Book reviews: Oryx and Crake | All Systems Red | Annihilation

Title: Oryx and Crake

Author: Margaret Atwood

Original title: Oryx and Crake
First published: 2003
Genre: Sci-fi, Adult
Series: MaddAddam
Publisher: Virago
Format: Paperback
Pages: 433
Finished: 20/07/2021
Summary: Pigs might not fly but they are strangely altered. So, for that matter are wolves and raccoons. A man, once named Jimmy, now calls himself Snowman and lives in a tree, wrapped in old bed-sheets. The voice of Oryx, the woman he loved, teasingly haunts him. And the green-eyed Children of Crake are, for some reason, his responsibility.

My thoughts: I read this for my summer studies but also for my own Reading Rush (since there was no official one this year). I used it for the challenge to read a book by an author who's first initial is the same as my own. My name is Maja and this author's first name is Margaret. As for my opinions of the novel, I did like it a fair bit. Watching the development of society and humankind lead to destruction and mass death was interesting and I think Atwood managed to present it in a way that really seemed plausible, which made it all the more horrifying. She creates bizarre creatures and odd social structures that felt alien but might not be far ahead of us on the timeline.

Some details set back my enjoyment of the novel. What really interested me here was the apocalypse and man's decent into chaos and destruction (a destruction based on playing God rather than wars). However, a good chunk of this novel revolved around the protagonist's family drama, love interest, and childhood memories. Not to say this was pointless, as these parts helped build his character. Through these flashbacks to the past, we also catch glimpses of what society was like and can compare it to how Atwood describes the post apocalyptic world that Snowman inhabits. But it became too much for me. This is a rather long book, and it becomes especially evident when one reads it over the course of two days that a lot of pages are dedicated to things that I just didn't care about. Snowman/Jimmy was not a character I cared for, and I don't think that's even the point. I think his role is just to be a vessel from which we can observe Atwood's intricate imaginations. That is why I got tired of learning more about our protagonist, because he wasn't much of a person.

All in all, I enjoyed the novel and would like to continue reading the series at some point in the distant future, preferably within the upcoming five decades or so.

Rating: 3,25/5

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Title: All Systems Red

Author: Martha Wells

Original title: All Systems Red
First published: 2017
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: The Murderbot Diaries #1
Publisher: 
Format: Paperback
Pages: 148
Finished: 23/07/2021
Summary: On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is. But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

My thoughts: I read this for my summer studies and for my own Reading Rush of 2021, which I insisted on participating in though no official readathon was held. I decided to read this for the challenge to read an entire book outside, and so I did. It was an excellent opportunity to acquaint myself better with the parks around my apartment, and I could not complain about the weather either. Under these perfect conditions, I was happy to enjoy the story of Murderbot. It is a short book and my review will likewise be so, for as is the case with some stories, I liked it well enough but have little to say about it. The story, especially Murderbot's perspective, is charming and entertaining. Compared to earlier sci-fi (this is very modern sci-fi), it contains adrenaline-inducing scenes of action while still posing questions like "what is it to be human?" and "can I feel love/empathy for an alien/robot?" as is common in older works like Solaris and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. It was a fun and quick read which I would recommend for long train rides, flights, or long peaceful days of rain or sunshine.

Rating: 3,75/5

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Title: Annihilation

Author: Jeff VanderMeer

Original title: Annihilation
First published: 2014
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: Southern Reach #1
Publisher: Fourth Estate
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Finished: 25/07/2021
Summary: For thirty years, Area X has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border - an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness. The Southern Reach, a secretive government agency, has sent eleven expeditions to investigate Area X. One has ended in mass suicide, another in a hail of gunfire, the eleventh in a fatal cancer epidemic. Now four women embark on the twelfth expedition into the unknown.

