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Quicksilver ★★★½
Quicksilver is long—very long—and often hard to stay focused on. While the historical backdrop is fascinating and some characters are genuinely interesting, the story itself isn’t gripping. Much of the book consists of drawn-out conversations with very diluted action. That said, the prose is fairly plain and the tone surprisingly light, making it easier to follow than expected. If this had been a standalone, I likely would have DNF’d it. But I’m intrigued enough by the broader scope of the series to give the next book a shot.
Childhood’s End: ★★★★½
Childhood’s End is exquisite and has aged remarkably well. The story is both original and deeply thought-provoking, yet told with an impressive lightness of touch. Clarke manages to explore grand, complex ideas without ever feeling heavy-handed. It's a very classy display of narrative control and philosophical depth—a true classic that still feels relevant and engaging today.
A Ladder to the Sky – 4 stars
John Boyne is one of the most talented writers I’ve ever read. His command of language is exceptional, his plots are rich and vivid, and his characters fully formed—definitely a superior breed. That said, A Ladder to the Sky felt a bit too “commercial” at times—overly manipulative and melodramatic, leaning too hard on emotional beats. Still, there are plenty of memorable moments, and the book draws you in. I read it quickly and was thoroughly entertained, but I found it less honest and with less soul than some of Boyne’s other work.
Summer of Night – 4 stars
Every sci-fi fan owes Dan Simmons for the Hyperion books, so I was curious to see how he handles horror—and the answer is: mostly well. Comparisons to IT (and The Body/ Stand By Me) are absolutely warranted. The first half is the weakest: Simmons spends too much time meticulously setting the stage, and it starts to feel like it’s getting out of hand. Unlike Stephen King—who often hooks you in the first few pages even if then goes to write very long books—Simmons takes a slow, roundabout approach that doesn’t fully pay off, IMHO. But once the second half kicks in, the pacing improves dramatically. The story picks up, characters act as rationally as horror allows, and it’s just a lot of fun. Solid book overall—it just needed tighter editing.
Zodiac – 3.5 stars
This is a relatively simple book from Neal Stephenson. Undoubtedly, he became much more ambitious over the years, and if his later works hadn’t reached such highs, Zodiac might have been forgotten. That said, the story is fun, and the characters have a bit of spark that makes the read enjoyable. It’s not particularly memorable, but it works well as a light, summer read.
I Am Legend – 4.5 stars
I was worried this might feel dated, but it turned out to be one of the most original takes on vampires I’ve ever read. The approach is completely different from the usual tropes, and the writing is superb. Both the characters and the internal dialogue are sharp and vivid. A surprisingly fresh and powerful read. I loved it.
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union – 4.5 stars
I'm not sure why this book doesn't get higher ratings. It’s a tightly written noir in the best hardboiled tradition, but with fresh elements that make it stand out. The alternative history setting is compelling, but the real strength lies in the well-developed characters and a plot that’s far from linear. It also carries far more cultural and historical weight than a typical detective story. I really enjoyed this.
Oblivion – 2.5 stars
Once again, I find DFW’s fiction lacking. I’ve loved much of his nonfiction, but every attempt at his fiction has been a struggle, and this collection is no exception.
"Mister Squishy" – Boring and pointless. I had to skip to the end.
"The Soul Is Not a Smithy" – Quite crafty and interesting. Of course it’s overlong (par for DFW), but there’s something worthwhile here.
"Incarnations of Burned Children" – Short, powerful, lyrical. This is how a short story should be. The standout of the collection.
"Another Pioneer" – Another bore.
"Good Old Neon" – A strong piece, deep and introspective. Given how Wallace’s life ended, it takes on extra weight. One of the few fiction pieces from him that worked for me.
"Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature" – Not boring, but didn’t resonate with me.
"Oblivion" – A waste of time.
"The Suffering Channel" – I actually liked this one. The more journalistic tone suits DFW well and makes it more engaging.
