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travelseatsreads's reviews
639 reviews
Miss Kim Knows and Other Stories by Cho Nam-joo
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Miss Kim Knows and Other Stories is a collection of 8 short stories which focus on the life of 8 different Korean women, aged 10 to 80. The wide spanning collection looks at everything from upskirting, domestic abuse and gaslighting to care work and the role of ageing women in society.
After previously reading Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, which I enjoyed and Saha, which I really couldn’t connect with, I decided to give MKKAOS a try and thankfully found that it fell back to the familiar gentle yet meaningful style of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. As with any collection of short stories, some are more enjoyable than others but what connects them all is Cho Nam-Joo’s gorgeous tender yet poignant writing style.
I chose to listen to the collection on audio and to be honest I implore you not to. Unfortunately the stories, while based in Korea, are narrated by harsh, overly forced British accents which I found really impacted the delivery of the stories. Not just is it someone narrating with a British accent, it is someone putting on the most random and strong voices which completely stand out of place and are quite distracting.
An overall enjoyable collection which is easy to dip in and out of. For fans of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982.
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After previously reading Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, which I enjoyed and Saha, which I really couldn’t connect with, I decided to give MKKAOS a try and thankfully found that it fell back to the familiar gentle yet meaningful style of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982. As with any collection of short stories, some are more enjoyable than others but what connects them all is Cho Nam-Joo’s gorgeous tender yet poignant writing style.
I chose to listen to the collection on audio and to be honest I implore you not to. Unfortunately the stories, while based in Korea, are narrated by harsh, overly forced British accents which I found really impacted the delivery of the stories. Not just is it someone narrating with a British accent, it is someone putting on the most random and strong voices which completely stand out of place and are quite distracting.
An overall enjoyable collection which is easy to dip in and out of. For fans of Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982.
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on Instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
Knife Edge by Kerry Buchanan
dark
fast-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? It's complicated
2.5
Knife Edge is a fast paced thriller, set in Belfast, which opens with Nic and her friend being kidnapped and brutally tortured. What ensues is a frantic cat and mouse game as Nic escapes and tries to catch her abductor.
The opening chapter was intense, very gory and had me immediately hooked however from there on in I started to begin to lose interest. While the story is frantically paced and holds plenty of tension, unfortunately I found it all a little too much all at once. To avoid spoilers for those who may enjoy it I will not go into detail but overall I found the storyline progression too far fetched and I found it too hard to suspend disbelief.
Not for me, but great if you want a gritty fast paced thriller that you don’t have to put too much thought into.
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The opening chapter was intense, very gory and had me immediately hooked however from there on in I started to begin to lose interest. While the story is frantically paced and holds plenty of tension, unfortunately I found it all a little too much all at once. To avoid spoilers for those who may enjoy it I will not go into detail but overall I found the storyline progression too far fetched and I found it too hard to suspend disbelief.
Not for me, but great if you want a gritty fast paced thriller that you don’t have to put too much thought into.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Every Move You Make by C.L. Taylor
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Every Move You Make is an intense and chilling thriller which delves deeply into the terrifying world of stalking. The book follows a WhatsApp group of five victims of stalking as they try to remain safe, support each other and live a normal life. All is well until one member dies and a wreath with a harrowing message turns up at her funeral. What follows is a 10 day countdown, full of fear, anguish and mistrust.
There is a lot going on in this book with 4 main characters, each with their own sub plot, so as you can imagine there is an abundance of twists, turns and red herrings which will keep you on your toes. The pacing is quick and propulsive and it is such an easy one to be consumed by and binge on. The characters are well developed and it’s far too easy to see yourself in their place and feel the fear.
While I enjoyed the chaotic nature I personally would have loved if Taylor concentrated maybe on fewer characters and delved deeper into the psychological aspect of both the stalker and the victim. In her author’s note she details her own unfortunate experience with stalking and I felt the book would have definitely rated higher for me if she tapped into that a little more and delved more into the more realistic effects and damages rather than the frenzy of characters.
Overall a really gripping and nerve wracking thriller which I enjoyed, but wanted just a little more from.