My thoughts: Like the other two books in this review, I read this for university and the Reading Rush (for the challenge to read a single word title). In hindsight, I should have reviewed this sooner, for I can not recall very few opinions that I had about this novel. I will try to list and many as I can remember, though I apologize in advance for not offering more. I liked that the cast was all female. This was a pleasant break off from most of the sci-fi novels I've read this summer. In fact, this has been the only sci-fi novel so far that has featured a female protagonist. The escalating tension and distrust between the individuals of the expedition could surely put some readers at the edge of their seats. Like I said about All Systems Red, this modern piece of sci-fi literature mixes action with philosophy, though perhaps not as well as in Martha Wells' novel. I was fond of the main character, though not so much that I would have grieved her death. However, she was intriguing enough. Did I love this novel? Did I hate it? No is the answer for both questions. Will I soon forget it? Here, the answers is yes. Though VanderMeer's story and ideas have potential, they seem to be presented to me in a way that doesn't rouse curiosity. And the way the novel ended (spoiler, highlight to view white text: with the almost religious experience the protagonist had with the creature in the tunnel) was just not the way I wanted the story to progress, which makes me hesitant to continue the series.

Rating: 3,25/5

Book reviews: Letters to Alice | Solaris | Sanning och skvaller

Title: Letters to Alice
Author: Fay Weldon

Original title: Letters to Alice
First published: 1984
Genre: Non-fiction
Series: --
Publisher: Spectre
Format: Paperback
Pages: 149
Finished: 02/07/2021
Summary: Inspired by a series of instructive letters written by Austen to a novel-writing niece, 'Letters to Alice' is an epistolary novel in which an important modern writer responds to her niece's complaint that Jane Austen is boring and irrelevant. By turns passionate and ironic, "Aunt Fay" makes Alice think--not only about books and literature, but also life and culture.

My thoughts: Ask me to define the word 'pointless' and I will refer to this novel. At least in the context of the literary course about Jane Austen to which this book was assigned. First of all, less than half of this book is even about Austen. Mostly it's the ramblings and whining of the author herself, which might have been slightly of value if put in another context. Nevertheless, as a book about Jane Austen and to be used in writing an essay about said author's works, it is very close to useless. I gained no inspiration, can collect no facts, and felt no enjoyment reading it. I can only be thankful that it was so short.

Rating: 1/5

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Title: Solaris
Author: Stanisław Lem

Original title: Solaris
First published: 1961
Genre: Sci-fi
Series: --
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Format: Paperback
Pages: 214
Finished: 15/07/2021
Summary: When Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface he is forced to confront a painful, hitherto unconscious memory embodied in the physical likeness of a long-dead lover. Others suffer from the same affliction and speculation rises among scientists that the Solaris ocean may be a massive brain that creates incarnate memories, but its purpose in doing so remains a mystery . . .

My thoughts: This is the best book (according to me at least) that I've read for the summer sci-fi course so far. It's very typical of that 1950/60's writing style that I love but find difficult to pinpoint the exact characteristics of. I recognize it from Stoner by John Williams (1965), Our Man in Havana by Grahame Green (1958), Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (1958), and most recently Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick (1968). Perhaps because the sentences are often direct, not too metaphorical or eccentric, while still managing to convey so much emotion. Whether that's actually the trick or not, I did really like this book.

Did I like anything else, besides the style of the writing. Yes! Lem manages, from the start, to create such an eerie atmosphere that I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat from the first one or two chapters. The uncanny feeling continues throughout the novel as the protagonist, Kelvin, begins to fall in love with the alien (which has taken the shape of his dead wife). I admit I became frustrated with Kelvin at times, thinking he was selfish and unreasonable for wanting to protect and keep the illusion of his wife rather than communicating with the other scientists and solving the problem. But then I thought of what I would feel in the same situation, given the opportunity to bring back a loved one and being unable to then let them go, and I could no longer find it in myself to judge Kelvin to harshly. Though I didn't feel any particularly strong emotions for his character or his wife, I was still able to sympathise with him for the situation he was put in (which I think is no small feat).

What lowers the grade some is that I became a bit disinterested in the story towards the final third or fourth of the book. I was no longer interested in reading about previous research about Solaris or the alien there, and Kelvin's possessiveness for his wife also turned repetitive. I don't think the novel was too long (it's hard for a novel of barely 200 pages to feel too long), but I wish the final part of the book had been plotted or executed differently.

