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Doubt that truth be a liar; but never doubt that I love: Reviewing Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. I am going to do something I never thought I would: shamelessly e-beg! I have had this blog for many years and I thought that I would make it work for me. You are more than welcome to completely ignore the little donation box (or whatever you call it) at the end of this blog. If you do choose to show your support to me, I will be forever grateful to you. If no one touches it, I’ll take the hint and never try this again. I appreciate your support no matter what. Now, let’s talk about Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell.

Content Warning: Some Sexual Content, Grief and Mourning, Death of a Child, Some Violence

Agnes is an unsual young woman who spends her days taming her falcon and wandering through the forests that surround her family’s property. Her life is changed when she meets a young Latin tutor who loves her for her wildness. After a hasty marriage, they move to Stratford-Upon-Avon where Agnes become a doting mother and devoted wife. Her life is changed forever when the Black Death strikes her home. Now, Agnes must come to terms with tragedy while her husband is away and running a theater company. Agnes is determined to find a way back to her husband, to find closure once and for all.

While Hamnet is not the kind of book I ususally read, I do have a deep love for the play Hamlet. Maggie O’Farrell offers a compelling, heart-breaking take on the origin of one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Agnes (technically Anne Hathway, Shakespeare’s real-life wife) is a such unique and relatable character. The book covers quite a bit of ground in following Agnes and her husband’s relationship from the beginning, but it does so with good pacing. O’Farrell does a fantastic job creating atmosphere and exploring all of the minute details of the world that would be otherwise overlooked. While Shakespeare is still a presence in the book, he does not overshadow any of the events that Agnes experiences. Maggie O’Farrell does a great job with balancing the book’s driving plot while taking time to explore the characters’ inner turmoil. Hamnet is a great book for those who love historical fiction and want something that tugs at the heart strings as any one of Shakespeare’s tragedies.

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Posted on by bookreviews628

To live is to exist within time. To remember is to negate time: Reviewing Bliss Montage by Ling Ma

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. My TBR pile grew by quite a bit because my birthday just passed and I am lucky enough to have family who understand that I just want to read. I even got the complete Dune trilogy so I’m looking forward to reading that. I’m also pleased to say that I am working on some of my own writing in my spare time. It feels good to finally have an idea that I want to work on. If there are any updates on that, I will be happy to share them with you all. In the meantime, let’s talk about Bliss Montage, a collection of short stories.

Content Warning: Substance Abuse, Some Sexual Content, Discussions and Depictions of Domestic Abuse,

Ling Ma’s collection of eight short stories, Bliss Montage, explores feminism, immigration, friendships, and motherhood. A woman lives with her husband and 100 ex-boyfriends. A woman travels with her husband to his home country to participate in an ancient ritual that involves being buried alive. A designer drug threatens to tear apart a friendship. A professor discovers a portal in her office. These stories use surrealism to confront everyday fears, explore isolation, and examine toxic relationships.

While I am normally drawn towards short story collections, Bliss Montage offered a refreshing and poignant perspective that is as strange as it is meaningful. Each story stands on its own but, what I liked is how they all seemed to build on each other. In my interpretation, three of the stories had the same narrator but arguments could be made for the opposite point. Ling Ma does an excellent job giving her stories a dream-like feel, while still being rooted in certain realities. She is not afraid to dive into heavy topics like domestic violence and addiction. Ma’s approach is meaningful and her writing has a certain relatability to it. Bliss Montage is an excellent short story collection that is engaging, thoughtful, and darkly humorous.

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If we can’t seek the physical sublime, what are we supposed to look at?: Reviewing Several People are Typing by Calvin Kasulke

Hi everyone! I hope you are doing well. I’ve been having trouble finding this particular book in store so it took me a bit to get my hands on this one. I only live by bigger bookstores like Barnes and Noble so I don’t get the fun indie stuff. That’s beside the point, though. I have a fun review for you today so I won’t do my usual rambling. Let’s talk about Several People are Typing.

Content Warning: Some Harsh Language, Some Discussions of Sex

Gerald is a mid-level employee working for an advertising firm in New York City. Everything is going fine until his conscience gets uploaded into Slack, his company’s internal messaging system. Every time he reaches out for help his co-workers think he is just pranking them. One co-worker, who happens to be Gerald’s neighbor, discovers his comatose body in the apartment. Until they can figure out how to get Gerald back in his body, he must help his co-workers with a client’s PR disaster. The longer Gerald spends in Slack, though, the more he realizes that he may not be able to escape.

