Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut

Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut
⭐⭐⭐

In Player Piano, Kurt Vonnegut imagines a society that is completely controlled by machines, and the average man seems to have lost his place and sense of purpose in the world. After several devastating wars take place, the need for Army recruits and devoted soldiers becomes terrifyingly dire. To satiate this necessity, two Industrial Revolutions take place, where machines are developed to replace humans in almost every way. Society becomes broken into a hierarchy of two classes, the elite and the lower class. Due to the lack of jobs, the lower class (who are uneducated, unskilled, poor, and belonging to average families) are forced to choose one of two careers: become a Reeks and Wrecks worker (basically a repairman/garbageman/mechanic) or join the Army. Our main character Paul is the son of one of the founding engineers of this new society, but he doesn't feel satisfied following in his father's footsteps. Player Piano is Vonnegut's attempt to describe a civilian uprising and whether or not it would be successful. 

Player Piano is Vonnegut's first book, and being fully transparent, he is one of my favorite authors so I knew I would enjoy this story. What I didn't expect was how progressive some of the ideologies Vonnegut highlights throughout the book would be. This is a story about capitalism, humanism, class war, rebellion, privilege, and how the democracy our country is built on is not quite the democracy that we are being sold. There are a lot of examples of these themes, but I am specifically impressed with how Vonnegut dealt with the ideas of needing to dismantle a society/government in order to build a new one, and false saviorism. Actually - one of my favorite parts of this story is that Paul decides that he is the Messiah that the lower class is needing, and so essentially, he is moving from a position of power to ANOTHER position of power (which directly sheds light on the regularity of nefarious intentions, even if someone's heart is in the right place). 

I rated this three stars only because you can tell it's his first book! There were some moments that could have been edited out. You can tell that Vonnegut wanted to include every idea and criticism he had and at times, the story kind of jumped all over the place. I also wasn't a fan of the ending. I felt that it kind of defeated the purpose of the whole book, but you would have to judge for yourself! I also would have enjoyed a more thorough ending, something that we could have experienced just as we experienced the rest of the novel, but unfortunately, we only see the results of what takes place, not the actual events. 

All in all, this is classic Vonnegut! He's funny, witty, and his politics are mostly always on point. I enjoyed Player Piano a lot - it just wasn't my favorite book of his that I've read. I would definitely recommend reading it if you enjoy politics or satire or are looking for an introduction to more classic literature. Kurt Vonnegut writes Science Fiction like no other! 

No Heaven for Good Boys by Keisha Bush

No Heaven for Good Boys
by Keisha Bush
⭐⭐⭐

Set in Senegal, No Heaven for Good Boys sheds light on the disturbing cruelty and abuse that young boys, known as the Talibe, must suffer and endure. The Talibe are young boys taken in by respected Marabouts, or holy men, whose purpose is to teach the newer generations the beliefs of the Koran. Marabouts are not always kind, righteous people, however, and many Talibe end up starved, abused, m*lested, and sometimes even k*lled. The Talibe are forced to roam the streets, begging for money from civilians for their supposedly holy masters. 

In No Heaven for Good Boys, we follow six-year-old Ibrahimah who, after being accidentally left by his family on a beach, is rescued by a man named Marabout Ahmed and is forcefully taken from his parents in order to pay back the debt that his saving has cost. Ibrahimah and his cousin Etienne fight for their lives daily in the city of Dakar, begging for money, food, and gifts for their Marabout, in a desperate hope of avoiding his merciless beatings. 

Truthfully, this is one of the more disturbing books I've ever read. The perspective shifts from time to time, but we mostly experience life through the eyes of six-year-old Ibrahimah. To see such abuse and cruelty through a child's eyes is really heartbreaking. I understood the author's intentions behind using Ibrahimah's age, especially because this story is a nightmare come true for so many boys. Ibrahimah's is a real story, one that many young boys suffer through. I am very impressed with Keisha Bush's ability to write something this cruel and actually have the ability to finish it.

Despite how important it is to shed light on this issue, I only rated this three stars because of the ending. I know that, when portraying real life issues, in an effort to emphasize the severity of the problem, authors will write ambiguous endings to avoid a "happy ending." Typically, I enjoy vague endings, but there are some stories I believe NEED hope, this narrative being one of them, and unfortunately, for me, there was simply no hope in this book. After witnessing all of Ibrahimah's suffering, I really wanted to witness his liberation as well.

