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jstilts's reviews
80 reviews
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
A charming little book of short repetitive-in-structure tales of people wandering into a library just as they are at a turning point in their careers, and indirectly finding the inspiration they need to make a wise choice from the slightly unearthly librarian.
As with similar Japanese books the structure may stay the same but you see it differently through the fresh eyes and differing perspectives of the starring character of each story, keeping the book fresh yet cosily familiar - and eventually the stories, set in a small ward, start to overlap in pleasing little ways. It's rather a shame when it all comes to an end - while it took a few chapters to warm to this book, I could read more and more.
As with similar Japanese books the structure may stay the same but you see it differently through the fresh eyes and differing perspectives of the starring character of each story, keeping the book fresh yet cosily familiar - and eventually the stories, set in a small ward, start to overlap in pleasing little ways. It's rather a shame when it all comes to an end - while it took a few chapters to warm to this book, I could read more and more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism
Bread and Honey by Eric Carle, Ivan Southall, Avan Southall
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
A strange book full of foreboding, less a coming-of-age than a very strange turning point in a thirteen year old Australian boys life. Michael spends ANZAC day missing his family, pondering his transitional phase from boy to man, exploring a beach with a mysterious younger girl - and being pursued by the awful town bullies.
An almost stream-of-conciousness book filled with dread, confusion and wonder - and never quite going in the directions you expect it to. While this is presumably aimed at teens of Michaels age, it's tense and complex and unexpected - definitely worth reading by adults.
An almost stream-of-conciousness book filled with dread, confusion and wonder - and never quite going in the directions you expect it to. While this is presumably aimed at teens of Michaels age, it's tense and complex and unexpected - definitely worth reading by adults.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Blood
Michael Chabon's the Escapists by Brian K. Vaughan, Michael Chabon
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A comic book about 3 people trying to make a comic book - pretty straightforward relationship stuff, but quite touching in the end.
There's love, grief, obsession, corporate greed, guerrilla marketing and a sort of coming-of-age - except the age is probably around 30!
Reads like a true story, but turns out this is a loose graphic novel sequel of sorts to the novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by a different author who writes an introduction to this. It's completely stand-alone though, I only discovered this when trying to work out why it's called "Michael Chabon's The Escapists" when Michael only writes the introduction.
That introduction also reads like a true story - a touchingly funny anecdote about a close-to-blind man getting lost in a hotel looking for the bathroom - but is also fiction, and makes me want to read the original novel now.
There's love, grief, obsession, corporate greed, guerrilla marketing and a sort of coming-of-age - except the age is probably around 30!
Reads like a true story, but turns out this is a loose graphic novel sequel of sorts to the novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by a different author who writes an introduction to this. It's completely stand-alone though, I only discovered this when trying to work out why it's called "Michael Chabon's The Escapists" when Michael only writes the introduction.
That introduction also reads like a true story - a touchingly funny anecdote about a close-to-blind man getting lost in a hotel looking for the bathroom - but is also fiction, and makes me want to read the original novel now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
Archie vs Predator by Rich Koslowski, Fernando Ruiz, Alex de Campi, Jason Millet
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Probably not the right book for me, I've never read a "regular" issue of Archie, so a "What If" comedy was never going to land for me.
Still, even taking that into account this is pretty lightweight stuff, and I can't see it being much more funnier nor interesting than it appears to be - which isn't very much.
Full of objectification "jokes" too, which is pretty yawn.
Still, even taking that into account this is pretty lightweight stuff, and I can't see it being much more funnier nor interesting than it appears to be - which isn't very much.
Full of objectification "jokes" too, which is pretty yawn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
10 Dates by Bridget Van der Eyk
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is tough to review as I'm reading well outside of my comfort zone - and my low rating may well be a reflection of that!
This book follows the bitchy exploits of a group of young up-and-coming wannabe celebrities that have formed a "Brat Pack" on the Hollywood scene, where infighting, envy and a burning desire to uncover scandal threatens to pull the group of friends apart. With friends like these who needs enemies?
If this sort of drama - with lashings of fashion brand name-checking - is your thing, this book has it in spades. It's also a romance - one that takes a while to truly kick off, and rather a sweet one if you can get past the central conceit of a man blackmailing his way into dating somebody.