Rating: 3,75/5

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Title: Sanning och skvaller
Author: Curtis Sittenfeld

Original title: Eligible
First published: 2016
Genre: Contemporary
Series: --
Publisher: Månpocket
Format: Paperback
Pages: 460
Finished: 24/07/2021
Summary: Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray. Enter Chip Bingley, a handsome new-in-town doctor who recently appeared on the juggernaut reality TV dating show Eligible. At a Fourth of July barbecue, Chip takes an immediate interest in Jane, but Chip's friend, neurosurgeon Fitzwilliam Darcy, reveals himself to Liz to be much less charming. . . . And yet, first impressions can be deceiving.

My thoughts: This modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is yet another book from the reading lists of my summer courses. I also decided to include it in my own little Reading Rush, since there is no official one this year. The challenge I used it for was to read a book with a face on the cover.

I want to start of by saying that the sheer amount of pages this book consists of (460 pages) is completely unwarranted. So many pages... so much torture to my poor mind. This novel was purely a waste of time. It brought nothing very new or interesting to the original story, and really only served to provoke and upset me. The author uses black and trans persons with flat personalities/no depth to make the Bennet sisters seem contemporary and progressive in their dating lives, which just comes across as cheap and disrespectful. The fact that one of the characters supposed to represent Wickham from the original story is not scandalous because he is a manipulative, irresponsible liar (a valid scandal), but is a trans person and THAT is the big betrayal/scandal is unreasonable and immature. The character "Ham", who is trans, is obviously connected to Wickham in P&P, and this connection suggests Ham is a bad person for being trans??? I've seen several people on Goodreads also reacted to this and have written way better reviews than this one, so if you feel like reading more critique you can have a look there.

Moreover, Liz and Darcy had NO chemistry, even less than in the original. In P&P, their love grows from how compatible their minds are, but that was replaced by physical attraction in this book, which just felt weird. Nope, this was not for me and I will recommend it only to my enemies.

Rating: 1,5/5

Improvised Reading Rush 2021 + TBR

One of my favourite yearly occurrences is the Reading Rush, which I've been participating in from time to time and always find to be an engaging reading challenge. However, there will be no official Reading Rush this year, for reasons I don't know yet. My solution, as someone who wants the challenge anyways, is to create my own list of seven challenges mostly based on the prompts of previous years so that I can still experience this week. Below you will find my seven challenges, not including the voluntary extra challenge of reading a total of seven books (I will personally not try to achieve that this year) and which books I plan to read :)

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1/ Read a book by an author who has the same first initial as your name

"Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood

Pigs might not fly but they are strangely altered. So, for that matter are wolves and raccoons. A man, once named Jimmy, now calls himself Snowman and lives in a tree, wrapped in old bed-sheets. The voice of Oryx, the woman he loved, teasingly haunts him. And the green-eyed Children of Crake are, for some reason, his responsibility.

Pages: 433
Thoughts: I've never read a book by Atwood before, but many of her works have good ratings on Goodreads and she's overall a renowned author. This is a sci-fi story that I'm reading for one of my summer university courses. It's rather long, which is why I will dedicate two full days to reading it.

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2/ Read a book completely outside

"All Systems Red" by Martha Wells

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid — a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is. But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

Pages: 152

Thoughts: Another book for the sci-fi course! This is the shortest novel I'll read during the Reading Rush this year, which is why it's best suited for this challenge. I'm really looking forward to reading it, as I've heard only great things about this book and the rest of the series.

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3/ Read a book that is set in another part of the world than you live in

"Oryx and Crake" by Margaret Atwood

Pigs might not fly but they are strangely altered. So, for that matter are wolves and raccoons. A man, once named Jimmy, now calls himself Snowman and lives in a tree, wrapped in old bed-sheets. The voice of Oryx, the woman he loved, teasingly haunts him. And the green-eyed Children of Crake are, for some reason, his responsibility.

Pages: 433

Thoughts: Yes, I will use this book for two challenges. I am pretty sure the novel is set in North America, and I live in Europe, so that works out just fine. Like I wrote before, I look forward to reading Atwood and I hope I will like this enough to eventually read more by her.

