Reading Wednesday
Finished reading: Police by Jo Nesbø. While I normally like this author's work, this one was a total dud for me. I had a really hard time getting into it; reading it took FOREVER. I just had a hell of a time pressing myself to finish it. And there were a lot of things that bugged me about it, which I'll talk about under the cut, because it's still a relatively new(ish) book.
The last time a female character that I liked was killed off in one of Nesbø's novels, I screamed and basically wanted to throw the book at a wall, but it became one of my favourites (The Redbreast). This... is not like that. I was so upset about what happened to Beate, and what happened with her body after, and it just seems like such a bloody gross pointless death. And of course that fits in with the rest of what was going on, it suited what was happening in the plot, but... ughhhh no, do not want.
Also, I feel like there were too many potential murderers, and too many threads. This is par for the course, but instead of coming together nicely in the end, it was kind of a jumble. And sometimes that can be fine, but... it's not what I expect from the Harry Hole series, so I didn't find it satisfying.
And then there's the rape accusation plot. Ugh, why. I did not like it. I wish it was not there. And that's all I have to say about that.
AND THEN... Ugh, the murderer, well... [/puts face in hands, makes frustrated noises] On the one hand, I feel that there should be a variety of kinds of HBTQetc characters in fiction, and this includes villains. On the other hand, I honestly do not remember any positive portrayals of HBTQetc people in Nesbø's novels. Though there are a lot of books, so it's possible that I forgot one. But. Well. The fact that I can only recall bad guys is... not good.
Currently reading: Beauty is a Wound by Eka Kurniawan. It's an Indonesian historical/magical realism novel. And it is Good. Or at least, I'm enjoying it so far - honestly, I've been practically devouring it whenever I've had the chance to sit down with it. It had me from the first line: One afternoon on a weekend in March, Dewi Ayu rose from her grave after being dead for twenty-one years.
Magical realism is a genre that I've only had a taste of, and so far I enjoy it. The setting is also pretty interesting, since that's new to me as well - I've read very little SEA literature/history, unfortunately (really should change that). Anyway, it's fascinating - there is a touch of humour to go along with the strange and horrible things that have happened so far, and that, I think, is what makes me enjoy it so much, whereas in a novel with a different tone, I might find it too depressing.
Reading next: The Man Who Spoke Snakish by Anders Kivirähk is the other book that I took out from the library, so I'll tackle that next. It's an Estonian novel about a boy who can talk to animals and... I don't know anything about it beyond that. But I'm looking forward to it.
This entry was originally posted at http://yuuago.dreamwidth.org/3455538.html. You can comment here or at the original entry.
The last time a female character that I liked was killed off in one of Nesbø's novels, I screamed and basically wanted to throw the book at a wall, but it became one of my favourites (The Redbreast). This... is not like that. I was so upset about what happened to Beate, and what happened with her body after, and it just seems like such a bloody gross pointless death. And of course that fits in with the rest of what was going on, it suited what was happening in the plot, but... ughhhh no, do not want.
Also, I feel like there were too many potential murderers, and too many threads. This is par for the course, but instead of coming together nicely in the end, it was kind of a jumble. And sometimes that can be fine, but... it's not what I expect from the Harry Hole series, so I didn't find it satisfying.
And then there's the rape accusation plot. Ugh, why. I did not like it. I wish it was not there. And that's all I have to say about that.
AND THEN... Ugh, the murderer, well... [/puts face in hands, makes frustrated noises] On the one hand, I feel that there should be a variety of kinds of HBTQetc characters in fiction, and this includes villains. On the other hand, I honestly do not remember any positive portrayals of HBTQetc people in Nesbø's novels. Though there are a lot of books, so it's possible that I forgot one. But. Well. The fact that I can only recall bad guys is... not good.
Currently reading: Beauty is a Wound by Eka Kurniawan. It's an Indonesian historical/magical realism novel. And it is Good. Or at least, I'm enjoying it so far - honestly, I've been practically devouring it whenever I've had the chance to sit down with it. It had me from the first line: One afternoon on a weekend in March, Dewi Ayu rose from her grave after being dead for twenty-one years.
Magical realism is a genre that I've only had a taste of, and so far I enjoy it. The setting is also pretty interesting, since that's new to me as well - I've read very little SEA literature/history, unfortunately (really should change that). Anyway, it's fascinating - there is a touch of humour to go along with the strange and horrible things that have happened so far, and that, I think, is what makes me enjoy it so much, whereas in a novel with a different tone, I might find it too depressing.
Reading next: The Man Who Spoke Snakish by Anders Kivirähk is the other book that I took out from the library, so I'll tackle that next. It's an Estonian novel about a boy who can talk to animals and... I don't know anything about it beyond that. But I'm looking forward to it.
This entry was originally posted at http://yuuago.dreamwidth.org/3455538.html. You can comment here or at the original entry.