Overall, this book is addressing a very real and serious issue that more people should be made aware of. As a story, however, it was very disturbing and triggered a feeling of perpetual suffering. So, with that said, if this story interests you, please be aware of the content warnings because there are definitely many of them!

- trigger warnings - child cruelty, child ab*se, death, p*dophilia, m*lestation, r*pe, s*xual assault

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

The Bullet that Missed
by Richard Osman
⭐⭐⭐

The Bullet that Missed is the third installment in the Thursday Murder Club series! As usual, the gang works together to solve a famous murder case. This time, the murder belongs to news anchor Bethany Waites, whose car was pushed off the edge of a cliff… without her body. While the crew works hard to find Bethany’s killer, Elizabeth’s murky past starts to catch up with her. 

The Man Who Died Twice was such a great sequel, so I was really excited to read this book! Unfortunately, it wasn’t as strong, in my opinion. Of all three books, this one felt very rushed, like Richard Osman was getting close to his deadline. The humor wasn’t as frequent or strong, Elizabeth wasn’t really at the top of her game, and there, quite frankly, just wasn’t enough Joyce. Also, the mystery of this book wasn’t spectacular and the villain of the story was predictable to me. 

With that said, however, I loved the new characters that were introduced to us in this book! Each one is totally unique and adds a new perspective to our group of elderly crime fighters. And honestly, despite my criticisms, I still enjoyed revisiting these characters and liked the story decently enough. 

I saw that book four is already in the works, which is great, but also worrisome. It’s when publishers put pressure on authors to write an annual bestseller that we enter the territory of lower quality storylines and rushed endings. I really hope the next book is stronger than this one. Still, though, it was an enjoyable story!

Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers

Man Made Monsters
by Andrea L. Rogers
⭐⭐⭐

Man Made Monsters is a really unique short horror story collection. It follows multiple generations belonging to one Cherokee family, beginning in the 1800s and continuing into our present time and future.  Each story contains its own horror element - from vampires, to aliens, to zombies - as well as discussing real life horrors, like colonialism, school shootings, and domestic violence. 

I really wanted to love this collection more than I did. That's not to say I didn't like it, because honestly, I liked most of the stories! I found the thread of family, love, and culture at the heart of this collection really powerful, and each story was one of a kind whilst still loosely connecting to the tales that came before and after. My main criticism is that, though entertaining and thought provoking, the stories themselves were very short. For me personally, I couldn't connect emotionally with many of the characters because we only spend tiny windows of time with them. I would've enjoyed more characterization with fully fleshed out thoughts and feelings - I just felt like many of the characters lacked the kind of emotional depth that I really adore.

I was also excited by the Cherokee/Native element of these stories - I had hoped for some Native folklore and/or mythology, but most of the horror in this collection is more along the lines of classic. With that said, however, I really liked the twists that Andrea L. Rogers' put on the stories we know so well. Also, politically speaking, Man Made Monsters hit the nail on the head and did an astounding job showcasing how normalized things like cultural destruction, child abuse, and sexual abuse has become in our world.

I also loved how many strong females are in this collection, as well as how connected the beginning story and the final story is. Overall, I liked Man Made Monsters and would recommend it to anyone who likes horror but who might also like delving into topics such as generational trauma and racial politics. I wanted a bit more from these stories, but I still really enjoyed reading them!

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

-Trigger Warnings- sexual assault, incest, infanticide 

Mexican Gothic by 
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
⭐⭐⭐

In Mexican Gothic, we first meet our socialite main character Noemi when her father receives letters in the mail from her cousin, claiming that her new husband is poisoning her, and she needs help. Noemi is sent to the estate of which her cousin's new family owns, determined to get to the truth of the situation. Noemi's journey leads her to unveil something much more sinister than she ever could have imagined upon her arrival at the estate.

My opinion might be on the more unpopular side because so many people just absolutely loved this book! It just didn't do it for me, honestly. I loved Noemi and how strong of a female lead she is, as well as her determination throughout the story, but all the characters seemed so one dimensional. They all felt more like a means to an end than real characters who have roles in the narrative.  The pacing of the book was a little off to me as well. It starts rather slowly and then by the middle of the story, everything is revealed to you. And the ending - it was rushed and fell very flat for me. 

