The Book Slump

Category: Spoiler-Free Book Reviews

  • Big Swiss

    Big Swiss

    By Jen Beagin

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2023, 325 pages.

    Greta lives with her friend Sabine in an ancient Dutch farmhouse in Hudson, New York. The house, built in 1737, is unrenovated, uninsulated, and full of bees. Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married woman she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss, since she’s tall, stoic, and originally from Switzerland. Greta is fascinated by Big Swiss’s refreshing attitude toward trauma. They both have dark histories, but Big Swiss chooses to remain unattached to her suffering while Greta continues to be tortured by her past.

    One day, Greta recognizes Big Swiss’s voice at the dog park. In a panic, she introduces herself with a fake name and they quickly become enmeshed. Although Big Swiss is unaware of Greta’s true identity, Greta has never been more herself with anyone. Her attraction to Big Swiss overrides her guilt, and she’ll do anything to sustain the relationship…

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: DRY, HUMOROUS, LGBTQIA+, DARK, MEDIUM-PACED.

    I would love to know what sparked this idea in Beagin; there is an air of originality to it.

    Something I discovered whilst reading, is that something is only as embarrassing as you make it. Greta displays some rather absurd behaviours but has a care-free outlook which almost nullifies it.

    Beagin’s writing is well-structured and left an impression of maturity. The unconventional way Greta sees the world and the observations she makes feels unique to Beagin. Being able to sense the writer voice through their work, which is always a plus for me.

    The plot is interesting. It is a snapshot into a slightly eccentric person’s life. There is not beginning or end per say.

    The relationships were endearing in a peculiar yet distant way – this will make more sense if you have read it/ once you read it.

    I would definitely recommend you add this to your list, Big Swiss has its own distinctive quality, setting it apart from others.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

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  • The Paper Palace

    The Paper Palace

    By Miranda Cowley Heller

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2021, 389 pages.

    It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a fifty-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at “The Paper Palace”—the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside. Now, over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn’t forever changed the course of their lives. As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity.

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: EMOTIONAL, FAMILY SECRETS, BETRAYAL, MEDIUM-PACED.

    Heller’s writing is incredible, the layered relationships, complex characters and unexpected conclusions – are all so well explained and planned out.

    The story follows Elle a daughter, wife and mother. It jumps between past and present tense, providing context on her background and relationships. Whilst there are some ends that were left untied – and it was not entirely clear whether that was deliberate – the story flowed well.

    The events that take place are intense, Heller explores sensitive subjects and themes that arouses the emotions and piques curiosity.

    The relationships are a realistic representation of a fractured family, where each character has their own respective outlook. Heller allows all the characters to make mistakes without persecuting them and painting them in a negative light.

    Be prepared for some confronting subjects that involve sexual abuse.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

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  • The Eyes are the Best Part

    The Eyes are the Best Part

    By Monika Kim

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2024, 277 Pages.

    Ji-won’s life tumbles into disarray in the wake of her Appa’s extramarital affair and subsequent departure. Her mother, distraught. Her younger sister, hurt and confused. Her college freshman grades, failing. Her dreams, horrifying… yet enticing.

    In them, Ji-won walks through bloody rooms full of eyes. Succulent blue eyes. Salivatingly blue eyes. Eyes the same shape and shade as George’s, who is Umma’s obnoxious new boyfriend. George has already overstayed his welcome in her family’s claustrophobic apartment. He brags about his puffed-up consulting job, ogles Asian waitresses while dining out, and acts condescending toward Ji-won and her sister as if he deserves all of Umma’s fawning adoration. No, George doesn’t deserve anything from her family. Ji-won will make sure of that.

    For no matter how many victims accumulate around her campus or how many people she must deceive and manipulate, Ji-won’s hunger and her rage deserve to be sated.

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: HORROR, DARK, TENSE, FAST-PACED.

    The Eyes Are The Best Part is a story that follows Ji-Won as she experiences the trials and tribulations of what it is to be a Korean woman growing up in a western country (America). After her mother gets a new boyfriend, she starts to notice the striking blue in his eyes. It slowly becomes an obsession, that leads to something far more sinister.

    This is my favourite horror so far – I am someone who likes horror books that have a purpose, and this one delivered.

    Protagonist (in my eyes) Ji-won is driven to rage due to the racial fetishization and performative feminism created by men.