Overall, a mixed bag leaning toward disappointing
The Starless Sea – DNF
I liked The Night Circus well enough, so I gave this a fair shot—almost half the book—before giving up. There is a central storyline that’s pretty decent, but it’s constantly derailed by long, dull interludes and side stories that add very little. Instead of enriching the narrative, they kill its momentum. I found myself slogging through the slow parts, only to be occasionally rewarded by brief returns to the main thread. In the end, it just wasn’t worth the effort.
Horrorstör – 3.5 stars
A fun book, but also a bit of a missed opportunity. The setting and concept are clever and full of potential—I was hoping to be swept up by this quirky world. Unfortunately, much of that originality is squandered by a very conventional narrative arc that follows some of the most tired tropes in horror. It’s not bad by any means, just not particularly memorable.
Three Moments of an Explosion – Did Not Finish
I was hoping the short story format would tighten up the writing of this often meandering author—and to some extent, it does—but I still found myself uninterested and pulled the plug about a third of the way through. I think I'm done with China Miéville. I'm now convinced that liking The City & The City was the exception, not the rule.
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again - 4 stars:
After my third book by David Foster Wallace, I’ve come to a few conclusions:
- He loves tennis in a way that’s hard to overstate.
- He seems to deliberately restrain his sense of humor—perhaps because he found it distasteful or not “serious” enough.
- He uses 100 words where 10 would do.
- His nonfiction is great; his fiction, more hit or miss.
On the essays:
- “Derivative Sport in Tornado Alley”: Beautiful, honest, and evocative.
- “E Unibus Pluram”: I know it’s a well-known piece, but I almost DNF’d the book because of it. Exhausting, monotone, and seemingly endless. Just when you think it’s over, another tirade begins.
- “Getting Away from Already Being Pretty Much Away from It All”: Fun, well-written, and eye-opening—a glimpse into a part of America I had completely ignored.
- “Greatly Exaggerated”: Didn’t leave much of an impression.
- “David Lynch Keeps His Head”: Deep, original, and thought-provoking. Made me see Lynch in a completely new light.
- “Tennis Player Michael Joyce...”: The true standout. A brilliant dive into the soul of tennis, written with deep knowledge and an open mind.
- “A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again”: The most accessible piece. Finally, some less constrained humor and a lighter tone—a well-deserved breather at the end of a remarkable, if often exhausting, collection.
The Absolutist – 5 stars
Wow. Second book I’ve read by John Boyne, and second masterpiece. LGBTQ+ themes aren’t something I often seek out, but if a book looks compelling, I’ll give it a shot—and this time, I was rewarded with a truly exceptional read. What I love about Boyne’s style is the gravitas he brings to the story. It’s not light material, but he somehow balances the emotional weight with a brisk narrative pace. You move through this deeply affecting story quickly, almost like watching a film—the scenes are so vivid and dynamic. A truly talented writer.
Keep the Aspidistra Flying – 3.5 stars
For this book, I think it’s helpful to clearly separate style from content. Stylistically, it’s exactly what you’d expect from Orwell: masterful command of language, impeccable pacing, and a beautiful, fluid tone. As for the story itself, it’s quite simple and intentionally repetitive around its central theme. The characters are one-dimensional, and the book often feels more like a personal catharsis or a stylistic exercise than a fully developed work of literature. Still, even when Orwell writes something uneven or overly introspective, his prose makes it a pleasure to read.
The Midnight Library – 4.5 stars
I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but it turned out to be a fairly original take on the Sliding Doors concept, written in a compelling style—quick to read but with real depth. It was highly entertaining and made me reflect on many of the choices I’ve made in life. I knocked off half a star for the slightly paint-by-numbers structure and the overly predictable ending, but overall, this was a strong and thought-provoking read.
Bunny – Did Not Finish
Well... as is often the case, maybe I’m just not the target demographic. I tried to stick with it, hoping it would improve, but ultimately it felt too juvenile to hold my interest. What frustrated me most was that, while the overarching story is original, the characters felt like clichés pulled from countless teen movies. Maybe the author will mature with time, maybe not—but I’m not sure I’ll be giving her another chance.
