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criticalgayze's reviews
196 reviews
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
I hope Naomi Klein is in all the rooms where post-2024 Democratic strategy discussions are being held. While I was less compelled by her personal narrative, Klein uncovers last year (and I’m sure others have said before and alongside her) all the things operatives are just now getting to with the sweeping loss of Democratic candidates. In a society ever more fractured, the need for folks who’ve been in the increasing number of spaces creating modern society is more heightened than ever.
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Notes was a critical reminder that very little of what we’re experiencing in Trump’s America is new. Disaffection, especially masculine disaffection, is a result of imperial decline in what seems to be the whole of global history. Just as in Huck Finn, the concept of “real” masculinity is explored that makes it clear that “bro culture” and “alpha and beta mentality” did not start with Joe Rogan or even his Gordon Gecko/Tony Robbins predecessors. This made it all the more clear to me that boys need help and coaching in a way that is productive and community-centered instead of self-centered.
The Future Future by Adam Thirlwell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
As much as I liked the energy and voice of the book, I could not get any sense of grounding. While I appreciate all the reviews on the grand statements of the novel, that ultimately means nought to me when there is so little firm ground to plant the novel in.
Six Memos for the Next Millennium by Italo Calvino
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
In “Six Memos for the Next Millennium,” a series of five planned speeches are laid out on the qualities of literature that Italian writer and literary scholar Italo Calvino thought could be most impactful for a 21st century literature. The five speeches completed before his unexpected passing were on Lightness, Quickness, Exactitude, Visibility, and Multiplicity. After visiting this collection for the second time since May, I think these have a lot to say about what may be important next, even outside of literature.
State of Paradise by Laura van den Berg
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Much like with The Quick and the Dead, I found this to be a bit overstuffed with ideas, and I also found the ending to be a little too neat and end credits-y. Unlike TQ&tD, I found this to be much more narratively streamlined, and I continue to appreciate van den Berg’s voice.
You Should Be So Lucky by Cat Sebastian
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
You Should Be So Lucky was one that I probably overhyped for myself after We Could Be So Good made the @nytimes 100 Notable last year. While I found it to be perfectly pleasant, it did not wow me the way that hype suggested. I think I wish it had leaned into one of its threads more heavily: either that it be more of a recovery romance, more about the sports reporting, or more about the historical pressures of 1960 on Queer folks, especially in “masculine” spheres. Instead, we get something that’s nice to its characters almost to a fault with a lot of almost drama that never comes to fruition. If you like low angst/low pressure with good steam, this is for you.
Any Person Is the Only Self: Essays by Elisa Gabbert
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Any Person... is a lovely collection that really seemed rooted in the kind of earnestness Instagram.com/openbookopen has been introducing to the Bookstagram space. While it is not exclusively about reading, its ethos in the joy of books sings from the pages, and the way she writes about Sylvia Plath brought me to tears.
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
I really think Turton made a poor narrative choice. The use of a completely omniscient narrator here leads him to be over pedantic in his descriptions, even 25% into the novel when we have a decent understanding of the major players. I get that it allows him to be all over the island to keep multiple pieces in play while maintaining narrative cohesion, but it creates a weaker writer as a result.
Tremor by Teju Cole
4.5
A slim book that I felt was a little overstuffed with ideas, not all of which I completely understood including, but whose voice and thoughts and intelligence I appreciate.
Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
While an interesting book in concept, I found that as a text it becomes redundant. Some of this is due in large part to the lack of an introduction, which would have provided some contextualization and the author’s reflections on themes she found to be of interest. While an interesting work of personal scholarship, it was not engaging as a book-length work.