Review: Fleishman is in Trouble

3 stars. Brisk, funny, painful. My reaction to this book - about a man attempting to navigate sex and dating and parenting post-divorce - is so weird and I'm sure that's because I'm super distracted by a fucking. global. pandemic. and can't be invested in reading about insufferable hypocrites. But let's try to break it down:

Taffy's goals here - to spit on the rich, to put a harsh spotlight on the incredible male ego, to explore a dysfunctional marriage, to let women be complicated - are obvious. Admirable goals, to be sure, and I think she achieves them. But she telegraphs these themes so early that perhaps they're too obvious - I think I prefer a little more wrapping paper around my gifts. I already know the rich are horrible and I already know men are assholes and I already know that we as a species are spectacularly horrible at choosing and keeping mates and I already know that women are fucking spectacular multifaceted creatures who are punished for literally everything they do.

So maybe ... it needed a bit more editing and a bit more color and fewer dense sentences and a more balanced narrative. Maybe the repetition was too heavy. Maybe the perspective shift shouldn't have felt so jarring despite a lot of foreshadowing. Maybe the sex parts could've felt a little less like a woman-writing-a-man. Maybe it needed to feel crisper and less soggy. Maybe the narrator could've fit more neatly into the story.

It doesn't change the fact that her goals ARE admirable and this stuff SHOULD be written about and these stories SHOULD be read widely. And that ending - oh my god what a gut punch. We NEED more quotes like this: 

"If you are a smart woman, you cannot stand by and remain sane once you fully understand, as a smart person does, the constraints of this world on a woman." 

And this: 

"So I would go home and would wedge myself back into my life. I would wonder, globally, how you could be so desperately unhappy when you are so essentially happy." 

And this: 

"Whatever kind of woman you are, even when you’re a lot of kinds of women, you’re still always just a woman, which is to say you’re always a little bit less than a man." 

MORE OF THIS. More of this conflict. More of this push and pull. More of these pithy validating observations that make me breathless and seen and hopeless and grateful.

So yes, it hit me weird. But I recommend it. And I will read what she writes next.

Fleishman is in Trouble on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Outsider

3 stars. When I started this, I was kinda disappointed. It took me a minute to readjust to King's gleeful / outdated colloquialisms (a kid literally says, "gee" at one point, as in "gee mister, I got a nickel to take to the diner for a milkshake"), but by 20% I was hooked. Only he could take one of my least favorite premises - where every. single. character is stuck between a rock and a hard place - and make it so captivating (I just finished The Expanse #4, in which the entire plot is one clusterfuck after another, so I may be sensitive to this ATM). 

The Outsider focuses on the horrible abduction and murder of a young boy in a small town. The forensic evidence points exclusively and conclusively to one man - a beloved Little League couch with no history of violent behavior or criminal tendencies - so the police arrest him. Unfortunately, he has a rock solid alibi, which leads everyone (the cops, his family, his lawyer, his kids) to question: how can one man be in two places at once?

It has all the ingredients for a great King read: distinct, well-intentioned characters, a fleshed out small town setting, a gruesome murder, and an impossible, slightly supernatural mystery at its heart. I really respect the eerie unfolding of this particular plot - I didn't find anything too frightening, but I was definitely unsettled. King filled this book with more metadata than usual (expect easter eggs, kids), but it moves along nicely with all the finesse you'd expect.

So, if you can get beyond the somewhat eyeroll-y dialogue (a woman literally says "let's get funky" to her "husband of mine" in one conversation), this is great. But (Sarah Jessica Parker voice) I can't help but wonder: does this feel more cookie cutter than King's earlier works? It felt a little long and a little predictable. I think maybe it's because - ugh, I hate even letting this impact my reading experience - I knew what to expect. The supernatural aspects weren't a surprise, and I went in anticipating a high level of detail and characterization, and then ... I didn't get the gut punch I was hoping for. 

I guess the problem is that when you're That Good, I expect Great. And King can't help but continue to explore his favorite themes: addiction, justice, monster-hunting. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it reminded me a lot of 'Salem's Lot and a little of It. I think I was hoping for something that tasted a little spicier. Still, I've said it before and I'll say it again: mediocre King is still miles above the rest. 

I absolutely cannot wait to watch the adaptation. I’ve heard such good things.

