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nclcaitlin's reviews
1731 reviews
The September House by Carissa Orlando
3.0
Why run from a haunted house when you can stay and ignore the ghosts?
Margaret never had a home of her own, so when she and her husband find a gorgeous Victorian for sale, they are thrilled. It's true that every September blood pours down the walls, and the house becomes filled with screaming ghosts, one of which bites, but every house has problems.
Margaret is intent on living with the horrors. Then her husband vanishes and her adult daughter, who doesn’t know about the house’s ‘quirks’ per se, visits to help track him down.
Margaret is an extremely practical woman. Her blasé attitude had me giggling a few times.
Eventually, one has to give up asking questions, just accept that things are the way they are, and act accordingly. So when I woke up to a wall dripping with blood and a foggy head from not-quite sleeping through hours of moaning, I simply nodded and got on with my morning.
This book was just full of gaslighting. Of Margaret, of others, of the reader. This was a wild ride. I felt so mad at the author and myself. Which was definitely the point.
This book started out as a haunted house story, but quickly took a more darker look at the domestic. I am not going to say anymore as I think this might spoil your own discovery and discussion. However, this shift did detract from my enjoyment. Yet, I do think this was the purpose.
Margaret never had a home of her own, so when she and her husband find a gorgeous Victorian for sale, they are thrilled. It's true that every September blood pours down the walls, and the house becomes filled with screaming ghosts, one of which bites, but every house has problems.
Margaret is intent on living with the horrors. Then her husband vanishes and her adult daughter, who doesn’t know about the house’s ‘quirks’ per se, visits to help track him down.
Margaret is an extremely practical woman. Her blasé attitude had me giggling a few times.
Eventually, one has to give up asking questions, just accept that things are the way they are, and act accordingly. So when I woke up to a wall dripping with blood and a foggy head from not-quite sleeping through hours of moaning, I simply nodded and got on with my morning.
This book was just full of gaslighting. Of Margaret, of others, of the reader. This was a wild ride. I felt so mad at the author and myself. Which was definitely the point.
This book started out as a haunted house story, but quickly took a more darker look at the domestic. I am not going to say anymore as I think this might spoil your own discovery and discussion. However, this shift did detract from my enjoyment. Yet, I do think this was the purpose.
Private Rites by Julia Armfield
2.5
A King Lear retelling with three sisters, the end of the world, and a watery dystopia.
Isla, Irene, and Agnes are three sisters who are estranged, brought together where their father dies, famous for being an architect for making the new world navigable.
A world being submerged by water as it never stops raining.
The environment and the end of the world isn’t the focus (which seems crazy with such a cool premise), rather the relationships between the three queer, volatile sisters. They find themselves uncertain of how to grieve their father when everything around them seems to be ending anyway.
Not to mention, they all seem to have either mummy or daddy issues and an undercurrent of competitiveness, miscommunication, and pettiness brought forward from childhood.
Isla…. tried to remember the sequence of a poem she’d wanted to quote to a patient earlier in the week, about Old Masters and suffering: how it takes place while someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along. The point, of course, being the whole bright dailiness of agony, the way Icarus in the Bruegel painting could crash to earth as little but a background detail while the bland spool of life went on in the foreground; the ploughman at his plough and the fabric of the day untouched, uninterrupted."
I am an older sister with two younger brothers and the snapping and automatic japes had me examining my own relationship with my brothers, seeing my own interactions in the siblings.
The two oldest, Isla and Irene, try to come together, only to slip into habitual competitiveness. On the other hand, Agnes is the youngest by eleven years and this age gap is keenly felt and hard to breach.
”It is,” Isla finds, “just so easy to allow herself the fun of resenting Agnes, as easy as it was when they were kids.”
I would have loved more on the rainy city, where people live makeshift lives on the top floors of flooded tower blocks, travelling by ferry. Yet, I know this isn’t Armfield’s purpose.
Just like Our Wives under the Sea, this is a slow moving, intimate look at our connections with those closest to us. The push and pull.
The first half was definitely better than the second half. Then it just felt repetitive and self-indulgent in pity, shame, revulsion, and frustration.
