The following are my reviews of some of the books I've read more recently that had an impact on me.
the midnight library by matt haig
Holy Mother of Everything Sweet and Good In The World. Excuse me while I run to buy ALL of the author's other books as quickly as I can.
Although I was unsure of the air of sadness present in the beginning of this story, I was immediately hooked by its poetic storytelling. There's a lot of magic in how it's written that spoke to me. It pulled me from page to page, longing to experience whatever would come next.
Honestly, I'm floored by this beautiful masterpiece. And wiping (happy) tears from my face, which doesn't often happen to me, even with all the reading I've done over my many years as a book lover.
I was exaggerating when I was only 40 pages in and I told my daughter the author's writing made me believe there's a God. This gem of his is so inspired, though, I have no doubt Matt Haig was born to be a bearer of stories that are meant to unforgettably touch our hearts and brighten our lives. What a gift!
*EDITED to ADD: I did go on to read more of his books and I am deeply in love with his storytelling. What I learned -and something that impresses me about SO MUCH about this author- is that he is a master of making you feel what the main character feels. It's so subtle, you may misunderstand it at first as you not liking the book (because it makes you feel hard things). The Midnight Library felt sad, The Humans made me feel anxious. . . and then I realized that this is part of Haig's magic. He has brilliant insight into the human mind and heart AND inspires feeling in his audience without manipulating us, but by understanding us.
Although I was unsure of the air of sadness present in the beginning of this story, I was immediately hooked by its poetic storytelling. There's a lot of magic in how it's written that spoke to me. It pulled me from page to page, longing to experience whatever would come next.
Honestly, I'm floored by this beautiful masterpiece. And wiping (happy) tears from my face, which doesn't often happen to me, even with all the reading I've done over my many years as a book lover.
I was exaggerating when I was only 40 pages in and I told my daughter the author's writing made me believe there's a God. This gem of his is so inspired, though, I have no doubt Matt Haig was born to be a bearer of stories that are meant to unforgettably touch our hearts and brighten our lives. What a gift!
*EDITED to ADD: I did go on to read more of his books and I am deeply in love with his storytelling. What I learned -and something that impresses me about SO MUCH about this author- is that he is a master of making you feel what the main character feels. It's so subtle, you may misunderstand it at first as you not liking the book (because it makes you feel hard things). The Midnight Library felt sad, The Humans made me feel anxious. . . and then I realized that this is part of Haig's magic. He has brilliant insight into the human mind and heart AND inspires feeling in his audience without manipulating us, but by understanding us.
a house with good bones by t. kingfisher
I stumbled across this author's short novel called Thorn Hedge, one day at the bookstore, and devoured it. So, when I found A House with Good Bones at Powell's in Portland, I was all over it. Every chapter of that story was delicious. I most recently read her A Sorceress Comes to Call. And now I have a bookshelf at home of books of hers that I will delight in, one by one.
Her stories are the kind that stay living within you throughout time.
I am so fond of this author's writing style and storytelling. She's incredible at pulling her reader completely into the world she has built. Each book, each world, each main character feels so distinct from her other works, and their ambiance, emotions, struggles, and mood become ours. Her creative range and power is fascinating and powerful!
Her stories are the kind that stay living within you throughout time.
I am so fond of this author's writing style and storytelling. She's incredible at pulling her reader completely into the world she has built. Each book, each world, each main character feels so distinct from her other works, and their ambiance, emotions, struggles, and mood become ours. Her creative range and power is fascinating and powerful!
the killing moon by n.k. jemesin
This was the first book of this author's, for me. I am completely enamored with her mind, now. And her writing style! I wonder if she and Ursula K Le Guin would find themselves kindred spirits with each other.
I love writers who skillfully, silently weave seeds of hope into worlds of dystopia; seeds that take root and bloom along the way.
I loved Jemesin's storytelling so much, I immediately bought the other book in this duology, two of her trilogies, and her book "How Long 'til Black Future Month?" I'm diving in, and thankful for her intelligent, magical, patient, powerful work.
I consider this book an excellent starting point for those interested in diving into the world of sci-fi.
I love writers who skillfully, silently weave seeds of hope into worlds of dystopia; seeds that take root and bloom along the way.