What stands out in the long run is the main character very slowly has the superficial glamour and bitchiness peeled away, revealing a genuine person beneath - it's only unfortunate that her true character remains very well hidden for a large chunk of the book. Certainly I had trouble sticking with it as she and her friends take so much time criticising their peers, being annoyed by each other and belittling people they see as beneath them. I had particular trouble with an early scene involving an unfortunate waitress who got mocked without short or long term remorse.
Still, even if the main character didn't exactly develop she did instead become slowly better revealed, and I'm interested to see if the sequel can take her in directions I find more palatable now she is away from her awful "friends" !
This book follows the bitchy exploits of a group of young up-and-coming wannabe celebrities that have formed a "Brat Pack" on the Hollywood scene, where infighting, envy and a burning desire to uncover scandal threatens to pull the group of friends apart. With friends like these who needs enemies?
If this sort of drama - with lashings of fashion brand name-checking - is your thing, this book has it in spades. It's also a romance - one that takes a while to truly kick off, and rather a sweet one if you can get past the central conceit of a man blackmailing his way into dating somebody.
What stands out in the long run is the main character very slowly has the superficial glamour and bitchiness peeled away, revealing a genuine person beneath - it's only unfortunate that her true character remains very well hidden for a large chunk of the book. Certainly I had trouble sticking with it as she and her friends take so much time criticising their peers, being annoyed by each other and belittling people they see as beneath them. I had particular trouble with an early scene involving an unfortunate waitress who got mocked without short or long term remorse.
Still, even if the main character didn't exactly develop she did instead become slowly better revealed, and I'm interested to see if the sequel can take her in directions I find more palatable now she is away from her awful "friends" !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Stalking
Finn's Folly by Ivan Southall
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Considering the young age group this book was aimed at (it was published by Puffin) this is an absolutely devastating tale, masterfully told - and definitely not something to read a few chapters to the kids just before bed, or even in one go as it ends at an unexpected moment that had me incredulously shouting at the long-deceased author. I have SO many questions and I dread the answers - it's cruel to the reader but absolute genius!
I'll avoid spoilers and add some words of encouragement - this book was written a while ago and the vernacular used by the children (especially in the first few chapters) was a little strange to me, and the attitudes between brother and sister can seem a little misogynistic - but this isn't untypical between some bickering siblings, and it's worth pushing through this. The meat of the tale involves four children left in bed one night while their mother picks up their father from the train station. After time has passed and unusual noises are heard on the distant road, the children become afraid their parents are not coming back.
One aspect that only initially struck me as problematic is the way the children talk and think about their intellectually disabled brother, which I took at first as a "sign of the times" - but no, that's deliberate authoral intent to depict the children that way as later there are chapters from David's point of view, and it's a fascinating and sympathetic portrayal that shows how misunderstood he is in the book by adults and children alike.
I highly recommend this book - once read it's not easily forgotten.
I'll avoid spoilers and add some words of encouragement - this book was written a while ago and the vernacular used by the children (especially in the first few chapters) was a little strange to me, and the attitudes between brother and sister can seem a little misogynistic - but this isn't untypical between some bickering siblings, and it's worth pushing through this. The meat of the tale involves four children left in bed one night while their mother picks up their father from the train station. After time has passed and unusual noises are heard on the distant road, the children become afraid their parents are not coming back.
One aspect that only initially struck me as problematic is the way the children talk and think about their intellectually disabled brother, which I took at first as a "sign of the times" - but no, that's deliberate authoral intent to depict the children that way as later there are chapters from David's point of view, and it's a fascinating and sympathetic portrayal that shows how misunderstood he is in the book by adults and children alike.
I highly recommend this book - once read it's not easily forgotten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Mental illness, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Misogyny and Vomit
The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Beautifully written, I nevertheless found this book an absolute slog of a read. Terrible things happen to Alice throughout the book, which is heartbreaking, but terrible things fill the lives of the dozens of other characters as well to the point of ridiculousness. Everyone is damaged by death or abuse - even the most minor of characters - for instance a vet, who appears in a handful of paragraphs, has a dead wife and child on his mind. It's eye rolling and exhausting. A character we meet early on and only return to very late in the book has a child die at 5 because everyone needs a tragedy. Everyone has a story and every story is miserable.
