April Reading Recap
Hello, fellow book lovers. Glad you stopped by! . April was filled with many books that I really enjoyed. Hope you find them just as enjoyable as I did.
The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise by Pico Iyer
Quick Synopsis: In search of a serene paradise, Iyer travels around the globe to the most sacred places in search of an oasis.
Strong Points: The author has a poetic writing style that I found really enjoyable (just read the beautiful, sing-songy title). I underlined some beautiful passages throughout the book. One in particular stood out to me. "Nothing lasts is the reason why everything matters". Iyer reminds us that without that doomed end, the in-betweens wouldn't matter. While I don’t necessarily gravitate toward reflective books, this one felt easy to read and kept my attention. The author has lived a very full life, and this book is telling of that. I even added a few new places to my travel wish list.
Weak Points: In a few locations, the author's writing was unorganized and felt meandering. During these points, he mostly wrote about the vibe of where he was. I wished he would elaborate more on his specific experiences and make more of a connection with the rest of the book.
Writing Style: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend
Vintage Contemporaries by Dan Kois
Quick Synopsis: Em moved to New York in hopes of working in publishing and in search of finding herself. Yeah, that’s pretty much it.
Strong Points: I’m sure they were some….
Weak Points: Not a memorable story. As soon as I closed this book, it was erased from my mind. I couldn’t really tell you what it was about. I had to do a quick Google search of the synopsis and still can't elaborate much. I’m sick of stories whose entire plot takes place in the 90s in New York. It was very one-note and forgettable. If I wasn’t reading it for my book club, I would have stopped reading after page 25.
Writing Style: 2.5/5
Characters: 2/5
Plot: 1/5
Flow/Pacing: 3/5
Overall Rating: 2.5/5
Not recommend
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
Quick Synopsis: A group of friends have formed an unregulated group called Birnam Wood, where they plant crops in uninhabited areas. In search of expanding their crop and finally making some money, the group finds a field that's been cut off from the main road by a landslide. Only, they aren’t the only ones interested in this field. A strange man building a bunker on the property suggests they work together to take over the area.
Strong Points: The story was a bit of a slow burn that snuck up on me. I couldn’t put it down. The ending was haunting, and I thought about it for days after. To me, that checks the boxes for an effective story.
Weak Points: While I did enjoy the story, I felt like it took a while to get to the climax and into the meat of the story. I was drawn to this book because it claimed it was a gripping psychological thriller; however, a psychological thriller it was not.
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Highly Recommend
Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy by James B. Stewart
Quick Synopsis: Media mogul Sumner Redstone controls a multi-billionaire dollar empire, including Paramount, CBS, Simon & Schuster, and Showtime, to name a few. As he ages, the people surrounding him are chopping at the bit to become his successor and will stab anyone that stands in their way.
Strong Points: This was like a real-world Succession season filled with rotten people and expensive problems. I routed for characters as if it were a television show and not a novel. While the story itself is plenty exciting and juicy, Stewart does a great job of keeping the reader engaged. He tiptoes the line of including enough information without bogging the story down with too much detail. I didn’t want to put this book down. If you’re missing the Roy family, pick this book up, and you’ll get your fix of billionaire family drama.
Weak Points: I wish it would have delved more into the origins of the Redstone family. How did these awful people become the awful people they are today?
Writing Style: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Flow/Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Highly Recommend
My Last Innocent Year by Daisy Alpert Florin
Quick Synopsis: Not like we need another college girl from the 90s going to college… But here we are. After losing her mother, Isabel goes to college to return to her old self. After a sexual assault before winter break, she is more lost than ever. That is, until Isabel starts gaining attention from a young professor who finally sees her for the talented writer she is.
Strong Points: There were many reflective points in the book. For example, the young professor talks about how we never really change. We blame our shortcomings on being kids and having less life experience. Then, as we become adults, we don’t have that much more life experience, yet we are supposed to be well-rounded adults. In reality, we are all just trying to get by and protect ourselves as best we can. The most memorial book? No. Did you enjoy it while reading it? Yes.
Weak Points: The characters felt like fictional characters instead of real people. Sometimes I don’t mind this, and other times I’m screaming at the author while reading a ridiculous, unrealistic reaction that the character is having. It takes me out of the story.
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 3/5
Plot: 3.5/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend
The Enigma of Room 622 by Joel Dicker
Quick Synopsis: Joel, a thriller writer, arrives at an inn in the Swiss Alps to begin writing his new novel and clear his head. This inn is home to a mysterious murder that takes place in room 622. Joel draws inspiration from the murder and begins to write his novel about this mystery while uncovering secrets about the inn’s past. A classic whodunnit that takes place in the Swiss Alps. What’s not to love?
Strong Points: What a fun book! I liked how the author seamlessly interwove stories from the past and present. True to its genre, the author sprinkled in red herrings to keep the reader on their feet. This was a great palate cleanser if you’re looking for something light.
Weak Points: My only complaint is that it’s a little long. However, I even enjoyed the parts of the book that didn't add much to the story.
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Highly Recommend
Umami by Laia Jufresa
Quick Synopsis: This story takes place in Mexico City in a small cluster of houses where each resident has their own story to tell. Entwining different years and points of view, the characters tell their story of triumph and heartache.
Strong Points: Each character’s voice was unique to its own. The author was able to tell us so much about each character without writing a lot, but conveying so much with just their unique inner thoughts, reactions, and mannerisms. The beginning starts at the end and brings the reader back to the beginning, which was also a strong point for me. I wanted to continue reading to see how the story began and how those experiences shaped the characters into who they were.
Weak Points: It took me awhile to get into the story. With the many characters, it was tough at first to differentiate them from one another. As I read and settled into the book, this wasn't a problem.
Writing Style: 4/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Plot: 4/5
Flow/Pacing: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
Recommend
"Paradise, in short, is regained by finding the wonder within the moment." - The Half Known Life by Pico Lyer