Maybe if you like books like My Year of Rest and Relaxation, you might enjoy it more.
And the ending was just such a let down. I think I kind of expected it, but it felt like a cheat, a cop out.
Again, this is written for certain people and I kind of guessed before even picking it up it wouldn’t be me.
Isla, Irene, and Agnes are three sisters who are estranged, brought together where their father dies, famous for being an architect for making the new world navigable.
A world being submerged by water as it never stops raining.
The environment and the end of the world isn’t the focus (which seems crazy with such a cool premise), rather the relationships between the three queer, volatile sisters. They find themselves uncertain of how to grieve their father when everything around them seems to be ending anyway.
Not to mention, they all seem to have either mummy or daddy issues and an undercurrent of competitiveness, miscommunication, and pettiness brought forward from childhood.
Isla…. tried to remember the sequence of a poem she’d wanted to quote to a patient earlier in the week, about Old Masters and suffering: how it takes place while someone else is eating or opening a window or just walking dully along. The point, of course, being the whole bright dailiness of agony, the way Icarus in the Bruegel painting could crash to earth as little but a background detail while the bland spool of life went on in the foreground; the ploughman at his plough and the fabric of the day untouched, uninterrupted."
I am an older sister with two younger brothers and the snapping and automatic japes had me examining my own relationship with my brothers, seeing my own interactions in the siblings.
The two oldest, Isla and Irene, try to come together, only to slip into habitual competitiveness. On the other hand, Agnes is the youngest by eleven years and this age gap is keenly felt and hard to breach.
”It is,” Isla finds, “just so easy to allow herself the fun of resenting Agnes, as easy as it was when they were kids.”
I would have loved more on the rainy city, where people live makeshift lives on the top floors of flooded tower blocks, travelling by ferry. Yet, I know this isn’t Armfield’s purpose.
Just like Our Wives under the Sea, this is a slow moving, intimate look at our connections with those closest to us. The push and pull.
The first half was definitely better than the second half. Then it just felt repetitive and self-indulgent in pity, shame, revulsion, and frustration.
Maybe if you like books like My Year of Rest and Relaxation, you might enjoy it more.
And the ending was just such a let down. I think I kind of expected it, but it felt like a cheat, a cop out.
Again, this is written for certain people and I kind of guessed before even picking it up it wouldn’t be me.
The Voyage Home by Pat Barker
3.75
Three women, all slaves in their own way.
This is told from three perspectives: Rista, once healer, now Cassandra’s maid and a slave. Cassandra, royal at birth, the high priestess of Apollo, and now Agamemnon's war bride. Finally, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife at home who is grieving her daughter sacrificed so the Greeks could sail to Troy.
’But isn't that the point? Who decides who's a monster?'
"The winner.'
Ritsa’s chapters are the only ones told in first person which creates a sense of intimacy and makes this more poignant and instant.
Through others’ eyes, and with insights of her own chapters, we see Cassandra has learned long since to disguise her doubts and fears — if she had any. This makes her appear aloof, careless, and yet the glimpses into her insecurities makes her humane and her proclaimed madness seems apt.
Clytemnestra is supposed to be evil. The deviant wife. Yet, her grief and rage has a firm basis and her capacity for revenge is shown to reinforce a cycle of violence.
What might not appeal to some readers is the modernity of this retelling. It uses language more suited to 21st century dialect.
Example:
’Agamemnon's just like you?' I said.
"Why, aye, you could have a drink with him, bit of a laugh...'
Best mates with Agamemnon. Oh my god.
Do not go in expecting the Iliad.
This is a retelling in a more accessible voice, giving voice to the silenced and oppressed.
This is relatable, relevant, and definitely a step up from her two previous books!
’He had no choice. The gods required it.'
Cassandra laughed. 'The gods must have broad backs, don't you think? Anything anybody does gets blamed on them.'
Thank you to Penguin Books for providing me a physical arc in exchange for a review!
This is told from three perspectives: Rista, once healer, now Cassandra’s maid and a slave. Cassandra, royal at birth, the high priestess of Apollo, and now Agamemnon's war bride. Finally, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife at home who is grieving her daughter sacrificed so the Greeks could sail to Troy.
