Review: Imaginary Friend

3 stars. UMMMMM WOW. Okay. Was NOT expecting that. This is going to be a weird review to write, because Imaginary Friend was a weird book to read. Full disclosure: I have not read Perks of Being a Wallflower - it’s decidedly NOT my cup of tea (I did see the movie and am aware of the basic themes). However, I was really excited to sink my teeth into a long horror story said to resemble King, my king.

This is going to be an epic fail of a summary, but I'll try. Essentially, a young boy, Christopher, moves to a new town with his mother Kate. He is lured into the creepy woods nearby and disappears for six days. When he returns, he's different: school is easier, his financial situation improves, he can read more easily, and he has a new "friend" - an invisible voice persuading him to return to the woods and build a treehouse. He does, and .... very weird shit happens.

Here’s what I liked about this: it’s a pageturner. It has multiple distinct characters. It’s detailed and well-written and has some GREAT villains. It explores religious mythology in an interesting way (more on that below). The plot doesn’t always involve kids versus adults (“you don’t believe me!” “well, you’re grounded” for forty chapters is always fun).

Here’s what I didn’t like: it’s way too long. It’s preachy. The ages of the kids don't quite match up with their characters, even before they become geniuses. It isn’t quite scary enough for me. It becomes VERY abstract and even a bit confusing. It’s cartoonish, which distracts from what could’ve been super genuinely disturbing. And it tries way too hard.

On the religious aspect of this book: I didn’t realize there would be one when I picked it up. As an atheist, I don’t always enjoy books that paint such certain and steadfast messages about faith. But, and this is going to sound a bit snooty, I do find it very interesting to read the Bible, and learn religious lore (of all religions) from a historical standpoint. Or from a literary standpoint. I don’t know what the author intended, but I’ll just consider this (I’m trying to be as vague as possible to avoid spoilers!) an exploration of a religious story many of us know and subscribe to, rather than a sermon. Otherwise, I wouldn't be the right audience, and I’d be annoyed.

Imaginary Friend reminds me much more of Joe Hill than Stephen King. Just because it’s long and detailed and plays with many characters just makes it a little Kingish, not totally King! I’m not surprised by the comparison but definitely expected more. I did love the 'Salem's Lot vibe featuring a town entirely corrupted. The suburbs are always full of secrets...

Anyhoo, I don't think I can quite recommend this, because it's such a big effort for such a weird payoff. But it kept me pretty entertained for a few days.

Imaginary Friend on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Sands of Time (The Hermux Tantamoq Adventures #2)

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 RE-READ PER MONTH 12 / 12

5 stars. Ah, what a pleasure to return to the world of Hermux Tantamoq and his exciting adventures. I really loved re-reading this not just for the nostalgia but for the details I missed as a young person. There's so much witty humor here to enjoy!

In The Sands of Time, our view of Hermux's world expands wonderfully. His artistic friend, Mirren, has regained her sight and attempted to capture what she saw during her years of darkness. Unfortunately, the citizens of Pinchester have no stomach for the mythical creatures she paints: CATS. 

Luckily, or unluckily, an old friend of hers returns claiming to have discovered proof that cats existed in a kingdom in the desert. With a little daring and a lot of cheese, Hermux and his special lady Linka embark on a quest to find the kingdom and save Mirren's show! 

It's adorable - just as adorable as the first book. The plot is a bit more complicated but Hoeye deftly keeps the pages turning and the tone intact. Each character maintains a distinct voice and motivations, and, perhaps more profoundly here than in the first, we encounter a range of "villains" instead of black-and-white good versus evil. Tucka has her moments, but she'll always be Tucka after all.

And just like the first book, there are astoundingly deep themes for such a seemingly superficial book. It's for young people, but it embeds some amazing lessons within its pages that'd be just as suitable for adults. 

My brain is SUPERFRIED from the holidays, so I'll leave it at that. I just really, really, really recommend these books. Also, they make me hungry for cheese.

The Sands of Time on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Bell Jar

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET?! PER MONTH 12 / 12

5 stars. I feel like a broken record at this point, but The Bell Jar is yet another book that somehow slipped through the cracks, making it perfect for this challenge. I was an English major, for Pete's sake. I took classes in Women's Lit. This is book is freaking important. 