I loved Jemesin's storytelling so much, I immediately bought the other book in this duology, two of her trilogies, and her book "How Long 'til Black Future Month?" I'm diving in, and thankful for her intelligent, magical, patient, powerful work.
I consider this book an excellent starting point for those interested in diving into the world of sci-fi.
The girl who drank the moon by kelly barnhill
Holy moly, was my heart and soul moved by Barnhill's exquisitely symbolic, deep, touching, beautiful storytelling! This was my first experience with her writing and is absolutely a new favorite book. Now I must go read all her others.
Editing to Add
. . . I did, in fact, go read all of her others! She became an immediate favorite author of mine and still lives on that list years later. I deep dived into every novel that she had available at the time.
I will briefly share that The Witch's Boy is my other favorite of hers. It's phenomenal, beautiful fiction. The Mostly True Story of Jack was delightful and endearing. Iron Hearted Violet felt too dark to be considered for children of any age, but I'm also highly protective of children. So maybe it's just me. I still enjoyed reading it, that aside.
I will never forget the adventure I went on because of reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon, and if you love fantasy, I can't recommend it highly enough! If you haven't read it, yet . . . why not treat yourself?
Editing to Add
. . . I did, in fact, go read all of her others! She became an immediate favorite author of mine and still lives on that list years later. I deep dived into every novel that she had available at the time.
I will briefly share that The Witch's Boy is my other favorite of hers. It's phenomenal, beautiful fiction. The Mostly True Story of Jack was delightful and endearing. Iron Hearted Violet felt too dark to be considered for children of any age, but I'm also highly protective of children. So maybe it's just me. I still enjoyed reading it, that aside.
I will never forget the adventure I went on because of reading The Girl Who Drank the Moon, and if you love fantasy, I can't recommend it highly enough! If you haven't read it, yet . . . why not treat yourself?
the love songs of w.e.b. du bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
I knew nothing about this saga when I found it at the airport. I recognized the name W.E.B. Du Bois from his social work and influence, and the novel itself was chunky which was perfect for my 10 hours of flying ahead of me.
Holy Mother of Mocha Flavored Cupcakes, did I not know what was in store for me. This book is one of the most powerful, beautiful, poignant stories I have ever read in my decades of being a book lover. All 790 pages are worth every second of time that you get to spend in this author's gift to us.
I need to add that very few books have made me cry and this is one of them. It's an incredible braiding of lineages and ancestors that will change the way you view time, family, heritage, liberation, suffering, and empowerment. This work of heart is an important look into the human experience that will leave you with treasures that now live in your bones.
Holy Mother of Mocha Flavored Cupcakes, did I not know what was in store for me. This book is one of the most powerful, beautiful, poignant stories I have ever read in my decades of being a book lover. All 790 pages are worth every second of time that you get to spend in this author's gift to us.
I need to add that very few books have made me cry and this is one of them. It's an incredible braiding of lineages and ancestors that will change the way you view time, family, heritage, liberation, suffering, and empowerment. This work of heart is an important look into the human experience that will leave you with treasures that now live in your bones.
THE HUMANs by matt haig
I loved this so much, I read the entire book in one day. And I don't think I'll ever forget it. Let me add that I wasn't sure I'd be able to get into it, at first. I was actually worried I wasn't going to like it enough to even finish it.
I loved his book The Midnight Library and decided to read this one of his next based on my love for the other.
What I realized about 40 pages in, when I started to get hooked, is that the author is INCREDIBLE at setting the mood. Feeling like The Midnight Library might have too sad an air for me, but then it becoming 100% worth it, and worrying at first that The Humans was a little too stiff and awkward (anxiety-inducing, even?) for me, were really more about how amazing Matt Haig is at immediately roping us into the feelings he wants us to feel . . . without a sense of being manipulated by the author with things written for "shock value."
This story made me laugh countless times, inspired me to make faces that made me happy I was home alone and no one could see me (besides my dog, but she won't tell; she thinks it's charming), and touched my heart forever.
Really, there's a lot of brilliance woven into this sweet gem of a story.
I loved his book The Midnight Library and decided to read this one of his next based on my love for the other.
What I realized about 40 pages in, when I started to get hooked, is that the author is INCREDIBLE at setting the mood. Feeling like The Midnight Library might have too sad an air for me, but then it becoming 100% worth it, and worrying at first that The Humans was a little too stiff and awkward (anxiety-inducing, even?) for me, were really more about how amazing Matt Haig is at immediately roping us into the feelings he wants us to feel . . . without a sense of being manipulated by the author with things written for "shock value."
This story made me laugh countless times, inspired me to make faces that made me happy I was home alone and no one could see me (besides my dog, but she won't tell; she thinks it's charming), and touched my heart forever.
Really, there's a lot of brilliance woven into this sweet gem of a story.
The only one left by riley sager
At the time of this review, I've read three of Sager's books - and have the rest waiting on a bookshelf for me because I CANNOT WAIT TO GET BACK TO THEM.
It's funny to me that in one of them I was surprised the ending wasn't supernatural, and in another I was surprised that it was. With every book that I've read of his, so far, though, I have loved riding the What's-Going-To-Happen-Next??? train. They are a fuuuunn adventure!
The Only One Left is my favorite between this one, Lock Every Door, and The House Across the Lake. They're all relatively wholesome, even though they're thrillers. They're cleaning written, compelling, and they have great jaw-dropping twists at the end. This one in particular had me flying through the pages as fast as I could. I also like that these books have you rooting for the main character the whole time. It's relatable and fun and the memory of the journey from start to finish is yours to keep once you've made it through to the other side.
5 stars for being fantastic without being dark and disturbing!
It's funny to me that in one of them I was surprised the ending wasn't supernatural, and in another I was surprised that it was. With every book that I've read of his, so far, though, I have loved riding the What's-Going-To-Happen-Next??? train. They are a fuuuunn adventure!
The Only One Left is my favorite between this one, Lock Every Door, and The House Across the Lake. They're all relatively wholesome, even though they're thrillers. They're cleaning written, compelling, and they have great jaw-dropping twists at the end. This one in particular had me flying through the pages as fast as I could. I also like that these books have you rooting for the main character the whole time. It's relatable and fun and the memory of the journey from start to finish is yours to keep once you've made it through to the other side.
5 stars for being fantastic without being dark and disturbing!
EarthsEA Series by ursula k. le guin
Reading this series was like waking up on Christmas Day to overflowing stockings, presents under the glowing tree, hot cocoa in your favorite Santa mug, bells jingling in the merry distance. . .
If I ever read a book series for a second time (what, life is short and my TBR is long), it will be this one. The Tombs of Atuan, specifically, is on my Forever Favorites list.
Ursula Le Guin is highly regarded and downright beloved for her take on sci-fi (and, here, fantasy). She can fit a whole world of feeling into a single sentence. In my opinion, this young adult writing is her strongest style. She makes magic and possibility tangible.
If I ever read a book series for a second time (what, life is short and my TBR is long), it will be this one. The Tombs of Atuan, specifically, is on my Forever Favorites list.
Ursula Le Guin is highly regarded and downright beloved for her take on sci-fi (and, here, fantasy). She can fit a whole world of feeling into a single sentence. In my opinion, this young adult writing is her strongest style. She makes magic and possibility tangible.
the frugal wizard's handbook for surviving medieval england
by brandon sanderson
I'm so torn about how to rate this book. 3 stars? 3.5?
I started off *loving* it, but it really threw me for a loop when the entire air of the book changed, just past the halfway point. Frankly, I feel like it hurt the storytelling that had been happening so delightfully to suddenly have such a different feel to it. It became a bumpy ride, and I just wanted back to the smooth, cozy original tone.
I loved how funny and witty and silly and charming the first half of the book was. The second half suddenly got more serious, but -for me- it was done in a dry and clumsy way. It didn't even feel like the same author anymore.
It was like the book began as one muse-inspired adventure, and then fizzled into the author trying to last-minute pack in a bunch of details to make the story something else before it ended. Those details were meant to add substance, but came off as very "hurry up and tell versus show" in a way that disconnected me from the plot and its characters.
The story became frayed and needed more fleshing out of the additional details (in the original voice) to connect it to the rest of the backstory. There should have been build-up to the additional details. We should've been led to FEEL for the additional details. (If this sounds vague, it's because I'm aiming to avoid any spoilers. I'm disappointed, not evil.)