’But isn't that the point? Who decides who's a monster?'
"The winner.'
Ritsa’s chapters are the only ones told in first person which creates a sense of intimacy and makes this more poignant and instant.
Through others’ eyes, and with insights of her own chapters, we see Cassandra has learned long since to disguise her doubts and fears — if she had any. This makes her appear aloof, careless, and yet the glimpses into her insecurities makes her humane and her proclaimed madness seems apt.
Clytemnestra is supposed to be evil. The deviant wife. Yet, her grief and rage has a firm basis and her capacity for revenge is shown to reinforce a cycle of violence.
What might not appeal to some readers is the modernity of this retelling. It uses language more suited to 21st century dialect.
Example:
’Agamemnon's just like you?' I said.
"Why, aye, you could have a drink with him, bit of a laugh...'
Best mates with Agamemnon. Oh my god.
Do not go in expecting the Iliad.
This is a retelling in a more accessible voice, giving voice to the silenced and oppressed.
This is relatable, relevant, and definitely a step up from her two previous books!
’He had no choice. The gods required it.'
Cassandra laughed. 'The gods must have broad backs, don't you think? Anything anybody does gets blamed on them.'
Thank you to Penguin Books for providing me a physical arc in exchange for a review!
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
3.75
Whereas the previous book focused on events in and around King's Landing, on the Iron Islands, and down in Dorne, this book takes us north to Castle Black and the Wall (and beyond), and across the narrow sea to Pentos and Slaver's Bay, to pick up the tales of Tyrion Lannister, Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and all the other characters not seen in the preceding volume.
”Do you want to die, Wull?"
That seemed to amuse the northman. "I want to live forever in a land where summer lasts a thousand years. I want a castle in the clouds where I can look down over the world. I want to be six-and-twenty again. When I was six-and-twenty I could fight all day and fuck all night. What men want does not matter.
Winter is almost upon us, boy. And winter is death.”
Jon is the newly elected Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and is preparing the defense against the Others as King Stannis demands more of him and the wildings starve and clamour.
Having killed his father, Tyrion is smuggled out of Westeros to the Free Cities, set on causing chaos against his siblings.
Daenerys has conquered the city of Meereen and banned slavery, but struggles to maintain peace. Not to mention, her dragons have become increasingly dangerous.
She was the blood of the dragon. She could kill the Sons of the Harpy, and the sons of the sons, and the sons of the sons of the sons.
But a dragon could not feed a hungry child nor help a dying woman's pain. And who would ever dare to love a dragon?
Arya pops up again half way through and I LOVE HER CHAPTERS. She is just so strong. She is a mini Mia from Nevernight, Celaena from Throne of Glass, Nona from Red Sister…
I am no one. No Arya, you are EVERYTHING!
We find out who Reek is and honestly I have never felt such pity, revulsion, and disgust at both chained dog and bastard master.
I am gutted this series isn’t finished. I am now making my way through the TV show and hope I feel satisfied with what the show does.
Ranking:
Book three - A Storm of Swords
Book one - A Game of Thrones
Book two - A Clash of Kings
Book five - A Feast for Crows
Book four - A Dance with Dragons
”Do you want to die, Wull?"
That seemed to amuse the northman. "I want to live forever in a land where summer lasts a thousand years. I want a castle in the clouds where I can look down over the world. I want to be six-and-twenty again. When I was six-and-twenty I could fight all day and fuck all night. What men want does not matter.
Winter is almost upon us, boy. And winter is death.”
Jon is the newly elected Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch and is preparing the defense against the Others as King Stannis demands more of him and the wildings starve and clamour.
Having killed his father, Tyrion is smuggled out of Westeros to the Free Cities, set on causing chaos against his siblings.
Daenerys has conquered the city of Meereen and banned slavery, but struggles to maintain peace. Not to mention, her dragons have become increasingly dangerous.
She was the blood of the dragon. She could kill the Sons of the Harpy, and the sons of the sons, and the sons of the sons of the sons.