The actual story that is at the heart of this book is super unique and creepy, but it just wasn't enough to carry the rest of the book, in my opinion. I gave Mexican Gothic three stars because I genuinely like how twisted Silvia Moreno-Garcia's mind is, and I'm very interested in reading her other works. Overall, Mexican Gothic was neither terrible nor amazing, it was honestly just decent. I wish it had left more of a mark but sometimes books just don't work for me! I definitely don't regret reading it though, so that's a good thing! 

 

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

 *TRIGGER WARNINGS* alcoholism, addiction, domestic violence, themes of death

The House Across the Lake
by Riley Sager
⭐⭐⭐

Casey is a recently widowed actress with a heavy reliance on alcohol. When her alcoholism becomes front page news, Casey's mother sends her to the family lake house to break her habit, which also happens to be the very lake her husband drowned in. One day, Casey rescues her new neighbor - gorgeous supermodel Katherine - from drowning. Casey and Katherine become fast friends, and as Casey's alcoholism and loneliness worsens, she takes to watching the house across the lake, in which Katherine lives with her husband, Tom. One night, Casey witnesses the couple have a fight and the next day, Katherine is missing. Thus begins Casey's twisted journey to finding her missing friend.

The House Across the Lake was a really fun thriller! I enjoyed it for what it was, and Casey's sense of humor was killer! I loved the idea of women protecting one another and Casey's devotion to finding out the truth behind Katherine's disappearance. The setting of the lake was really fun and eerie, and I was a big fan of the twist and the ending!

I rated this book 3 stars because, despite really enjoying it, the portrayal of Casey's alcoholism was kind of lighthearted and unserious. Riley Sager isn't the most character driven of authors, which is fine, but I would've appreciated a darker, more realistic approach to addiction. I also am never a fan of male authors having their female leads give a feminist monologue - it just doesn't sit very well with me. 

Overall, The House Across the Lake was a fun thriller perfect for this time of year! The twist and ending really worked for me as well. If you're looking for a twisted thriller, I definitely recommend this one!

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling

The Death of Jane Lawrence
by Caitlin Starling
⭐⭐⭐

Jane Shoringfield is a strong, intelligent, business-minded woman who decides that the most reliable path forward in her life would be to choose a likeminded man to marry out of convenience. Enter Augustine Lawrence - a dashing, yet reclusive doctor who just so happens to meet every one of Jane's requirements. Very quickly, both Jane and Augustine discover a true romance igniting between them. They get married under one condition - Jane must never set foot in Augustine's family estate, Lindridge Hall. As fate would have it, Jane befalls a carriage accident and has no choice but to go to Lindridge Hall for help. Upon arriving, Jane finds her husband a paranoid shell of the man she knows. Jane makes it her mission to unveil what exactly is haunting Augustine in Lindridge Hall. 

The Death of Jane Lawrence is an amazing example of Gothic Horror. From the very beginning, I was sucked into this story and found myself falling in love with the love shared between Jane and Augustine. There were a few parts of the story that were repetitive and/or slow, but the suspense more than made up for it. I wasn't the biggest fan of the ending, but it was an unpredictable twist and I really appreciated that!

I thought the Gothic setting and mixture of magic, spirits, and mystery made this a fun horror story perfect for this time of year! I also thought that Jane was an awesome main character! Determined, strong willed, intelligent, and stubborn, Jane is a force to be reckoned with! Overall, I gave this book 3 stars! I definitely enjoyed it, and it's a very interesting ghost story! 

My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

 *Trigger Warnings* rape, abortion, molestation, sexual assault, themes of death, gore

My Heart Is a Chainsaw
by Stephen Graham Jones
⭐⭐⭐

In this story, we meet Jade - a slasher-obsessed 17 year old who is almost positive that a real-life slasher has come to her small hometown. She's an outcast though, the black sheep of the town, and everyone is pretty sure she's just delusional (or a little crazy). The moral of the story? Always listen to teenage girls. My Heart Is a Chainsaw is one of the most unique books I've read this year!

First and foremost, this book defies all genres. It's a mixture of horror, slasher, and thriller all while simultaneously being a revenge AND a "coming of age" story. I found my feelings about this book constantly changing! At multiple points in this story, I had to stop and reevaluate my opinions - originally, I thought Jade was a terrible main character. I thought she was immature and that there was no way I could read an entire book with her... but I did! And I'm glad I did! Jade's character development was so worth it!

