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Akash

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38

22

2 years ago

Rating: 3/5

"Nightcrawling" by Leila Motley is being praised for its rawness and emotional depth, but from my point of view—call it cynical, call it realistic—it feels like yet another case of trauma-porn dressed up as literary activism. It’s a tragic story about a 17-year-old Black girl named Kiara trying to survive in Oakland, and while Motley's writing undeniably pulls the heartstrings, at times it feels manipulative, as if squeezing every drop of tragedy possible to grab attention.

The book thrives on systemic issues: poverty, sexual exploitation, and police corruption. Admirable themes, sure, but the narrative often feels too determined to be important. It’s like it’s screaming, “Look how broken the world is!” while ignoring that not every reader wants to be submerged in such unrelenting bleakness. It lacks moments of hope or humor, making the emotional weight sometimes feel oppressive rather than impactful.

Sure, Motley was just 17 when she wrote it, and that’s impressive—no question. But at times, her youth is palpable in the way the story struggles with subtlety. Every blow lands hard, but not always with the kind of nuance you might expect from a more seasoned author. It’s not that the book is bad—it just tries so hard to matter that it occasionally trips over itself.

So yeah, while it’s an ambitious debut, "Nightcrawling" feels like it's more interested in shouting about injustice than in offering a new way to think about it.

#nightcrawling #bookreview #bookreviewer #bestbooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations by @would_u_readit

7

0

2 years ago

Review of "Time is a Mother" by Ocean Vuong

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Ah, Time is a Mother—the poetry collection that reads like someone’s emotionally vulnerable Tumblr post got a publishing deal. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for raw honesty and personal grief, but at times, Vuong’s writing feels like it's trying too hard to be profound, almost like he’s saying, "Look how delicate and shattered I am."

The poems are swimming in imagery, sure, but the metaphors can feel repetitive—there's only so many times you can rearrange pain into some pretty constellation before it just looks like the same sky. It’s like he’s pulling words out of a hat, hoping if they land close enough to each other, meaning will emerge. But instead, I found myself thinking, Okay, but what else do you have to say?

What bothered me the most is that it often reads like the kind of poetry that expects the reader to fill in the gaps with their own emotions. There’s a difference between writing that makes you feel something and writing that expects you to bring the feelings to the table. With Vuong, it sometimes feels like he’s offloading his sorrow and hoping the readers will do the hard work of making sense of it.

That said, there are moments when Vuong’s language is arresting—like finding a sharp diamond in a pile of gravel. But those moments are fleeting, scattered between lines that either float too far into abstraction or stay stuck in sentimentality. It’s the kind of collection you finish and think, That was beautiful, I guess, but a week later, you struggle to remember a single poem.

In the end, Time is a Mother feels more like a therapy session than a poetry collection—necessary for the writer, but not always satisfying for the reader.
#timeisamother
#bookreview #bookreviewer #bestbooksever #booksrecommendation #poetryislife #booklovers #bookstagrammer by @would_u_readit

6

0

2 years ago

Rating: 3/5

Sea of Tranquility... yeah, it’s an ambitious book, I’ll give it that. But for all the time-hopping, parallel-world stuff, it somehow left me feeling more restless than tranquil. Emily St. John Mandel throws in pandemics, simulations, and existential dread, which could have been intriguing if it didn’t feel like it was trying so hard to be profound.

The prose is nice—I'll admit, there are moments of beauty. But it’s like ordering a calming tea and realizing someone spiked it with Red Bull. There’s too much going on: multiple timelines, characters across centuries, and a hint that everything might just be... a glitch? I mean, come on. I came here hoping for some peace and introspection, and instead, it’s an anxiety-inducing meditation on the nature of reality.

It's not a bad book—just not the deep, soothing experience I was hoping for. It feels like the literary equivalent of a friend who drags you into philosophical debates when you just wanted to sit in silence and sip your coffee. Mandel fans will love it, I guess. Me? I wanted to feel the tranquility, not question if it’s real.

