OYENTE

D.

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great reader, too much ableism

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 11-28-24

I likes the narrator, who brought a lot of personality to this bleak story. I loved the ending, great shock, didn't see it coming. I enjoyed the antagonist, who was more of a morally gray character. The main character, a detective, expresses ableist sentiments more than once, which really impacts the story's value for me.

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Fun but a little muddled

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 08-09-22

This is my first completed book of my August Picks and it was a fun one! Yamen Manai takes us on a journey to the North African village of Nawa, where Sidi lives a withdrawn but settled life with his wife (who saves the day, if you ask me, but I won't spoil that for you!) raising bees. (We won't talk about how annoying I find it that he refers to these insects throughout the entire book as his "girls." Not "sweethearts," or "babies," or even "lovers," but "girls.")

The plot was a little muddled, I thought, as Manai's metaphor might have actually been a matter of conflation. The invasion of a deadly wasp on his bees' hives, which threatened Sidi's own livelihood and apparently the future of the whole region poses a serious problem-- maybe just as serious as the simultaneous storyline in which the region's neighborhoods and educational institutions become infiltrated by religious extremists? Until the very last minute, when Manai lines everything up, I wasn't sure how everything was supposed to connect. I didn't even think it related except by convenience of location.

Maybe the extended metaphor at work here needs another leg...or two...but the last couple scenes are fantastic and tie the book together beautifully. I did enjoy this book both for a great ending, and for the great research.

Do you remember how everyone squealed about how much they learned about beekeeping from THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES? Well. This book kind of shows that one way up!

📙52 Book Challenge (set on at least 2 continents)📔

Rating 3.5 stars
Finished August 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary fiction; readers seeking diverse voices and stories

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Terrible but Enjoyable!

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 07-31-22

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I was going to, considering how many issuess it has, but I was honestly hooked from about the 30% mark, straight on through to the (terrible!) ending.

The biggest problem this book has is that its premise is completely preposterous. I mean the *entire* premise makes little sense. Characters rely on giant gaping holes in logic to deliver plot points and keep the story moving. And we won't mention the unacceptable distance you'll need to suspend your disbelief to stick with this plot.

The Characters are fun though. Maris, the lead, is a hot mess and her family are extremely loveable. There's an unreliable antiheroine, a handy gang of helpful heroines to keep the book glued together, and some very boring villains. (I forgive Flanagan for the boring villian; he steals interesting ideas at least.)

Anyway, as preposterous as the concept was, I was on the edge of my seat. Maris is, after all, having blackouts for *no* reason. That is freaky. And dangerous. And she's a recovering alcoholic, which causes all kinds of conflict for her in the story, but most importantly, obfuscates the source of her terrifying new condition.

I had to know what the heck was going on, I had no problem finishing this terrible little weirdo of a book. I do, in fact recommend this one. Trigger warnings below.

Rating 4 stars
Finished July 2022
Recommended for thriller fans
Trigger warning, alcohol, excessive alcohol consumption, SA

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Nothing ever happens!

Total
1 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
3 out of 5 stars
Historia
1 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 07-21-22

This book has *no* conflict. Everyone sits around and eats and feels things, but nothing ever actually happens!

For example, THE BRIGHTER THE LIGHT is supposed to be at least partly romance, but halfway through, I'm really not sure who the objects d'amor even are supposed to be.

Ruth (or is it Ivy?) is very difficult to connect with as a protagonist because she keeps changing ages, and unfortunately Taylor doesn't handle the transitions deftly. As a result, these two "characters" read like two different characters.

I really think this book needs a plot.

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