reviews and reflections
this is a space to assess what i have been reading.
Perfection, by Vincenzo Latronico
05/22/2026 - 05/30/2026
Novella; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from BEPL via Libby
another millennial shame-fest. if not short and set in berlin, i wouldn't have bothered finishing this. nothing is compelling, no one is endearing. relatable, yes, but there's no imagination. might as well be a hyper-contemporary, emotionally-deficient memoir. i think this would be more successful if read later, as a time capsule of this moment. at present, i am bored. the stakes feel so low. these bland people are ok and will continue on being ok and having bad sex. the consistent pace throughout provides no highs / lows, turning the story into an amorphous blob. all it's doing is reiterating the old adage of money-doesn't-buy-happiness and sOciAL mEDia iS bAd. but thanks for letting me know i'm not the only one whose brain instinctively tries to command-z real life.
on the train
on the bus
on the plane
The Coin, by Yasmin Zaher
05/19/2026 - 05/22/2026
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from NYPL via Libby
big thanks to our entertaining narrator for guiding me through this wacky micro-plotted story. i’m not sure i got what this book is supposed to do, but it is intelligent, different. we follow an anonymous, lonely woman trying to survive america as a palestinian trust-fund adult orphan. she’s carrying around her past life in the form of an imaginary coin lodged in an impossible-to-reach spot on her back. despite her attempt at geographical and emotional distance, her old trauma is an itch that longs to be scratched, literally. evading this concern, she dives headfirst into every endeavor, slipping into the present task as a means to survive herself. everything feels rooted in survival and yet she rejects healing. her whole lifestyle feels very untethered. both transient and mentally unhinged. her need for some control imposes itself as an obsession with cleanliness. love the critical appraisal of dirty NYC, almost treating it as another character. in this new american life, she spends time with men who she doesn’t really care for, handles her teaching responsibilities without much regard for the potential consequences, and generally avoids any type of vulnerability. these little failings lead us to the finale: testing her ability to survive an artificial wilderness within her apartment. luxury gone, dependent on her connection to the self. her body the only true home she has.
The Bedford
on the train
The Echoes, by Evie Wyld
05/15/2026 - 05/26/2026
Novel; Paperback, ARC
Acquired 01/02/2026 at Strand Books, NYC
i love evie wyld’s writing. it is dark and haunting, lush and familiar. the setting is so vivid while much action is left undescribed. instead: alluding to violence and focusing on the reverberated aftereffects. the echoes, if you will. this book takes on many perspectives, my favorite being ‘then’. the mix of familial eccentricities, dynamics, and pain are beautifully balanced and play out against a humid, grimly-storied landscape. the past is given proper attention and shown fully layered, though in some cases a little convoluted. the biggest disappointment is the ‘after’ chapters. i was not charmed by max in the afterlife. i couldn’t see the point beyond narrative device and that’s an unfortunate thing to be aware of. otherwise, this book exemplifies so much of what i look for in every novel.
Leo
Ten Bells
Otis
on the train
at home
Vox, by Nicholson Baker
05/12/2026 - 05/17/2026
Novella; Paperback
Acquired 04/28/2026 at Molasses Books, NYC
an unexpected delight. love that the entire book is just one long telephone conversation. very in the moment and intimate. erotic but not necessarily sexy. and surprisingly funny. i find it hard to critique such a short book, but i do know i liked it. nothing profound, yet still re-routed my thoughts and turned things in my mind to new angles. the image of being in a dark room with the red & green lights of a stereo as the brightest things, lingers in my mind. the over-explaining, rambling, and strangeness did not bother me, only made the conversation more authentic. though there isn’t any difference between the two voices, their input felt equally balanced. i was interested in their respective fodder. mainly the house painters and the tasseled blanket. i was surprised that a book written about sex by a man in the early 90s wasn’t offensive in any way, although maybe that’s a silly assumption to have made.
at home only
Rejection, by Tony Tulathimutte
05/01/2026 - 05/10/2026 (DNF @ 35%)
Short Stories; Hardcover
Acquired 07/05/2025 from Green Oasis Community Garden LFL, Alphabet City
i was so happy to find this crispy new book for free. everyone had been talking about it. it sounded quite unique, particularly its tight focus on one specific theme. unfortunately this felt like reading the internet in long form. basically it’s the ideas we are already fed on a daily basis regurgitated back into the pages of a book. i suppose it is an accurate representation of the time, and for that it does hold value. but because i am alive in 2026, i couldn’t find any of this book original or interesting. don’t get me wrong, there is a lot i agree with, but almost in an obvious way that turned each character into a caricature. many people consider it controversial; unfortunately i couldn’t stand the clear aim to be subversive while putting the author on a pedestal. the characters are horrible, on purpose of course. but it felt like a circle-jerk. yeah these people suck, what else is there to know about them? nothing apparently.