But a dragon could not feed a hungry child nor help a dying woman's pain. And who would ever dare to love a dragon?
Arya pops up again half way through and I LOVE HER CHAPTERS. She is just so strong. She is a mini Mia from Nevernight, Celaena from Throne of Glass, Nona from Red Sister…
I am no one. No Arya, you are EVERYTHING!
We find out who Reek is and honestly I have never felt such pity, revulsion, and disgust at both chained dog and bastard master.
I am gutted this series isn’t finished. I am now making my way through the TV show and hope I feel satisfied with what the show does.
Ranking:
Book three - A Storm of Swords
Book one - A Game of Thrones
Book two - A Clash of Kings
Book five - A Feast for Crows
Book four - A Dance with Dragons
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
3.75
You thought you hated Professor Umbridge from Harry Potter?!
When a child’s bones is discovered under the home they grew up in, three foster sisters find themselves facing their past as witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?
Jessica was the first girl to enter Miss Fairchild's care at five years old and is desperate for her foster mother's affection.
Next, Norah is introduced who has a rough past in the foster system and a propensity for violence and harshness to protect herself.
Finally, Alicia who joins them following her grandmother's accident who is extremely fragile and gentle and funny.
These girls endure physical and mental torment, isolated and gaslighted.
This story changes between the three girls and jumps between the last retelling their childhood and 25 years in the future as they try and adjust to adult life, still as loyal to each other as ever.
She imagined that even as a newborn she’d awoken each day with her heart in her throat, asking, What will today be like? Will I forget something, or say the wrong thing? How can I make everyone happy? What if I can’t?
Hepworth highlights the problems of the foster care system, based in Australia, yet relevant to many other continues.
Yet Hepworth keeps this endearing and lighter with a deep bond between the girls, jokes told from what must have been lifted from 101 jokes at just the right times, and such great narration.
The pace is on the slower side as it grapples with the horror of abuse as well as the after lingering effects in their latter life, this is more character focused than plot propelling.
However, I loved this! It let you connect with the sisters, made it more realistic and vulnerable!
I have to admit to not being a huge thriller reader as I always struggle to connect with flat characters and a focus on pulse-pounding rather than more intimate moments. So perhaps this is why this book worked so well for me!
I 100% recommend the audiobook. The narrator really gave these girls their own character in their own perspectives. Each one is distinct and heartbreaking.
This is my first book by Hepworth and now I need to know where to go next!
When a child’s bones is discovered under the home they grew up in, three foster sisters find themselves facing their past as witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?
Jessica was the first girl to enter Miss Fairchild's care at five years old and is desperate for her foster mother's affection.
Next, Norah is introduced who has a rough past in the foster system and a propensity for violence and harshness to protect herself.
Finally, Alicia who joins them following her grandmother's accident who is extremely fragile and gentle and funny.
These girls endure physical and mental torment, isolated and gaslighted.
This story changes between the three girls and jumps between the last retelling their childhood and 25 years in the future as they try and adjust to adult life, still as loyal to each other as ever.
She imagined that even as a newborn she’d awoken each day with her heart in her throat, asking, What will today be like? Will I forget something, or say the wrong thing? How can I make everyone happy? What if I can’t?
Hepworth highlights the problems of the foster care system, based in Australia, yet relevant to many other continues.
Yet Hepworth keeps this endearing and lighter with a deep bond between the girls, jokes told from what must have been lifted from 101 jokes at just the right times, and such great narration.
The pace is on the slower side as it grapples with the horror of abuse as well as the after lingering effects in their latter life, this is more character focused than plot propelling.
However, I loved this! It let you connect with the sisters, made it more realistic and vulnerable!
I have to admit to not being a huge thriller reader as I always struggle to connect with flat characters and a focus on pulse-pounding rather than more intimate moments. So perhaps this is why this book worked so well for me!
I 100% recommend the audiobook. The narrator really gave these girls their own character in their own perspectives. Each one is distinct and heartbreaking.
This is my first book by Hepworth and now I need to know where to go next!
Black Tide Son by H.M. Long
3.25
Slightly let down, but still addictive.
