The Humans, Catch-22 & Sociopath.
@simonbooks #simonbooksbuddy #simonbuddyreads thank you for the copy of Humans
Review of The Humans:
5 stars
From the author of A boy Called Christmas
I love books where robots or aliens try to make sense of what humanity is and even after pointing out all flaws and inconsistencies they still prefer the pain and struggle of becoming human than living in their perfect organized existence. This is one of the stories. At first, I thought the main character just had a mental breakdown, but it went into alien territory and a lot of humor.
I only had read this author's kids' books, so I enjoyed this one a lot. An essay on what it is to be human with a lot of truths.
The Secret Dead Club
Wednesday and her mother Olivia move to their family house. Yes, it's haunted, but it's not a novelty. She comes from a family of women who have helped ghosts move on. Attending a new school and making new friends, she discovers that the girl across the street is a ghost but not who they think she is. There is evil to be banished, strong friendships to build, ghosts to save and help to move on.
With a foot on the "other side," Wednesday is the perfect medium who hopes her gift doesn't disappear just yet with her womanhood.
I like the vibes. I felt like I was watching a Halloween spooky movie that could become one of those we watch every year during the holiday.
It can be read as a standalone, but I wish there would be another volume soon.
Review:
The Instrumentalist
4.5. Being a work of fiction, the author inspired the story on a 18th century violinist historical figure. There are very few records left of her as of many, so the author gives us a powerful feminist narrative. This was one of those historical fiction that I call "What if?" What if we could go back in time and stand tall to what was being done to women? What if... not all untrue because Anna Maria did conquer status and positions that had always belonged to men. I am glad that the author shows that although she was a virtuosa, it only makes sense with ambition, hours, and hours of practice, dedication, and effort. Being a skill, not a miracle. Sometimes, she had to sacrifice friendships and family for her passion. The idea that if she couldn't play, she would become a wife, and that would mean the same as death. (At least it does signify making no mark in history, being forgotten forever.)
It was enjoyable, I always jump into a book about music genius since the movie Amadeus came out.
Review:
I need you to read this
4.5 A simple but entertaining thriller, sometimes predictable but with a fun cast. The main character accepts to write a famous collum that might have got the previous author dead. Murder mystery, amateur sleuth. One of those books we read outdoors during a journey that makes the trip more fun. May be too simple for veteran thriller readers. Themes like domestic abuse.
I liked both for different reasons. One as a contemporary modern mystery, the other a historical music fiction based on a true female virtuosa violinist.
WO claustrophobic thrilling RECS for your week.
THE CHAMBER
This book was a 4 to me until the end, 5 Stars
I thought it was predictable with all the repetitions, and it became a 4.5 rounded to 5 because of the resolution of her inner/mental journey. This is a novel that you get the truth only of you read all, that's what endings are for.
I jumped right into this one for the setting. A claustrophobic chamber where a few divers are trapped and dying one by one. It has a lot of flashbacks to their past actions, traumas, and memories.
In a whodunit novel, one of them is a murderer.
I think the author intended the novel to be confusing in some parts, creating more tension. We are constantly saying. Wait, what? And because of that, I binged the book nonstop, trying to understand what was happening.
The usage of purple language and metaphors to describe their feelings and intrusive thoughts leads us to the wrong clues and path sometimes. I think Ellen feels this unbearable and relatable guilt for being diving and not with her family more than having done some secret crime in her past.
WHALEFALL
4 stars
Interesting read. I picked it up because I love nature vs man, survival, tension clock ticking survival moments, and because it was awarded for being an adult book that teens love.
I wished it had gone full humor but the flashbacks, his memories of his relationship with his father are what fives emotion and depth to this novel. Great take on a biblical story with a very modern take. A story of grief and a father and son who never got each other but through a very unique event we find a new perspective on it.
It's one of those you need to experience more than hear about it. More of dealing with loss than an action-adventure blockbuster, entertaining one.
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