The Book Slump

Tag: Lgbtqia+

  • Our Wives Under The Sea

    By Julia Armfield

    SPOILERS

    Released 2022, 232 pages.

    Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep-sea mission that ended in catastrophe. It soon becomes clear, though, that Leah may have come back wrong. Whatever happened in that vessel, whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor, Leah has carried part of it with her, onto dry land and into their home.

    To have the woman she loves back should mean a return to normal life, but Miri can feel Leah slipping from her grasp. Memories of what they had before – the jokes they shared, the films they watched, all the small things that made Leah hers – only remind Miri of what she stands to lose. Living in the same space but suddenly separate, Miri comes to realize that the life that they had might be gone.

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    REVIEW

    THEMES: HORROR, LGBTQIA+, DARK, EMOTIONAL, FAST-PACED.

    Whilst it is accurate to describe this book as ‘horror’, it is not in the way you would think – as it is nothing like the horror books I have read prior. The best way I can describe it, is that it is ‘symbolic horror’, which I am pretty sure I just made up.

    Armfield’s storytelling was exceptional, I have never been more captivated by an author’s style of writing before. She has such a relatable way of conveying points. It felt conversational. By this I mean quotes like, ‘It went on too long and too helplessly. The way anyone who sneezes more than four times abruptly loses sympathy of an audience’. To me, this is such a human experience, articulated in a clever and witty way.

    The juxtaposition between Miri and Leah’s point of view was jarring. It makes it hard for the reader to decide who to sympathize with more. ‘Watching’ Miri mourn her living wife and revisit their fondest memories, then reading Leah’s final letters to Miri was devastating. I felt a pang in my heart during their final parting – the fact they had to let go of each other but insured that the other person was allowed their closure was touching.

    The biggest takeaway I got from this story is to treasure the relationship you have with your loved ones, and not to take it for granted.

    I would recommend this to someone who is trying to get into horror as it is a tame gateway book. Though, I would recommend anyone give this book a go, as Armfield’s writing style is very charming and fresh.

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

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE

  • Big Swiss

    By Jen Beagin

    SPOILERS

    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 relationship between Greta and her roommate Sabine feels distant even though they have an obvious bond. Greta observes some behavioural changes in Sabine yet chooses to ignore them – either out of worry for overstepping or being too caught up in her own life. The fact that Sabine was addicted to drugs and Greta was none the wiser, further proves the disconnect. In saying that – I know drug users can hide it well.

    The tie between Greta and Flavia (Big Swiss) is complex, it is one of those relationships that makes no sense to anyone who is outside of it. Even though it is told from Greta’s perspective, I could not understand her choices when it came to Flavia.

    In terms of the book being funny, for me it was humorous in a way you can appreciate, rather than laugh out loud. Greta would make clever remarks like “Yes, people age horribly. They suffer strokes. Their bodies and brains fall apart. But the male ego? Firmly intact until the bitter end.” As well as just generally witty observations that make you want to applaud Beagin’s writing.

    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.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE

  • 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.

    LINK TO STORYGRAPH PROFILE