Mary Firth, Stormsinger, and Captain Samuel Rosser of Hart, privateer and a South, are under commission of the Usti Crown.
On the side, they are searching for Samuel’s twin Benedict who is a Magni who can control the minds and actions of others. However, both brothers’ ability to manipulate the Other is corrupted and could easily lead to their death without a cure.
They are also being hunted by the Ess Noti who are willing to kill for the knowledge and skills mages have.
And the division between worlds is at its thinnest during the Black Tides.
The wind did not care for distant threats— it cared only for swiftness and freedom. "Part of me is ready for a new adventure."
Samuel and Mary’s relationship must be carefully drawn as the Captain and Stormsinger is a relationship traditionally fraught with abuse and Mary is the first contracted Stormsinger in centuries. They had to be different to set an example to the world.
We do see more tension and development between them and their characters are fleshed out, especially Samuel’s through flashbacks to his and Ben’s past.
”We are the sum of our choices, and what are we to do when all those choices are evil? When the powers who govern us push us away from peace, and into further violence?"
“We heed our consciences," I replied.
The writing is fast paced and very accessible. This might be an adult fantasy, but the writing makes it easy to understand and gripping for all.
I did find that the characters still lacked that depth I want to latch on and despite the promising and tease of great worldbuilding, it feels like a lot of it happens in the author’s head rather than being shown on the page.
I felt freezing cold and wet throughout this book. The Black waters are encroaching and I’m surprised our characters haven’t caught frostbite yet.
Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with the physical arc!
Mary Firth, Stormsinger, and Captain Samuel Rosser of Hart, privateer and a South, are under commission of the Usti Crown.
On the side, they are searching for Samuel’s twin Benedict who is a Magni who can control the minds and actions of others. However, both brothers’ ability to manipulate the Other is corrupted and could easily lead to their death without a cure.
They are also being hunted by the Ess Noti who are willing to kill for the knowledge and skills mages have.
And the division between worlds is at its thinnest during the Black Tides.
The wind did not care for distant threats— it cared only for swiftness and freedom. "Part of me is ready for a new adventure."
Samuel and Mary’s relationship must be carefully drawn as the Captain and Stormsinger is a relationship traditionally fraught with abuse and Mary is the first contracted Stormsinger in centuries. They had to be different to set an example to the world.
We do see more tension and development between them and their characters are fleshed out, especially Samuel’s through flashbacks to his and Ben’s past.
”We are the sum of our choices, and what are we to do when all those choices are evil? When the powers who govern us push us away from peace, and into further violence?"
“We heed our consciences," I replied.
The writing is fast paced and very accessible. This might be an adult fantasy, but the writing makes it easy to understand and gripping for all.
I did find that the characters still lacked that depth I want to latch on and despite the promising and tease of great worldbuilding, it feels like a lot of it happens in the author’s head rather than being shown on the page.
I felt freezing cold and wet throughout this book. The Black waters are encroaching and I’m surprised our characters haven’t caught frostbite yet.
Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with the physical arc!
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
4.25
One of my favourite king Arthur retellings?
Collum was a common bastard who had no business showing up at Camelot looking for a place at the Round Table. Just a big boy with a sword, from a nowhere island at the edge of the world, green as grass and fresh as dew.
Yet he arrives to find King Arthur is dead and Britain is dying. All that is left is the dregs of the Round Table.
Told from Collum’s point of view in the present and past flashbacks of the remaining knights, the leftovers, Grossman builds a picture of what life was like from Arthur pulling out the sword from the stone to all the quests the knights embarked on and Arthur’s downfall and the consequences.
”We're not the heroes, we're the odd ones out. The losers. But did you ever think that might be why we've lived so long? Losing makes you tough."
Grossman cleverly tells the story of the lesser known knights. The cripple. The fool. The foreigner. The hated Morgan Le Fay. And he throws in subversive twists to consider through a modern lens such as trans identity, homosexuality, imperialism, and abuse.
Of course you think you know it all already, or most of it, but you have probably managed to avoid thinking about the story too closely, the truth hastened past with a certain squeamishness, a dark thread in the otherwise golden tapestry of Camelot. Incest, neglect, prejudice, rape, revenge, and plunder.
