[3.5 stars] Very cool concept. Wonderfully written and excellently translated. I just think it being the start of a series made me feel like, by the e[3.5 stars] Very cool concept. Wonderfully written and excellently translated. I just think it being the start of a series made me feel like, by the end, I wanted more (a good thing! I will continue) but that this one didn't satisfy as much as a 1st book in a series should, in my opinion. It's making me question whether this whole concept needs to be broken out into more volumes or could be instead one large volume or maybe 2-3 bigger ones. We shall see! Maybe I'll eat my words and see, in hindsight, why she ended this one where she did. But for now I liked, didn't love, and hope subsequent volumes provide a bit more meat....more
[3.5 stars] A whimsical tale that looks at our destiny versus the choices we make and the impact that has on our lives.
Hana is now the owner of a mag[3.5 stars] A whimsical tale that looks at our destiny versus the choices we make and the impact that has on our lives.
Hana is now the owner of a magical pawnshop in Tokyo, taking over for her recently retired father. The pawnshop appears only to those who need it, allowing them to trade their regrets for a cup of tea that will take the memory of those regrets away. Keishin is a physicist recently returning to his home country of Japan for a new job but filled with longing for a past he didn't get to in experience in the way he'd hoped. One day, their worlds collide and they are set off on an epic adventure to rescue Hana's father and a stolen regret from the pawnshop.
As you might be able to imagine, the creativity of the world Samantha Sotto Yambao has created is so strong. It's filled with such unique elements that truly feel like a grown-up fairytale. The biggest comparison I've seen is that it reminds people of a Studio Ghibli movie, and I 100% agree with that comparison. This too would make a great animated film! I loved the world and the way the plot wove all of these elements together into a really engaging, exciting and plot-twisting story. I was genuinely caught off guard by a few plot elements that came up, which is rare for me.
So while the world building and plot were extremely creative and strong, I thought the characters and writing were lacking. Both Hana and Keishin felt a bit one-note to me, like cardboard cutouts. They had the elements of real, raw characters but it just wasn't expressed in a way that made them very believable. I think as the story goes on and you learn more about them and their situation, it begins to make more sense, but there could've been more done to make them well-rounded from the start. I also thought the dialogue was somewhat unnatural at times, coming across as wooden and not as warm and inviting as the rest of the story. I listened to a bit on audio and I think it translated better there than on the page.
Although I had a few issues with it that brought my rating down, I did overall have a great time with this one and would recommend it to people keeping in mind my few criticisms. If you want a really creative story you can get lost in for a bit and enjoy magical realism and fantasy mixed with contemporary settings, this one would be worth checking out!...more
'View' is both a noun and a verb. You can look forward, look backward, look inward, look outward. The narrator, and other characters in this story, sp'View' is both a noun and a verb. You can look forward, look backward, look inward, look outward. The narrator, and other characters in this story, spend a lot of time looking out of windows. They spend time looking back at their nation's history, and their own experiences during and after WWII, as well as looking forward to better things. They see things they'd rather forget, images that stay with them into the present day. Things that are recalled by new landscapes that propel them into the past to deal with their trauma, or at least try and face it as it may or may not have happened.
Etsuko, our narrator, does just that when her second child, Niki, visits her in her English countryside home. Her arrival prompts her mother to reflect on decades prior, when she was pregnant with her first daughter, Keiko, who would eventually take her own life in England, unhappy and unsettled with the uprooting from Japan she experienced.
Etsuko particularly recalls one summer when she met a woman named Sachiko and her daughter, Mariko, who moved into an old cottage near the rebuilt apartment complex Etsuko lived in with her then husband Jiro after the bombing of Nagasaki. At the same time, Jiro's elderly father comes to visit and instigates discussions within the household that reflects larger issues of nationalism and intergenerational conflict.
Ishiguro seems so confident from the start. As a debut, this is extremely measured and sure of itself. It has all the hallmarks of his later work: a shrouded mystery, a haunting atmosphere, sharp dialogue, and many layers to peel apart, demanding a re-read.
For such a short novel (my edition has only 183 pages) it's incredibly dense, and though it can be read quickly, it's something that demands attention. It's the kind of story that would greatly reward revisiting because of the 'mystery' you uncover as you continue to read; I'm sure there are hints to something lurking beneath the surface I missed all throughout.
I find most fascinating Ishiguro's obsession with memory and experience. His narrators are often somberly reflective of questionable pasts. You can't always trust what they say, or at least the total veracity of their claims. But they don't seem purposefully deceptive. It's a human trait to want to construct the narrative of our lives in a way that puts us at ease, and Ishiguro doesn't seem to condemn his characters for that desire, but instead looks at what that need for storytelling has on them and those around them.
Is the view that of pale hills, distant reminders of a past rather to be forgotten, or is the viewing pale and dubious, leaving out what clarity and truth would put in stark relief?...more
Working my way back through Emily St. John Mandel's earlier work, I'm impressed, but not surprised, to see how consistent she has been as a writer andWorking my way back through Emily St. John Mandel's earlier work, I'm impressed, but not surprised, to see how consistent she has been as a writer and storyteller for so long.