The Bell Jar refers to the main character's sense of major depression from which she suffers for most of the novel. We meet Esther in New York, successful but feeling empty in the busy, glamorous city. When she returns home - without the urban distractions and without work - her mental state worsens. She feels suffocated. She chafes against society's expectations. She becomes fixated on taking her own life. 

The last quarter of the novel follows her stay in an asylum, under the care of a patient and competent female psychologist who administers proper treatment. This feels very lucky. Having recently watched Unbelievable, it sometimes feels like victims either end up with a good cop or a bad cop (or a mediocre one), and it's just luck of the draw that can dictate the rest of their lives. Similarly, Esther first ends up with a mediocre doctor and then, miraculously for the 50s, gets a great one - paving the road of her recovery.

I don't claim to know firsthand what major depression feels like (and I try very hard to not take my mental health for granted - I'm lucky), but I've learned a lot about it through experiences and through my relationships. Not all cases are the same, but Plath's depiction of the sheer compulsive, depressive fog seems accurate and articulate. I could barely breathe reading those pages.

This wasn't an enjoyable read, exactly, but I do enjoy books that capture the tragedy of being a woman. There are many angles to explore here, reminding me of The Virgin Suicides and Girl, Interrupted and others of that nature. I'm sure there's a way to examine the mental illness theme without considering gender, but the sheer confusion of being a woman must be on the table. It's incredibly relevant, even today.

The Bell Jar is a must-read for anyone who has felt lost, confused, or imposter-y, for anyone whose care has been put in the wrong hands, for anyone who finds the world ill-fitting, for anyone who feels swollen against expectations, for anyone who finds society preposterous. It won't loudly solve your problems, but it will quietly take your hand in commiseration. Knowing Plath's life story, and how it ended, makes it that much more incredible.

The Bell Jar on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Ready Player One

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET?! PER MONTH 11 / 12

Ah fine, 5 stars it is. I'm in a good mood, and it's the holidays. What the hell, why not? 'Tis the season. But don't get me wrong - I have complaints! But this is a GREAT read. I loved it. 

Look, this was FUN. It was entertaining. It was well-written, RELEVANT, amusing, adventurous, and delightful. Ready Player One is The Westing Game + Warcross + Willy Wonka. It takes place in the future (normally I would use the word dystopian but I think it may just be the expected reality now), when the world is decaying and humans spend most of their time in a VR program called Oasis. Oasis's creator dies and leaves a "hunt" as his legacy - an Easter egg contest with his fortune as the prize. Obviously this inspires millions to study up on the creator's obsessions in the hopes of finding clues to the egg. 

One of these hunters, Wade, stumbles across the first clue and suddenly the game is afoot. We get to witness him form alliances and enemies as he races against corporate drones (intent on winning the contest to monetize the Oasis platform - boo hiss so evil!!), solves puzzles and plays games for the ultimate prize. It's an addicting read full of its own Easter eggs - thousands of references to 80s pop culture. Which of course I loved.

I know I mentioned complaints. I guess my heart is still a few sizes too small. Here they are: first, it's a teensy weensy ittle bittle tryhard. I didn't find the adolescent voices entirely convincing. Second, I'm not sure if it was actually a bit preachy in places. I completely stand by the book's messaging, I just found the delivery a tad hamfisted and dry. It is eerily and accurately bleak when it comes to the future of the human race, but some of that exposition came across as info dumpy. And pompous. 

I actually found myself complaining to my husband about this mid-read, while simultaneously trying to convince him to read it. It's just too much FUN. Many of my favorite movies, books, TV shows, etc. aren't PERFECT. I enjoy them to such a degree that they are affecting, and offer proper escape. This is a wonderful pageturner for readers of all ages and I'm excited to view the adaptation. 

Ready Player One on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Last Kingdom

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 RE-READ PER MONTH 11 / 12

5 stars. I'm taking some time off from work to travel, and my latest trip was to Denmark. Boy, is that place very epic and very awesome. Copenhagen was cozy AF; they really embrace the hygge there. It got me thinking about one of my favorite books, The Last Kingdom, which features some wonderfully savage viking Danes. And because in the winter time all I want to read is old school stuff about food halls and clanging swords, I thought it'd be perfect for my reading challenge.