Grossman reimagines Arthur as a footnote in his own story, the misbegotten by-product of a rape. A king who never should've been. But one who was honourable and beloved and made the best of his position.
This was delightful! Yes, it delves into the weird and magical, but if you are put off or intimidated after reading The Magicians - don’t be.
The writing isn’t quite as lyrical or profound, making it more accessible, propelling, and the bizarreness never becomes overbearing.
Why would the future be simpler than the past? Stories never really ended, they just rolled one into the next. The past was never wholly lost, and the future was never quite found. We wander forever in a pathless forest, dropping with weariness, as home draws us back, and the grail draws us on, and we never arrive, and the quest never ends.
Thank you to Viking Books for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
High four stars!🌟
Collum was a common bastard who had no business showing up at Camelot looking for a place at the Round Table. Just a big boy with a sword, from a nowhere island at the edge of the world, green as grass and fresh as dew.
Yet he arrives to find King Arthur is dead and Britain is dying. All that is left is the dregs of the Round Table.
Told from Collum’s point of view in the present and past flashbacks of the remaining knights, the leftovers, Grossman builds a picture of what life was like from Arthur pulling out the sword from the stone to all the quests the knights embarked on and Arthur’s downfall and the consequences.
”We're not the heroes, we're the odd ones out. The losers. But did you ever think that might be why we've lived so long? Losing makes you tough."
Grossman cleverly tells the story of the lesser known knights. The cripple. The fool. The foreigner. The hated Morgan Le Fay. And he throws in subversive twists to consider through a modern lens such as trans identity, homosexuality, imperialism, and abuse.
Of course you think you know it all already, or most of it, but you have probably managed to avoid thinking about the story too closely, the truth hastened past with a certain squeamishness, a dark thread in the otherwise golden tapestry of Camelot. Incest, neglect, prejudice, rape, revenge, and plunder.
Grossman reimagines Arthur as a footnote in his own story, the misbegotten by-product of a rape. A king who never should've been. But one who was honourable and beloved and made the best of his position.
This was delightful! Yes, it delves into the weird and magical, but if you are put off or intimidated after reading The Magicians - don’t be.
The writing isn’t quite as lyrical or profound, making it more accessible, propelling, and the bizarreness never becomes overbearing.
Why would the future be simpler than the past? Stories never really ended, they just rolled one into the next. The past was never wholly lost, and the future was never quite found. We wander forever in a pathless forest, dropping with weariness, as home draws us back, and the grail draws us on, and we never arrive, and the quest never ends.
Thank you to Viking Books for sending me the physical arc in exchange for a review!
High four stars!🌟
James by Percival Everett
3.75
Uncomfortable, funny, eye-opening.
The retelling you didn’t know you needed.
The retelling you need to read.
In mid-19th century Missouri, Jim is a slave owned who hears a rumour that he is to be sold to a man in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter. He decides to flee to Jackson Island where he can formulate a plan without danger of being spotted and recognised as a runaway slave.
Meanwhile, Huckleberry Finn has staged his own murder in order to escape his drunken, abusive father. From there, the pair find themselves heading downriver, trying to stay hidden from the rest of the world, and plotting how to free Jim’s family and having many other adventures
Everett gives a much-needed voice to Jim, making him the main character in a tale where he has spent years as little more than an object. Everett handles the issues of race, slavery, and politics with ingenuity. Shock mined with humour and a shrewdness that Jim provides readers behind the scenes.
The children said together, “And the better they feel, the safer we are.” “February, translate that.” “Da mo’ betta dey feels, da mo’ safer we be.” “Nice.
One of my favourite parts was at the start which sets the tone for the story. Jim delivers a “language lesson” but twists it on its head. Indeed, the way the slaves speak in the presence of white people (“Lawdy, missums!”) disappears completely when they’re alone, as they revert back to proper English. Seemingly, this inferiority protects them as well as proving to sheds light on Jim’s intelligence and perceptiveness.
At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn't even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding the out of comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.
I think I have only ever read the first few chapters of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when I was much younger. However, I don’t think it is required to read before reading this.