This one is a more simple and smaller scale story of crime and retribution, of instability and fear in a society that teeters on the edge of collapse. What does it take to 'make it out'?: for Anton, that's out of the family business; for Aria, out of poverty and isolation; for Elena, out of her country and into a better life. These characters circle each other and make the moves necessary to get ahead in life, or at least get to where they want to be, beyond their current selves. Added into the mix is a detective we learn very little about, with her own ambitions and motivations.
It's a sort of noir/crime drama with Mandel's signature clarity and sophistication. Not your typical thriller, but thrilling nonetheless. It's clever, character-driven, but equally as compelling in form, with pacing that keeps you going with ease. A perfect book to get me out of my foggy head and focus on another life for a bit, and a lovely addition to the author's body of work....more
I think I’m just not in the mood for this right now. There were some moments I enjoyed, but it has been quite uninteresting to be honest anDNF @ 48%.
I think I’m just not in the mood for this right now. There were some moments I enjoyed, but it has been quite uninteresting to be honest and I just don’t get the point.
I think I might return to this someday, but for now I’m going to put it aside. ...more
The artwork in this is phenomenal. Such beautiful & rich full color illustrations. But the story was kind of basic and predictable and didn’t allow enThe artwork in this is phenomenal. Such beautiful & rich full color illustrations. But the story was kind of basic and predictable and didn’t allow enough time to really connect with the characters. I felt like it moved SO quickly and the main character didn’t feel fully fleshed out because of that. It hit all the major beats of this kind of story. If you’re interested I’d say check this one out from the library. ...more
Charlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotional is an intimate exploration of grief, spirituality, and the quiet beauty of an untethered existence.
Set in a smCharlotte Wood’s Stone Yard Devotional is an intimate exploration of grief, spirituality, and the quiet beauty of an untethered existence.
Set in a small rural town with a tranquil monastery at its core, the novel follows an unnamed woman escaping from her everyday existence. She retreats (an interesting word with multiple meanings here) to the confines of the religious center to experience solitude and peace for a brief moment. But her stay extends into something life-altering, causing her to reflect on her past actions and beliefs and confront how they've brought her to the present.
The setting feels almost dreamlike—hovering between the mundane and the mystical. The landscape the author paints is both grounded and ethereal, a place where time seems to slow and dissolve, allowing the protagonist’s reflections to sink deeper. Every detail of the environment, from the sandstone monastery to the eucalyptus-dappled light, serves as a mirror to the inner life of the unnamed narrator, creating a sense of place so strong it feels like another character in the story.
The narrative unfolds in a diaristic and deeply personal style, drawing readers into the heart and mind of the main character as she grapples with her past and the aftershocks of profound loss. The first-person narration gives the novel an immediacy that feels both raw and restrained. It’s as though we’re reading a private diary, filled with unspoken fears and quiet epiphanies, bringing us into close communion with her contemplative journey. The structure of the story, almost like a meditation itself, allows the reader to experience the ebb and flow of her reflections, creating a powerful connection that lingers well beyond the final page.
The book heavily focuses on themes of existence, belief, and the search for meaning which are interwoven with more contemporary threads, such as climate change, immigration, and the call for inclusivity in a fractured world. Wood doesn’t shy away from these complex topics but instead lets them seep in subtly, much like the encroaching mice plague that haunts the novel’s setting. The monastery, a symbol of faith and tradition, stands in contrast to the broader societal changes that the narrator contemplates—questions of who belongs, what we owe to each other, and what remains sacred in a world in flux. This tension between old and new ways of thinking enriches the narrator’s musings on love, belonging, and her place in a community she is both part of and apart from.
What elevates the novel is its strong ending, which ties the narrative together in a satisfying way. The final pages offer a sense of clarity and closure that feels earned, yet not forced. Upon finishing, I found myself reflecting back on the novel’s beginning, noticing the subtle parallels that bring the story full circle. It’s a novel that invites a second reading, where the echoes of its opening chapters deepen the emotional impact of its conclusion.
Ultimately, Stone Yard Devotional is a quiet but profound novel that invites readers to sit with their own discomforts and questions about life’s purpose. Through the lens of one woman’s spiritual and emotional pilgrimage, Charlotte Wood offers a narrative that is as generous as it is introspective, challenging us to find grace in the fleeting moments of connection and clarity amidst the uncertainties of our time. It’s an understated yet powerful read that left me with much to ponder, even after the final page was turned....more
I forgot to review this one when I finished it a month ago! I really enjoyed this book. It definitely won't be for everyone. It's a bit of a weird misI forgot to review this one when I finished it a month ago! I really enjoyed this book. It definitely won't be for everyone. It's a bit of a weird mish-mash of spy thriller (but not your conventional genre-y page-turner), literary fiction, and philosophical musing on humanity. But that's exactly what I loved about it!
The narrative voice is so strong; 'Sadie Smith' our pseudonymous main character is independent, cool, hard to read, and definitely unlikeable at times. Think Ottessa Moshfegh if she had written Birnam Wood. And there's a lot of talk about Neanderthals, so there's that.