#seaoftranquility #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookstagram #bestbooks #bookstoread #bookrecommendations by @would_u_readit

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1

2 years ago

Rating: 2/5

All This Could Be Different tries to be edgy and reflective, but honestly, it feels more like a collection of disconnected Instagram captions stretched into a novel. Sarah Thankam Mathews attempts to tackle themes like love, identity, queerness, and immigrant struggles, but it reads like a checklist of millennial struggles rather than a cohesive story.

The protagonist is supposed to be deep, navigating adulthood and relationships, but she just comes off as confused and kind of... whiny? Like, okay, life is hard, we get it. There's this forced melancholy vibe throughout, and at times, it feels like the narrative is going out of its way to remind you how tough and profound it all is, instead of just showing it organically.

Also, there are so many moments where the pacing drags, and you find yourself wondering, "What exactly am I supposed to care about here?" Sure, it tries to be poetic, but a lot of it feels like navel-gazing without any real insight.

I wanted to root for this book—I really did. But by the end, it left me feeling more frustrated than enlightened. Maybe it will resonate with people who enjoy novels where plot takes a backseat to mood, but for me, it felt like too much style with not enough substance.

#allthiscouldbedifferent #bookreview #bookreviewersofinstagram #bestbooks #booksreccomendations #heartfeltbooks by @would_u_readit

13

0

2 years ago

Rating: 2.5/5

Strangers to Ourselves by Rachel Aviv feels like it’s trying too hard to be profound, but ends up more like a collection of half-baked philosophical musings. The book dives into the complex world of mental illness, but somehow, despite all the deep topics, it still manages to feel... shallow? It’s like Aviv’s trying to give us this grand insight into how we relate to our own minds, but instead, you’re left with more questions than answers—and not in a good way.

I went into it thinking it would offer some revelation about the self, but it often feels like it’s just parading around its case studies without really saying anything new. Sure, there are moments when Aviv connects dots between personal identity and mental illness, but then she moves on before any real exploration. The writing itself? Polished, but almost too polished, like it’s more concerned with looking smart than being genuine.

Honestly, I expected more from a book like this. It’s all high concept, but low on actual impact. Maybe I’m just not the target audience, but if you’re looking for real depth in a book about mental health, you might want to look elsewhere.
#strangerstoourselves
#bookreview
#bookstagram #bookreviewer #bookstagram #bestbooks #bookrecommendations by @would_u_readit

9

2

2 years ago

Review of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Rating: 3/5

Okay, so Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow has been getting a lot of buzz, and I’m here to say—eh, it’s fine? I know people are calling it this big literary masterpiece about friendship, creativity, and video games, but for me, it’s like one of those games with a beautiful world and clunky gameplay. You want to love it, but something keeps you from fully buying in.

First off, the concept is cool—two childhood friends, Sadie and Sam, reconnect and start making video games together. Great setup. But here’s the thing: the characters. I couldn’t get invested. Sadie is supposed to be this brilliant, misunderstood game designer, but she just feels cold and detached, while Sam is... well, Sam’s a guy with a chip on his shoulder the size of a motherboard. These characters have so much stuff happening in their lives, but their emotional depth? Kind of flat, like NPC dialogue.

Also, the nostalgia for video game culture is fun at first, but Zevin keeps hammering you over the head with references. If you’re not into games, you might feel like you’re being left out of some inside joke. And if you are into games, it’s like, okay, we get it—video games are art. Can we move on to something else now?

Then there’s the pacing. The story meanders. It takes so long to get anywhere meaningful that by the time we get to the emotional payoff (which is, admittedly, pretty good), I was too checked out to care much. The friendship dynamic between Sam and Sadie is at the heart of the book, but their conflicts felt contrived at times, like Zevin was just pulling strings to create drama rather than letting it unfold naturally.