3.5/5 ⭐
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There is a lot going on in this book with 4 main characters, each with their own sub plot, so as you can imagine there is an abundance of twists, turns and red herrings which will keep you on your toes. The pacing is quick and propulsive and it is such an easy one to be consumed by and binge on. The characters are well developed and it’s far too easy to see yourself in their place and feel the fear.
While I enjoyed the chaotic nature I personally would have loved if Taylor concentrated maybe on fewer characters and delved deeper into the psychological aspect of both the stalker and the victim. In her author’s note she details her own unfortunate experience with stalking and I felt the book would have definitely rated higher for me if she tapped into that a little more and delved more into the more realistic effects and damages rather than the frenzy of characters.
Overall a really gripping and nerve wracking thriller which I enjoyed, but wanted just a little more from.
3.5/5 ⭐
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, and Gaslighting
Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Life Ceremony is the first collection of short stories which has been translated into English from the mind-bending author Sayaka Murata. If you’ve read Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings you will know Murata pushes against every single societal norm within her writing and LC is no different. On a weirdness/discomfort level this one fell between CSW and Earthlings for me. As with any collection of short stories, some can be a hit and some a total miss, but I found the overall majority were enjoyable and really got me thinking. What I really found interesting was that as I was reading it felt like many of these stories gave explanations and/or further expansion on some of the taboo subjects covered in CSW and Earthlings.
She has a great talent in making you feel deeply uncomfortable yet somehow still able to question society's standards, taboos and their consequences. This is particularly apparent in stories such as A First Rate Material, Two’s Family, Life Ceremony and Hatchling which also stand out as my favourites.
An engrossing collection of short stories which will have you scratching your head and gasping ‘WTF??’ more times than you can count.
‘Normal is a type of madness, isn’t it? I think it’s just that the only madness society allows is called normal.’
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She has a great talent in making you feel deeply uncomfortable yet somehow still able to question society's standards, taboos and their consequences. This is particularly apparent in stories such as A First Rate Material, Two’s Family, Life Ceremony and Hatchling which also stand out as my favourites.
An engrossing collection of short stories which will have you scratching your head and gasping ‘WTF??’ more times than you can count.
‘Normal is a type of madness, isn’t it? I think it’s just that the only madness society allows is called normal.’
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Disturbance by Jenna Clake
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Disturbance follows an unnamed 26 year old narrator who, haunted by her own trauma, tries to step in and help her younger neighbour who she believes to be in an abusive relationship. What comes next is an entanglement of obsession as she interweaves herself into her life and becomes entrenched in a messy world of witchcraft which she has previously never known.
While it is not a horror in the normal sense of the word, more a very dark domestic noir with witchy vibes, the atmosphere is clawing and claustrophobic from the beginning.
By using a very closed POV. Clarke very cleverly portrays the effects of domestic violence, including its intense all encompassing nature and how it can alter one’s perceptions on reality and events.
While I enjoyed the feeling of the book and storyline, I did find the ending a tad anticlimactic and felt there was a little too much left open to interpretation.
A very thought provoking read but one which will leave you with many unanswered questions.
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
While it is not a horror in the normal sense of the word, more a very dark domestic noir with witchy vibes, the atmosphere is clawing and claustrophobic from the beginning.
By using a very closed POV. Clarke very cleverly portrays the effects of domestic violence, including its intense all encompassing nature and how it can alter one’s perceptions on reality and events.
While I enjoyed the feeling of the book and storyline, I did find the ending a tad anticlimactic and felt there was a little too much left open to interpretation.
A very thought provoking read but one which will leave you with many unanswered questions.
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Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Someone In The Attic is the new utterly compelling page turner from the Queen of red herrings, Andrea Mara. The book opens with a bang, or should I say splash, and the tension continues to relentlessly build until the very last page.
You will question everything you've read and find yourself tossing in circles trying to find that elusive culprit. What I love about Andrea's work is that she has this unique ability to throw twists and turns all over the place, yet they still land perfectly. It is this mastery which leads the reader to think they have solved it at various points, to only get slapped in the face by the big reveal. In fact, I've spoken to 2 or 3 people who all believed they had solved it half way through and we all had different ideas as to who was the guilty party.
