A Review of All the Books I Read in Quarantine Part 3

Hello, welcome back to my blog. It’s been a minute and I haven’t forgotten about my book reviews! You know, a handful of people have asked about my review so you know what, clearly there are some people out there who are curious about my opinions on these books. I’ve read a lot of books during quarantine, I know technically we aren’t in “quarantine” anymore (editor gloria coming in…jk we are back in phase 2) but my book reviews will continue probably until the end of 2020.

I really went through a wide variety of genres the past few months and tried to expand on reading more books by women and bipoc authors. There’s really no particular order on these reviews but here they are. Also, part of me writing this review is partially that I’ll remember what I read. Part one and two can be found on my blog as well.

Enigma Variations by Andre Aciman | Genre: Romance

This is about a person’s story or rather their life but told in the order of 5 different love stories. Now the idea of writing 5 different stories on one person’s love life is a great idea in theory. You read through a backstory set in Italy and later, New York while reading about the main character’s love life through chronological order…I think? The book doesn’t specify age. I enjoy Aciman’s writing, but in execution…not sure how I felt about it. To quote my Goodreads review, it’s “seductive af but the main character is such a dick. Written beautifully though.” I stand by that review. It’s hard to explain but I can’t relate nor understand a man who is into cheating so…anyway, next book. Like 4/10

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid | Genre: Contemporary

This is Reid’s debut book! It was amazing, I had a great time reading this one. It’s an easy read and it’s about what unfolds after this one incident of a babysitter who is mistaken for kidnapping the child she babysits at a grocery store. Racism in all its subtle nuances are explored in the book and I just absolutely loved how the fetishization of black people and the white saviour complex is embedded throughout the plot. You really see how people can be so blind to their own intentions or actions and I really liked this book! If you’re looking for a book that critically analyzes racism, please read this one. Also, this book isn’t boring and has slang in it so don’t worry about it feeling like a history lesson, because it’s not. 9/10

An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen | Genre: Thriller

A thriller story about a mysterious psychology study. I liked how there’s questions on ethics, boundaries, relationships, therapy, and discovery. Overall, I really liked the pace of the plot and how unique the story was. It was quite interesting and kept me on my toes! 7.5/10

But just saying, this would never work bc WE SIGN CONFIDENTIALITY FORMS BABY!!

Severance by Ling Ma | Genre: Dystopian, Science-fiction

Now I never would recommend reading this book during a pandemic because frankly, it felt too real. It’s literally about a pandemic outbreak and this survivor in NYC and how she’s coping as the sole survivor during a literal apocalypse…haha sound familiar? I don’t know why I read this especially during this time because it sort of freaked me out. There are anecdotes on a millennial’s life, sections that make you think about religion, money, and the meaning of life. I did not like the ending or the latter half of the book so like 4/10. Wouldn’t recommend if you are already paranoid. Oh, spoiler but I feel like it’s almost necessary but she does live! I’d lose it if she died…

Normal People by Sally Rooney | Genre: Contemporary, Romance

I’ve been putting off reviewing this one for awhile…solely because how I initially thought about this book has changed. I disliked so many things about this book like the lack of communication between the main characters, the intense sacrificial love theme, and the fact that it spanned over like 5+ years bothers me. It seemed like the two characters who are in love go around in circles forever. However, I appreciated the subtle nuances of body language and hidden messages that are not spoke aloud or typically discussed about in books was actually explored in this novel. There are a lot of seemingly unknown factors that affect one’s communication with another person like intention, thoughts, tone of voice, and eye contact which were emphasized throughout the book. I will say though that the book has made me think a lot about how I communicate – both verbally and non-verbally – and I still think about this book despite reading it months ago so that’s definitely a sign that this is a unique novel. So I’m conflicted because it was written quite well but the characters frustrated me a lot so 6/10 but some days it feels like a 9/10.

The Outsider by Stephen King | Genre: Thriller, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery

I said in a previous blog post that I wanted to read more King, but maybe I should’ve gone backwards and read his older work rather than his recent stuff because I was so disappointed with this one! His writing is phenomenal, there’s no question about that; he’s able to weave in characters and plot devices so artistically, but this story fell flat. It’s basically about these inexplicable brutal murders that happen in a small town with evidence pointing to someone who claims to be innocent. Lol, according to my Goodreads review, I said “deadass only gets interesting 308 pages in…and by that time, I was so tired of this book” which is so accurate, it just felt incredibly long for no reason and that there was a huge sense of misdirection for like half the book. 4/10