Characters make the worst possible decisions at all times just to drive the grimness onwards and make Alice's life as miserable as possible. Her lov ng grandmother absolutely ruins Alice's life and the motivations are all incomprehensible beyond the author wanting their character to suffer.
Where I really gave up is when - SPOILER - Aluce falls ridiculously deeply and savagely in love literally at first sight with someone who of course turns out to be an abuser. I realise that it's not uncommon for victims of abusive families to find themselves with abusive partners but she didn't gravitate towards him, she didn't know the guy at all, so that's not what is happening here - it's just Alice Must Suffer!
Honestly, I wouldn't have finished this book if it wasn't chosen for a book club I'm hosting.
Utterly exhausting, which is a shame as it's beautifully written. One quirk is that most chapters feel like they could be the ending - at times it's like reading a collection of short stories that tell one narrative. I'd be tempted to try the author again so long as the subject matter is entirely different.
Characters make the worst possible decisions at all times just to drive the grimness onwards and make Alice's life as miserable as possible. Her lov ng grandmother absolutely ruins Alice's life and the motivations are all incomprehensible beyond the author wanting their character to suffer.
Where I really gave up is when - SPOILER - Aluce falls ridiculously deeply and savagely in love literally at first sight with someone who of course turns out to be an abuser. I realise that it's not uncommon for victims of abusive families to find themselves with abusive partners but she didn't gravitate towards him, she didn't know the guy at all, so that's not what is happening here - it's just Alice Must Suffer!
Honestly, I wouldn't have finished this book if it wasn't chosen for a book club I'm hosting.
Utterly exhausting, which is a shame as it's beautifully written. One quirk is that most chapters feel like they could be the ending - at times it's like reading a collection of short stories that tell one narrative. I'd be tempted to try the author again so long as the subject matter is entirely different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Deportation
Simon Black in Space by Ivan Southall
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
2.25
Early Australian science fiction!
Written in the 1950s, the "Simon Black" series follows the adventures of RAAF pilot Simon Black and his dog in escapades very much aimed at Australian fans of "Biggles", but with a home-grown hero.
This book and a few others veer a little away from airforce adventures and into Science Fiction, but it's still a story told through the lense of someone obsessed with the mechanics of air travel who loves a good punch-up, keeping a stiff upper lip and burying all their feelings - except ones of superiority! Note, there are almost no female characters in this.
It's a pretty basic straightforward adventure but fairly effectively cloaked in mystery that makes it seem more complex: where are these flying saucers coming from? What do they want? How will Simon catch them? What will Simon do? How will he return? Why the heck did they take a dog into space with them?
The dog must be a recurring character, but it's utterly ridiculous that it comes on this adventure and has a thoroughly miserable time on the spaceship and on Mars. At one point one of the three main characters actually punches the dog unconscious to simplify a tense moment.
The answer to "what do they want" contains a surprising critique against modern farming practices and humans impact on the environment, and "what will Simon do?" is - other than punching his way out of trouble - a very humanitarian response to the problem - if through a somewhat condescending colonialist mindset. Having not read any other Simon Black books I can't say if this is a common theme or a side-effect of exploring science fiction themes.
As an alternative to Biggles it succeeds, as a early Australian sci-fi it's an interesting curiosity. If I ever come across another volume I'll be interested to read it, but it's not something I'd especially recommend to modern children.
Written in the 1950s, the "Simon Black" series follows the adventures of RAAF pilot Simon Black and his dog in escapades very much aimed at Australian fans of "Biggles", but with a home-grown hero.
This book and a few others veer a little away from airforce adventures and into Science Fiction, but it's still a story told through the lense of someone obsessed with the mechanics of air travel who loves a good punch-up, keeping a stiff upper lip and burying all their feelings - except ones of superiority! Note, there are almost no female characters in this.
It's a pretty basic straightforward adventure but fairly effectively cloaked in mystery that makes it seem more complex: where are these flying saucers coming from? What do they want? How will Simon catch them? What will Simon do? How will he return? Why the heck did they take a dog into space with them?