Andrea also has this terrifying talent of being able to take the most normal everyday fears and absolutely run with them, leaving you in a complete state of shock and bubbling with anxiety. It is one of those books that will have the hairs at the back of your neck creeping up and that uneasy feeling deep in your chest.
Someone In The Attic has to be my favourite of Andrea's work so far, I couldn't put it down and found myself losing many hours of sleep, both while reading it and not! A perfect page turning poolside reading or even for a cold Halloween day when you want to be suitably creeped out! A must read for 2024.
Quick disclaimer that while yes I do know Andrea and have had the pleasure of being at that boozy table at last year's @TiredMammyBookBlub Christmas Lunch and in her company on many occasions, this is an honest review and I am always genuinely in awe of her talent.
"I'm not afraid of being alone in the dark, I'm afraid that I'm not alone"
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You will question everything you've read and find yourself tossing in circles trying to find that elusive culprit. What I love about Andrea's work is that she has this unique ability to throw twists and turns all over the place, yet they still land perfectly. It is this mastery which leads the reader to think they have solved it at various points, to only get slapped in the face by the big reveal. In fact, I've spoken to 2 or 3 people who all believed they had solved it half way through and we all had different ideas as to who was the guilty party.
Andrea also has this terrifying talent of being able to take the most normal everyday fears and absolutely run with them, leaving you in a complete state of shock and bubbling with anxiety. It is one of those books that will have the hairs at the back of your neck creeping up and that uneasy feeling deep in your chest.
Someone In The Attic has to be my favourite of Andrea's work so far, I couldn't put it down and found myself losing many hours of sleep, both while reading it and not! A perfect page turning poolside reading or even for a cold Halloween day when you want to be suitably creeped out! A must read for 2024.
Quick disclaimer that while yes I do know Andrea and have had the pleasure of being at that boozy table at last year's @TiredMammyBookBlub Christmas Lunch and in her company on many occasions, this is an honest review and I am always genuinely in awe of her talent.
"I'm not afraid of being alone in the dark, I'm afraid that I'm not alone"
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
The Survivors by Jane Harper
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Survivors follows Kieran Elliot as he returns to his sleepy seaside hometown of Evelyn Bay. Not only is Kieran returning home to help his parents pack up, he is returning home to where 12 years earlier disaster struck, a disaster in which he had a part to play. Is it just a coincidence that disaster strikes again on his return?
As with Harper’s previous books, this is another slow burn mystery where tension builds and the story unravels unhurriedly through the pages. Normally I enjoy that aspect of Harper’s writing but unfortunately here I found myself a little bored.
There are a lot of characters within the story, some you could do without, and I feel maybe this took from the suspense and atmosphere leaving it feel a little long and drawn out. However, in usual Harper style the atmosphere and setting really comes through and it is easy to feel yourself enmeshed in the close Tasmanian town.
Did I like it, yes. Did I love it, no. One of those books that I don’t regret reading but will be put in the ‘that was grand’ pile.
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
As with Harper’s previous books, this is another slow burn mystery where tension builds and the story unravels unhurriedly through the pages. Normally I enjoy that aspect of Harper’s writing but unfortunately here I found myself a little bored.
There are a lot of characters within the story, some you could do without, and I feel maybe this took from the suspense and atmosphere leaving it feel a little long and drawn out. However, in usual Harper style the atmosphere and setting really comes through and it is easy to feel yourself enmeshed in the close Tasmanian town.
Did I like it, yes. Did I love it, no. One of those books that I don’t regret reading but will be put in the ‘that was grand’ pile.
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
When We Were Silent by Fiona McPhillips
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
When We Were Silent is the dark & intense debut novel from Fiona McPhillips which follows the life of our protagonist Louise(Lou) Manson as she relives the trauma she experienced at the hands of Coach McQueen & Highfield Manor. While attempting to get justice for herself &the many other victims which have emerged, Lou discovers there are many more secrets buried deep within the imposing granite walls of this elite private Catholic school.