Stephen Graham Jones commented on a lot of social issues in this book - racism, misogyny, sexual assault, capitalism, colonialism, small town America, gentrification - and he did so with such ease that it blew my mind! The gore aspect of this story is also really fun, although one of my criticisms is that the slicin' and dicin' takes a very long time to begin! 

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I was going to! I liked the character development, the gore, the political awareness, and the twist at the end! I wish the story was a bit more fun though, but I can totally see why so many people love this book! I'm very eager to see what the sequel will be like! I definitely recommend My Heart Is a Chainsaw if you enjoy thrillers/slashers!

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
⭐⭐⭐

Maggie Holt doesn't remember what caused her family to run away from their newly purchased manor when she was a little kid, but the book her father wrote about their paranormal experiences there has certainly haunted her for the last 25 years. Home Before Dark introduces us to Maggie right after her father dies and she inherits the very house that has practically ruined her life. As she enters Baneberry Hall to renovate and resell it, Maggie attempts to uncover the truth behind her family's departure all those years ago - because she's pretty sure her dad was lying about the ghosts... right?

So many people enjoyed this book, and I can totally see why! Baneberry Hall is practically a time capsule (or tomb) and the spooky/ghosty vibes are strong in this one! I loved the atmosphere of the story and the house itself was beautifully built by Riley Sager. I also really enjoyed following Maggie as she retraces her past and tries to connect the dots and dredge up memories that are better left forgotten.

There were a few things that detracted from the story, however. Firstly, the story takes a while to begin. Nothing really starts popping off until the halfway point, which isn't necessarily a negative thing, but the ending is so suspenseful, and I wish the beginning had been that way as well. The twist(s) at the end was great, though a tiny bit predictable. Riley Sager is a pro at the "double twist" endings though! Maggie's character development was very well done, though the one dimensionality of the supporting characters left a lot to be desired. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a lot! Riley Sager puts together amazing thrillers and this book is perfect for Fall/Halloween season! I definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a fun, creepy story to jump into!

Devil House by John Darnielle

Devil House by John Darnielle
⭐⭐⭐

Devil House follows the story of Gage Chandler, a True Crime author investigating and writing a novel about a double homicide at (what later becomes known as) the Devil House. As he begins his investigation, he uncovers deeper layers hidden beneath the local rumors surrounding this murder case, and the truth leaves him feeling untethered and unsure of himself.

This book has really divided its readers - people have either loved it or hated it! I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. The story is interesting and generally, the book has a lot to say about true crime, not only as a genre, but also as a source of entertainment. I loved what this book stood for and the points it was trying to get across. 

Despite enjoying the discussion on sensationalism and true crime though, I definitely have criticisms - one of which is that for 70% of the book, I was so bored. A couple of times I even reconsidered my decision to read it, but clearly, as you can see from my rating, I stuck with it until the very end. It is extremely slow and there is barely any suspense in the story. This book is also so disorganized, and it took away from my overall enjoyment of the narrative. Devil House isn't terrible, because the meaning behind it is very important, but this book is not pleasurable to read. 

Our narrator is constantly trying to meld the present day with the past, which can make the story a little murky at times, especially as you get deeper into it. There is also an entire section of the book that makes little to no sense. It totally removes you from the story and the reason for including it is still unknown to me. 

With that said, however, at a certain point, the meaning of the story is revealed to us, and it was at this point that I realized the entire narrative had been leading to a deeper conversation about sensationalism within the genre of True Crime. By no stretch of the imagination could this be considered horror, though. The story is a ghost story of sorts, as it tells the story of victims being haunted by their trauma, as well as the world's need to retell it.

Overall, I gave this book 3 stars because it served as a great analysis of sensationalism and how society feeds off of blood and tragedy for entertainment. It's definitely not a must-read, though it was very thought provoking!

Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand

Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand
⭐⭐⭐

This was one heck of a book. Set in the early 1900s, this narrative stars Pin - a fifteen year old girl who lives in an amusement park and disguises herself as a boy. When young girls begin to go missing and start to turn up murdered, Pin enlists the help of Henry Darger, one of the earliest and most famous outsider artists, to help solve these dastardly crimes and find the killer. 