This time, as opposed to the first time I read it (and the first time I watched the adaptation series), I really got this. It's about a man named Uhtred, a young English nobleman kidnapped and raised quite happily by the Danish warriors raiding his homeland. Throughout the story, the Danes successfully invade three of England's four kingdoms and are left facing Wessex, ruled by the pious King Alfred. Uhtred, with English blood and Danish loyalties, is caught in the middle.

It's the type of book that begs to be read aloud by a crackling fire under a cozy blanket, with a cup of ale or mulled wine in your hand, maybe with a plate of bread and cheese. Uhtred tells his story with incredible clarity and breathtaking action - the battle sequences are among the best I've ever read. This is perhaps cliche, but you will feel as though you are there. It feels so real.

History basically blows my mind, so I loved the level of detail as well. I learned so much about life back then - the little things, like basic traditions and habits of daily life - and the big things, like how people considered power and religion and family and identity. It is cinematic and sweeping with a lot of (excellent) characters yet Uhtred allows us a focused gaze, which is helpful. 

I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on religion. The clash of the two religions (England's Christianity and Danish paganism) is paid a great deal of attention, and I found the conflict, despite knowing its deep and profound significance, kind of amusing. The scene (I'm being intentionally vague here) involving Saint Sebastian and the arrows is one of the best scenes of literature I've ever encountered. Entertaining, brutal, and funny.

Keep in mind that, as other readers have mentioned, The Last Kingdom employs a writing style that may not appeal to everyone. It's brittle, it's detail-heavy, and it almost appears at first glance emotionless. This worked for me, but I'm sure it was boring for others. I'm just really attracted to that sort of smooth, cut-and-dry, concise, unapologetic writing and find it cleanly captivating.

I have this weird thing where I start series and never finish them, so one of my challenges next year will be to fix that. I'M STARTING HERE. I really love this book.

The Last Kingdom on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: 1984

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET?! PER MONTH 10 / 12

4 stars. Obviously it's insane that it took a challenge for me to finally read this. I absolutely loved it, and yes, it's absolutely devastating. Imperfect as it is, this novel really is relevant in terrifying ways. I have so many questions - I want to pick up even the most minor components and examine them closely.

I think we all know the premise (honestly, why am I even writing this review?), so I'll focus on a few things I noticed: first, the writing is strong. It's concise and accessible and clever. I know that some readers find the characters bland, but I didn’t at all. Regardless, I think they are tools - they don't have to be interesting to help make Orwell's point.

Second, I, like so many readers, found certain elements of the Party's methods incredibly familiar and scary. As I write this, my country's President continues to deny facts about his own past, and people believe him - or they adhere to the version of truth that suits them. Here's a quote: "If the Party could thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that event - it never happened - that, surely was more terrifying than mere torture and death."

The questions Orwell asks about surveillance, language, collective memory, propaganda and brainwashing are all eerily similar to the questions we ask ourselves today regarding social media, technology, and the media. I don't need to expand - I think we all know. We've seen it and heard it and felt it.

That being said, Orwell made the Party intelligent. He made Big Brother smart - smarter than, well, everyone else. In 1984, those in power have the means to stay in power, easily. The Party is diabolical and also totally triumphant. I don't know if, realistically, human leaders would ever be capable of exhibiting such self-awareness as O'Brien and achieve such long-term, widespread success. They're too busy tripping over their own egos.

Well, I guess we’ll see about that.

Third, I would like to read more about the character of Julia. She's so rarely mentioned in reviews and criticism (or is she? am I looking in the right places?) and she's interesting. I wonder if Orwell treats her fairly. I wonder if she's an echo of outdated views on feminism. I want more about Julia.

Undeniably this is a must-read classic (again, I don't know why I'm writing this review, or why it took me so long to get here; this is like, one of the most widely-read books ever, and I even took a class on Dystopian Literature if you can believe it). I thought it would be depressing, but it was sort of ... electrifying. It's remarkable Orwell wrote this in the 40s.