The Outsider on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Cibola Burn (The Expanse #4)

2 stars. Wow. This really didn’t do it for me. Here’s why:

1. The female characters (again - just like the other books). Elvi starts out with so much promise - a kickass, brilliant female scientist? I’m in. And what does she do, immediately? She falls in love with Holden. GAG. She does play her part, in the end, but her trajectory smelled weird to me.

2. Holden. I really can’t stand the golden hero boy. Every time another character makes fun of him it’s an attempt for the authors to act self-aware but it all falls flat. Holden is who he is: who (many) male readers want to be.

3. The entire plot consists of things going wrong. I loved the constant disasters in the first three books because it kept the pages turning and gave us some heart pounding, high stakes action sequences. But here it gets EXHAUSTING. Give us a win! Quit pushing these characters to outlandish limits! When things go THAT wrong, it just feels lucky when they go right again. I personally enjoy reading about problem solving, not luck.

4. Murtry. The Expanse series features some truly great antagonists, often complicated ones (love), but this one just has a cartoon villain. Murtry’s entire character felt FORCED. It’s like they wrote him into the story, realized he didn’t come across as bad enough, and subsequently made the other characters think “I hate that guy” a lot to fix it. FORCED. I don’t have sympathy for him or anything - he was super psychopathic - but I’m so confused about why he had to be Evil with an uppercase e. Why did he go after Holden? He just felt ... unneeded. Bland. There to give Amos someone to crack his knuckles at.

5. Same old themes. Humans are stupid, bonk me on the head with it why don’t ya?

Alas, because the weather’s nice and I’m feeling generous, I will point out a few things I loved:

1. MILLER. My fave. My adorable, confused, cryptic alien babe.

2. Death slugs.

I will absolutely continue with this series because I swore to myself and my husband that I would, but I’m a little burned out. Don't worry, I'll get there. 

Cibola Burn on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Mothers

5 stars. The Mothers is wonderful and painful, much like the experience of being female. It questions and explores so much. It’s about expectations and fear and assumption and choices and mistakes and the lies we tell each other and the lies we tell ourselves. It reflects the impossible battles we face every day as the hugely imperfect individuals we all are.

I was looking for something exactly like this - something introspective and harrowing and rich with detail. It’s a somewhat short but packed story about a young girl, Nadia, who faces an unplanned pregnancy at seventeen. She (not a spoiler) has an abortion and the book examines its impact on her identity as well as those of the people around her. 

The narrative is a winding road that connects Nadia with her distant father, her dead mother, her damaged best friend, her lover, and her community. I felt so deeply for each character and the decisions they faced. I particularly love the way the book posits how occasionally connection cannot be defined - it just is. Sometimes it's wonderful and stimulating and warm, sometimes it's cold and ugly and painful, and sometimes - often, maybe - it's both. 

The writing itself is lovely, practically flawless. The setting feels timeless (I was almost jarred by mentions of cell phones and Barrack Obama). The characters are distinct and complicated and therefore realistic, to me. Nadia makes imperfect choices and I could relate to every. single. one. It's not a fun read, but I wasn't looking for one. I wanted to sink into scalding water for a moment and The Mothers delivered.

I know that my perspective is unneeded here - probably unwanted - but more books like this need to be published.

The Mothers on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Ten Thousand Doors of January

3 stars. Charming! The Ten Thousand Doors of January is about a young woman in the early 1900's who lives in a mansion full of strange artifacts. Her father comes and goes on mysterious missions and she is stuck under the charge of a strict but seemingly supportive caretaker. Until one day, she discovers a door. And a book.

A magical and enchanting story weaves itself beautifully as January makes friends, learns about her past, and runs into trouble. Sure, it's about excitement and adventure and facing misfortune, but it's also about a woman finding herself - loving herself - doubling down on her very sense of self - when everyone else fails. 

If this was a straight up professional-ish review, I'd rate it higher - it's a good book. Well-paced, well-written and it hits certain spots that many readers are nostalgic for after HP and Wayward Children and Narnia. I adore portal fantasies and felt the familiar "man I wish I could find my door" feeling. I also couldn't put it down!

But since this is more of a reaction than a review, I'll call it trope-y, and I'm docking a star, as I always do, for a UDD (Unnecessary Dog Death - even if it's a fake one). The writing comes across as quaint to me, maybe a little cute. I also don't believe in True Love, and sometimes this felt like a romance disguising itself as a fantasy. And the plot contains IMO many impossibilities, which may kind of be the point, but I like writing that solves its problems with a little more finesse. 

Anyway, I do really love the energy here. It's quirky, fun and a great debut.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Abaddon's Gate (The Expanse #3)

4 stars. Yeesh, I made it through another one. I don't know why these books - these fast-paced, cinematic, deeply entertaining books - take me so long. I enjoy them so much, and I love the way the series unfolds in this one, but reading them just ... takes me awhile. They're tiring. And this one explores a lot of religious and moral themes that I couldn't wrap my head around, as much as I wanted to.

Otherwise, it's excellent space stuff. We still have Holden (gag me) and his crew, plus a few new characters: a young woman bent on revenge, a Russian preacher committed to helping humanity through the crisis of encountering alien life, and a hardened OPA officer trying to keep humans from shooting each other. Each character is distinct and charming as always. And the action is so extra - in a good way.

Whereas the last book threw alien life into a largely political arena, this one is more philosophical. Concepts like revenge, morality, forgiveness and love are all central themes; strangely juxtaposed with the protomolecule and its actions. The characters are squeezed and pushed to their limits and forced to show their true colors. I like this kind of writing, writing that doubles down on the complexities of what it means to be human. I respect the way these authors write about PTSD and traumatic identity fractures. 

I still have issues with the female characters and the weird way everyone quickly devolved into "good" or "bad" when the time came, but like I've said in previous reviews: this is golden science fiction. I'm looking forward to what's next, even if it takes me fifty years. (It might. Just saying.)

Abaddon’s Gate on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Whisper Man

4 stars. WOW - this was a lot more complicated than I anticipated, in a good way. This book is a very successful example of multiple threads being woven into a complete and thrilling tapestry. I read it in one day and couldn't put it down. I was even, shall I say, a wee bit unsettled at one point...

The Whisper Man features several characters living in a town plagued by tragedy: a man, who recently moved their with his young son for a fresh start after his wife's death, an older detective haunted by a murder case he solved twenty years ago, a younger detective put on a frighteningly similar case, and several other minor - but sinister - individuals circling the mystery.

The multiple voices worked really well (I can't even complain about the younger child's POV, which I always compare to Stephen King and almost always find lacking - but not here!), and the twists and turns tie everyone together nicely. I didn't predict all of the reveals, which was quite something! 

If I did have a slight complaint, I'd say that Tom's voice sounded a bit ... I'm almost scared to say it ... feminine. I kept thinking I was reading from the perspective of a mother rather than a father. I mean, he drank white wine! I know, I'm joking, I would never adhere to such crippling gender stereotypes, but something about his approach to certain situations felt ... off. This is most definitely a problem with my interpretation and not the writing. But I am curious if anyone else experienced the same sensation.

Honestly though, this was great. This would be a fantastic beach read for those of us who like to lean into the dark stuff while lounging in the sunshine. I almost wish the author had leaned even a little bit deeper, because he's talented at writing creepy moments. 4 stars overall, and now I'm back to the Expanse............... god help me.

The Whisper Man on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Caliban's War (The Expanse #2)

4 stars. PHEW. I did it. Another one. These books are frankly a bit exhausting. I've never actually read an absolute pageturner that made my eyes glaze over so much. That's not a criticism, just an observation, really. But still: my commitment to my vague 2020 reading challenge remains strong. I WILL FINISH WHAT I START. 

Caliban's War brings back the crew of the Rocinante to fight another day, or should I say, another form of the protomolecule that plagued the solar system in Leviathan Wakes. This time, though, we get fun new characters. Instead of alternating between Holden and Miller, we are introduced to: a scientist desperate to find his missing daughter, who is apparently at the heart of an evil corporate scheme (another one lol … or the same one?), a large Martian soldier named Bobbie, who spends the book trying to find her place in politics, and a high-up UN government official whose hardass insane personality is actually really charming.

I missed grumpy old Miller, but I LOVED Avasarala. 

I mentioned a lot of worldbuilding detail in my review of the first book, and I want to either reassure or warn future readers that the attention level needed here remains pretty high. At least, it did for me. I love space battles and stars and alien science, and the authors do a great job of dumbing things down when absolutely necessary, but I had a very hard time grasping certain things like the mechanics of the ships. I am reading this with an English Literature degree, after all.

That being said, the world expands (ahem) here quite nicely. I did enjoy the juxtaposition of petty human political infighting ("the game") with the very serious, mysterious apocalyptic threat spewing monsters at civilization. I also appreciated the fact that, unlike in many books, characters who go through traumatic events get totally traumatized. It was refreshing to read about these folks struggling to process or recover from haunting events. 