Curious Toys highlighted so many political issues in our world. Elizabeth Hand comments on capitalism, homophobia, misogony, racism, pedophilia, abusal of power, body dysmorphia, ableism, and even sexual assault - and she does it all with such grace and finesse. It was such a treat to see how the author effortlessly implemented these themes throughout the story.

I gave this book 3 stars but it's honestly one of my favorite books I've read this year. There are only two things that I can criticize, the first being the rushed ending. The whole story is perfectly paced, but as we near the ending, the climax and resolution feel as though they were thrown together quickly. Also, the final pages, which take place after the killer is revealed, are really disappointing and unsatisfying. In addition to that, the killer's identity was very predictable. It was so obvious that I mistakenly thought it was supposed to be a redherring!

The story of Curious Toys was so magical, and it's such a bummer that the ending was so frustrating. This is such a special story though and it's a great example of historical fiction done right!

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

The Chain by Adrian McKinty
⭐⭐⭐

The Chain by Adrian McKinty hooked me in from the very beginning. With a premise full of potential, this was a thriller that I was really looking forward to! 

On what should be a perfectly normal weekday, Rachel Klein's daughter Kylie doesn't make it to school. As Rachel is on her way to a potentially devastating doctor's appointment with her Oncologist, she receives an anonymous phone call. Kylie has been kidnapped and unless Rachel abducts another child, both she and her daughter will be killed - Rachel has no choice but to continue The Chain. 

This story had so much potential, however, I can only give it three stars. I was totally invested in the story for the first part of the book. I resonated with Rachel's devotion to her child and her willingness to do whatever it takes to secure her safety. It felt real and like this could possibly take place in our society today, but as the second part of this story begins, the plot becomes nonsensical and unrealistic, sometimes bordering on predictable as well. It starts with a bang and maintains that intensity for the entirety of the novel though, which is definitely a plus in my opinion. 

I liked The Chain just fine, but the ending disappointed me very much. It felt like two different stories that were stapled together. If this premise interests you, I see nothing wrong with picking this book up, but don't get your hopes up - this one won't be the "Next Best Thriller," but it was enjoyable nonetheless! 

Billy Summers by Stephen King

Billy Summers
by Stephen King
⭐⭐⭐

Billy Summers left me feeling very conflicted. On one hand, I really enjoyed the story as well as the characters - I found myself genuinely caring for both Billy and Alice. On the other hand, however, I feel as though I may have read a different book than the mass majority of other readers who have thoroughly enjoyed and claimed that Billy Summers is King’s best work in years. 

Let me preface this by saying that I am a massive Stephen King fan, and I personally feel that his best book in years is The Outsider. I highly recommend that one! I have high expectations for King, and this one just fell short. 

Much of what I would like to include as examples in this review would be spoilers, so I am choosing to be incredibly vague intentionally! I feel as though this book was written as a script - like King wrote it with the sole purpose of making a television show or a film in mind. He follows the overwritten and overplayed trope of a hitman giving his last hurrah. Just one more job before he leaves it all behind. What could possibly go wrong?

The character development is well done, as usual. At this point it is well known that this is Stephen King’s most well-honed skill. The amount of research done on the Iraq war, the mafia, and small town America was by far the shining star of the story. Unfortunately, it doesn’t change the ‘badly acted cop TV show on cable television’ vibe I got from the dialogue in the book. 

The dialogue feels inauthentic and even a bit robotic. Often in the story, King utilized dialogue as a tool to replay and remind readers what was said or done previously in the story. It wasn’t horrible, but it definitely caused Billy’s story to feel unrealistic. It brought me out of the story a few times as well. 

As a fan, the little mentions of previous books was thoroughly enjoyed but King could have taken it a little further. I feel like that could’ve really enhanced the story and that it was a missed opportunity on his part. 

Overall, I gave Billy Summers 3 stars (more like 3.5), because it was an enjoyable story. The research was well done, I cared about the characters, and the story was decent enough to want to find out what happens. But this doesn’t feel like a Stephen King novel. Some people find that wonderful, but I feel different about it. It was an okay book.