Using a dual timeline through Lou’s eyes, McPhillips examines the lingering destructive nature of the trauma caused by sexual abuse. At no point does she shy away from its severity, in fact she truly allows you to sit & fester in the insipid nature of the abuse. McPhillips adeptly interweaves the stories of Lou, her mother & her daughter to harrowingly show that the abuse doesn’t just affect the victim but indeed all those around them, often causing long standing generational trauma.
Within the first few chapters & throughout, there is a pervading palpable sense of fear that does not relent. This is reinforced by characters who are truly fleshed out in all their likeable & unlikeable glory. From the sometimes questionable inner thoughts & actions of Lou & Shauna to the vile & viciously manipulative nature of McQueen, nothing is held back. It has been a long time since a book has had such a physical effect on me & I found myself in many moments where my heart was thumping in my chest & I could feel bile rising to the back of my throat.
While it is a hugely dark story, McPhillips does provide small moments of relief in the safety of the familiar through many recognisable pop culture references. I found this juxtaposition so effective in showing how life still has to go on for victims, regardless of what they are enduring.
Sadly this book holds a terrifyingly accurate mirror to what has been coming to light in Irish society in recent years & McPhillips astutely demonstrates the harsh reality of the Ireland of its time.
A profound fictional novel firmly anchored in the reality of far too many, which emphasises the importance of speaking up & having your voice heard, even if you don’t believe it will go anywhere.
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
Using a dual timeline through Lou’s eyes, McPhillips examines the lingering destructive nature of the trauma caused by sexual abuse. At no point does she shy away from its severity, in fact she truly allows you to sit & fester in the insipid nature of the abuse. McPhillips adeptly interweaves the stories of Lou, her mother & her daughter to harrowingly show that the abuse doesn’t just affect the victim but indeed all those around them, often causing long standing generational trauma.
Within the first few chapters & throughout, there is a pervading palpable sense of fear that does not relent. This is reinforced by characters who are truly fleshed out in all their likeable & unlikeable glory. From the sometimes questionable inner thoughts & actions of Lou & Shauna to the vile & viciously manipulative nature of McQueen, nothing is held back. It has been a long time since a book has had such a physical effect on me & I found myself in many moments where my heart was thumping in my chest & I could feel bile rising to the back of my throat.
While it is a hugely dark story, McPhillips does provide small moments of relief in the safety of the familiar through many recognisable pop culture references. I found this juxtaposition so effective in showing how life still has to go on for victims, regardless of what they are enduring.
Sadly this book holds a terrifyingly accurate mirror to what has been coming to light in Irish society in recent years & McPhillips astutely demonstrates the harsh reality of the Ireland of its time.
A profound fictional novel firmly anchored in the reality of far too many, which emphasises the importance of speaking up & having your voice heard, even if you don’t believe it will go anywhere.
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Saha by Cho Nam-joo
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I really enjoyed Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by the same author so I immediately reached for Saha as an option when compiling my Women in Translation TBR list. Unfortunately, it didn’t reach anywhere near my expectations and I was tempted to DNF on a few occasions.
The story is set in a dystopian world called Town, which 3 different classes of people inhabit. L1s who are the privileged, L2s who are the middle class and finally those who live within Saha mansions. From the start it’s clear that the Saha have the minimalist rights and struggle on a daily basis to even just exist.
The story is told from multiple POVs over a slightly jumpy timeline which I found left me a little lost. In all honesty, I struggled at times to figure out what was going on or even why and the disjointed yet expansive storyline left me wondering just how much was in fact lost in translation.
Maybe it’s a book that would benefit from a reread but for me life’s too short!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
The story is set in a dystopian world called Town, which 3 different classes of people inhabit. L1s who are the privileged, L2s who are the middle class and finally those who live within Saha mansions. From the start it’s clear that the Saha have the minimalist rights and struggle on a daily basis to even just exist.
The story is told from multiple POVs over a slightly jumpy timeline which I found left me a little lost. In all honesty, I struggled at times to figure out what was going on or even why and the disjointed yet expansive storyline left me wondering just how much was in fact lost in translation.
Maybe it’s a book that would benefit from a reread but for me life’s too short!
If you enjoyed this review come follow me on instagram @TravelsEatsReads for more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic