Tag: fiction

Book Review

Book Review: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Title: The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Author: Muriel Barbery

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Quick Takeaway: I have read this book 4 or 5 times. It might be my favorite book in the whole world, so  I just wanted to be able to share it with everyone!

Who Should Read This? Anyone who is interested in French culture, philosophy, or human nature in general.

Review: This narrative follows two very different characters both living under the same roof: Renee (a Parisian concierge who is world-weary, stuck in the class system, and tired of interacting with the rich, pretentious inhabitants of the exclusive apartments she attends to) and Paloma (a genius 12-year old who has a fascination with Japanese culture and pointing out the absurdity of adults). The inner-thoughts of both of these characters are just so rich in understandable philosophy and profound thoughts about human nature. The two strike up an unlikely friendship with each other and a new tenant – a wise, Japanese man who seems to understand them both better than themselves. Their own perceptions about themselves and their surroundings are questioned, and they are both given opportunities for personal growth and finding more happiness than they thought possible.

I love the character of Paloma so much that someday I plan on naming a pet Paloma in her honor. She would probably prefer for me to choose a goldfish, but I suspect it will be a cat. Paloma is just such a brilliantly drawn portrait of a precocious, highly intelligent adolescent girl. In a lesser writer’s hands, she could have come across as annoying or really contrived, but Barbery does a masterful job at creating a believable, endearing character instead. Watching her learn more about life and mature over the course of the novel is a special experience. This is one of the only books that I have tried to read as slowly as possible so that I could savor every second. I actually felt a sense of loss when the book was over because I just didn’t want it to end.

Final Thoughts: This is just such a beautiful book. It’s definitely more character-focused than anything, so those who are more into plot my find this too slow for their liking. I just find that each time I reread this one, something new and profound stands out. It’s definitely worth a try if you’re interested.

 

Book Review

Book Review: The Vegetarian

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Title: The Vegetarian

Author: Han Kang 

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Quick Takeaway: The Vegetarian by Korean author Han Kang tells the story of Yeong-Hye, a woman who swears off meat after experiencing recurring, blood-soaked nightmares. The novel tracks her swift mental decline and describes how she is treated by South Korean society and her family.

Who Should Read This?  Anyone interested in mental illness, South Korean culture, or dark/absurdist scenarios.

Review: I picked up this book after reading a really interesting review about it in the New York Times Book Review. I must say that this is one of the most original books that I have read in quite a while. Despite the name and the description, this book is not preachy or actually trying to convince readers not to eat meat. Rather, it is a really interesting character study about a woman’s decline into madness. This begins when she has horrifying bloody dreams and becomes obsessed with avoiding meat because she thinks this will cause the nightmares to stop. Her family has no idea how to handle her. Society has no idea how to handle her. This book is very much allegorical about South Korean society, but I found the mental illness aspects to be the most interesting.

If I had to try to classify this novel, I think I would describe it as literary horror. There are many horrific elements and descriptions, but the focus is definitely the characters rather than the events surrounding the book. I found Yeong-Hye’s relationships with her sister and brother-in-law to be the most interesting. The moments with her sister were very realistic and intriguing. The moments with her brother-in-law, a photograper, were incredibly absurd in a strangely artistic way. I don’t want to give too much away, so I think I’ll just leave that there.

Final Thoughts: Not everyone will like this book. It is pretty experimental and sort of falls between genres, but I was impressed by it and I think that there’s a good chance that literary horror lovers will enjoy this one.

Book Review

Book Review: Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Title: Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Author: Maria Semple

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Quick Takeaway: Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is a fun, quick-paced domestic mystery. When 15-year-old Bee’s mother Bernadette Fox goes missing, Bee makes it her mission to uncover information about her mother’s mysterious past in order to try to find her.

Who Should Read This? Anyone looking for an entertaining read about a flawed mother who deeply loves her daughter. Anyone who adores quirky characters.

Review: This is such a fun book. I loved the quirky characters and the incredibly interesting scenarios that unfold. Bernadette is a flawed, but vastly interesting character who tries to be a good wife and mother, but she frequently fails because of her own mental state and her propensity to be a bit selfish. Bee, her daughter, is highly gifted for her age, and she has a very close relationship with her mother. Her quest to find her mother once Bernadette goes missing is really incredible. There were a few things that didn’t seem quite believable. For instance, while it is understandable that Bee is mature for her age because she is so gifted, some of the revelations she has and things she says still feel they don’t naturally come from someone with so little life experience. Also, some of the ways that Bee uncovers information about her mother seem just a little too convenient. I could see this bothering some people, but it didn’t really bother me because I was just enjoying the book so much that I was willing to overlook those things. Still, if you don’t allowing a bit of suspension of disbelief, you might not find this as enjoyable as I did.

Final Thoughts: This book is just so fun. It’s a quick read, and I think you should give it a try if you want to be entertained by a fun mix of quirky characters and interesting plots.

Book Review

Book Review: Big Little Lies

Tiffany Renee Harmon

Title: Big Little Lies 

Author: Liane Moriarty

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Quick Takeaway: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty is by far one of the best books I have ever read! I read it shortly after it came out, and I’ve made it my mission to force as many friends as possible to read this book.

Who should read this? Anyone looking for a quiet contemporary mystery about female friendship and motherhood.

Review: This is a fantastic book. It is fast-paced and  incredibly engrossing. It revolves around three women who become friends while their children are all attending the same kindergarten class. Readers know from the beginning that, by the end of the school year, someone is going to die in a tragic incident at the school trivia night. The book is peppered with snippets of interviews from parents and faculty at the school event. While this may initially just seem like a gimmick, it is actually a really effective device that not only adds humor to the narrative but also adds depth to minor characters and propels the mystery forward as readers continue to wonder who will die – will it be one of the mothers, the teacher, a spouse, or someone completely unexpected?

My favorite character, by far, is Madeline, a divorcee who is trying to come to terms with the difficulties that surround co-parenting. Her attempts to manage her turbulent relationships with her daughter and ex-husband were really emotionally moving as well as really funny. She was both likable and believable.

I don’t want to give away too much of the mystery as I don’t want to be responsible for spoiling anything, but I would like to give one warning. This book does touch on the issue of domestic violence. It is not overly graphic, but certain scenes have the potential to trigger someone who is prone to being triggered regarding this subject matter. It is handled well, is not gratuitous, and it does serve a clear purpose in the book, but I just wanted to put this warning out there just in case.

Final Thoughts: I think that this is an incredible book by an author who is continuously improving. Her last three books were really incredible, and I’m so excited that she has another one coming out in 2016! This book has a really wide appeal, and I think that lovers of mysteries, contemporary fiction, and women’s fiction will all really appreciate this book. Also, I hope that any male readers are not turned off by the themes of motherhood and female friendship. I think that the depictions of human interactions and relationships in general should appeal to all readers, and I think that all genders will find the book engaging.