I immediately gravitated toward the unique writing style of Several People Are Typing. The entire book is told through Slack channels and instant messaging. If you have worked in a corporate setting, then you are probably very familiar with these kinds of messaging systems. (I personally know quite a bit about Microsoft Teams.) This book gave me major Black Mirror vibes with its commentary on workplace culture, social interactions, and privacy. Calvin Kalsulke uses this digital style to explore human interactions and the limits of technology. I also enjoyed how the novel incorporated a sweet little romance into this rather strange and existential narrative. Several People Are Typing was such a fun and unique read. Anyone who has worked in a corporate setting will enjoy this satirical novel.

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Are you ready to make a deal?: Reviewing Sign Here by Claudia Lux

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! I am posting this on St. Patrick’s Day so Happy St. Paddy’s Day if you celebrate! I recently broke my book-buying ban and will return with more fascinating novels soon. I have at least one more novella to read and a shorter novel before I review some of the longer books I own. One of my next books will be Terry Pratchett’s The Color of Magic so I might have a new series to start soon. Before I can talk about any of those, I must talk to you about the subject of this review: Sign Here by Claudia Lux.

Content Warning: Discussions and Depictions of Violence and Abuse, Drug and Alcohol Usage, Some Harsh Language, Some Sexual Content,

Despite living in Hell (yes, that Hell), Peyote Trip has a pretty good gig. He works in the Deals Department on the Fifth Floor of Hell. Peyote, though, wants to get promoted to the Sixth Floor, where things are a lot less awful. To do so, he has to convince the last member of the Harrison family to sign over their soul. Completely unaware of this plan, the Harrisons go up to their lake house to spend where they always spend their summers. Their teen daughter brings along her confident and mysterious friend, Ruth. Peyote seizes the opportunity to get to the Harrisons. With the help of his new coworker Calamity, he should have this deal in the bag. These plans, however, begin to fall apart quickly when the Harrisons are forced to confront a tragedy that happened at the lake. As it turns out, these secrets have deadly consequences for everyone.

Sign Here was quite a fun and thrilling read. It was equal parts darkly funny and rather heartwarming at times. Claudia Lux makes the most use of multiple character POVs to create such well-fleshed-out characters. I also loved her depiction of Hell as being a series of the worst workplaces you could ever imagine. The blurb said this book had similar vibes to “The Good Place,” which is one of my favorite shows and I could definitely see the similarities here and there. I thought the overall humor that the book promises worked well with the tone. It never felt inappropriate when it didn’t need to be, considering some of the content matter that this book deals with. My favorite thing about the book, though, was the plot twists that made me not want to put down the book at all. I absolutely needed to know how this book ended and I am glad I did. Overall, I am going to recommend Sign Here, especially if you have a bit of a dark sense of humor.

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The world was scary. Worse, I was scary in it: Reviewing Monstrilio by Gerardo Samano Cordova

Hello everyone! I’m back to my regularly scheduled reviews! I’m very excited about this one too. I always have a few books on my TBR pile that I look forward to more than others. Monstrilio has been circling around my little corner of the internet and I was immediately intrigued by the premise. Now, let’s not ramble on any longer and talk about Monstrilio.

Content Warning: Death of a Child, Grief and Mourning, Explicit Sexual Content, Some Harsh Language, Depictions Of Drug and Alcohol Use, Animal Death, Graphic Depictions of Injuries

Magos is shattered after the death of her young son, Santiago. In her grief, she cuts out a piece of his lung as a morbid keepsake. She believes she can bring Santiago back by feeding and nurturing the piece of the lung. Shockingly, it worked but not in the way that Magos had thought. The lung slowly turns into a grotesque little creature that she dubs Monstrilio. Magos does her best to contain this new creature but Monstrilio grows and evolves rapidly. His appetite poses a danger to Magos and those around her. Magos is forced to confront her grief and decide what to do with the creature who may or may not be her son.

I am so glad when the hype for a book pays off. Monstrilio is a beautiful yet terrifying novel about the complexity of grief. This book is so tender and so fierce in its depiction of love and what love can drive someone to do, for better or worse. What I wasn’t anticipating about this book (but absolutely loved) is its depiction of queer love and sexuality. We have these characters who have so much to hide because of what they have done but don’t ever hide from those aspects of themselves. While this novel is classified as a horror, it wasn’t truly “scary,” but it was gruesome at times. You have been warned if you are a little squeamish. It did give me the chills here and there. I did not want to put this book down at all. I know it’s early in the year but Monstrilio is already one of my all-time favorites so far. Put this one on the top of your TBR immediately. You won’t regret reading this truly amazing novel.