1984 on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Name of the Rose

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET?! PER MONTH 09 / 12

5 stars. I'm reminded of a quote from the film adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, of all things: "who is God, who is man? How many have been murdered over this question?"

[I am NOT comparing the two - they exist on different planets. Maybe in the same galaxy, though.]

The Name of the Rose is not an easy read. I might actually suggest a perusal of the Wikipedia page upon finishing just to tighten any loose knots. I had no trouble comprehending the basics, but the details - and in some cases the dialogue - were difficult to grasp. I have no shame in admitting I needed a dictionary! The details are really what makes this incredible, though.

As soon as William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar, and his novice Adso arrive at a Benedictine abbey in Italy, they are greeted with trouble. A monk has been found dead under mysterious circumstances, and the abbot asks William to investigate. Through Adso's eyes we watch the mystery deepen and the bodies pile up.

This is not your typical cut-and-dry crime novel, though. William, an obvious Sherlock Holmes type, soon discovers that his basic investigation will have a broader and more complicated impact than he could ever imagine. And the more he pulls on threads, the higher the stakes climb.

I'm not a religious person, but I am deeply interested in religion. After all, it inspires so much good, and so much evil, and I so totally understand the power and the comfort of its rituals. I truly enjoyed Eco's wordy explorations of holy motivations and sin and religious priorities and heresy and belief. He ardently admires and carefully exposes the church with stunning dexterity and poise. The arguments, and the what-ifs, are fascinating.

Don’t worry, there's "cool stuff" here too: a literal library labyrinth, brutal murders, intense courtroom drama, sex, poison, and more. Despite being so challenging, I would describe this as a pageturner - I couldn't wait to pick it back up when I put it down.

But it's certainly not for everyone and it's certainly not a beach read. This is for those in a contemplative, studious mood. There are passages that are, quite honestly, Extra AF. I, Kelly, give you permission to skim these (as well as the Latin), because NOBODY WILL DIE and your reading experience won't suffer. I learned this reading Henry James - stop trying so hard, let the words wash over you, and ride the wave to the end.

The Name of the Rose on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Witch Elm

3 stars. WELL FUCK. I should've loved this. This is my fourth French, and I love her, love her still, even though this didn't hit quite right. Allow me to explain:

1) I'm starting to detect a pattern in French's writing, and certain familiar motifs. This felt similar to Faithful Place in a couple of ways: the well-written and cringe-y Awkward Family Event(s); the Awkward Family Dynamics among siblings I mean cousins; a protagonist who is completely blind about people he's known his whole life; the morality crisis... I could go on. I love that French writes about these things so deftly, it just didn't feel fresh this time.

2) I figured it out way too early! Like less than halfway through! Damn it!

The Witch Elm is about a young, easygoing guy named Toby who on one random and horrifying night is brutally attacked by a couple of burglars. It is nearly impossible for him to adjust to his new body, his new life, the new challenges - he is essentially handicapped. He decides to move to an idyllic childhood holiday home to care for his dying uncle and continue his recovery, but all is interrupted when a skull is discovered in the backyard garden.

It's kind of a weird premise. All the way through I kept wondering whether or not this would be about Toby's injury, his recovery, the burglary itself or whatnot, and it sort of turns into a mishmash of several mysteries orbiting this struggling guy. It takes awhile. I understand French is trying to do a lot here: she's picking apart the concept of luck, exploring victimhood and morality, measuring the weight of choices both small and large... all themes I typically enjoy. It just wasn't enjoyable, here, for me. I should've felt so satisfied watching Toby - who is essentially a golden fuckboy I'd resent so hard IRL - spiral into oblivion after experiencing loss and hardship for the first time. But I didn't. And I almost didn't even care.

That being said, it's unputdownable. French's writing is as delightfully colloquial as ever, and I love her use of detail. I didn't even mind the questionable plot, and that's bothered me somewhat in her other mysteries. It's not that I wouldn't recommend this, I would - it's a solid, deeply philosophical literary thriller - but it doesn't sparkle the way her Dublin Squad books do.