    Kim touches on subjects that are typically overlooked and brushed off – she came for blood, and I loved it. Was it a bit unrealistic… yes but it was a very real scenario many women can relate to, and boy was it satisfying to read.

    I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, but I think women would love it – especially women of an Asian background as it touches on the fetishization of Asian women.

    And it’s her first book, how incredible.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

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  • The Song of Achilles

    The Song of Achilles

    By Madeline Miller

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2011, 378 pages.

    Greece in the age of heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the court of King Peleus and his perfect son Achilles. By all rights their paths should never cross, but Achilles takes the shamed prince as his friend, and as they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine their bond blossoms into something deeper – despite the displeasure of Achilles’ mother Thetis, a cruel sea goddess. But then word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus journeys with Achilles to Troy, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they hold dear.

    Rating: 5 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: ADVENTUREOUS, EMOTIONAL, HISTORICAL, MEDIUM-PACED.

    What a beautiful book.

    The writing is descriptive, simple and engrossing.

    The protagonist(s) are so loveable but are not immune to flaws, I feel as I was not able to separate myself and almost became Patroclus, which is a rare feat.

    The plot is a captivating page-turner, I found it difficult to put it down. If I could read it anew I would.

    To enhance the experience, listen to some Hozier – especially Hymn to Virgil (only listen to after reading).

    My only con would be the ending, it felt rushed and some elements did not feel consistent with the rest of the book.

    I would recommend this to anyone, whilst the (spoiler-free) review is short, it is truly one of my favourite books of all time.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE

  • The Vegetarian

    The Vegetarian

    By Han Kang

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2007, 188 pages.

    Before the nightmares began, Yeong-hye and her husband lived an ordinary, controlled life. But the dreams–invasive images of blood and brutality–torture her, driving Yeong-hye to purge her mind and renounce eating meat altogether. It’s a small act of independence, but it interrupts her marriage and sets into motion an increasingly grotesque chain of events at home. As her husband, her brother-in-law and sister each fight to reassert their control, Yeong-hye obsessively defends the choice that’s become sacred to her. Soon their attempts turn desperate, subjecting first her mind, and then her body, to ever more intrusive and perverse violations, sending Yeong-hye spiraling into a dangerous, bizarre estrangement, not only from those closest to her, but also from herself.

    Rating: 3 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: DARK, SAD, TENSE, FAST-PACED.

    One of the first horror/psychological fictions I have read, and it was an experience.

    It is interesting reading a book where the main character does not speak (barely). Whilst the book is about a woman named Yeong-hye, it is actually told from the perspective of the people around her.

    Kang was able to find good middle ground for the ‘horror’ element, I am someone who does not like – what I like to call it – mania horror, where you do not know what is real and what is not. Kang was able to leave some aspects to the imagination but not enough to leave you utterly confused.

    The storyline built up steadily to an interesting climax and the character POV switch was intriguing and refreshing.

    It is a good horror; however I have read better – It would not be the first horror book I would recommend but I would not dissuade someone from reading this.

    Fair warning: it is very gory and there is sexual violence, if this is something that upsets you should not read this book!

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

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  • Lonely Castle in the Mirror

    Lonely Castle in the Mirror

    By Mizuki Tsujimura

    SPOILER-FREE

    Released 2017, 368 pages.

    In a tranquil neighbourhood of Tokyo, seven teenagers wake to find their bedroom mirrors are shining.

    At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives into to a wondrous castle filled with winding stairways, watchful portraits and twinkling chandeliers. In this new sanctuary, they are confronted with a set of clues leading to a hidden room where one of them will be granted a wish. But there’s a catch: if they don’t leave by five o’clock, they will die.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: ADVENTUREOUS, REFLECTIVE, INSPIRING, FAST-PACED.

    If you struggled at school this is definitely for you.

    Lonely Castle in the Mirror touches on the various reasons students avoid school whether it is bullying, anxiety, academic pressure or other commitments.

    The bond created with the students is beautiful and proves that the most unlikely of pairs can relate in unexpected ways.

    Tsujimura is able to create an atmosphere of understanding whether through personal experience or second-hand experience, which creates depth and connects the readers on another level.

    The only critique would be that one of the characters stories seemed a little rushed and out of nowhere, but that could have been from me being slow and not linking things together.

    In terms of recommending, I would be more inclined to recommend it to someone who is struggling/has struggled in school. Whilst anyone could read it, I think it is one of those books that make more of an impact if you can relate.

    Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE