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monitaroymohan's reviews
1081 reviews
Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel by Lisa Jewell
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I thought I liked this book for a while, and then I didn’t. It was interesting and evenly paced. But I found the central premise and Jessica’s arc frustrating. This is the kind of myopic thinking that got us the Halle Berry Catwoman film (no shade to Berry). Just because women are involved doesn’t mean the story has to revolve around motherhood, being a mother, worrying about being a mother, sacrificing to be a mother. Nor does the plot have to focus on cosmetics and women striving towards artificial standards of beauty. It’s just so cliché. I was expecting better of this story. Like surely we can rise above these banalities.
I was also irritated by Jessica needing to be rescued or things conveniently fixing themselves. That’s not good writing and it does Jessica no favours as a detective or superhero.
I initially enjoyed this a lot more. But by the end I couldn’t believe how vapid it all turned out to be.
I mean, spoiler alert, but the Dorian Gray girls — what happened to them? Are they old and gray and wrinkled beyond measure? Like what’s their journey to recovery. Don’t just leave that part out and focus on the girl who escaped and was taken care of. Jeez. Also, brushing aside the many many murders of Black men and other little children — really? We’re ignoring that too. Sigh, this book.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was a weird book. Like… I couldn’t gauge the tone of it at all.
On the one hand, this is a fantasy novel recontextualizing the events of The Wizard of Oz. The main theme is people and creatures who are different and the discrimination that they face. Oz is no different from reality as there too racism and misogyny are rampant. People are literally killed for being different and wanting better for themselves.
And then on the other, there are these weird turns of bawdy, crude and lewd attempts at humour. The book is a strange and unsettling read, because the main topic keeps getting derailed by these oddities.
Some of the language is, obviously and irritatingly, outdated as are the sensibilities. Elphaba’s sharp features and her sister’s disability are not handled particularly well. The other characters being rude is one thing, but the author isn’t sensitive to them either. There’s a lot of fat-shaming too.
But then again there are these elusions to gay romances and love, am I’m like, this book is at once ahead of its time and also so behind.
The last third dragged on too long. Either reimagine what we know or tell a new story, don’t dilly dally. I also don’t think Elphaba’s arc and motivation was drawn out that well. She ended up being passive a lot and taken along with the plot — she needed to be more active.
I am curious what the musical and the film parse out of this meandering story. It is, at its core, an important tale that reflects our own societies’ prejudices based on skin colour and beauty and geography. And yet, it’s a tough read less because of the reflections on reality and more because of its crudity.
Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Wowza, this was one hell of a book. Outstanding writing, blending in humour, dark humour, the history of apartheid and racism, as well as Noah’s personal history.
I was most interested by the history of apartheid, as told from the ground up. Most of us know of it more as a concept than the reality. And here Noah gives it in writing, not only what happened but the repercussions of the same. The dehumanization of the people in South Africa by white invaders is beyond shocking. What I found especially riveting was how Noah contextualizes the world’s reaction to the ill treatment of Black people versus the treatment of Jews by the Nazis. We know so much about the Holocaust, and so little about slavery in the Americas and Africa. Noah’s book is a step towards understanding and learning this untold, devastating history. We need to stop centering the plight of only white people over the ongoing suffering of Black people and other communities of colour.
The misogyny in South Africa is not unknown but still horrifying given how close it is to Noah’s personal life. Absolutely shocking - but it’s the same all over the world, just to varying degrees. Women are not believed, even when they have proof.
This book is often an amusing read, because Noah is a comedian and that comes out in his storytelling. But this book is not an easy read. Take breaks, take care of your mental health. But it’s a look behind the curtain of a regime that’s often talked about but not explained.
An excellent if harrowing read. But a must-read all the same.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Excrement, Medical content, and Colonisation
What She Said: Conversations About Equality by Elizabeth Renzetti
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
A really great, if frustrating and depressing to read. The author contextualizes some of the sexism, misogyny and discriminatory practices of North America. There wasn’t anything much in here that was new to me, but how the pieces fit in with one another was helpful. Her conversations with famous Canadian figures who have been wronged by society were also interesting.
I do wish I could easily find books like this written by women of colour in Canada. While Renzetti never forgets to mention the cards are stacked worse against most women of colour, getting their first-hand perspectives of the current landscape and what brought it on would be beneficial for all of us.
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Spoiler alert:
Dang this book was bleak. I spent the first 90% of it dying of cringe because, wow, the main character is the kind who lives in her daydreams, builds castles in the air, and does not think about the consequences of her actions. I mean, who lives in another person’s home and drinks all their super expensive wine — which you can’t afford to replace? Just who does that? Acting like the house you’re temporarily staying in, which belongs to someone else, is yours is just foolish. Wishing it was yours, sure, makes sense, but then you come out of that daydream and think of what needs to be done next. What happens when the owner comes back? How am I supposed to understand a character who is so in the now that she doesn’t consider how to plan for the future. Makes for a compelling but embarrassing read.
Dang this book was bleak. I spent the first 90% of it dying of cringe because, wow, the main character is the kind who lives in her daydreams, builds castles in the air, and does not think about the consequences of her actions. I mean, who lives in another person’s home and drinks all their super expensive wine — which you can’t afford to replace? Just who does that? Acting like the house you’re temporarily staying in, which belongs to someone else, is yours is just foolish. Wishing it was yours, sure, makes sense, but then you come out of that daydream and think of what needs to be done next. What happens when the owner comes back? How am I supposed to understand a character who is so in the now that she doesn’t consider how to plan for the future. Makes for a compelling but embarrassing read.
The actual story was super bleak and disheartening. Protagonist Jane just can’t catch a break. We can all feel that. But I hate that she never holds her husband accountable. His art isn’t bringing in money so how come she’s always on the hook for everything she does to make sure they have money. How come she’s a sellout when all she’s trying to do is make them more money? Why doesn’t he work harder? And it’s not like he helps around the house either — feeding the children or caring for them. The book acts like this is normal, and yeah, unfortunately it is. But art doesn’t just present us reality, it comments on it and sends a message. This book doesn’t.
The final part where that Hampton Ford guy basically swindles Jane. It was excruciating to read but really well done. I honestly didn’t see that twist coming. But it sealed the deal on how bleak this book is. I don’t know what our takeaway is supposed to be other than life sucks and people suck more.
This is an engrossing book, but the characters act in such pedantic ways it’s almost unbelievable. People do act like that but to this extent? I’m in two minds about this read, but I would still recommend it.
Greek Lessons by Han Kang
3.5
This book is brilliantly written and translated. The poetic nature of the writing really sings. But this is bleak. That’s not the end goal, but the journey is bleak. The way the writer adds in the grief of losing family, custody, body functions, is gruelling to read. It’s fantastic, but it’s heavy.