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4/ Read a book that has been adapted to a movie

"Bridget Jones's Diary" by Helen Fielding

As Bridget documents her struggles through the social minefield of her thirties and tries to weigh up the eternal question (Daniel Cleaver or Mark Darcy?), she turns for support to four indispensable friends: Shazzer, Jude, Tom and a bottle of chardonnay.

Time: 8h 19min

Thoughts: A book I honestly never thought I'd pick up in my lifetime, but here we are. This is required reading for the Jane Austen university summer course I'm taking this year. I can't say I'm not a little bit curious about it and I look forward to listening to this as an audio book rather than physically reading it.

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5/ Read a book with a face on the cover

"Sanning och skvaller" by Curtis Sittenfeld
Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City. When their father has a health scare, they return to their childhood home in Cincinnati to help and discover that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling and the family is in disarray.
Youngest sisters Kitty and Lydia are too busy with their CrossFit workouts and Paleo diets to get jobs. Mary, the middle sister, is earning her third online master's degree and barely leaves her room, except for those mysterious Tuesday-night outings she won't discuss. And Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind: how to marry off her daughters, especially as Jane's fortieth birthday fast approaches.
Pages: 460

Thoughts: This is the second book that I will dedicate two days to read. I think the premise sounds interesting enough, but it's not a book I'd willingly pick up and read in my spare time. I don't have great expectations for it, I just need to get it over and done with for my summer studies.

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6/ Read a book with a one word title

"Annihilation" by Jeff VanderMeer
For thirty years, Area X has remained mysterious and remote behind its intangible border - an environmental disaster zone, though to all appearances an abundant wilderness. The Southern Reach, a secretive government agency, has sent eleven expeditions to investigate Area X. One has ended in mass suicide, another in a hail of gunfire, the eleventh in a fatal cancer epidemic. Now four women embark on the twelfth expedition into the unknown.
Pages: 208

Thoughts: Another sci-fi novel. I hadn't heard of this one before, but the description sounds intriguing and I've really been enjoying the other required reading for this sci-fi course so far. I expect this to hold up to the same standard.

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7/ Read a book that was published before you were born

"Bridget Jones's Diary" by Helen Fielding

As Bridget documents her struggles through the social minefield of her thirties and tries to weigh up the eternal question (Daniel Cleaver or Mark Darcy?), she turns for support to four indispensable friends: Shazzer, Jude, Tom and a bottle of chardonnay.

Time: 8h 19min

Thoughts: Using this for another prompt as well. This was first published in 1996 (I think) and is the only book in my reading pile for this week that was published before the year of my birth (2000). 

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If you want to use these challenges yourself and have your own Reading Rush, just feel free to do so. Most of them have appeared before and were ones that I remember liking then. I look very much forward to getting through all of these books, and I wish you the best of luck if you will attempt this challenge as well.
Happy reading!

Book reviews: Bridge to Terabithia | A Midsummer Night's Dream | The Wind in the Willows

Title: Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson
Original title: Bridge to Terabithia
First published: 1977
Genre: Middle grade, Fantasy
Series: --
Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: Paperback
Pages: 179
Finished: 25/07/2020
Summary: Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone. That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.

My thoughts: I read this during the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read a book that's inspired a movie I've already seen. I've seen the movie several times and it's one that I actually quite like. Somehow I'm always weeping at the end of it, despite knowing the plot inside out by now. Sadly, the movie is better than the book in this case. I just think the adaptation to the screen really brings out the emotions and visuals that this story needs. In book form, I didn't get the same experience. I don't mean to say that it's poorly written, but the movie had my expectations high and they were not met. Had I read the book first, I'd have had no interest in seeing the movie after. Things I liked about the book are Jess' relationship to his sisters, and the stern teacher. I did not like the style of the illustrations.

Rating: 3/5

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Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Author: William Shakespeare
Original title: A Midsummer Night's Dream
First published: 1595
Genre: Classic, Play, Comedy
Series: --
Publisher: Avenel Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 20
Finished: 26/07/2020
Summary: Demetrius and Lysander both want Hermia but she only has eyes for Lysander. Bad news is, Hermia's father wants Demetrius for a son-in-law. On the outside is Helena, whose unreturned love burns hot for Demetrius. Hermia and Lysander plan to flee from the city under cover of darkness but are pursued by an enraged Demetrius (who is himself pursued by an enraptured Helena). In the forest, unbeknownst to the mortals, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the faeries) are having a spat over a servant boy. The plot twists up when Oberon's head mischief-maker, Puck, runs loose with a flower which causes people to fall in love with the first thing they see upon waking. Throw in a group of labourers preparing a play for the Duke's wedding (one of whom is given a donkey's head and Titania for a lover by Puck) and the complications become fantastically funny.