There are a few short time jumps and obvious scenes that happen outside of the main narrative that seems to expect you already know about or hint towards.
It will definitely add to the experience and make the satire all the more enjoyable and mind-bending.
I definitely recommend the audiobook because the narrator did a phenomenal job at all the voices and giving personality to the characters just through intonation.
The retelling you didn’t know you needed.
The retelling you need to read.
In mid-19th century Missouri, Jim is a slave owned who hears a rumour that he is to be sold to a man in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter. He decides to flee to Jackson Island where he can formulate a plan without danger of being spotted and recognised as a runaway slave.
Meanwhile, Huckleberry Finn has staged his own murder in order to escape his drunken, abusive father. From there, the pair find themselves heading downriver, trying to stay hidden from the rest of the world, and plotting how to free Jim’s family and having many other adventures
Everett gives a much-needed voice to Jim, making him the main character in a tale where he has spent years as little more than an object. Everett handles the issues of race, slavery, and politics with ingenuity. Shock mined with humour and a shrewdness that Jim provides readers behind the scenes.
The children said together, “And the better they feel, the safer we are.” “February, translate that.” “Da mo’ betta dey feels, da mo’ safer we be.” “Nice.
One of my favourite parts was at the start which sets the tone for the story. Jim delivers a “language lesson” but twists it on its head. Indeed, the way the slaves speak in the presence of white people (“Lawdy, missums!”) disappears completely when they’re alone, as they revert back to proper English. Seemingly, this inferiority protects them as well as proving to sheds light on Jim’s intelligence and perceptiveness.
At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn't even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding the out of comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.
I think I have only ever read the first few chapters of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when I was much younger. However, I don’t think it is required to read before reading this.
There are a few short time jumps and obvious scenes that happen outside of the main narrative that seems to expect you already know about or hint towards.
It will definitely add to the experience and make the satire all the more enjoyable and mind-bending.
I definitely recommend the audiobook because the narrator did a phenomenal job at all the voices and giving personality to the characters just through intonation.
A Comedy of Nobodies: A Collection of Stories by Baron Ryan
2.0
Sally Rooney meets comedy.
This recounts a fall semester of Charlie and his social circle - four typical, existential, anxious university students who just want to feel understood.
”I want to die, but I'm so unlucky that if I were reincarnated, I'd probably just come back as myself."
Some stories were semi-relatable, but towards the end, I felt so frustrated at all the friends, especially when it starts getting into a religious pyramid scheme.
Charlie’s fears about never finding love, never being capable of being loved or finding the right one is definitely something that I sympathise with.
However, Charlie is supposed to be twenty years old. I’m 20, and struggled to relate to most of his other actions and thoughts. This made me look up the reviews and now I’m questioning whether I’m the odd, strange 20-year-old who doesn’t think in this way and doesn’t do what he does.
Charlie is witty and nerdy, yet always passed over by each new girl in the story who don’t go for the “nice guy” troupe.
This is a collection of stories all about the same characters so I wasn’t expecting amazing character work. However, I was definitely expecting… more. I had to look up Charlie’s name…
Admittedly, I had no idea who Baron Ryan was when I listened to this and it was only looking up reviews that I found out he is an internet sensation.
I think this will definitely work better for others, but unfortunately I am just left feeling confused and questioning my own normalcy.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me an arc in exchange for a review.
This recounts a fall semester of Charlie and his social circle - four typical, existential, anxious university students who just want to feel understood.
”I want to die, but I'm so unlucky that if I were reincarnated, I'd probably just come back as myself."
Some stories were semi-relatable, but towards the end, I felt so frustrated at all the friends, especially when it starts getting into a religious pyramid scheme.
Charlie’s fears about never finding love, never being capable of being loved or finding the right one is definitely something that I sympathise with.
However, Charlie is supposed to be twenty years old. I’m 20, and struggled to relate to most of his other actions and thoughts. This made me look up the reviews and now I’m questioning whether I’m the odd, strange 20-year-old who doesn’t think in this way and doesn’t do what he does.
