Awkward when the internet's explanation of the book was better than reading it for yourself.Awkward when the internet's explanation of the book was better than reading it for yourself....more
1 and a half star. I think this is a sign for me to give up on domestic thrillers. It's hard to find a good one, and when I do it has not been worth g1 and a half star. I think this is a sign for me to give up on domestic thrillers. It's hard to find a good one, and when I do it has not been worth going through ten lifeless and mediocre ones.
This started out with a promising concept, but Fisher took the easy way out with that cheap twist. On top of that, it was exhausting to be in the narrator's head. Thursday is judgemental of other women who are more successful than her. Meanwhile her own life revolves around her husband, Seth, bitterly sharing him with two other women. Thursday was fully aware of this when entering their relationship, ignored her gut feeling and now she is salty and jealous. Who could've seen that coming?
Now, it is possible to write unlikable women without making them annoying. Take Gillian Flynn for example. The problem here is that Fisher either doesn't try to give her character layers, or she lacks the skill to pull it off. Thursday's story lacks the grit, dark motivations and snake-like traits that are needed in a domestic thriller.
For example, Thursday's motivation for being with Seth is unclear, as is her willingness to share him. Here is the potential for a good backstory, maybe one that focuses on something other than her husband and comparing herself to other women. Either you can make Thursday completely vile and untrustworthy, or you make her a character worthy of sympathy. The route taken is somewhere in between; no one roots for Thursday but it grows exhausting to be in her self-pitying and paranoid mind.
Whiny, overdramatic and cheapened by a twist that's been done a million times before....more
Great chemistry between the characters with a lot of focus on careers and past relationships. The conflict was a bit drawn out but I never got tired oGreat chemistry between the characters with a lot of focus on careers and past relationships. The conflict was a bit drawn out but I never got tired of it since I loved Dani and Zaf. Is it just me or did this have much more smut than Chloe Brown? ...more
I would recommend this to those who wanted more from The Last Story of Mina Lee. Harmless Like You has a nearly identical premise but in my opinion itI would recommend this to those who wanted more from The Last Story of Mina Lee. Harmless Like You has a nearly identical premise but in my opinion it is much better and presents two interesting timelines and narrators. The tone is sad, cynical and a little funny. The characters are unlikable, but the author has put great effort into setting the context to their gloomy lives. The book channels loneliness and restlessness through the two narrators, in separate timelines. I especially liked the idea that even when you think that your choices have led you to where you are supposed to be, there is always room for doubt and longing....more
A collection of family stories, the expectations of others and a little bit of magic. I tried to separate these short stories into different categorieA collection of family stories, the expectations of others and a little bit of magic. I tried to separate these short stories into different categories because I found it hard to rate the collection as a whole.
2 stars:Wild, Second chances, Who will greet you at home. These three stories were too long without enough introspectiveness to keep me interested, and I struggled to connect with the main character. Sometimes the magical or elements were lost on me, which they created a distance between me and these chapters.
3 stars:War stories, Buchi's girls, What is a volcano? Well-written but almost overly ambitious for short stories?
4 stars:The future looks good, Windfalls, Glory. Great examples of where author managed to stories that pack a punch in less than 30 pages. The author says a lot about the characters through showing rather than telling.
5 stars:Light (my favorite!),What it means when a man falls from the sky, Redemption. All of these three nearly brought me to tears. They all feature a balance between tender and cutting relationships as well as vivid settings. These characters stayed with me after I closed the page.
I would love to read more from Arimah. As with most collections, it has its ups and downs, but the ups were brilliant....more
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