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bookopinions's reviews
153 reviews
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
2.0
Heavy focus on love and space ... my nemeses.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
2.5
2.5/5 or 5/10
This wasn't as bad as some of the others but by no means outstanding.
At least he broke with his formula somewhat and did a few things a little bit differently, but that doesn't mean it's original or innovative.
Also, this isn't really haunted house but rather possessed doll, with little scares and lot's of family drama. But at least I had a good laugh whenever the doll was supposed to be menacing.
This wasn't as bad as some of the others but by no means outstanding.
At least he broke with his formula somewhat and did a few things a little bit differently, but that doesn't mean it's original or innovative.
Also, this isn't really haunted house but rather possessed doll, with little scares and lot's of family drama. But at least I had a good laugh whenever the doll was supposed to be menacing.
Blue by Kiriko Nananan
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Did not finish book. Stopped at 76%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 76%.
I had trouble following the writing, which was rooted in my language skills and some personal struggle that prevented me from focusing. The book was quite interesting though, I just can't keep up with it at the moment. I am still interested though and would be down to maybe try out a translation at one point.
Zeremonie des Lebens by Sayaka Murata
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
3,5/5 or 7/10
Murata has an interesting view on the world. In her usual style, this book of shortstories depicts differing realities, more or less similar to the one we are currently living. The range of topics alternates between the human body, our environment and life, sometimes combinig everything all at once.
I've heard that she's exceptionally good at writing short fiction and although I agree with this claim, I don't feel like I have much to compare it to. Personally I can say, that I liked her short stories a lot more than her novella Convenience Store Woman. It feels like a short glimpse onto the draft of an alternate universe, sometimes taking on surrealistic features or even blending into the morbid. This makes it extremly fun to read and I couldn't help my curiosity for what was about to come next, whenever I had finished a story.
Despite that, there were stories in here that just turned out a bit too fantastical fo me to connect with but alltogether I enjoyed the book a lot and would probably recommend it to everyone who doesn't know where to start with Muratas works.
Murata has an interesting view on the world. In her usual style, this book of shortstories depicts differing realities, more or less similar to the one we are currently living. The range of topics alternates between the human body, our environment and life, sometimes combinig everything all at once.
I've heard that she's exceptionally good at writing short fiction and although I agree with this claim, I don't feel like I have much to compare it to. Personally I can say, that I liked her short stories a lot more than her novella Convenience Store Woman. It feels like a short glimpse onto the draft of an alternate universe, sometimes taking on surrealistic features or even blending into the morbid. This makes it extremly fun to read and I couldn't help my curiosity for what was about to come next, whenever I had finished a story.
Despite that, there were stories in here that just turned out a bit too fantastical fo me to connect with but alltogether I enjoyed the book a lot and would probably recommend it to everyone who doesn't know where to start with Muratas works.