The story was good, but there are a lot of unanswered questions! The fact that a lot of things are left to the imagination or personal conclusions is a combination of great and unsettling. I like being able to keep a book that I have read going in my brain - to reach my own conclusions and decisions - but a lot of it seems unfinished and like there's more to that to be filled in. But I really did like the story!
There's a LOT going on in this book, it's sometimes confusing and hard to keep up. However, if you can, it pays off big time. One of my favorites for sure.
This was a slow starter but with a low slow burn that lasted until the (great) ending. It was a bit long (and I admittedly skipped over some of the narrator's inner dialogue, probably to my detriment) but the slow slog was worth it for the peek into a complicated women's group from a completely different time and space. This book had me thinking about it afterwards, which for me is the true definition of a good read. If the author could tighten up and lighten up a bit this would easily be a 5, but it's still so close for me. Ultimately, I decided although I contemplated it for a long time afterwards, the fact that I skipped some meant it couldn't be a 5.
EDIT: I just learned that the author is a TERF, as such I can't recommend this book or suggest supporting her work. I'll leave my original, uninformed review below.
A feminist speculative short story ironically featuring two men as the protagonists. The plot examines the lives, thoughts, actions, and interactions of these two old friends as they spend a day together navigating a heteromatriarchal world that is just as oppressive as our current heteropatriarchal one.
The role reversal at the center of the story does a magnificent job of bringing forth both the banal and extreme forms of repression and alienation that manifest under heteropatriarchy. But as during the course of the story, these events are experienced by men, the oppressively mundane suddenly becomes the outrageously absurd. As a cis male, I found this story engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring of reflection. I agree with those who say the ending could …
EDIT: I just learned that the author is a TERF, as such I can't recommend this book or suggest supporting her work. I'll leave my original, uninformed review below.
A feminist speculative short story ironically featuring two men as the protagonists. The plot examines the lives, thoughts, actions, and interactions of these two old friends as they spend a day together navigating a heteromatriarchal world that is just as oppressive as our current heteropatriarchal one.
The role reversal at the center of the story does a magnificent job of bringing forth both the banal and extreme forms of repression and alienation that manifest under heteropatriarchy. But as during the course of the story, these events are experienced by men, the oppressively mundane suddenly becomes the outrageously absurd. As a cis male, I found this story engaging, thought-provoking, and inspiring of reflection. I agree with those who say the ending could have been stronger, but overall, I would recommend this quick, impactful read.
This author...every time I read a book by Reese Morrison I feel like I'm gently taken apart and put back together a little more fully and with a little larger heart. This is a beautiful story about complex characters (Reese does excel at them). Watching Mateo explore his gender was so pure and true. When he tried on lingerie for the first time I couldn't see the page through my tears. Mateo is so incredibly precious and brave, and Austin tries so hard and so sincere and sensitive to Mateo's needs. The first time he referred to himself as "daddy" my heart melted into a puddle. </spoiler)
This book, the sixth in the Beth Haldane series, answers some questions about Beth’s past. It’s a bit different from the previous books in the series, with multiple murders and attempted murders over a fairly lengthy period of time.
And I had to laugh, because the game of bridge features prominently and I really related to Beth, who absolutely didn’t want to learn to play but finally did to please her difficult mother. In my case, it was a grandmother I never got along with who tried to teach me, and against whom I completely rebelled. That was probably 55 years ago, and to this day I refuse to learn. Families can do that to you. . .
It’s not often I get surprised by the ending, but I barely saw this one coming. This story includes a no-holds-barred look at parents who put careers and stuff ahead of paying attention to their kids, and still manages to stay entertaining.
Note: I read the audiobook format of this book, so my review is based from that.
Well, here goes and my apologies to the author in advance.
This story was just beyond words and not of the take my breath away kind. It's more like the I'm speechless because I have no idea what to say regarding this book.
Spoiler moment: The plot of this story was just so unbelievable in so many ways. Like seriously, your ass is unconscious and buried in sand, so how are you going to all of a sudden get up and be able to stock the people that hurt you. Like I get some stories have some, WTH, moments that leave you shaking your head or wondering what the heck will happen next, but things just get worse from here.
Now granted there are some that definitely like this story, but I definitely am …
Note: I read the audiobook format of this book, so my review is based from that.
Well, here goes and my apologies to the author in advance.
This story was just beyond words and not of the take my breath away kind. It's more like the I'm speechless because I have no idea what to say regarding this book.
Spoiler moment: The plot of this story was just so unbelievable in so many ways. Like seriously, your ass is unconscious and buried in sand, so how are you going to all of a sudden get up and be able to stock the people that hurt you. Like I get some stories have some, WTH, moments that leave you shaking your head or wondering what the heck will happen next, but things just get worse from here.
Now granted there are some that definitely like this story, but I definitely am not one of them and here's why.
Who in their right mind would go along with this set up that the dead, but not dead guy comes up with? When he finally confronts his killers you think he'd ask for something that makes sense, right?
Nope, wrong answer! He gives them no choice but to go along with this messed up plan of his. And, and, to make matters even more screwed up Cynthia starts to feel sorry for the dead, but not dead guy!
I'll stop there because I don't want to throw in too many spoilers because then you may hate me for doing so, smiles. Who knows, you may end up being one that likes this story.
A good thing about The Drive By Wife is the narrator Mark Torres. He has a great reading voice for this book and that's what held my attention and kept me reading until the end to see how things turned out. This is one of those cases where the narrator drives the book.