Glad this one got put on the Booker shortlist to make me prioritize it! The same thing happened many years ago with Kushner's The Mars Room which I also greatly enjoyed. Guess I gotta read more Kushner now! ...more
One of my favorite books of 2024 is Ben Shattuck's newest short story collection The History of Sound, which weaves together stories that mine theOne of my favorite books of 2024 is Ben Shattuck's newest short story collection The History of Sound, which weaves together stories that mine the depths of history while staying deeply personal, interwoven with beautiful writing about nature, the past and present, artifacts, and longing.
So of course, I had to go back and read his 2022 memoir which follows him across about 10 years as he took 6 different walks previously taken and written about by Henry David Thoreau.
This sort of pilgrimage Shattuck set out on was an effort to make space in nature to reflect, be delighted and surprised, and hopefully come to some understanding greater than himself. He says it much more eloquently and sounds less self-indulgent than my description. And with any book about pilgrimage, it is so much more about the journey than the destination.
Needless to say, I LOVED this book. It felt tailor made for me. I delighted in spending each morning with a cup of coffee, reading about another of his walks, the quirky characters he meets along the way, the animals he encounters, the nature he observes, and how he interweaves quotes and summaries of Thoreau's own journeys in a blend of past and present. It flowed so well, never feeling like a forced revelation but letting his nature walks unspool in front of him and his understandings unfold later upon reflection.
I can see myself revisiting this again, if not just for the beautiful descriptions of nature, but also for his wisdom, his wonder at the unknowability of things, and how it put me in a headspace that forced me to reflect and consider my own feelings about the things he discussed. It made me want to go on a long hike in the hills or sit on a foggy beach at morning. It made me want to say a silent prayer each day to the universe for the magic of existence....more
I’m so impressed by this book. It’s a true work of an artist giving everything they have to their craft. The attention to detail and care for every paI’m so impressed by this book. It’s a true work of an artist giving everything they have to their craft. The attention to detail and care for every page of this graphic memoir is quite remarkable. And of course, the stories of the three women that this book charts is moving and carefully rendered.
My only complaint is that I think it got a bit dense and repetitive at times. In the first half, especially, there is a lot of history that is told through large blocks of text, which I was not expecting for a book relying heavily on imagery. And in the latter half of the story, some of the elements felt redundant by that point and some sentiments repeated.
Don’t let that deter you from picking this up. It is incredibly well-crafted and emotional. I can imagine this having a very strong impact on children of immigrants as well, and those who have suffered from a lost history in their family, or a history that keeps people apart rather than pulling them together. ...more
What is there to say that hasn't already been said about this? A wonderful reimagining of an American classic. It straddles adventure and peril in equWhat is there to say that hasn't already been said about this? A wonderful reimagining of an American classic. It straddles adventure and peril in equal measure. Jim's voice is clear and eviscerating. I flew through it and would highly recommend, whether you've read Huck Finn or not!...more
A compelling and fully realized character study that takes into consideration themes of big pharma and political divides.
I thought Damon/Demon was sucA compelling and fully realized character study that takes into consideration themes of big pharma and political divides.
I thought Damon/Demon was such a vivid main character and narrator, one I won't forget for a long time.
The writing was strong and pulled me into the story, though the pacing dragged a bit in the middle and the relentless sadness of his life was palpable, making it a rather difficult reading experience.
But ultimately I thought Kingsolver did a fantastic job bringing it all to life on the page!...more
This is definitely a book. Not one that I particularly understood or enjoyed. But curious to discuss at book club. Maybe I’ll come back and update my This is definitely a book. Not one that I particularly understood or enjoyed. But curious to discuss at book club. Maybe I’ll come back and update my review with actual thoughts once we chat. ...more
For fans of Tender is the Flesh and Fever Dream. An atmospheric, reflective story about an epidemic stemming from the appearance of algae in an unnameFor fans of Tender is the Flesh and Fever Dream. An atmospheric, reflective story about an epidemic stemming from the appearance of algae in an unnamed coastal city.
A woman charged with looking after a boy, Mauro, with an insatiable hunger alternates visits between her mother living inland from the diseased areas of their hometown and her ex-husband, Max, who's hospitalized for chronic care due to the indecipherable illness. She reflects on the loss of lives, the loss of livelihood, and the loss of her past and memories. But while the stakes seem high, the story itself is not urgent—it winds and wends like a river toward an inevitable waterfall. Will she make it out of the country as prices for food and the new 'pink slime' supplement go up and up? What will happen to Mauro and Max in their respective situations? How do we hold onto humanity amidst chaos and confusion?
The book has a very strong and clear tone, communicated well through Cleary's flawless translation. The short chapters are followed by unspecific dialogue between two characters—the main character and her ex-husband? And her mother? And her childhood nanny? And her lost friends? It's unclear and adds to the disorienting and mysterious feeling of the book as a whole.
There were a few passages that really struck me, and I think the author has an interesting point-of-view. While the book overall didn't blow me away, I'd be curious to read more from her and recommend for readers who appreciate more vibes than plot....more
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