My thoughts: I read this for the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read a book with a cover that matches the colour of my birth stone (emerald). I read "The Comedy of Errors" earlier this year and found it rather humorous. This one? Not so much. Perhaps I missed the comedic point of it all. Oh well. At least it was easy to keep up with the characters and plot, which was a bit more difficult in "The Comedy of Errors" (with two pairs of characters sharing the same two names). To me, this wasn't a very engaging or fun play. I didn't care what the ending would be. I understand that it's a big classic, and I hope I enjoy his other works more.

Rating: 2,75/5

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Title: The Wind in the Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame
Original title: The Wind in the Willows
First published: 1908
Genre: Classic, Childrens
Series: --
Publisher: Wordsworth
Format: Paperback
Pages: 192
Finished: 26/07/2020
Summary: Spring is in the air and Mole has found a wonderful new world. There's boating with Ratty, a feast with Badger and high jinx on the open road with that reckless ruffian, Mr Toad of Toad Hall. The four become the firmest of friends, but after Toad's latest escapade, can they join together and beat the wretched weasels?

My thoughts: I read this during the 2020 Reading Rush for the challenge to read the first book I touched. This was the first one I touched in a secondhand store. I unfortunately had to stress through this one a bit, as I had to squeeze it in together with some of the Shakespeare play on the final day of the Reading Rush. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant book to stress through. It's quite what I expected it to be. It neither surprised me nor let me down. The characters were rather cute and nice, though I hated Toad, that little fu**er, and the story was one with a clear moral to teach. I wish Toad was never even introduced in the story and that we'd only get to read about the calm and pleasant adventures of Mole and Ratty. Begone, Toad!!! Very cute illustrations as well.

Rating: 3,25/5

Book reviews: Convenience Store Woman | The Stranger | Heart of Darkness

Title: Convenience Store Woman
Author: Sayaka Murata
Original title: コンビニ人間
First published: 2016
Genre: Contemporary, Adult
Series: --
Publisher: Granta
Format: Paperback
Pages: 163
Finished: 21/07/2020
Summary: Keiko has never really fitted in. At school and university people find her odd and her family worries she'll never be normal. To appease them, Keiko takes a job at a newly opened convenience store. Here, she finds peace and purpose in the simple, daily tasks and routine interactions. She is, she comes to understand, happiest as a convienience store worker. But in Keiko's social circle it just won't do for an unmarried woman to spend all her time stacking shelves and re-ordering green tea.

My thoughts: I read this for the 2020 Reading Rush, for the challenge to read a book set in another continent than the one you live on. I live in Europe and this is set in Japan in Asia.
I liked this book, though it won't leave a long lasting impression. Some books are like that. Keiko is a rather passive protagonist whose perspective at times seemed bizarre. I like that she's gone her own way in life, and I could sometimes see myself in her, though we are very different in most aspects. The male character she at a point gets involved with is infuriatingly annoying and rude, but in an almost comical way. Overall it's a fairly pleasant and quick read with a definitely unique atmosphere and narrative.

Rating: 3/5

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Title: The Stranger
Author: Albert Camus
Original title: L'Étranger
First published: 1942
Genre: Philosophy, Classic
Series: --
Publisher: Everyman's Library
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 117
Finished: 23/07/2020
Summary: Meursault will not pretend. After the death of his mother, everyone is shocked when he shows no sadness. And when he commits a random act of violence in Algiers, society is baffled. Why would this seemingly law-abiding bachelor do such a thing? And why does he show no remorse even when it could save his life? His refusal to satisfy the feelings of others only increases his guilt in the eyes of the law. Soon Meursault discovers that he is being tried not simply for his crime, but for his lack of emotion - a reaction that condemns him for being an outsider.