The Peripheral – 4 stars
And I ask myself: was it worth it? I’m not sure I have an answer. I started this as an audiobook and, honestly, I didn’t understand a single thing for several minutes. I looked up the basic plot online to try to help with comprehension, but the neologisms, the weird, unexplained machines, verbs, and concepts were just too much. So I ordered the paperback and slowly made my way through it.
The first 100 pages were incredibly tough, even in print. It got slightly better, but the reading never became smooth. It was always a struggle to stay on top of what was happening. While I initially enjoyed the challenge, I think the author buried an interesting story beneath layers of almost unreadable prose that would test anyone’s patience.
I’m glad I finished it—there are definitely cool and imaginative moments throughout—but if I had known just how much mental effort it would take for a piece of entertaining sci-fi, I might not have started it. The only saving grace was the clean structure of the short chapters.
The Terminal Man – 3.5 Stars:
This is a fairly short and not overly ambitious novel from Crichton. Probably a step back from The Andromeda Strain, but still very entertaining.
The technical concepts are more accessible than in some of his other works and are used in a creative and fun way. Crichton’s talent is undeniable, and while this book isn’t among his most memorable, it still holds up as a solid entry in his body of work.
How High We Go in the Dark – 5 Stars:
First of all, I’d describe this as a collection of interrelated short stories, though I saw it classified as a novel—interesting distinction.
Telling a larger, overarching story through short, connected chapters isn’t new, but it’s done exceptionally well here. The variety of settings, voices, and timelines never feels confusing. Instead, it keeps the book focused and dynamic. Every chapter has immediacy and weight, allowing the author to show off a sophisticated prose style in multiple tones.
I really enjoyed this book. The theme is bleak, but it’s not a tearjerker—it’s an exploration of human behavior under extreme conditions. That said, a lot of people during COVID behaved 100 times crazier than anything in this book.
The Violinist's Thumb – 4 Stars:
Another strong book from Sam Kean after The Disappearing Spoon. He takes one of the most complex topics in science and makes it approachable by weaving in the stories of people involved—some central, some just on the fringe—and takes us all on a fun, insightful ride.
That said, the book isn't always smooth. The transitions between anecdotes and scientific explanations can feel a bit forced or contrived at times. But the final section on the genome is the best part: clean narration, sharp historical context, and highly engaging.
This is the second book I’ve read from Kean, and it’s clear he’s a special kind of science writer. I’m looking forward to reading more from him.
The Eyre Affair – 2.5 Stars:
The book starts off well—original setup, quirky characters, and everything seems to be heading in the right direction. But then it just becomes exhausting. It stretches the concept so much that you want to say, “Enough already, we got it.”
I can see how this might be fun for a certain type of patient reader who enjoys meta-literary play, but for me, this is the first and last book about Thursday Next.
Girl with Curious Hair – Did Not Finish:
I really loved Consider the Lobster (even with the sometimes excessive length), so I started this collection with a lot of enthusiasm—but it honestly turned out to be a disaster.
There are super long, monotone stretches that pushed me to the limit of resistance, and I had to give up about one-third of the way through to avoid falling asleep. Yes, the English is immaculate, and the setups are interesting, but everything else feels diluted to the max.
After the Quake – 3.5 Stars:
These short stories are “cute” and carry a consistent theme, but for me, they’re missing that Murakami magic. I found myself a little bored and often distracted while listening.
The only story that really stood out was “Super-Frog Saves Tokyo”—it had the right energy and vibe I associate with his best work.
Not my favorite from the author, but not without charm.
The Library at Mount Char - 5 Stars
Let’s get one thing out of the way: the author has a sick imagination—this book clearly comes from a very damaged mind, and I mean that as a compliment.
The first part was a bit light on plot, and I started to lose interest. But once it gets going… oh boy. There’s a great setup, super cool characters, no-holds-barred scenes, and a solid writing style holding it all together.
It’s weird in all the right ways, the kind of story that sticks with you for its sheer originality.
I read an interview where the author admitted he’s been struggling to write a second book up to this standard. I thought that was a bit extreme—until I finished this. Now I get it. The Library at Mount Char is so unique, it would be hard to follow it up with anything average.