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We would not be born out of sweetness, we were born out of rage: Reviewing Brutes by Dizz Tate

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I’m back again with yet another unhinged book about girlhood. Prepare yourself. I promise that my reviews will remain weird. I have said this once and I will say it again: thank you all so much for continuing to support this blog as I ramble on about whatever have read lately and I wish you all the best. Now, let’s discuss Brutes.

Content Warning: Some Harsh Language, Disturbing Imagery, Discussions and Depictions of Child Abuse and Neglect, Some Discussions of Self-harm, Some Discussions about Substance Abuse

Falls Landing, Florida seems like a haven for upper-class Floridians with its clean houses, massive pools, and constant gossip. In this little suburban paradise lives a group of thirteen-year-old girls, dubbed “the Brutes” by their mothers. These girls develop an obsession with Sammy, the preacher’s daughter. They spend their days and nights following Sammy and her boyfriend, Eddie, with a frenzied curiosity. One day, Sammy goes missing and only the girls know what really happened to her. The secret will continue to haunt them into adulthood and rears its ugly head as they reunite in unexpected ways.

In the same vain as Ottessa Moshfegh and Monica Ojeda, Dizz Tate delivers a visceral and harsh look at girlhood and its pitfalls. The Brutes is a dizzying tale of mystery with Southern Gothic elements. I love the combination of abstract prose and blunt honesty that Dizz Tate uses throughout the novel. I have not spent a ton of time in Florida but Tate paints a detailed picture of a childhood among the cul-de-sacs where secrets lie in every house. I also appreciated the flash-forwards to each of the characters as adults because it did an excellent job showing the lasting impact of childhood trauma. Brutes is an impactful look at the bonds created by girlhood and the unspoken truths of growing up in a toxic environment.

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Instinct is a force beyond one’s control: Reviewing Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well! This is my second review of a book by Ottessa Moshfegh. You can check out my review of My Year of Rest and Relaxation. I am still on my “weird girl literature” kick and have at least two more “weird” books to review. I’m glad you are all still interested in this blog and I am forever grateful to all of you who read my reviews. Let’s talk about Lapvona.

Content Warning: Disturbing Imagery, Graphic Death, Explicit Sexual Content, Depictions of Domestic Abuse, Depictions of Sexual Abuse, Depictions of Self-Harm, Some Harsh Language, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Discussions and Depictions of Ableism

Marek, the son of the village shepherd, has been ostracized from the rest of the Lapvona due to his appearance. His father, Jude, abuses him and blames him for his mother’s death. He seeks solace in nature and God. The only other person he has a personal connection to is Ina, the blind medicine woman. Ina possesses a mysterious ability to connect with nature in a way that frightens Marek, but he has no other source of comfort. Not only is Marek’s faith being tested, but so is the village of Lapvona after a drought befalls the people. During this time, a freak accident brings Marek into the home of the eccentric and calculated lord governor. Marek finds himself plunged into a world that he doesn’t belong in and must change for better or worst to survive.

This book was bleak and visceral in a way that only Ottessa Moshfegh could write it. Lapvona takes an unflinching look at flawed characters who are just trying to survive by any means necessary, even if it means taking drastic measures. There were a few times while reading this book when I raised my eyebrows and thought “Oh no what the hell is this?” I did, however, keep reading because the behavior of the characters, while disgusting, is still undeniably and graphically human. I think that is the element of Moshfegh’s book that keeps drawing me back in. I appreciate the commentary and themes of the novel as none of this is unnecessarily gratuitous. I also like the fact that the novel is meant to be an allegory. It certainly got me thinking, that’s for sure. While Lapvona will not appeal to everyone, it will appeal to those whose morbid curiosity always gets the better of them.

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Everything can be made from her hands: Reviewing Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval, Translated by Marjam Idriss

Hi everyone! I’m back again with another novella review. I have one other novella in my TBR pile but I might save that one for a later date. Be ready for some weird and depressing books, though. I hope the content warnings I give you in these reviews are helpful. Trigger warnings and/or content warnings are necessary, and I will continue to use them from now on. Now, let’s talk about Paradise Rot.

Content Warning: Explicit Sexual Content, Some Disturbing Imagery, Some Harsh Language

Jo is traveling from Norway to start university in England. She’s alone and struggling to adapt to her new setting. She meets a strange woman named Carral and moves into her equally strange apartment. It has no walls and seems to have a life of its own. Jo finds herself inexplicably drawn to Carral. The thin boundaries between them begin to break down and Jo finds herself struggling to navigate a world where she can’t separate herself from Carral.

