nicole_bookmarked's reviews
1022 reviews

Set in the town of Beauchamp (which could easily be any small hockey-crazed town in North America), "What's Not Mine" brings to life the gritty realities of living in a place where the beauty of nature collides with the harshness of life. Think caterpillar threads and mosquitoes in summer, bears rummaging through dumpsters, and seasons defined by either too much cold or too much heat.

The story centers around 16-year-old Bria Powers, whose existence is entangled with the complexities of family - an aunt struggling to hold things together, cousins who look up to her, a boyfriend who's way too old for her, a mother lost to addiction, and a father who deals drugs.

Decter doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of drug abuse in small towns – from fake Percs to Oxys cut with fentanyl, painting a picture of a community grappling with loss and addiction. The narrative doesn't dwell on the darkness; it's also about resilience and finding hope in a family that is both broken and bonded by adversity. 

 

 I recently dove into "Butter" by Asako Yuzuki, giving it a solid 4 stars. Right off the bat, this book feeds right into the current craze for foodie literature, and let me tell you, it does not disappoint. Every dish mentioned, from tarako pasta to kamo seiro, had me hitting up Google and daydreaming about a culinary adventure in Japan. Yuzuki has a knack for making even the simplest rice with soy sauce and butter seem like a gourmet experience.

At the heart of the story is Kajii, a convicted serial killer with a taste for older men and a high-life that ends in their mysterious deaths. Her comparison to Holly Golightly is intriguing, though her traditional views on women's roles are bound to raise some eyebrows. Enter Rika, a journalist who spends a year visiting Kajii in the Detention Center, crafting an expose that ultimately transforms her life. Watching Rika's journey and evolution throughout the novel was a highlight for me.

However, it's worth mentioning that the story does drag a bit towards the end. A little tightening could have kept the pacing more consistent. Overall, "Butter" is a deliciously intriguing read that blends food, crime, and personal growth in a way that's both engaging and thought-provoking. If you're a food lover with a taste for complex characters and twisty plots, this book might just be your next favorite read. 

My first Stuart Turton read was "The Last Murder at the End of the World" and it definitely won't be my last. The book is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the last humans escape to a Greek island to avoid a deadly fog filled with killer insects. But when someone is murdered, they have to solve it before the fog gets them.

The story is different and complicated, maybe a bit too much at times. I liked the plot but didn’t feel connected enough to the characters or their fate. However, the ending was exciting and made me keep turning the pages. I think a lot of people will enjoy this book even though it wasn’t a favorite for me. 

I wanted to love this one, I really did. It started strong and then I started losing interest. Reminiscent of Sally Rooney's work.