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Three Dark Crowns
by Kendare Blake
⭐⭐⭐

Three Dark Crowns has an incredibly promising plot. In every generation, a set of triplets are born and it is their destiny to battle it out and end each other’s lives in the hope of claiming the throne. Each of the sisters is born with a power - Queen Katharine is a poisoner, Queen Arsinoe is a naturalist, and Queen Mirabella is an elemental. There’s a lot more to this story but these are the basics. 

Firstly, I’ll begin with what I loved about this story - strong female characters! Every woman in this tale knows who she is and what she wants. They are powerful and brave but still capable of love and compassion. That is a rare combination! 

This is the kind of book where we switch characters with each chapter. I found myself heavily invested in Arsinoe and Katharine’s stories. Their stories contained multitudes - love, friendship, betrayal, and magic - whereas Mirabella’s chapters, though still enjoyable, felt a little lackluster. 

Three Dark Crowns has an extremely large cast. Like… really large. Each Queen has an entire entourage behind them, not to mention suitors, priestesses, family, friends, etc. If you aren’t used to juggling so many characters at once, you may struggle in the beginning. By the middle of the story, however, you’ll probably have a good handle on them. 

I enjoyed this book and will definitely pick up the sequel, however I didn’t rate this story higher for a few reasons. There were twists in this story that I simply just didn’t like! Also, this story is all setup. There are a few moments of tension and suspense but this is entirely a story made of character development. Nothing much happens outside of the Queens’ personal relationships. I wish the last hundred pages were used differently. I would’ve enjoyed more insight into the traditions, such as the Hunt. The ending came very slowly but it also felt rushed. There weren’t many details to really emphasize the meaning of it all. 

Overall, this book was good! I am invested in the characters and the ending was strong enough to hook me in for the sequel! If you like witches and blood traditions, as well as love and friendship, then I would highly suggest picking this book up!

Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare

Clown in a Cornfield 2:
Frendo Lives
by Adam Cesare
⭐⭐⭐

It is the one year anniversary of the Kettle Springs' Massacre and Quinn is finally adjusting to her new life as a trauma survivor. As is customary to most horror sequels, an anniversary is an invitation for all hell to break loose! Frendo lives - and a lot of people die.

This was a pretty successful sequel! I loved catching up with our cast of heroes - Quinn, Rust, Cole, and Quinn's father. Fast paced and a wild ride, I really enjoyed the changes that took place in this story compared to the first book. The new Frendos and their reasons to commit such murderous carnage was unique and creative! 

I definitely have a few criticisms however! The horror and slasher qualities of the first story didn't really exists in this sequel. I feel like the original story had more of a sense of humor about the dramatized gore - it knew exactly the kind of book it was. This time around, it seems like Adam Cesare took a more serious, realistic approach. This isn't a terrible thing, but I definitely missed that in this story. I also wasn't a fan of the character development throughout the story. I felt like some of the decisions made by certain characters didn't feel authentic to those characters. The ending was also rushed and predictable, although it was still enjoyable!

I adored the new characters we meet in Frendo Lives as well! Jerri in particular was one of the best parts of this book in my opinion! Overall, despite the few criticisms I have, I thought this sequel was fun and very politically aware. It was a page turner for sure and I had the best time reading it!

Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera

Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera 
⭐⭐⭐

Neruda on the Park was a heart wrenching novel. The story focuses on the Guerreros and the domino effect that takes place in their community when construction (as well as gentrification) comes knocking on their door. This book mainly follows the experiences and reactions of Luz and her mother, Eusebia. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the truth at the heart of this story. I find that gentrification is a very important topic to discuss within our society because oftentimes, it can be dismissed as a simple fear of change - but it's much bigger than that. I found the conversations in this book about this topic to be extremely effective and powerful! I also loved the generational differences between Luz and her mother, and found their drastically differing opinions intriguing.

I only had two issues with Neruda on the Park - the character development and the ending. I mostly disliked Luz as a character. Many of her decisions/opinions tended to be immature, and though I can understand the role this played in the plot, I found it repetitive and frustrating! As for the ending - it really left me feeling empty, but not in a good way. I can totally resonate with life just sucking sometimes for no good reason. I get that the suffering we go through serves no purpose sometimes. But this particular story really would have benefitted from a more hopeful ending, I think. 

Overall, it wasn't a bad read and I'm glad to have read this one! It was powerful and evocative, and I really enjoyed it despite my few criticisms!