The dog must be a recurring character, but it's utterly ridiculous that it comes on this adventure and has a thoroughly miserable time on the spaceship and on Mars. At one point one of the three main characters actually punches the dog unconscious to simplify a tense moment.
The answer to "what do they want" contains a surprising critique against modern farming practices and humans impact on the environment, and "what will Simon do?" is - other than punching his way out of trouble - a very humanitarian response to the problem - if through a somewhat condescending colonialist mindset. Having not read any other Simon Black books I can't say if this is a common theme or a side-effect of exploring science fiction themes.
As an alternative to Biggles it succeeds, as a early Australian sci-fi it's an interesting curiosity. If I ever come across another volume I'll be interested to read it, but it's not something I'd especially recommend to modern children.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Racism, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Colonisation
Raiders of the Lost Ark by Walt Simonson
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a great movie, but it isn't captured well in this comic adaptation by Marvel. The classic 80s Marvel art style is fine, but the limited length causes many problems which Marvel's lengthy adaptation of Star Wars didn't suffer from.
Similar to the Star Wars adaptation in that they were both created before their recpective films were actually released (presumably created from storyboards, the script, set photos and maybe an early rough-cut of the movie) Raiders is interesting in that it also contains scenes cut from the final film (Toht's early death, Sallah's issues outside the Map Room, the details of Indy's sub journey) but that isn't enough to make this essential reading.
Other scenes are compressed, merged or trimmed for brevity, often at the loss of quieter character moments - it probably would have been better to cut entire subplots and let what remains have space to be done properly rather than try and get little bits of everything in.
Conversely lots of new dialogue is added to scenes that had few words in the film, which sounds reasonable except the film and the comic are both visual mediums - there could have been more elegant solutions. This is a shame twice over as the new dialogue is pretty awful.
Similar to the Star Wars adaptation in that they were both created before their recpective films were actually released (presumably created from storyboards, the script, set photos and maybe an early rough-cut of the movie) Raiders is interesting in that it also contains scenes cut from the final film (Toht's early death, Sallah's issues outside the Map Room, the details of Indy's sub journey) but that isn't enough to make this essential reading.
Other scenes are compressed, merged or trimmed for brevity, often at the loss of quieter character moments - it probably would have been better to cut entire subplots and let what remains have space to be done properly rather than try and get little bits of everything in.
Conversely lots of new dialogue is added to scenes that had few words in the film, which sounds reasonable except the film and the comic are both visual mediums - there could have been more elegant solutions. This is a shame twice over as the new dialogue is pretty awful.
You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is a bit of a trick, and it's - only just - won me over. The first 70% of the book follows one character trying to ruin the wedding of her ex-best friend to her ex-boyfriend. It's a fun fast-paced affair with a kooky character that drags you along deliciously because it's pretty clear she has serial-killer tendencies and this gloriously silly thriller is going to ramp up and up into some glorious crescendo of camp drama. The plot is interspersed with flash-forward interviews of the suspects of a slowly-revealed crime, which sounds cliche but is very neatly done.
Then in the last 30% the book changes gears and viewpoint, and becomes rather serious, revealing the main chunk of the book to have been - not exactly wr tten by an unreliable narrator so much as a cunning author determined to see an illusion through. At first this rather sucks all the fun out of the book. Then it becomes VERY serious indeed, and somehow I'm invested in this new style. It ends satisfyingly, and then in an epilogue of sorts there is a rather nice little extra twist, and I find myself living it again.
In the end I have to say well done to the author, but I still want to read that unwritten other version of the book where it goes to where it looks like it is going for the vast majority of the book!
Then in the last 30% the book changes gears and viewpoint, and becomes rather serious, revealing the main chunk of the book to have been - not exactly wr tten by an unreliable narrator so much as a cunning author determined to see an illusion through. At first this rather sucks all the fun out of the book. Then it becomes VERY serious indeed, and somehow I'm invested in this new style. It ends satisfyingly, and then in an epilogue of sorts there is a rather nice little extra twist, and I find myself living it again.
In the end I have to say well done to the author, but I still want to read that unwritten other version of the book where it goes to where it looks like it is going for the vast majority of the book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Pedophilia