To be fair, the writing itself is solid. Zevin knows how to turn a phrase, and there are moments of beauty in the book. But overall, I was left feeling like Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow wanted to be a profound meditation on art and relationships, but ended up feeling like a well-rendered game with bugs they didn’t quite manage to fix before launch.
For those into indie games and a slow burn on friendship drama, this might be your thing. For me, it felt like a long grind😅 by @would_u_readit

17

2

2 years ago

Review of Constructing a Nervous System by Margo Jefferson
Rating: 2/5

Let me start by saying, Constructing a Nervous System is definitely not what I expected. When I picked up Margo Jefferson’s memoir, I thought I’d get some deep, engaging insight into personal growth, maybe something relatable for a young person trying to figure life out. Instead, I got a disjointed collage of cultural references, literary name-dropping, and self-conscious intellectualizing that felt more like a seminar paper than a memoir.

Jefferson weaves in her experiences as a Black woman with reflections on everything from ballet to jazz to literature, which sounds cool in theory, but it just never really comes together. The whole book reads like she’s trying to construct her nervous system out of a patchwork of elite cultural touchstones that half the readers probably won’t care about or even know. If I wanted to read something that makes me feel like I’m not cultured enough, I would’ve just picked up Proust.

And then there’s the tone. Jefferson has this way of writing that’s meant to sound introspective and poetic, but it often comes across as self-indulgent and overly academic. She’s so busy impressing us with how much she knows about high art and culture that she loses sight of, you know, actually telling her story in a way that connects emotionally. It’s like reading the thoughts of someone who's both trying to be vulnerable and hold you at arm’s length at the same time.

Look, I get it—identity is complicated, and sure, the mix of race, gender, and class plays into that. But for a book that’s supposed to be about constructing a nervous system, this one feels more like it’s been deconstructed into a million intellectual fragments. I kept waiting for it to hit some kind of stride, but it just kind of meanders in its own world, leaving me more detached than invested.

If you’re into literary memoirs that force you to work to make sense of what’s happening and appreciate constant cultural analysis, maybe this is for you. But for me? Constructing a Nervous System feels like an exercise in overthinking—one that made me more nervous about wasting my time than anything else. by @would_u_readit

17

0

2 years ago

Review of Trust by Hernan Diaz

As someone who’s spent a good chunk of my life obsessing over finance books, I picked up Trust by Hernan Diaz hoping for a sharp, insider's tale of wealth, power, and financial gamesmanship. Instead, I got what felt like a pretentious, half-baked literary exercise that only occasionally remembers it’s supposed to be about finance.

The novel plays with the idea of truth and narrative, bouncing between different perspectives of a wealthy magnate and his wife in early 20th-century New York. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, not really. What we end up with are long, self-indulgent stretches of vague, philosophical musing that seem more concerned with showing off how "meta" the storytelling is, rather than actually digging into the nuts and bolts of wealth-building.

When the book finally gets around to finance, it tiptoes through the subject like it's afraid to get its hands dirty. Diaz’s writing treats finance like some abstract concept, skimming over the complexities of markets, investments, and strategies that any real finance lover would crave. If you're expecting Liar's Poker or Barbarians at the Gate levels of insight into the world of high finance, prepare to be disappointed. Diaz offers more smoke and mirrors than actual substance.
Even the characters are underwhelming. Andrew Bevel, the central finance tycoon, is more of a caricature than a fully realized figure. He’s just another "rich guy with problems" trope, but stripped of the ruthlessness, sharpness, or even charisma that makes finance titans fascinating. We’re supposed to care about his legacy and his relationship with his wife, but honestly, they both come off as distant, hollow figures drowning in literary ambition.