I still hate Holden and Naomi. In fact, I think I kind of just hate Holden...? 

Anyway, these books are must-reads for sci-fi fans and I would call them an excellent escape if the political infighting wasn't so damn FRUSTRATINGLY FAMILIAR. These are strange times.

Caliban’s War on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Daisy Jones & The Six

3 stars. Crap. I really wanted to like this one. I admire the premise and respect the author, but this just felt like a big ol' bowl of bland mush to me. 

This book takes the form of an "oral narrative," essentially a collection of related quotes from various players that tell the story. In this case, the "author" has "interviewed" the members of a famous fictional classic rock band from the 70s: Daisy Jones & The Six. We as readers hear firsthand about the formation of the band and its (this is not a spoiler) ultimate demise. 

Under the umbrella of an obvious Fleetwood Mac retelling, there are some really serious and interesting themes explored: the power and intimacy of performance, the pain and emotion of hearing or writing music, the heartbreaking challenge of addiction, the intensity of unrequited love, etc. I enjoyed the author's ability to write succinctly and with style about all of this. I also appreciated the representation of a female character who wanted to take an "untraditional" path in her life. 

I mean some of the passages about music hitting right and about clocking the person you’re attracted to and about the pressure of having to make sacrifices and Big Choices and stuff like that! So good.

However, like I said, it was bland, to me. It needed more pepper. I think this is a personal thing, but I desperately just wanted Billy and Daisy to communicate directly. I know firsthand how the line between hate and love can get blurry, but it's a pet peeve when so much can be solved and worked through with basic communication. And I GET IT - the point was that they communicated with their music. It just personally bugged me.

It also didn't seem very realistic in its depiction of three things: hardcore substance use disorder, creative differences in a famous band, and true love. The drug use is talked about seriously but I never felt like it was horrifying or a real threat to any of the characters. The clash of personalities in the band and musical jealousies were solved way too quickly. And the loyalty and trust of Billy's wife was WAY over the top angelic. What an obnoxious saint.

And, of course, as with her other books, the author wrapped this up in a neat little bow. Too neat. Ugh, I don't know, am I being too harsh? I couldn't put it down, that's for sure! And I did really love the way music was used and described and explored. My mind just really wasn't blown. On to the next. 

Daisy Jones & The Six on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1)

4 stars. OMFG I finished a book. 2020 has already been the weirdest year ever, and partly because it took me this fucking long to finish a book?! Due to a combination of: the post-holiday blues, post-holiday chores, leaving my Kindle in a hotel room in Delaware, and a spontaneous decision to pursue a semi-remodel of our condo, I haven't had much time or energy to read. And I think that's also because...

I decided to re-read The Expanse series. My husband has been begging me to so we can watch the TV show together, but I've been dragging my heels knowing what a commitment it would be. But one of my (very personal, very intangible, very low-pressure) reading goals for this year is going to be FINISH WHAT YOU START, which means series. So here we are. Leviathan Wakes.

Considering what the series becomes, this book is laughably simple in premise. We have two narrators: Captain Jim Holden, a man from Earth leading a small crew through a variety of weird, unlucky space misfortunes on a universally political scale, and Detective Miller, a Belter (born and raised in the outer planets of the solar system) assigned to investigate a missing girl. Chapters alternate in perspective and we get a front seat as these two characters orbit (lol) around each other until .... VOMIT ZOMBIES!!

I'm awake now! But before you think this is Resident Evil in space (someone needs to write that immediately), I should highlight the intense complexity of the world-building here. Sure, there are entertaining chapters full of space battles and terrifying alien monsters, but there is also a ton of detail. Get ready to pay attention: you essentially have to learn a new vocabulary and receive a crash course in space science to reap the full benefits of this series.

Fine by me. What I DID mind? The women. Not just the female characters - the interactions they have with the men. I don't know why they bothered me so, so deeply, but they did. I really, really hate Holden and Naomi. I really, really hate that Miller "falls in love" with Julie. I can't even explain why I cringe so hard I literally clench my stomach during anything that remotely touches romance or relationships. It's not because the female characters aren't realistic. I think it might actually be because ... the male characters aren't.

But anyway, sometimes after a hard few months and a lot of family drama and political chaos and impending warfare, I just want to read about aliens. This is golden sci-fi right here. 

Leviathan Wakes on: Amazon | Goodreads