on the train
at home
Beautiful World, Where Are You, by Sally Rooney
04/15/2026 - 04/26/2026
Novel; Hardcover
Acquired 09/13/2025 at Topos, NYC
it’s funny how reluctant i was to ever read a sally rooney novel. it felt a boring, unoriginal choice. and now, finishing book 3 of 4, i fear reaching the end of this limited supply. i savor in each book: its clarity; a distinct voice creating an awareness of being in conversation with a specific mind; a closeness and simplicity that locks you into the moment. this book is easy, yet full of big ideas. examinations of art, capitalism, existentialism, power, life upon a crumbling earth. good sex as usual. an abundance of stifled emotional intimacy. the heap of things left unsaid between people who love or hate each other in rooney’s stories becomes wont, but it is an excellent tool to get a reader to feel genuine angst and frustration alongside the characters. with all the love i have for this book, i also agree with every criticism (expect everyone’s annoyance at the absence of quotation marks) the narration is painfully detailed, mechanical descriptions like a screenplay. one of the four main characters is awful, simply awful. oh, but he loves his dog! there is an unnecessary focus on the thin white body. there is no plot. everything and everyone is awkward. maybe it’s self-indulgent, but i think rooney is allowed to use a fictional person as a vessel to deliver us her personal woes. the emails obviously also serve as an outlet for her own observations and opinions. i find them fascinating. this is where the characters relate to the world, as the rest of the book is highly concerned with the immediate setting. their correspondence brilliantly provides depth and portrays affection in the girls’ friendship. while the style of writing and thinking is jarringly different from the main narration, you get to see their minds’ robust inner workings in juxtaposition to their otherwise self-conscious, destructive ways. overall there is an undeniable charm throughout this book, enigmatic as it is.
Layla
Maison Premiere
at work
on the train
The Idiot, by Elif Batuman
04/06/2026 - 05/08/2026
Novel; Paperback
Acquired 05/26/2025 at Topos, NYC
i have never and will never read another book like this. it is brilliant and absurd, it really scratches my brain in a hyper-specific way. the naivety paired with the too-big-for—my-brain intellectual analyses kept me on my feet, but perhaps also weighed me down. there were many times i thought, well obviously i’m the idiot here. almost made my eye twitch with the russian literature and the cryptic emails. but i was also totally delighted by the curiosity. the observations that you would otherwise think are too mundane to justify articulation. “a scuba lesson was in session. how did all those people know that they wanted to know how to scuba dive?” few books have made me laugh out loud as much as this one. i truly loved being in selin’s mind. and yet, i often found myself impatient to move things along, specifically in the first half. i’m happy i got to spend a whole month with this book but would’ve been equally as pleased had it been about a hundred pages shorter. this definitely deserves a second read in the future. i look forward to that.
at home only
The Dream Hotel, by Laila Lalami
03/31/2026 - 04/13/2026
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from NYPL via Libby
Book Club with Mikaela & Abigail
woof. this just dragged and dragged. i’ve enjoyed lalami’s writing before, but this felt like something just anyone could’ve written. no finesse. no character development or compelling relationships. poor world-building. maybe i don’t love dystopian or imprisonment settings? the concept of dream surveillance really piqued my interest, but there was little exploration of its implications. there was mention of the ability to advertise within dreams, which was intriguing but sadly only briefly mentioned. continuously felt like a compilation of new ideas abandoned without investigation, voiding them of any significance. i’m not interested in reading a book that has everything and its meanings laid out for me, but so much was left unsaid that it became an overwhelming pile of miscellaneous (useless) information. don’t get me started on that pov shift. and there’s that random patient chart for sara stating she’s been in a casual sexual relationship with another inmate, yet literally never mentioned otherwise. huh? also, little longing or emotional connection to her husband, like they didn’t really care for each other. i realize incarceration only exasperates life’s difficulties, specifically for family members on the outside, but his seemingly quick abandonment of ‘husband duties’ left me with little sympathy for him. sadly, her life seems only slightly less unsatisfying as an inmate. the clawing impatience to finish this book felt stronger than sara’s desire to leave the center.