In fact, I think Mark Torres would have been another great narrator for Mike's other book that I reviewed called Baby Talk.
Note 2: I'm not sure how this look in print format but I believe the audio one is all of the books in this series. Some reviews I read said that this was a series and the books were very short, but I didn't find that with the audio format. Just something to be aware of in case you decide to check out this book and get the print or EBook format.
Well, onto my next read. Maybe one day I'll catch a Mike Wells book that catches my attention, smiles.
I am a huge fan of movies like Sphere and Event Horizon, and this is true to the description as "the Shining in space". It's the Titanic meets Event Horizon meets the Mary (Marie?) Celeste mystery all wrapped up into a good length, great story. Highly recommend! My only complaint would be the main character's "abilities" are never fully explained for explored. A small, splitting hairs complaint, however.
The distressed mind provides a general overview of psychiatry, although certain parts of this text are outdated and modern science has refuted them, the text does allude to this possibility occurring in the (then) future.
Brown's writing initially starts off as what can be seen as a defensive stance on the legitimacy of psychiatry and psychology as respected scientific fields and branches out into the main topics regarding the fields. The detail of the writing itself is not immense but acceptable as the book itself covers a vast variety of topics ranging from Psychiatry's development, Freud/Jung/Alder's takes on psychoanalysis, psychopathology, the nervous system, psychosomatic disorders, et cetera.
The preface of this book is wrong to suggest that the material is centred on psychosomatic disorders as it only composes a mere chapter of the book and is not mentioned within the others.
3/5 Overall slightly ahead of its time in regards …
The distressed mind provides a general overview of psychiatry, although certain parts of this text are outdated and modern science has refuted them, the text does allude to this possibility occurring in the (then) future.
Brown's writing initially starts off as what can be seen as a defensive stance on the legitimacy of psychiatry and psychology as respected scientific fields and branches out into the main topics regarding the fields. The detail of the writing itself is not immense but acceptable as the book itself covers a vast variety of topics ranging from Psychiatry's development, Freud/Jung/Alder's takes on psychoanalysis, psychopathology, the nervous system, psychosomatic disorders, et cetera.
The preface of this book is wrong to suggest that the material is centred on psychosomatic disorders as it only composes a mere chapter of the book and is not mentioned within the others.
3/5 Overall slightly ahead of its time in regards to opinions held about those with known psychological issues but not a very in-depth piece. Great as a memory refresher...
The anthropomorphism is also very hard for me to took past. While I initially decided to read the book looking for poetic analogy between trees and humans, I was disappointed to find that the author rather tries to explain natural processes using analogy. This provides no new insight into the nature of humans or trees. Rather, it simplifies research for a much more capable audience. In all, i feel that this book covers a fascinating and important field of enquiry using an inappropriate technique.
Am interesting tale. It would also be fair to say that a story about a man locked in a hotel for 35 years doesn't really go anywhere! Still, an interesting dive into a particulars of the shifting socio-political environment of early communist Russia.
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing - I read this as an advance copy.
The book pulled me in quickly. I haven't been in high school in a good many years, but social outcast feelings learned in that environment tend to stick around as memories - and I thought the story did a good job of reinforcing those memories. I developed fast empathy for the POV character (Jeff) and his plight at not only appearing wildly different from all of his fellow students, but also going through physical changes that seemed sure to drive an even larger wedge between him and them.
The first half of the story builds a compelling story: a social outcast bullied for his appearance, the discovery of an ally, budding romantic feelings - all things that add up to good YA fiction. The second half shifts everything into high gear, and characters feel as if …
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing - I read this as an advance copy.
The book pulled me in quickly. I haven't been in high school in a good many years, but social outcast feelings learned in that environment tend to stick around as memories - and I thought the story did a good job of reinforcing those memories. I developed fast empathy for the POV character (Jeff) and his plight at not only appearing wildly different from all of his fellow students, but also going through physical changes that seemed sure to drive an even larger wedge between him and them.
The first half of the story builds a compelling story: a social outcast bullied for his appearance, the discovery of an ally, budding romantic feelings - all things that add up to good YA fiction. The second half shifts everything into high gear, and characters feel as if they are acting out: unexpected racism, homophobia, and quickly escalating violence that erupts in a final bloodbath.
I'm left with mixed feelings. I found the horror elements as well-crafted as the setup, but the end result was losing my empathy for the protagonist - I liked the elements of the story, but less so the whole. While I might understand Jeff cracking under the pressure he was forced to endure, I also wanted some reason in the end to find him something more than a monster. Instead, it is a different character who travels that path from monster to redemption - and for him I felt no empathy at all.
I did not expect to dislike this so much, but here we are. I really enjoyed Unkindness of Ghosts, and I loved the premise of this story, so I fully expected to enjoy myself. Whoops. Some of my issues are with the audiobook specifically so I have tried to associate my review with the audiobook version.
Issues with the audiobook:
1) Daveed Diggs does not have a good narration voice. I’m sorry!! I understand why he’s the one who reads it, but I wish they had gone with someone else, preferably a woman. 2) His choice to voice Ori (sp?) like an 80 year old woman contributed to my shock when suddenly there’s a romance between Ori and Yetu. 3) I hate the word “pup” and I had to hear it so many times
Message is simple: Wear a mask. The only pandemic-related book that is unlike the rest. It's colorful, vibrant, and minus the very clear and upfront message throughout, isn't all doom and gloom. Give this a read because it is the one and only covid-19 book that brings brightness to a person's day.