Charlie is witty and nerdy, yet always passed over by each new girl in the story who don’t go for the “nice guy” troupe.
This is a collection of stories all about the same characters so I wasn’t expecting amazing character work. However, I was definitely expecting… more. I had to look up Charlie’s name…
Admittedly, I had no idea who Baron Ryan was when I listened to this and it was only looking up reviews that I found out he is an internet sensation.
I think this will definitely work better for others, but unfortunately I am just left feeling confused and questioning my own normalcy.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me an arc in exchange for a review.
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
3.75
A Feast for Oh Nos….
Don’t read this review unless you have read the first three books as you will obviously be spoiled about prior events!
”This will be history, alive..."
"I prefer my history dead. Dead history is writ in ink, the living sort in blood."
"Do you want to die old and craven in your bed?"
"How else? Though not till I'm done reading."
Following the murder of Tywin Lannister by Tyrion who has fled the city, Cersei, seizes power. Seeing threats everywhere, she strives to eliminate all perceived threats, especially those of the Tyrell family, whose daughter Margaery marries her son, child king Tommen. However, Cersei’s paranoia leads her to alienating those closest to her including Jamie and her uncle.
Jaime would not show the crowds a golden lie. Let them see the stump. Let them see the cripple. "But feel free to make up for my lack, Ser Kennos. Wave with both hands, and waggle your feet if it please you."
Sansa Stark is in hiding in the Vale, protected by Little Finger Petyr who has murdered his wife Lysa Arryn and named himself Protector of the Vale, embroidering Sansa in his lies and clever manipulation and deception.
Petry icks me. Like really gets under my skin and makes me shudder whenever he features. Sansa is a lot less whiny and self-absorbed in this one and I really want her and Arya to come face to face again.
Arya arrives in the Free City of Braavos, becoming an acolyte of the House of Black and White, the home of the illusive Many-Faced God. Here, she must learn she is not Arya Stark. She is no one.
Daenerys isn’t in this one, yet her presence is still felt through rumours and speculation. It is hinting towards the biggest war and bloodshed to come yet.
Jon and the Wall also barely feature, but I am sure we will see more of him in the next book!
I think this one suffered from moving people into places. I also thought there were too many deaths, but wait - which took away tension or shock.
Of course, there’s a lot of blood, gore, hanging entrails, and chopped off heads. And more mention of sorcery!
Don’t read this review unless you have read the first three books as you will obviously be spoiled about prior events!
”This will be history, alive..."
"I prefer my history dead. Dead history is writ in ink, the living sort in blood."
"Do you want to die old and craven in your bed?"
"How else? Though not till I'm done reading."
Following the murder of Tywin Lannister by Tyrion who has fled the city, Cersei, seizes power. Seeing threats everywhere, she strives to eliminate all perceived threats, especially those of the Tyrell family, whose daughter Margaery marries her son, child king Tommen. However, Cersei’s paranoia leads her to alienating those closest to her including Jamie and her uncle.
Jaime would not show the crowds a golden lie. Let them see the stump. Let them see the cripple. "But feel free to make up for my lack, Ser Kennos. Wave with both hands, and waggle your feet if it please you."
Sansa Stark is in hiding in the Vale, protected by Little Finger Petyr who has murdered his wife Lysa Arryn and named himself Protector of the Vale, embroidering Sansa in his lies and clever manipulation and deception.
Petry icks me. Like really gets under my skin and makes me shudder whenever he features. Sansa is a lot less whiny and self-absorbed in this one and I really want her and Arya to come face to face again.
Arya arrives in the Free City of Braavos, becoming an acolyte of the House of Black and White, the home of the illusive Many-Faced God. Here, she must learn she is not Arya Stark. She is no one.
Daenerys isn’t in this one, yet her presence is still felt through rumours and speculation. It is hinting towards the biggest war and bloodshed to come yet.
Jon and the Wall also barely feature, but I am sure we will see more of him in the next book!
I think this one suffered from moving people into places. I also thought there were too many deaths, but wait - which took away tension or shock.
Of course, there’s a lot of blood, gore, hanging entrails, and chopped off heads. And more mention of sorcery!