In short, Trust feels like it was written for people who want to think they're reading a finance book without actually having to deal with the gritty, complicated realities of the field. It’s the kind of novel that probably makes literature professors swoon but leaves finance lovers like me rolling their eyes. Diaz clearly has talent, but if you're looking for a book that dives deep into the world of finance, you'd be better off sticking to Michael Lewis. by @would_u_readit

14

0

2 years ago

Review of Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

Alright, I’ll admit it. Fiona and Jane caught me off guard. I thought it was going to be another mopey, overly poetic deep dive into friendships that die the minute someone gets a new job or a boyfriend. But somehow, Jean Chen Ho actually made me care about these two women. Yeah, I was surprised, too.

Fiona and Jane are messy, inconsistent, and, let’s be honest, kind of self-absorbed—like most people I know, myself included. The way their friendship weaves in and out of their lives felt almost uncomfortably real. The drama is less big moments and more like small, quiet disappointments and realizations that make you nod because, yep, that’s just life.

There’s this rawness to it that creeps up on you, making you feel all sorts of things without hitting you over the head with flowery nonsense. And while I usually roll my eyes at stories about "adult friendships," this one made me sit back and wonder about the friends I’ve lost touch with, how we evolve, and, more importantly, how we screw up.

Don’t get me wrong, some parts drag and the whole "immigrant experience" thing gets laid on a bit thick, but even a cynical heart like mine couldn’t hate it. It’s honest, and unexpectedly, I kinda liked it.

Rating: 4 out of 5. Better than I expected, but don’t tell anyone I said that.

#fionaandjane
#bookreview
#bookreviewer #bestbooks #bookstagrammer #bookreccomendations #hearttouching💖 #bookstoread by @would_u_readit

21

4

2 years ago

Review of The Candy House by Jennifer Egan

Alright, so The Candy House... it's like Jennifer Egan threw a Black Mirror episode, social media addiction, and existential crises into a blender, hit "purée," and called it a novel. The concept? Sure, it’s ambitious—uploading memories for the whole world to access. Cool. But halfway through, you start wondering if you're reading a profound piece of literature or just slogging through a Silicon Valley fever dream.

The book jumps between so many perspectives, you might feel like you’re in a mental ping-pong match. It’s clever—too clever, really, in that "I’m smarter than you, and here’s why" kind of way. The characters are all connected, but they’re mostly just tech zombies philosophizing about their lack of privacy and identity in this hyperconnected future. Spoiler: it's exactly the kind of future we dread, but don’t really care enough to do anything about.

If you're looking for something that screams, "I get the internet and its soul-sucking consequences," this is for you. If you want to feel anything for the characters? Good luck. It’s detached, like Egan's daring you to care but secretly hoping you won't.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5. Not quite a glitch in the system, but close.

#thecandyhouse #bookreview #bookreviewer #bestbooks #bookrecommendations #scifibooks #bookstagram #trendingbooks by @would_u_readit

14

2

2 years ago

Review of Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

Heaven and Earth Grocery Store feels like one of those books that’s trying really hard to be profound and heartwarming, but ends up being a bit too "on-the-nose" for my taste. It’s set in a 1970s Pennsylvania neighborhood, where all the characters are supposed to represent some deep, societal metaphor, but instead, they feel like overly constructed symbols.

The plot revolves around a mix of community tensions, civil rights, and an old murder case, but it’s delivered in such a preachy, moral-heavy way that it ends up draining any emotional impact. You can tell McBride wants to give us this big message about race and humanity, but it often feels forced, like it’s trying to teach us something rather than just telling a story.

And the characters? They’re either saints or villains. Everyone’s either pure-hearted and good or they’re the embodiment of evil, with very little in between. Real life is full of gray areas, but here, it’s all black and white, which makes everything feel oversimplified and kind of predictable.

By the end, you might feel like you’ve just read a fable, but not one that will stick with you for long. The book wants to be deep, but it’s just too neat and tidy to really leave a mark.

Rating: 3/5 Predictable Parables

#heavenandearthgrocerystore #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #bestbooks #bookstagram #bookstoread #viralpost by @would_u_readit

19

4

2 years ago