Leo
at work
on the train
The Hypocrite, by Jo Hamya
03/19/2026 - 03/29/2026
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from QPL via Libby
brilliant but hard to catch the rhythm. i restarted this twice before committing. i began a different book in the meantime with the intention to not revisit this one. the set-up is incredible, it is unique. love the play as a vessel for interrogation. the book’s overarching ideas, specifically the complicated father-daughter relationship are always on my reading menu. not only the themes, but quite specific aspects are what i’ve planned for my own novel = abandoning life to move in and relieve a family member in despair; co-dependent relationship based on creative output; a notable fish tank. while i can’t say i particularly enjoyed this book, it was necessary for me to read. it’s interesting to see my thoughts, such familiar thoughts, arranged differently from the way i know them. that another mind has the same impulse to tie these ideas together. yet, this book felt too smart for me. i’m glad i read this as an ebook with the amenity of a built-in dictionary.
on the train
at home
An American Marriage, by Tayari Jones
03/15/2026 - 04/05/2026
Novel; Paperback
Borrowed from Olivia
this book is a perfect example of forgiveness. yes, the actual story is all about weighing one’s ability to forgive, as well as awaiting the forgiveness of others. however what i mean is: there is a lot in this book that i find fault with, yet some other quality rises above any of that to make this a great book. while in other cases i may strike points because the multiple perspectives sound too similarly, serious topics aren’t elaborated upon, or because the plot is predictable - with this book, i’ll forgive it all. there is an authenticity to the voices, though they lack distinction, that creates an easy intimacy. despite the all around shit situation, these were people i looked forward to spending time with. i was particularly charmed by big roy. initially i wished there was more discussion around the injustice system, but i can appreciate that this story is more thought-provoking and less focused on dramatics. i will say, one undeniable issue i have is not feeling the connection between celestial and roy. though i rooted for roy the whole time, it wasn’t because i wanted him to end up with celestial. i thought each would be fine without the other. i just wanted closure, joy, respect for roy. i did lose a little love for him when he states “i can, but i won’t”. however this is simply a way to show us how his years in prison have altered his view of humanity and of himself. i honestly thought my enjoyment would end there, but i was able to forgive roy.
at home only
The Memory Police, by Yoko Ogawa
03/06/2026 - 03/17/2026
Translated from Japanese, by Stephen Snyder
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from NYPL via Libby
yoko ogawa’s writing is reliably confounding in its ability to be rich while using such sparse language. she is an author i trust wholeheartedly to carry me along in comfort, like being wrapped in a heavy blanket by someone you love. while i don’t love this as much as housekeeper & professor, it still charms me in this particular way. the portrayal of the memory police’s surveillance, abductions, military-like presence are very similar to what we witness in real life, past and presently. this heaviness mixed with ogawa’s trademark gentle examinations make for a pleasant balance. there are higher tension points, but mostly a mundane serenity. i need to give the manuscript some thought - its parallels surely mean more than i’ve given consideration. generally i’m not into a book within a book, but this worked for me. it took me a long time to realize our narrator wasn’t genetically able to hold her memories and confusedly waited for that revelation. i was bothered by the vague logistics of the disappearances. once objects are apart of the sea and technically off the island, they ‘cease to exist’? how does the old man continue to live on the old ferry? but, whatever. i loved the old man, his relationship to our narrator, her fixation on his hands, and the peaceful meals they shared. really liked the ending with its shift in power and the inevitable losses.
Bar Madonna
at work
on the train
The Rachel Incident, by Caroline O’Donoghue
03/01/2026 - 03/14/2026
Novel; Paperback, ARC
Acquired 03/28/2025 from Minneapolis LFL
there was not a moment of disinterest or impatience in reading this. i was into it every step of the way. while this book isn’t saying anything new, it speaks clearly. everyone has their role and everything feels fully realized. i was amused, surprised, validated. while not profound, i noted so many lines that resonated with me. this is not the best book, but it is perfect.
at home mostly
laundromat
The Wilderness, by Angela Flournoy
02/16/2026 - 03/05/2026 (DNF at 75%)
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from NYPL via Libby
there was so much good in here, sadly lost by trying to keep up with the alternating perspectives and timelines. i was constantly going back to the previous chapter to see which year we’d been in, as an attempt to bring even a little context to the next chapter. there was no connective tissue, no indication as to how these people’s experiences related to one another. the relationship dynamics within the sections were great, but big picture did not work out. this created an immediate disconnect from the story that ultimately made me give it up. some sections, namely desiree and nakia’s stories, were very engaging. to monique: i’m so sorry, completely skipped over your sections. i generally like a story told in vignettes, but here there was no cohesion, no resolution. there were too many ideas trying to be made important in a small space. overall i agree with the core values and big ideas brought up. the author is clearly very intelligent, but the execution of this project was really unfulfilling, frustrating to the point of boredom. i find it hard to imagine how one can enjoy this book. sorry. perhaps if i could convince myself to read this on a sentence level only, i’d glide through unbothered.