I'm so in love with the Mistborn series, and how smoothly written it is -how much I could not put it down- that I wasn't expecting to feel jostled by this story. In fact, during the first half of this one I was floored by the author's range in writing smoothly. Mistborn and Frugal Wizard are VERY different from one another. The tone shift was abrupt, though, and the end ruined the rest of the book for me.
Overall, the concept was fun, but the story ended up falling flat.
(I do want to add that reviews are subjective. Someone else wrote that the playful first half of the story is the part that bothered them and they PREFERRED the more serious ending. If you feel drawn to reading a book, PLEASE READ THE BOOK. Life is temporary: Enjoy it whenever possible! Perhaps by reading Mistborn, if you haven't already done so. )
I started off *loving* it, but it really threw me for a loop when the entire air of the book changed, just past the halfway point. Frankly, I feel like it hurt the storytelling that had been happening so delightfully to suddenly have such a different feel to it. It became a bumpy ride, and I just wanted back to the smooth, cozy original tone.
I loved how funny and witty and silly and charming the first half of the book was. The second half suddenly got more serious, but -for me- it was done in a dry and clumsy way. It didn't even feel like the same author anymore.
It was like the book began as one muse-inspired adventure, and then fizzled into the author trying to last-minute pack in a bunch of details to make the story something else before it ended. Those details were meant to add substance, but came off as very "hurry up and tell versus show" in a way that disconnected me from the plot and its characters.
The story became frayed and needed more fleshing out of the additional details (in the original voice) to connect it to the rest of the backstory. There should have been build-up to the additional details. We should've been led to FEEL for the additional details. (If this sounds vague, it's because I'm aiming to avoid any spoilers. I'm disappointed, not evil.)
I'm so in love with the Mistborn series, and how smoothly written it is -how much I could not put it down- that I wasn't expecting to feel jostled by this story. In fact, during the first half of this one I was floored by the author's range in writing smoothly. Mistborn and Frugal Wizard are VERY different from one another. The tone shift was abrupt, though, and the end ruined the rest of the book for me.
Overall, the concept was fun, but the story ended up falling flat.
(I do want to add that reviews are subjective. Someone else wrote that the playful first half of the story is the part that bothered them and they PREFERRED the more serious ending. If you feel drawn to reading a book, PLEASE READ THE BOOK. Life is temporary: Enjoy it whenever possible! Perhaps by reading Mistborn, if you haven't already done so. )
the spellshop by sarah beth durst
My life is better because this sweet, treasure of a story came into it.
Don't you love that feeling when a book calls you over to it, you race home to read it, and it brightens your heart by shining its light into your life?
This book is one of the sweetest, cutest books I've ever read! It's charming, delightful, fun, inclusive. I can't count how many times I smiled at this book, or giggled, or cheered.
Want to read a book that wraps you up in a warm, fuzzy hug and reminds you why it's beautiful to be alive? Of course. We all do. And this one is just, perfectly, that.
(I immediately read the author's The Bone Maker, after this one, and it lives rent free in my mind to this day. Durst is a writer who makes the skill and art of it look easy.)
Don't you love that feeling when a book calls you over to it, you race home to read it, and it brightens your heart by shining its light into your life?
This book is one of the sweetest, cutest books I've ever read! It's charming, delightful, fun, inclusive. I can't count how many times I smiled at this book, or giggled, or cheered.
Want to read a book that wraps you up in a warm, fuzzy hug and reminds you why it's beautiful to be alive? Of course. We all do. And this one is just, perfectly, that.
(I immediately read the author's The Bone Maker, after this one, and it lives rent free in my mind to this day. Durst is a writer who makes the skill and art of it look easy.)
The last mrs. parrish by liv constantine
You have to love DARK themes to be okay with this book. Really, there should be a large content warning on it that it contains graphic scenes of rape and humiliation. The writing and storytelling outside of that unexpected feature? 5 out of 5. But without a content warning, the book became a 1 or 2 star experience for me. It seems the author(s) chose severe "shock value" over halfway through the 400 page book instead of informing people that this ain't your average novel from the bookstore.
On one hand, it's really well-written. On the other hand, it's very darkly written. 98% of the story is about bad people being bad.
Possible spoiler alert?
