Mahala

I really wanted to love this book. It was a great concept, being told from the stalker's POV. I just wasn't gripped by the story. There wasn't a point where I had to know what happened next. The writing was good, the concept was interesting, I just felt like it wasn't well executed. There was nothing that drew me in. I felt like it relied on violence and supposed ‘shock value' rather than actual substance, though I didn't think anything Joe did was surprising. Maybe it's just me and I've read too many thrillers! Either way, I didn't enjoy it as much as I was hoping I would.

Daniel Handler is a genius. I know this isn't going to be any sort of formal review but I have to say something. Or rather, do something.
This book is SO well written. It's witty even when it's serious, it has the perfect amount of everything. The characters were not one dimensional, I came to know them as separate people with individual personalities and could predict which person would do or say what in a certain situation. And the twist at the end. ...This review is spoiler-free. But I didn't figure it out until about a page before it was revealed and now I want to go back and read the whole thing again in light of my new knowledge.
I've just finished it and I already miss the characters, I want to read about them forever.
The Basic Eight is brilliant!

I went into this with high expectations because I've devoured and loved and sobbed at every other Sepetys book. As always, I was anxious to learn about history that I, unfortunately, knew very little about. And the book did accomplish that much. I was disappointed by this one in a few ways, though. There were so many characters and so many POVs that I kept forgetting who was who. It jumped around a lot in POV and made it a little confusing to keep up. The pacing was dreadfully slow. Like ... slooooooooow. It makes me sad because I know this book had so much potential, knowing how incredible of a writer Sepetys is. But it fell flat. There was hardly any emotion, which was odd as it dealt with SUCH heavy and heartbreaking topics. Coming out of this, I felt like I learned about history, but not read a novel.

The length of this review is going to be relative to the length of this book, short. This is one of those cases where I saw the movie first because Alexis Bledel in the early 2000s? Of course I'm going to watch it. Thanks to that gem, I did not know that Winnie is actually only 10 years old in the book. So I was like, “Oh, the story must be completely different then.” Haha no, sweetie. The hundred and something year old man who looks to be 17 still asks a 10 year old to marry him. Okay. I know that when this book was published in the 70s, there was a lot more latchkey kids and parents oblivious to the serial killers running rampant, but that plot point is creepy now and I'm willing to bet it was creepy then. And if not, shame on everyone. I UNDERSTAND that this dude wants some action and has been alone for 100 years, but telling a 10 year old you just met to become immortal and marry you when she's 17 is creep city and I couldn't get behind it.

Otherwise, interesting storyline. Loved Winnie's obsession with the frog, that was honestly my favorite part. And it is a storyline that made me think. Unfortunately, I think the creative liberties the movie took actually made this story way better. I just didn't vibe with the Tuck family in the book, but Winnie was sweet and deserves the world. Anyway, 2/5 stars because proposing marriage to children is creepy.

Would I recommend?
It's a v v quick read (I read it in a couple hours) if you want to check this classic off your list. Otherwise, meh.

This is a novel about Sophie Applebaum, a woman from a Jewish family in Pennsylvania. In the same style as the Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, Sophie's life is told in a series of stories from her childhood to her late 20s/early 30s. I'd say this isn't necessarily a coming of age story, but more like a finding out who you are story.

After reading the Girl's Guide, I immediately added The Wonder Spot to my TBR and for the first time ever, my local book store had what I was looking for the first time I checked. So of course I had to pick it up. My new favorite writing style is just Melissa Bank. I've never read anyone or anything quite like her. It makes me feel soft and warm and safe. I can get lost in it and just be comfortable. Seeing her grouped into chick lit is painful, tbh. This isn't chick lit, it's prose. It has substance.

I love that Bank doesn't just focus on the love interests like many books do. Yes, Sophie dates and falls in and out of love. But she also has a career that she falls into and can't get out of. And she has complicated family relationships that I related to, especially the strained relationship with her grandmother. Sophie has complex friendships that evolve over time for better or worse. I particularly loved reading about her friendship evolution with Dena. The emotions and feelings were portrayed in a way that I deeply understood and felt. It made me uncomfortable in the best way. Sophie and her family could be any of us and our families, that's how realistic she is. I absolutely adore Melissa Bank and hope to always read more from her.

Favorite quote: “I felt sure that everyone was looking at me and then realized that no one was, and I experienced the distinct shame of each.”

Would I recommend?
Yes, with no exceptions. It's not for everyone, but it's worth a try.