L’imprimerie
YellowSun Coffee
Ten Bells
The Bedford
laundromat
at work
on the train
The White Hot, by Quiara Alegría Hudes
02/13/2026 - 02/25/2026
Novel; Hardcover
Borrowed from DeKalb Library, Brooklyn
very good, but beyond me. any displeasure in reading was likely due to my reading too shallowly. i did love the voice; casual terms along poetic phrases. at times it went a little too deep into the writer’s mind, where i couldn’t grasp at anything to steady my footing. i couldn’t decide if the book was too smart for me, or if hudes was simply trying too hard. beyond disinterest in motherhood, i had no idea what this novel would be and was pleasantly surprised by her temporary life in the wilderness. took a minute to realize the need to suspend my disbelief, tho unsure if that’s what was expected of me and that makes me like it less. i felt a little dirty reading this and began associating with my type A self in a shameful way. while i don’t mind tension and anxiety, i was constantly impatient with april’s destructive decisions. and her betrayal of kamal bothered me til the end, even though he felt a very willing participant in her bullshit shenanigans. definitely would’ve had a more active-minded experience with this book had april been even slightly likable.
at home mostly
Sunrise Sunset
Going to Meet the Man, by James Baldwin
02/09/2026 - xx
Short Stories; Paperback
Acquired 09/19/2023 at Split Rock Books in Cold Spring, NY
reading paused…
xx
xx
xx
xx
xx
at home only
My Dark Vanessa, by Kate Elizabeth Russell
02/01/2026 - 02/14/2026
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from SPL via Libby
this story felt like someone recalling real memories. it was very immersive and unfortunately very believable. felt like reading a memoir and overall maybe that’s why i didn’t love it. a little too expository, lacking in emotional depth. i had the same issue reading being lolita which is an incredibly similar story, a memoir in fact. had i not read that, maybe this would’ve hit harder. still, i can use the words excellent, impressive, and accurate to describe this book. i appreciated and understood: vanessa’s need to not label her experience as ‘a victim’; the need to protect what she defined as her first love; her delusion of being in control of this highly manipulated situation; her oscillating between repulsion and a desperation to be of value. understandably there is an emotional distance that is impossible to bridge, as vanessa has not come to terms with her abuse. even in therapy, she refuses to share her experience and confront her demons. not only does she remain in contact with her abuser, but the fear of seeing the other women in town infects her everyday life and makes the present inseparable from her earlier trauma. while possibly true to life, as a reading experience i was bothered by the absence of resolution. at the end, you’re just like ok cool, everybody sucks. i was waiting (hoping!) for something big after large sections of repetition and seemingly unnecessary details. also kind of lost me when he died so early in the book. not that that was a loss. i wish this book were shorter. the sections i liked will stay with me for a long time.
L’imprimerie
Sunrise Sunset
laundromat
Katan
at work
on the train
on the bus
Tilt, by Emma Pattee
01/26/2026 - 02/08/2026
Novel; Hardcover
Acquired 03/2025
Otherppl Book Club
*replaced*
Paperback (stunning! gorgeous!)
Acquired 01/30/2026 from Ridgewood LFL
a real page-turner. in that can’t-look-away-from-a-car-crash type of way, because you were born and raised in the PNW and your parents still live there, so why on earth would you read, and enjoy, a book about The Big One? i’m not really sure, but i do love a book set in a place i’m familiar with. considering the plot of navigating a city wrecked by natural disaster, the sense of place could’ve been stronger. the setting is ripe for overstimulation and gawking and horror, yet it was never nerve-racking or visceral in the way i expected. half the book is flashbacks to an unfulfilling life, a feeling of paralysis that i can relate to. despite her inner turmoil and trying circumstance, it was difficult to sympathize with annie. i’m sure she was suffering from pregnancy discomfort and hormones, but as soon as she grabs the ikea employee in the first couple pages, i developed a dislike that was never able to resolve itself. with that said, i actually did enjoy this book. there’s some suspense, domestic strife, a new-to-me plot, apprehension toward motherhood, and of course the city of portland. also it shows how everything in your world can change instantly, even as the rest of the world continues on as scheduled. oh, bean <3
at home only
Heart the Lover, by Lily King
01/26/2026 - 01/31/2026
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from SPL via Libby
engaging and easy with moments of sweetness and aching that require pause. imo the title is clunky until you uncover its origin - fun, even precious. while not perfect, it’s the kind of seamless writing that hits all the right notes, with lines to make you stop in recognition of the years it must’ve taken king to perfect her craft. this is an unsatisfying love story, that’s the point, yet i was hoping for more time with yash and jordan as a couple. although the ending had me holding back tears, the emotional impact could’ve been stronger if we’d gotten to spend more time with these two on good terms. i know that we can love people despite the ways they betray us, but as a reader i was so pissed over yash’s cowardice in leaving jordan and in hiding from sam. and my excitement over their relationship was dampened simply by their years of separation. was also hoping for more of casey/jordan’s life as a writer. then i remembered writers & lovers. regardless, i would gladly have read 100 more pages of this book.