It's very much about the "bad guys getting what they deserve in the end," but the majority of the book is just ingesting them being evil. With a small happy ending to wrap things up.
It's not for me.
Frankly, I picked up this book purely to understand why people say Freida McFadden plagiarized it in The Housemaid book. I am DELIGHTED to be able to say that she DID NOT. There are a few similarities: the children in both books have dollhouses that are replicas of the ones they live in, the antagonists are fat-shamers, both wives are institutionalized by their husbands. And it ends there. These are VERY different books with VERY different writing styles and VERY different plots. Freida writes in a way that makes you want to throw the book at the main character, like when you're screaming at someone in a horror movie to not go down into the dark basement alone, but you don't because you're dying to see what happens next. Liv Constantine wrote a book that is cleanly written storytelling, but is not at all suspenseful, is disturbing and anticlimactic, and is only decently triumphant for the survivors of the evil.
All in all, I want to like this book more than I did, but I wouldn't pick up another by this author. However, if you like dark themes and shock value, this may be the next read for you.
On one hand, it's really well-written. On the other hand, it's very darkly written. 98% of the story is about bad people being bad.
Possible spoiler alert?
It's very much about the "bad guys getting what they deserve in the end," but the majority of the book is just ingesting them being evil. With a small happy ending to wrap things up.
It's not for me.
Frankly, I picked up this book purely to understand why people say Freida McFadden plagiarized it in The Housemaid book. I am DELIGHTED to be able to say that she DID NOT. There are a few similarities: the children in both books have dollhouses that are replicas of the ones they live in, the antagonists are fat-shamers, both wives are institutionalized by their husbands. And it ends there. These are VERY different books with VERY different writing styles and VERY different plots. Freida writes in a way that makes you want to throw the book at the main character, like when you're screaming at someone in a horror movie to not go down into the dark basement alone, but you don't because you're dying to see what happens next. Liv Constantine wrote a book that is cleanly written storytelling, but is not at all suspenseful, is disturbing and anticlimactic, and is only decently triumphant for the survivors of the evil.
All in all, I want to like this book more than I did, but I wouldn't pick up another by this author. However, if you like dark themes and shock value, this may be the next read for you.
children of time by adrian tchaikovsky
Say it with me y'all: H O L Y M A R I O N B E R R Y P I E
This series is tasty AND nutritious.
We are looking at a future in which the only inhabitable planet has already been inhabited by genetically-altered creatures, creatures that probably won't kindly share. And we get to witness them evolve.
If you love sci-fi that takes its sweet time warming up to deliver the best flavor later on, and if you love to savor world-building that tastes like genius, this may just be the next item on the menu with your name on it!
(This series may not be a good fit for those with arachnophobia, but I believe anthropology lovers would especially appreciate it!)
This series is tasty AND nutritious.
We are looking at a future in which the only inhabitable planet has already been inhabited by genetically-altered creatures, creatures that probably won't kindly share. And we get to witness them evolve.
If you love sci-fi that takes its sweet time warming up to deliver the best flavor later on, and if you love to savor world-building that tastes like genius, this may just be the next item on the menu with your name on it!
(This series may not be a good fit for those with arachnophobia, but I believe anthropology lovers would especially appreciate it!)
You don't see a book like Dawn being showcased in an incredible movie like A Quiet Place: Day One and not read it.
The way I ran from the movie theater to the bookstore. . .
The storytelling in this book is exceptional. It's a sci-fi about an alien race that saves the remainder of humanity, but at a cost... and, as with any great writing, it's about so much more than just the surface plot. For anyone who will actually get this reference, something about it reminds me of The Kin of Ata are Waiting For You. But alien style. She's a story that makes you take a second look at the human life you've been living, and human community you've been creating (or lack thereof).
Once I finally make it out from underneath enough of my avalanche of a TBR, I'll return to Butler's book and drink the rest down.
Side note: Yes, I DO read non-fiction. On a regular basis. I read a lot on psychology, human development, nutrition, Buddhism, and social issues. It typically gives me far less joy to write reviews of it, even though I am thankful for good non-fiction. And this page doesn't have space for hundreds and hundreds of reviews. So, fiction it is!
More reviews coming as time allows!
More reviews coming as time allows!