Flux by Orion Carloto | Genre: Poetry

It’s hard to explain this one. It’s very minimalistic or conversation style poetry, meaning yes, it’s written plainly or using cliches that everyone can understand. The poetry is relatable but it’s also not out of this world, super rare, wowza material you know. My goodreads review said “2011 me would’ve liked this” so if you’re in your Tumblr, angsty teen phase, perhaps you’ll like this one. And yes, I don’t remember my own Goodreads reviews until I’ve looked back at them. I genuinely liked some poems and liked the scribbles in the book; however, once again, Vuoung ruined all other forms of poetry. That man’s writing is just so beautiful -yikes, this wasn’t supposed to be me talking about how great Vuoung is for 10 minutes straight…anyway, I’d say 3/10.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett | Genre: Historical Fiction

This is a book literally about a house (lol). It spans over 5 generations from WW2 to the present and it goes into family tensions, property, wealth, poverty, kind of…sounds boring right? Well you are correct there because I was literally pulling my hair trying to finish this one. It was so hyped so that’s why I kept going and it just felt…so dull. The characters aren’t relatable at all, like okay, for instance, if you had all the money in the world, would you become a doctor despite hating anything and everything to do with health? I just? Where is the l o g i c. ALSO, ALL THIS OVER A HOUSE? fam GET OVER YOURSELVES. But then again, not like I could ever afford a house in this lifetime in the GTA, so..I get it. Solid 5/10.

“Women are not expected to live a life for themselves. When women dedicate their lives to children, it is deemed a worthy and respectable choice. When women dedicate themselves to a passion outside of the family that doesn’t involve worshipping their husbands or taking care of their kids, they’re seen as selfish, cold, or unfit mothers. But when a man spends hours grueling over a craft, profession, or project, he’s admired and seen as a genius. And when a man finds a woman who worships him, who dedicates her life to serving him, he’s lucky. But when a man dedicates himself to taking care of his children it’s seen as a last resort. That it must be because he ran out of other options. That it’s plan Z. That it’s an indicator of his inability to provide for his family. Basically, that he’s a [redacted] loser.”

an interesting quote that I thought was hilarious but unfortunately, quite true

Dear Girls by Ali Wong | Genre: Memoir, Biography

Now I had to change up the reviews because I realized how dismal everything was becoming but don’t you worry, it gets better. This book, or rather, series of letters and stories, was like a breath of fresh air. Frankly, the push for productivity and hustle culture especially during quarantine was not helpful for me after awhile. Everyone and their dog kept suggesting to read self-help books, which are great sometimes, but I also like just reading about someone’s real-life experiences, both the terrible and the amazing. That was super long-winded but all that to say that this biography was hilarious, I laughed aloud and chuckled so many times when I was reading this. I literally highlighted sections and took pictures and sent them to my friends. I found her honest opinions on pregnancy, marriage, family, being a comic, and being a woman to be so empowering. I liked that she expressed her frustrations of always being known as the Asian female comic. It was interesting reading about someone else’s life who’s so different than my own. I really recommend this one to read to get a look into someone else’s life but also because it’ll cheer you up. 10/10

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo | Genre: Fantasy, Mystery

Honestly, the first time I read this, I thought like 40 pages of the book were missing so I deleted the file. I, then was like, okay…maybe I’ll try reading it again so I loaned it from the library. Turns out I’m just so used to being spoonfed by authors on all sorts of details from the beginning that my brain has become mush. But in this novel, you’re literally just dropped into the middle of the plot and you have to make connections, keep up, and it’s as if the novel is very much alive. Long story short, Bardugo is fantastic. I’ve never read a contemporary fantasy book before that’s both dark but hilarious at the same time. I fell in love with the setting and main character. The writer does a great job in teasing out the plot while also building the fantasy setting. If you like Harry Potter, you might enjoy this book since it gives off similar vibes, but less British and more mystery, less psycho Rowling and more amazing Bardugo. 10/10

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas | Genre: Contemporary, YA Fiction

I heard about this book initially from my sister and forgot about it, but I totally should’ve read it few years ago when she initially recommended it to me. This is a novel about a teen, Starr who witnesses a police officer shooting her friend. Police brutality and systemic racism has been prevalent in the US and we all witnessed horrifying murders this past summer. I felt emotionally challenged when reading this book because it’s real. Despite the “fiction” label, readers know that the characters, the gentrification, gangs, subtle and blatant racism that’s described in the book is all too real. I really encourage everyone no matter what age to read this book. I really thought it was humorous, heartfelt, and convicting. 10/10

Scythe, Thunderhead, The Toll by Neal Shusterman | Genre: Science-fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia

I’ll be reviewing this trilogy together because I feel like it’s fitting. Basically it’s set in the future where humans have solved anti-aging, literally humanity never dies. So, there are appointed people called “scythes” who are trained to kill or “glean” selected humans at certain times. The first novel really only has a select few characters – the main ones being Citra and Rowan – and you get a glimpse into this futuristic world. The entire world has changed from the names of countries, occupations, religions, and so forth. Reading this trilogy was fascinating because I honestly haven’t read a series other than Percy Jackson – which I read earlier this year – in forever. I really enjoyed the Scythe series because of how distinct each character was, throughout all 3 books, Shusterman’s vision is carried out wonderfully. Themes of discovery; tradition vs individual autonomy; AI vs humans; the future vs the past; and even one’s purpose are carefully constructed. I thought the plot in all books were super witty and by the end, I had difficulty keeping up with how complex everything was. The world-building was insane and I really have to commend the author. I totally recommend if you like science-fiction and dystopian novels. I thought the 2nd and 3rd books were unpredictable and learned to appreciate all the characters. For the trilogy, 8.5/10.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho | Genre: Spirituality, Fantasy, Philosophy

This is a really quick read and is sweet and short. I enjoyed it for the most part, it’s got nice anecdotes on life, but…the ending fell a bit short for me. I know some people found it to have profound meanings on life but you can take from it as you will. I guess because I’m cynical, I thought it was too kumbaya vibes for me. It’s a 5/10 for me.

Where’d you go Bernadette by Maria Semple | Genre: Contemporary, Humour, Adult Fiction

This is one of the best books I read during quarantine. It was hilarious, meaningful, full of art references, was super moving, and…interesting. I’ve been reading since I became literate and after awhile, some books fall short but this one was intriguing from the beginning to end. It’s about a mother who disappears and her daughter picks up clues to find her. Uh, the novel is a lot less scary and ominous than I described it. I liked how the perspectives shifted from different narratives and it’s actually quite a funny book, I laughed aloud and took photos of some parts. I thought the setting in Seattle (not NYC where every. single. book. in history. is always written about. like why.), the main character hating on Canada, the author picking apart the tech industry and private school snobbery was quite refreshing and nice. Also, reminded me of how great moms are. 10/10 the book to read during quarantine.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart | Genre: YA Fiction | Mystery | Contemporary | Romance

Man…this was recommended to me by TikTok and everyone raved about it, and this may be the first time I’m disappointed by TikTok 😦 rip I might be like the only person who is conflicted by this book. The writing is so intoxicating and you can’t help but like the style of how the story is told. It goes back and forth between the present, past, and random anecdotes/stories in between. I can’t really give a summary without spoiling it but it’s about a complicated family on an island…*ominous fade to the background* but yeah, it’s just best to read this without knowing what it’s about. If you like thrillers or mystery novels, you’ll definitely enjoy this one! It’s a huge page turner and I felt so many different levels of shock, made me feel like I was experiencing some weird life crisis. However, what I didn’t like was that the-part-i-can’t-talk-about-without-major-spoilers was so infuriating! Perhaps that just shows the skills of Lockhart’s writing but I’m a little like…ehhhh sort of clickbaity feeling you know? So 8/10

Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday | Genre: Fiction

I…don’t know what to say about this book, it’s literally split right in the middle by 2 completely different stories that have no relation to each other, hence the title I suppose. I liked the first story which is about a failing writer who has a sugar daddy-like relationship with this famous writer. The second story is about an Iraqi-American man’s experience being detained at the airport. I guess because the first story was stopped so suddenly, I felt weird reading the second half. It’s definitely a unique experience but not my cup of tea so like 4/10.

Circe by Madeline Miller | Genre: Fantasy, Greek Mythology Re-telling

I’m going to end this review with this book because wow, it deserves all the praise and accolades. Miller has a gift in writing things in a way that feels like it’s actually happening. The novel is a re-telling of Circe, a Greek mythological god. It spans over centuries and I really felt like I was there, just watching and aging for centuries too – and not in a bad way. I never wanted the tales of war, survival, family, love, and greek gods to end. This book is so fun and a great escape during the pandemic. I read her other book which was amazing as well. I totally recommend Circe, it’s such an epic. 10/10

Well that’s a wrap on my book reviews so far! I can’t believe it’s September (lol clearly November by the time I’m posting and I’ve read 70 books (91*) since the start of the year/quarantine. There are a few books that I haven’t reviewed but are recorded on my Goodreads account because honestly I forgot about the plot and my thoughts on it….haha whoops. Please don’t recommend any books to me because I’m still trying to go through the recommendations that I’ve received months ago. I tend to just increase the books on my to-read list if anything. I encourage you to read (or listen to) anything, it doesn’t have to be a best seller or a self-help book that everyone is raving about, just something that intrigues you. I think reading should be fun, like an escape from regular life, if it teaches you something then even better but it shouldn’t feel like a burden. Anyhoo, hope you enjoyed my review on these books! See you in the next blog post.