"Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn't me. Here is her dead body".
Our narrator Velda on her daily walk with her dog C"Her name was Magda. Nobody will ever know who killed her. It wasn't me. Here is her dead body".
Our narrator Velda on her daily walk with her dog Charlie stumbles upon this obscure note that shakes her daily routine. This seemingly, small event catapults her deep into a mysterious conspiracy. Questions on who the girl is and why it was left there. Was it for her to find? Her isolated life deep in the pines at an old cabin fuels her paranoia, and we experience her version of reality.
The setting feels perfect for a mystery novel, and the narrative expands and subverts the unreliable narrator into a character study on grief. Understandably, this will put readers off as the expectations for a thriller fall flat. As it shifts into a banal routine of this older woman and her cheerful dog with some description of nature, followed by the suspicious neighbours (according to Velda's watchful eyes). Amidst obsessively piecing together the meaning of the obscure mystery, we get small glimpses of Velda's past life, her marriage to a doctor, the reasons why she chose this seclusion after her spouse's death and her regrets about her lost youth. We get to shape her from what information she gives us, elevating the reading experience as I am drawn to slow-burn character studies as opposed to fast pace plot ones. The writing lends itself well, and the reading experience will depend on whether the protagonist's voice feels present to you I certainly enjoyed the ride....more
Funny, insightful, Lori Gottlieb takes us into her inner workings of therapy and simultaneously going to therapy. Small vignettes of her intimate seFunny, insightful, Lori Gottlieb takes us into her inner workings of therapy and simultaneously going to therapy. Small vignettes of her intimate sessions, interspaced with her life experience made me feel like I'm in the room with her and her patients.
Through organizing her emotional cabinet, anxieties in her relationships, career, motherhood, grief, mortality, and so much more, she showcased a side of therapy that I haven't thought of before. I had hope for more intersectionality but apart from that, this was a great reading experience. ...more
Introspective Sci-fi, oozing with metaphysical questions and tackles such dense themes in so few pages. I have a couple of all-time favorites stories Introspective Sci-fi, oozing with metaphysical questions and tackles such dense themes in so few pages. I have a couple of all-time favorites stories from this collection that truly shook me to the core. I will read anything this man publishes ...more
I'll come back to this in a couple of years and it will shift something in me just as it has done this second time.I'll come back to this in a couple of years and it will shift something in me just as it has done this second time....more
Following a young female photographer, who captures dark, kinky art deco photo series of young men she encounters on the What a chaotic little book!
Following a young female photographer, who captures dark, kinky art deco photo series of young men she encounters on the streets. She recounts her experiences some darker and dangerous as she prepares for a small gallery show.
Funny, dark humor and a strong female lead carry this book, we dive into some serious topics of sexual abuse, toxic relationships, and various other unsettling things. Also, vivid as the author paints the photographs of the characters so well, which can be hard to visualize, I wish they were real. This will not be everyone's cup of tea but I loved every second of it. Having elements of the Tv show Fleabag and the movie Nightcrawler ...more
An exploration of a not-so-perfect queer relationship and how our upbringing shapes the connections we build in adulthood.
Ben and Mike are in a relatiAn exploration of a not-so-perfect queer relationship and how our upbringing shapes the connections we build in adulthood.
Ben and Mike are in a relationship that feels off and when Mike decides to go back to Japan to reconnect with his sick father at the same time leave his mother with Ben for a long period of time it reveals threads that have been holding the relationship together. Interesting bonds are formed and lots of daddy issues to get over, enjoyed some part of the book but it didn't emotionally move me. Would still recommend you check it out if the subject matter interests you. ...more
After consuming and loving her Neapolitan saga, I was dying to finally get my hands on her new book that sort of explores similar themes to her populaAfter consuming and loving her Neapolitan saga, I was dying to finally get my hands on her new book that sort of explores similar themes to her popular series, girlhood and coming of age interspersed with family drama. Our protagonist Giovanna becomes infatuated with her estrange aunt after her father says she resembles her, this small comment opens up a family secret that unravels her family's current relationship.
If you enjoyed her exasperated tone that comes with trying to understand your surroundings at a young age and sense of self as in her previous book, you'll probably enjoy this one....more
A whole new perspective on the post-apocalyptic genre, the prevalence of capitalism, everyday routine at the end of the world. It such a sad lonely stA whole new perspective on the post-apocalyptic genre, the prevalence of capitalism, everyday routine at the end of the world. It such a sad lonely story and I weirdly loved it...more
Loading...