The Witch Elm on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Time Stops for No Mouse (The Hermux Tantamoq Adventures #1)

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 RE-READ PER MONTH 10 / 12

5 stars. I wish I could convey how much I adore this book without coming across a bit obsessive. One of my purposes in conducting a re-read challenge for 2019 was to revisit some of the books I enjoyed as a young person - knowing that I wouldn't always experience a gutpunch of nostalgia in a positive way. I wanted to read these books with new eyes and a fresh perspective and see if they held up! And this one, most positively of all my re-reads so far, hugged my heart fiercely.

Time Stops for No Mouse is the first Hermux Tantamoq adventure out of four (far too few, in my opinion!). Hermux, a plucky watchmaker from Pinchester, accidentally stumbles into an evil plot involving an attractive-but-missing aviatrix, a terrifying cosmetics tycoon, hideous modern art, dreadful machinery, disguises, and a short and strange stay at a wellness center. It's an absolutely solid mystery with fantastic, distinct characters, high stakes and clever humor that will appeal to readers of all ages.

I suppose some here reacted negatively to the rather "cute" tone of these books, the names specifically. I actually LOVE the writing. I love the names and the flavor and the cozy undertones. I love the detailed descriptions of the mundane - it's often in these details that the author is his most amusing. Side note: I actually bought apples and cheese at the grocery store after reading about Hermux's delightful snacks. Where can I find some honey fizz?

For such an apparently superficial novel, this book packs some incredibly touching, emotional moments between its pages. I specifically remember being traumatized by a chapter in which Hermux discovers that his pet ladybug, Terfle, is missing. It broke my heart at 12, and it broke my heart again this time. And the ending - well, let's just say it's happy in some deeply meaningful ways. Happy in a way that will, honestly, stick with me for a long time.

But enough about the deep stuff. This book is just plain FUN! And I can't help but note how perfectly put together it is visually - the font is perfect, and each chapter has an amusing, clean clip art picture placed under its title (however: a chapter called "Get the Picture," notably, does not). There are tons of treats between these lines to discover and smile at, and I actually can't wait to re-read the sequel, and maybe this one again, in a weird never-ending cycle because the world is hard right now.

Time Stops for No Mouse on: Amazon | Goodreads

FINAL Retro Review: Disappearance at Devil's Rock

When I started this blog, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for about 6 months. In the interest of having all of my book writing in one place, I will post one of these old reviews every Friday. They weren't written with a blog in mind, so please forgive the lack of summary and off-the-cuff tone.

THIS IS THE FINAL RETRO REVIEW - I’M ALL CAUGHT UP!! WOOOOOO!!

3 stars. I don't usually say things like this, but what an epic roller coaster ride. And I'm not just talking about the plot.

I absolutely loved A Head Full of Ghosts and opened this with high expectations. 25% into it, though, I was ready to give up. I rolled my eyes at the dialogue (it was almost embarrassing, like Tremblay was trying to be a cool dad who knows about things like Snapchat and video games and "the suck") and the hilarious analogies ("She speed-walks across the front lawn, moving like a broken robot alternating short strides with big, uneven steps that threaten to topple her over." ... "Elizabeth offers Josh’s mom a weak smile that instantly collapsed like a long-neglected bridge."). But a quarter of the way through, something clicked into place. I was engulfed.

Tremblay knows his way around ambiguous evil. It wasn't as atmospheric as I expected, but I was legitimately creeped out. The tension was quite real and quite scary and the story itself was crunchy in a satisfying way. I didn't predict any of the twists and turns except (view spoiler) and I was blown away by how the primary antagonist was portrayed. I also absolutely LOVE stories in which an individual encounters - quite literally - his or her own mortality (I recommend the Australian horror movie Lake Mungo for anyone interested) and was delighted to detect that particular undercurrent. It was deeply unsettling in the best way.

Tremblay plays with format here and is - for the most part - successful. There were several instances of pre-teens not sounding like any pre-teen I've ever known (honestly, for me, he failed across the board to breathe realistic life into any of the kids) and some cringe-worthy sequences about a glitchy camera recording app. But the conclusion really makes the book scary and makes the book worth it. Horror fans should read. 

Disappearance at Devil’s Rock on: Amazon | Goodreads