My thoughts: I read this one for the 2020 Reading Rush challenge to read a book with a title that starts with the word "the".
This was my type of book! There was something about the simple, yet graceful and almost calming way it was written that struck something in me. The story itself is a fascinating one, and the perspective from which it is told is equally interesting. I ended up really liking and rooting for Meursault, despite his crimes and obvious lack of remorse. I couldn't help it! The story was simply that well written and brought to light important questions of how we judge a person and what punishment we give criminals. Meursault is not just judged for his crime; he is judge doubly for his inability to feel sadness, loss, or regret. Is the crime made more horrible if the criminal shows no regret, or should it be judged all the same?
If you enjoy other modern classics like "Stoner" by John Williams or "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, I strongly recommend you check this one out as well. It exceeded my expectations with splendour! 

Rating: 4,25/5

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Title: Heart of Darkness
Author: Joseph Conrad
Narrator: David Horovitch
Original title: Heart of Darkness
First published: 1899
Genre: Classic
Series: --
Publisher: Naxos
Format: Audiobook
Time: 4h 38min
Finished: 23/07/2020
Summary: Newly-employed in an ivory trading company, Marlow travels down-river into the depths of the African jungle. As he goes, he witnesses the shocking subjection of the natives, and his faith in the imperialist mission weakens. The enigmatic chief of the trading camp Kurtz becomes the focus of this ambivalence. Reports of rapacious and violent deeds seemingly contradict his reputation as an idealistic and admirable leader, and the suspense mounts in the lead up to the appearance of this shifting, unknowable figure.

My thoughts: This one I read for the 2020 Reading Rush challenge to read a book completely outside my home.
Not much to say. Maybe the format of audio wasn't to this book's advantage. Though the narrator did an admirable job with the voices and such, I didn't ever become really interested in the story. Or in anything. The writing doesn't strike me as bad, but it's not the best. There are too many long metaphors and similes that lead close to nowhere, and without them the story would've shortened in length. I was a bit interested to see how the ivory industry would be described, but it was only mentioned offhandedly on one or two occasions. The author describes the black population residing near the Congo river in a cruel and abhorrent fashion, using amongst others the word 'savages' to refer to them. While he was certainly a person with views from his time, I was no less appalled. The characters overall had no positive impact on me whatsoever, although I was obviously supposed to react very strongly to every 'horror' that Marlow encountered on his trip to Africa. Yes, the writing could be good at times, and I really admire the commitment the narrator showed in the audiobook. Nevertheless, I'm bound to forget about this book soon.

Rating: 2/5

Book reviews: Britt-Marie var här | The Black Prism | Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel

Title: Britt-Marie var här (Britt-Marie Was Here)
Author: Fredrik Backman
Narrator: Marie Richardson
Original title: Britt-Marie var här
First published: 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Adult
Series: --
Publisher: Bonnier
Format: Audiobook
Time: 11h 13min
Finished: 
Summary: At first sight, Britt-Marie is a fussy, passive-aggressive busybody. But hidden inside her is a woman who has bigger dreams and a warmer heart than anyone around her imagines. When she finds herself alone for the first time in decades, she realises she's spent her life making choices for the sake of other people. Is it too late for her to change? And in a small town of big-hearted misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?

My thoughts: "Britt-Marie var här" is both a story about fitting in and breaking free. To go from accepting one's lot in life to demanding something better for oneself. To exit one's comfort zone and widen one's horizons. About feeling needed and wanted. About a world changing, but on a very small scale.
This was a very nice little story. I must say it was expertly narrated by Marie Richardson, whose voice fit perfectly with Britt-Marie's character. I suppose this book is sort of feelgood, while also being quite sombre at times. It's got some good wisdom to share, while also being a bit ridiculous at times. Overall, I wasn't blown away, but I liked it a fair bit nonetheless. Britt-Marie was a great character to follow, and the book almost made me feel something for football (other than utter despise). I liked the setting, because it was uniquely described and I felt like I've been in a hundred similar little towns in my life. Run down, but still loved. However, I didn't feel a lot for most of the characters, and the kids kind of annoyed me. But I appreciated Britt-Marie enough to look past that.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try out good Swedish literature, and who's looking for something uplifting, thought through, warm, and unique. I'd love to read more books centred around senior characters. I also recommend the audiobook in Swedish.
PS. The book has been translated to several different languages, including English, if you'd like to check it out.