Sofia Gourmet
on the train
at work
Dominion, by Addie E. Citchens
01/16/2026 - 01/25/2026
Novel; eBook, Kobo
Borrowed from SPL via Libby
i had no idea where this was headed, but i was enthusiastically along for the ride. the voice is engaging, familiar, clear. you really trust it. love the southern small-town humor and hypocrisy among these church folks. every one comes alive in their tracking and judging of others. and as the reader, there is plenty to judge. the fact that this guy was more bothered by potentially being a little gay than having just killed a man OH MAN. absolute dog shit human, and yet the story revolves around him and it’s still such an enjoyable read. his mother is fabulous and i was overjoyed by her decision to abandon her privileged life to get away from these foolish men. could not have cared less about diamond but she was essential, and a reminder of how we can criticize those who love evil more than the evil itself. there is a lot of ugly in this book, but a very satisfying read regardless. stunning balance of getting into characters minds and following a clear line through and out.
Maison Premiere
L’imprimerie
laundromat
at work
on the train
Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E. Butler
09/08/2025 - 01/26/2026 (reread)
Novel; Paperback
Acquired 2019, NYC (maybe)
Book club with Tyler
an obvious classic. this is such a readable book, it should be required reading. the writing is straight-forward and the content is bleak, but it is not without humor or tenderness. however, considering lauren’s hyperempathy, there could be much more emotion. but i guess that’s not what this book is about. thinking of the state of the world and its potential future, the closeness conceived by emotion could make this an uncomfortable read. thankfully, there is still enough distance between this world and ours that it is able to be entertaining. i longed for more connection to the rest of the group and consequently to feel more for them at difficult points. admittedly i had no reaction to jill’s death. hopefully we can get to know these characters a little better in the sequel.
at home only
01/13/2026 - 01/14/2026
Hunchback, by Saou Ichikawa
Translated from Japanese, by Polly Barton
Novel; Paperback, ARC
Acquired 01/02/2026 at Strand Books, NYC
this cover is so charming. i love the paintbrush strokes and the gentle colors, the millennial pink. i wanted to read this so bad because the cover said: there is art in here. the premise deterred me as i feared the woman’s situation of living life as a disabled person would be what the book stood on. i am happy to read about relentless mucus buildup, or almost literally chocking to death on cum, but the book failed to prove it was written to do more than “shock the masses!” with that said, this book did not have as much sex as i expected. i wouldn’t have minded more of shaka’s writing on her WordPress on her iPad mini. her abortion mission was definitely my kind of humor. the ending won me over on this book. i can’t say i would ever recommend this to anyone, but it’s smart, and i didn’t NOT like it. if this book were longer and had the chance to build on some of its background thoughts, i think i would’ve really enjoyed it. but this is the way it was chosen to be published.
on the train
01/02/2026 - 01/12/2026
Be My Guest, by Priya Basil
Essay / Memoir; Paperback, ARC
Acquired 05/03/2025 at Strand Books, NYC
i read the majority of this book about hospitality on a week off from making money in the hospitality industry. i read be my guest as a guest in bars & restaurants around the city. notably: The Up & Up, Claud, Fellini Coffee. for a little book, it was like entering a deep cozy box. i suppose food writing will always do that for me. but also the writing is generous in its vulnerability and compassion. as with most non-fiction, the repetition gets to me when driving at certain points. i know this is inherent to non-fiction, and that’s probably why i don’t read much of it. but i need to remember it is, as with this book, worthwhile.
Velvette Coffee
The Standard
Otis
Fellini Coffee
The Up & Up
Claud
on the train