boy, am I glad I stuck it out though. After a slightly rocky start, this book picks up and takes you on such an atmospheric and feel-good ride, it will leave you wanting more by the end.

Let me start this off by saying that I am a huge fan of adventure books. Road trips, camping trips, backpacking, roughing it up in the wild, exploring foreign lands – you name it, I’ll read it! Given that I am naturally inclined towards bouts of escapism, it comes as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoy living vicariously through such books and Starry Eyes delivered!

For the curious, this is what the book is serving up:

1) Protagonist 1, Zorie, is an astronomy-enthusiast who is dealing with anxiety from the unexpected loss of a loved one, manifesting as rigid planning habits. So obviously, the plot is full of events not going by the plans she has painstakingly charted.

2) Protagonist 2, Lennon, is yet another cinnamon roll who has carved a space for himself in my heart, which is becoming slightly overcrowded with sweet pastry-esque literary heroes. Oh, he is also an avid camper/backpacker with amazing outdoor skills and a penchant for homemade maps (I LOVE THOSE MAPS).

3) Lennon’s moms run an adult toy shop right next to Zorie’s uptight father’s wellness clinic.

4) Zorie and Lennon take a massive detour from her carefully formulated plans and hike across the backcountry.

& this is just the bare minimum of what the story entails.

Zorie and Lennon’s journey captured my heart, and their journey was so beautifully written, I felt like I was taking that trip right alongside them. I live for the trails, night skies, waterfalls, and every other aspect of nature the author portrayed with her talented writing. We also get to witness the evolution of the protagonists’ turbulent relationship, where they had gone from best friends to something more briefly and then ended up as enemies for untold reasons before embarking upon this heartwarming adventure. How the author introduces a new character at the end of the book, who was only briefly mentioned at the start, and still makes me fall thoroughly in love with her in just a matter of pages is beyond me as well. But I am not complaining! This made for a very satisfying conclusion and left me nursing a serious book hangover.

I am aware of the reputation the author has for unique characters and premises. I can say with confidence that she did this exceedingly well with Starry Eyes, and I look forward to picking up some of her other books in the future.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #booklr #bookblr #bookish #starry eyes #jenn bennett

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The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – Book Review

3/5

Have you ever seen a cute, fluffy dog wake up from an afternoon nap and lazily stretch its body? Suddenly, you find yourself in a sluggish mood where you just want to do nothing but flop down and laze around. No? Just me? Anywho, that is what this book felt like to me.

I am going to say right off the bat that I was not the biggest fan of Andie, the protagonist. Something about her irked me a lot. Which is ironic because the whole book is written from her perspective and I still enjoyed the plot very much. In fact, true to its title, the book unexpectedly had me falling more in love with her friends as well as resident cinnamon roll, Clark, and his lovely furbuddy, Bertie. I mean, writer-type (a fantasy one, at that) romantic interest + father who might have slipped up, but still tries to redeem himself and unabashedly lets his inner child shine from time to time + great friendship dynamics with hilarious banter and an amazing scavenger hunt + several endearing dogs + one grumpy cat = a thoroughly enjoyable read for sure.

However, I did not rate this as highly as the plus points I highlighted would suggest because the pacing was a huge issue for me. In my opinion, the book meandered, and this left me feeling slightly disconnected from certain parts of the book which took away from the reading experience. I was also a little bit disappointed with one aspect of the conclusion, but I think that stems more from how invested I was in the characters and not because the conclusion was problematic (which is my obnoxious way of saying ‘it was just me, not the book’).

All in all, it is a worthwhile book that warms you up like summer would. Light, easy and a feel-good while delving a little deeper from time to time just so we can get the unexpected everything.

#book blog #books #bookworm #book review #bookaddict #booklr #bookish #the unexpected everything #morgan matson #bookblr