Reading Recap: July '25

 

The Little Friend by Donna Tartt

It's complicated: while the plot didn't pull me in like Tartt's other novels, Harriet is the protagonist I relate to the most. Tartt understands that the terror of childhood comes from a lack of autonomy—this is a horror story. She also does an amazing job of creating a character that's genuinely annoying while making the audience sympathize with her. Harriet sucks and there's no world where she doesn't because all 12-year-old outcasts locked in their childhood home-turned-crypt suck (not that I'm speaking from experience).

    The evolution of Tartt's writing style is strange. The Secret History and the Goldfinch have essentially the same format, with a male protagonist reflecting on his past and telling it to the reader as he sees fit. The Little Friend's narrator is everywhere and nowhere, presumably because Harriet is incapable of knowing everything happening, and that's not a good or bad thing about the book, it just is. I hope Tartt focuses more on female characters in her upcoming novel. There's a sense that she as the narrator looks down on them (or shuns them—Donna when are you transitioning) that makes her male protagonists misogynistic, but her female protagonists multidimensional. Weird women and girls make the world go round./ ★★★★

 

If There Be Thorns by V.C. Andrews

The further I get into the Dollanganger series, the more Andrews' writing style weighs it down. Cathy's character was the main component keeping the first two installments together, and while she's technically a major character in If There Be Thorns, she's not written that way. She seems more fragile, crying whenever Bart lashes out at her and rarely showing the fire she needed to get through her teens/early twentys. 

    Part of this was inevitable—Cathy isn't the narrator, so she can't be the one to save the day. I could've excused this if Bart was well written. As it stands, it took me over half the book to become invested in him and his motivations. My lack of sympathy is especially noticeable after reading The Little Friend and seeing that annoying and mean-spirited children can be compelling. The last 100 pages are enjoyable, but that doesn't make up for the rest of it and lands us at a confused 3 to 3.5 stars. / ★★★

 

The Essence of the Thing by Madeleine St. John

Storygraph Reads the World: Australia / I picked this up on a whim for the Storygraph challenge and I'm not sure why I liked it so much. It flew by, and although I usually prefer to read books over 300 pages, I didn't mind the length. It's more of a snapshot than a fully fleshed out novel, but because it's aware of that, it works. It comforts the reader and shows them that there's always something new waiting around the corner, good or bad, and your friends will do everything they can to help you if you let them.

    Part of my enjoyment was probably to do with how much it felt like a 90s indie movie. Slap in some orange-toned wood, a coffee shop with cups carved into the chair backs, and an Indigo Girls soundalike and I'm already there. / ★★★★

 

Across the Street by Georges Simenon

Storygraph Reads the World: Belgium / To be honest, I chose this book because I was in the mood for a good detective novel and knew that was Simenon's claim to fame. This is not that. It's more similar to The Essence of the Thing, with a short and (not so) sweet look into the psyche of a complicated woman. Simenon surprised me with the depth he portrayed Dominique, and although her characterization has flaws, I felt for her. She gave up her youth to take care of others who are now gone, leaving her with nowhere to start in the rebuilding of her life. There were multiple instances where I felt like she was grappling with a physical attraction to Antoinette—it can be hard to tell if that's me or the author talking. Maybe it's both. The cover art and its warm tones did a great job at setting the tone before you even pick up the book, and it was cozy even if it didn't mean to be. / ★★★½

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This is the last time I will ever read this book. I devoured it twice in middle school, each time staying up until the early hours of the morning with a flashlight under my covers. It meant a lot. Complicated feelings with no real cause seemed to pop up everywhere I went, so for a little while I could project those issues onto Charlie and not feel alone.

    What separated me from the book during this read, and what turned it from a five to a three star read, was that I grew up. I have problems of my own that Charlie can't help me with, and I read different types of books when I want to relate to a poor tortured soul. This kind of feels like turning a page, but in a weird way where I'm leaving behind the sad shell I was at 13, when outside factors weren't really that bad, for an adult world that is infinitely more scary and serious and somehow manageable. I'll keep it on my shelf for that reminder. / ★★★

 

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

In retrospect, it's amazing how closely the movie stuck to the play and the amount of actors that played both roles. Every scene is full of love and it strikes the rare balance between engaging and realistic dialogue. I read the 25th anniversary edition which had an in-depth prop list and scene design diagram, adding to the immersion and how much I cared for the characters. 

    The roles are written for their actors. Reading this just makes me want to watch the movie more and see everyone come to life on the big (small) screen. I'm a sucker for a bittersweet ending, and it was interesting to read the exchange that was cut between Lena and Mrs. Johnson, but I feel like it was the right move to get rid of it. It's inclusion would tip the story too far into "hopeless" territory. I like to think that Lena got her plant to grow. / ★★★★

 

6 books — 2492 pages — avg 3.58 ★