Sandwich Joe
The messiness of this woman…
Proxy by Alex London is a solid cyberpunk story. The world building is fantastic and the setting descriptions vivid. However, the novel's editing could be improved greatly. It needs to be tidied up a bit.
Ultimately, Proxy is a good YA sci-fi novel with the potential to be great.
Proxy by Alex London is a solid cyberpunk story. The world building is fantastic and the setting descriptions vivid. However, the novel's editing could be improved greatly. It needs to be tidied up a bit.
Ultimately, Proxy is a good YA sci-fi novel with the potential to be great.
“But there are no new thoughts. They're just old thoughts born into new moments.”
It's very hard to describe Orbital by Samantha Harvey. It isn't a page turner. In fact, there's really no plot to speak of. Instead, these are the thoughts of people trapped—in a bad relationship, in line at the DMV, in space. These are the thoughts people have when they let their minds wander to a place greater than themselves.
“But there are no new thoughts. They're just old thoughts born into new moments.”
It's very hard to describe Orbital by Samantha Harvey. It isn't a page turner. In fact, there's really no plot to speak of. Instead, these are the thoughts of people trapped—in a bad relationship, in line at the DMV, in space. These are the thoughts people have when they let their minds wander to a place greater than themselves.
“If the only good Indian is a dead Indian, then she's going to be the worst Indian ever.”
I can't believe it's only January, and I've already read one of my favorite books of the year.
There's so much to think about, more than I can discuss or even mention in a short review: the idea of violence begetting violence, the power of nature, motherhood, and honoring one's heritage. I love the concept of a vengeful mother elk.
The Only Good Indians is such a well-written horror novel, and it's one I'll be thinking about for a long time.
🎧 I appreciate that a member of the Blackfeet Nation, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, narrated the novel. He did an excellent job.
“If the only good Indian is a dead Indian, then she's going to be the worst Indian ever.”
I can't believe it's only January, and I've already read one of my favorite books of the year.
There's so much to think about, more than I can discuss or even mention in a short review: the idea of violence begetting violence, the power of nature, motherhood, and honoring one's heritage. I love the concept of a vengeful mother elk.
The Only Good Indians is such a well-written horror novel, and it's one I'll be thinking about for a long time.
🎧 I appreciate that a member of the Blackfeet Nation, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, narrated the novel. He did an excellent job.
Content warning: this review discusses the sensitive topics that are covered in this book.
Did I enjoy The Darkest Web by Eileen Ormsby? No, I did not. Activities on the dark web are known for being heinous and not something you'd ‘enjoy' reading about. However, I've always found the subject of a hidden internet world incredibly interesting, and this book delivered as much information as I wanted (and more than I really needed).
It's separated into three parts: dark (dark net markets, or DNM), darker (murder-for-hire), and darkest (hurtcore and CSAM). While all parts are well-written and filled with information, I found myself with tonal whiplash going from the ridiculous and almost funny part two to part three, which is truly the worst and depraved that humanity has to offer.
I will note that this book is not for the faint of heart, especially part three. I cannot stress enough how important it is to look at the content warnings. It is very difficult to read, and I almost DNF'ed it multiple times for that reason.
That said, The Darkest Web is an intriguing view into a virtual world that most will never see.
Content warning: this review discusses the sensitive topics that are covered in this book.
Did I enjoy The Darkest Web by Eileen Ormsby? No, I did not. Activities on the dark web are known for being heinous and not something you'd ‘enjoy' reading about. However, I've always found the subject of a hidden internet world incredibly interesting, and this book delivered as much information as I wanted (and more than I really needed).
It's separated into three parts: dark (dark net markets, or DNM), darker (murder-for-hire), and darkest (hurtcore and CSAM). While all parts are well-written and filled with information, I found myself with tonal whiplash going from the ridiculous and almost funny part two to part three, which is truly the worst and depraved that humanity has to offer.
I will note that this book is not for the faint of heart, especially part three. I cannot stress enough how important it is to look at the content warnings. It is very difficult to read, and I almost DNF'ed it multiple times for that reason.
That said, The Darkest Web is an intriguing view into a virtual world that most will never see.
