August Reading Wrap-Up
This month was okay, with a total of 6 books completed. I had one DNF, one comfort read, and one classic, so there was definitely a good mix here, but nothing earth-shattering! I’m currently trying to finish War and Peace, and I’m so close with only around 200 pages left! I can’t wait to finish, since it’s been a year-long journey. I’m also almost done with Crazy Rich Asians because I needed a romance to cope with the seriousness that is Tolstoy, but I’m enjoying it…kind of. I’m just not used to reading romance, but I would like to branch out and start reading more within the genre. If you have any recommendations, please let me know!
If I Had Your Face
by Frances Cha
The story follows four women (Kyuri, Miho, Wonna, and Ara) living in Seoul, Korea, who form bonds with each other to cope with impossible beauty standards, relationships, and a community that focuses on male desires (particularly men who belong to the upper echelons of society). If I Had Your Face is character-driven, so if you love a good plot, this may not be for you.
I’ve come to realize that I’m not a huge fan of alternating perspectives, especially when there are more than two viewpoints. I was attached to Miho’s and Ara’s storylines more than Wonna’s and Kyuri’s, so there were times where I lost interest or momentum. It’s not ideal for me, but it was still a good read. I listened to the audiobook version, and I really appreciated the different voice actors that were used to portray the four female perspectives throughout the book. It brought a depth to the story that makes listening to the audio version way more engaging for sure!
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
by Anne Bronte
For those unfamiliar with Bronte’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, the premise of the story focuses on a young mother named Helen Graham, who escapes an abusive marriage and ends up living in secret. Helen is viewed by the locals as a recluse, and naturally, scandal follows when a single mother arrives and disrupts the status quo. Events are told through a series of letters, and a large portion of the novel is told through the perspective of one of the locals, Gilbert Markham. Gilbert becomes oddly obsessed with Helen and her secret past is only revealed when she lets him read her diary explaining how she came to escape her husband’s clutches and his group of cronies.
I absolutely love The Tenant of Wildfell Hall! Anne Bronte’s style of writing is direct (common for epistolary novels), and I found it easier to read than a lot of other classics, including ones by Jane Austen. The story also provides a splendid mix of scandal, feminism, and conversations concerning abusive relationships, which kept me interested while reading. It didn’t feel as long as a 500 page classics novel might, which was really refreshing. Maybe if you’ve been hesitant to start reading classics, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall might be a good place to begin. Despite the novel being composed of letters, the descriptions of the character’s environments are written beautifully, and we still get a good sense of Helen’s isolation and loneliness throughout. I feel like I can write more about this novel, so I might write a longer review soon! Not everyone seems to like Helen, but her actions and development as a character are largely motivated by her values and religious beliefs, which makes for an interesting character study. Anyway, I enjoyed it and maybe you will too!
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
by Ottessa Moshfegh
I was honestly not a huge fan of this one, although I have enjoyed Moshfegh’s other novels. Basically, a wealthy orphan decides to take a bunch of pills, irresponsibly provided by her psychiatrist, and locks herself up in a fancy apartment for the better part of a year. The narrator is dealing with depression and trauma caused by the death of her parents and an unhealthy relationship with an ex-boyfriend, and sleeping her time away sets her off on an unusual journey. Some of the themes the author covers are drug and alcohol abuse, agoraphobia, and abusive relationships; however, the conversation doesn’t seem to develop any further than what the narrator is thinking and doing. I’m also not all that interested in visualizing how this rich, basic character deals with her own trauma. I get it, rich people have feelings and suffer from mental illness too, but that pile of wealth sure as hell makes coping more comfortable (especially when the narrator doesn’t need to work to eat and pay bills). As long as she has her cabinet of sleeping pills, it’s all good! Overall, it seemed shallow, but still entertaining enough to finish. Don’t understand what all the hype was about though.
What Moves the Dead
by T. Kingfisher
I really enjoyed What Moves the Dead! It was deliciously gothic and inspired by Poe's “The Fall of the House of Usher.” The events that happen in the story are similar, with only a few modern touches or twists added into the mix, such as the concept of using genderless pronouns. The story is short and can be completed in one sitting. I chose the audiobook for this one, and came in knowing absolutely nothing about the book. You can say it was a serendipitous find while searching my library’s ebook catalog. Kingfisher has a knack for imagery and depicting gothic settings. There is a strong sense of isolation caused by the creepy castle and formidable grounds, and of course a good amount of terror and horror, creating the perfect gothic setting! I don’t love how the author’s version of the story is so close to Poe’s, and wished there was a little more originality thrown into the mix; however, it was still an enjoyable read!
The Family Upstairs
by Lisa Jewell
Absolutely hated this one! The previous books I have read from Jewell I’ve enjoyed, but The Family Upstairs was just boring. Nothing really happens, and I consider this book more of a family drama than a thriller. I suppose I shouldn’t have been entirely surprised based on previous Jewell books, such as Invisible Girl and Then She Was Gone, but I could not get into this one. I also had issues with how characters were represented, and the generalizations that seem to be more indicative of the author’s views than the character’s.
For example, the author seems to make some bold political statements by displaying the villains as cultish anti-capitalist vegans. This is fine, and can be interesting for character development, but as far as I read, there isn’t really a conversation that ties in these beliefs solely to David’s narcissism and need for control. It mostly makes generalized statements about millennials liking avocado toast and explains how “vegan food goes straight through you.” Of course, there is severe child abuse that happens within the story, but based on the statements that young Henry makes, the villains are villains, not just because David is an abuser that uses belief systems/values to wield control, but because he, along with Birdie, are vegan cult anti-capitalist hippies. I would have continued reading if the story wasn’t so boring, but I stopped around page 230 and skimmed to the end to piece together what happened. I consider this a DNF and a big ole’ no from me.
Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
(Illustrated Edition)
I ended up in a reading slump after reading The Family Upstairs. I picked up two or three books after and couldn’t get into them. When this happens, I’ll usually pick up Harry Potter, and I had the illustrated edition of The Prisoner of Azkaban that I hadn’t read yet. It was definitely a fun and quick way to get out of my slump, and it might be my favorite out of the series? Plus, we’re getting into fall, not that I experience it here in the desert, but it’s still a perfect time for cozier reads.
Happy Reading!