Rating: 3,5/5

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Title: The Black Prism
Author: Brent Weeks
Original title: The Black Prism
First published: 2010
Genre: High fantasy, Adult
Series: Lightbringer #1
Publisher: Orbit
Format: Paperback
Pages: 735
Finished: 17/06/2020
Summary: Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserves a tenuous peace. Yet Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live.
When Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

My thoughts: Oh, where to start? Perhaps with the expectations I had? They were high to say the least. Lots of people on BookTube had raved about the series, what with the somewhat recent release of the final instalment, and the reviews on Goodreads were raving. This was bound to be my new favourite thing in the world! What could go wrong? Everybody loved it!
A lot could go wrong, it would seem. Truly, a lot. I will keep myself as short as I can. Let's start with the protagonists. Kip, who is around 15 years old, is an insolent little brat and I'd rather see him dead. He has very few redeeming qualities. He is rude, insensitive, dumb, and immature. I wish him no happiness as a character, but I much less wish to hear more of his whining. Then there's Gavin, who is a so-called morally grey character, meaning the reader is supposed to like and feel for him despite him being morally dubious. Was he morally dubious? Yes. Did I like him? No. He's twice Kip's age but they have about the same mindset and maturity level. There is also Karris, the female protagonist. I didn't feel much of anything for her.
Next, there is the blatant sexism sprinkled lovingly all over this novel. The majority of the female characters were at some point, often at several points, described as sex objects. Their breasts, lips, butts, and hips were mentioned over and over again. Far too many times for me to keep up with the counting. Both Kip and Gavin express themselves in a very sexist manner and seem to have a immature (yes, I'm using that word again) view on women. To make up for the fact that Gavin can't have the love of his life, he's got a sex slave who looks like her to sleep with him instead. At several points Kip shows some minor 'weakness' or emotion and it's joked that 'he's almost as bad as a woman'. I didn't see any point to all this sexism and I grew tired of it very quickly.
Third is the writing style, plotting, and other. The style of the writing is very simple, almost juvenile. Not in any way elegant or beautiful. I almost think Brent Weeks must be a 15 year old himself in a disguise. The writing would also switch at random from third person view to first person to presumably show a character's thoughts, but would do so without any italic text or quotation marks.  The plot was repetitive. Kip almost drowns more than three times in the course of one book. Three times. Brent Weeks got obsessed with describing what it's like to nearly drown, and decided to include it several times for the same character and no one else. I've also read the word 'luxin' enough times for a life time through this book. There are several small but noticeable plot holes that I won't mention because they're spoilers.
What did I even like? I think some of the world building was interesting. The story had promise, but wasn't executed well. It was way too long. I'm glad I finished it, though, and didn't leave it half read. At least now I can write a review. I don't recommend this book to anyone I like.

Rating: 2,25/5

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Title: Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel
Author: Richelle Mead
Illustrator: Emma Vieceli
Original title: Vampire Academy: A Graphic Novel
First published: 2011
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Series: Vampire Academy: The Graphic Novel #1
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Paperback
Pages: 144
Finished: 20/07/2020
Summary: St Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school - hidden away, it's a place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St Vladimir's where the girls must survive a world of forbidden romances, a ruthless social scene and terrifying night time rituals. But most of all, they must stay alive.

My thoughts: I read this for the challenge to read a book from a genre you wish you'd read more of for the 2020 Reading Rush!
While I loved the "Vampire Academy" series, the first book was my least favourite. It's a bit simple, shallow, and cliche. I wanted to read the graphic novel adaption to see if it added anything to the story of the first book that would make it better. I didn't find that was the case. The story became compressed because of this new format, and thus a lot of character and world building was lost on clumsy exposition and a frenzied pacing. It was, however, pleasant to see certain aspects of the story visualised, such as the St Vladimir school, the magic, and some of the characters that I thought was very well depicted. Overall I didn't fall head over heels for the art style, though satisfactory, or the shortened format.

Rating: 2,25/5