“And this is the catch-22 of confronting your doppelganger: bark all you want, but you inevitably end up confronting yourself.”
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein is a sharp, compelling exploration of identity, disinformation, and the strange convergence between political and social extremes. While I usually find myself outside of the left-right political spectrum, I can certainly relate to Klein more than, say, Steve Bannon. I enjoyed the book and found it fascinating to get a glimpse into what ‘the other side' is up to.
Klein covers a lot of ground, offering plenty of insight, but at times the book feels weighed down by the sheer volume of topics and details. It's covid-19; it's Israel and Palestine; it's autism; it's the climate crisis; it's personal branding... I understand why she includes those ideas, but eventually the book gets sidetracked in relaying its message.
🎧 I read Doppelganger on audio, and Klein is an excellent narrator of her book. I always love when authors support their own works in that space.
Engaging and thought-provoking, Doppelganger is a solid read and one I would recommend. Unfortunately, the individuals who need to read it are not the ones who will be picking it up.
“And this is the catch-22 of confronting your doppelganger: bark all you want, but you inevitably end up confronting yourself.”
Doppelganger by Naomi Klein is a sharp, compelling exploration of identity, disinformation, and the strange convergence between political and social extremes. While I usually find myself outside of the left-right political spectrum, I can certainly relate to Klein more than, say, Steve Bannon. I enjoyed the book and found it fascinating to get a glimpse into what ‘the other side' is up to.
Klein covers a lot of ground, offering plenty of insight, but at times the book feels weighed down by the sheer volume of topics and details. It's covid-19; it's Israel and Palestine; it's autism; it's the climate crisis; it's personal branding... I understand why she includes those ideas, but eventually the book gets sidetracked in relaying its message.
🎧 I read Doppelganger on audio, and Klein is an excellent narrator of her book. I always love when authors support their own works in that space.
Engaging and thought-provoking, Doppelganger is a solid read and one I would recommend. Unfortunately, the individuals who need to read it are not the ones who will be picking it up.
“All I'm trying to say is, I didn't consent to being healed.”
The latest novel by Ling Ling Huang, Immaculate Conception, is a book like no other, even in the “weird lit” space. There's a lot to unpack in the novel, from classism to the performative nature (both literal and figurative) of the art world.
The commentary that affected me most, however, was the discussion of mental illness and consent with Enka's eventual consumption of Mathilde. As someone with a severe mental illness, I understand Mathilde's mindset. I can imagine what it would be like to be forced to surrender yourself to the mercy of someone who doesn't truly have your best interests at heart, all in the name of production and ROI. It's a brutal metaphor—watching Mathilde's body and autonomy become resources to be mined for the sake of art, all while her suffering is reframed as devotion.
Huang doesn't flinch from showing how easily care can be weaponized, especially when filtered through systems of power, performance, and prestige. This dynamic rang disturbingly true: how institutions (whether medical, artistic, or interpersonal) can coerce compliance under the guise of reverence or necessity. Immaculate Conception, it's not just weird for weirdness's sake. It's precise, purposeful, and cutting.
“All I'm trying to say is, I didn't consent to being healed.”
The latest novel by Ling Ling Huang, Immaculate Conception, is a book like no other, even in the “weird lit” space. There's a lot to unpack in the novel, from classism to the performative nature (both literal and figurative) of the art world.
The commentary that affected me most, however, was the discussion of mental illness and consent with Enka's eventual consumption of Mathilde. As someone with a severe mental illness, I understand Mathilde's mindset. I can imagine what it would be like to be forced to surrender yourself to the mercy of someone who doesn't truly have your best interests at heart, all in the name of production and ROI. It's a brutal metaphor—watching Mathilde's body and autonomy become resources to be mined for the sake of art, all while her suffering is reframed as devotion.
Huang doesn't flinch from showing how easily care can be weaponized, especially when filtered through systems of power, performance, and prestige. This dynamic rang disturbingly true: how institutions (whether medical, artistic, or interpersonal) can coerce compliance under the guise of reverence or necessity. Immaculate Conception, it's not just weird for weirdness's sake. It's precise, purposeful, and cutting.