This novella was certainly a bizarre read in a captivating, dream-like way. Jenny Hval’s use of atmospheric writing and vivid (albeit gross) descriptions pull you in as a reader and force you to face the more minutely uncomfortable aspects of life. There is also a sense of catharsis in the way Hval explores sapphic relationships. I am a sucker for the “cannibalism as a metaphor for love” trope and Paradise Rot certainly fits the bill. There were a lot of discussions revolving a bodily fluids so if you are a bit squeamish about that, then you should look for a different book. If you do, however, want an atmospheric and weird book then I would definitely recommend Paradise Rot.

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Our remedies oft in ourselves do die: Reviewing All’s Well by Mona Awad

Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well! January feels like a weird time of year for me. It is nothing that I can’t deal with, and I deal with my problems by reading instead. This is now the second book I have read by Mona Awad. You can check out my review of her other book, Bunny. You all know at this point that I love “weird girl literature” so, of course, I had to check out this book. I am currently reading another book by Ottessa Mosfegh. That review will be out soon-ish. Now, however, it is time to talk about All’s Well.

Content Warning: Some harsh language, Some sexual content, Some depictions of substance abuse, Brief discussion of self-harm

Miranda Fitch’s life has fallen apart. Her once-promising career as a stage actress and her marriage ended when Miranda was in a car accident. Now, she is dealing with debilitating chronic pain. The only thing she has to look forward to is her production of Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well. Her cast of college students, however, band against her to perform Macbeth instead. Miranda feels her rock bottom sinking lower. That is, however, until she meets three mysterious benefactors who assure her that her show will go on and her pain will go away. Suddenly, everything begins to look up for Miranda but she begins to wonder if she will have to pay a price for her sudden success.

Mona Awad continues to deliver weird and layered narratives surrounding women’s issues in ways that I have never really seen before. As a fan of Shakespeare, I love Awad’s use of elements from Macbeth and All’s Well That Ends Well to enhance a story about a woman who just wants someone to believe in her. I particularly enjoy Awad’s ability to write strange, dream-like prose that you can still follow as you read it. Mona Awad’s writing is meant for speculation. It is interesting the way that the characters gaslight themselves and each other throughout the book. I found myself re-reading certain sections because of the way that the book makes you doubt yourself and that is truly a compliment. My only gripe with this book is that I wish we got to see more of the rehearsals because there was clearly a lot of weird stuff going on if you read between the lines. I kind of wish we could have seen that. Regardless, if you are looking for something on the surreal side with just a very slight touch of academia then I would certainly recommend All’s Well.

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Survive, whatever it takes: Reviewing Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. I have said this before in previous reviews, but I want to preface this by saying I fully understand that some books I’m reading aren’t for everyone. A lot of the books I read deal with uncomfortable topics that you reading might not want to read about. I understand my limits and have adapted to reading books about sensitive topics. This is why I’ve been leaving content warnings in my reviews because I too don’t like to surprised by graphic content. Typically, I know what I’m getting into when I choose a book and I want you all to know what you are getting into. If you have stuck around for my ramblings, then you are clearly just as weird as me so let’s talk about Earthlings.

Content Warning: Graphic Sexual Content, Graphic Violence, Depictions of Non-consensual sex/Sexual Assault, Harm and Neglect towards Children, Incest

As a child, Natsuki believed that she was an alien who was sent to Earth on a special mission. Her closest friends were her plush hedgehog named Piyyut, who came from the planet Popinpobopia, and her cousin Yuu. Natsuki and Yuu formed a close relationship and pledged to each other to survive in order to get back to their home planet. After a series of tragic events, Natsuki and Yuu are separated but Natsuki still held onto their promise. Now an adult, Natsuki lives a quiet life in her unusual, but comfortable marriage. When her husband suggests they take a vacation to her grandparents’ old home in the mountains, Natsuki agrees in hopes of finally getting away from the pressure from her family. To her surprise, Yuu is still living in the family home where Natsuki spent most of her childhood. Now, away from society, Natsuki, her husband, and Yuu all bond together and found out what it really means to survive, no matter what it takes.

I’ve read quite a few unhinged books in time and this one definitely just entered my “top ten most unhinged books” list. Sayaka Murata masterfully depicts the different ways people cope with trauma and how society often desensitizes itself to trauma. The writing was as surreal as it was heartbreaking at times. This book does delve into some very uncomfortable topics but does so unflinchingly. I also found it interesting that this book was as much about the dangers of nonconformity as it was about conformity. It is almost hard to articulate how I feel about this book without giving you a ten-page essay because there is so much I want to say. I couldn’t look away from Earthlings and I honestly do recommend this if you want a surreal, yet shocking book that you won’t be able to put down.