Lit Talks by Lu

Synopsis: English college student Frances has an affair with her author friend Melissa's husband while navigating tumultuous friendship and life circumstances.  Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️): Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The structure and language of the book are simplistic and easy to follow, but some sentences are sloppy and the dialogue can be hard to detect with no quotation marks.) Characters: ⭐️⭐️ (Each of the characters was equally irritating and felt one-dimensional. I could not sympathize with any of them.)  Themes: ⭐️⭐️ Ideas about the complexities of human relationships and how love can distort or validate self-identity were underdeveloped as the characters often diverged into philosophic spiels that overshadowed the reader's interpretive freedom of the story plot itself. Overall Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The book was mediocre at first, but there was sufficient drama to keep me going until the end.) Miscellaneous Book Insights (Spoiler Warning):  This was my first time readin...

Synopsis: A couple (Pelayo and Elizenda) find an old man with wings in their backyard, which they lock up in a chicken coop and capitalize off of his unconventional appearance. Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️): -Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐: Relatively short story; the language is imaginative and compelling throughout with interesting metaphors.  -Theme ⭐️⭐️⭐️: The idea of humans exploiting and mistreating people they deem different from them while attempting to find explanations for their existence was intriguing.  -Overall enjoyment ⭐️⭐️⭐️: The ending made me feel proud of the misunderstood, abused old man.  Story Insights (spoilers): I very rarely come across prose that manages to be short and pack up a world of authentic literary devices. From the way Marquez describes the setting of the story, to the cloying interest of the civilians, to the condition of the man in the chicken coup, the story is brought to life by the gripping language that it weaves into the narrative. As for the mes...

Synopsis: A nine-year old navigates the grief of having shot his brother.  Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️): -Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️: Super short read; the plot points are engaging throughout.  -Theme ⭐️⭐️⭐️: The complex relationship between Arnold and Eugie surfaces themes related to individuality and identity.  -Overall enjoyment ⭐️⭐️: The ending struck me as inconclusive, which I didn’t love.  Story Insights (spoilers): The title of the story made me think that Eugie was plotting against his brother all along, a judgment that mirrors that of the people around him. I mean, why didn’t he rush to tell his parents what he’d done?  Yet, I don’t see him as a monster or soulless character, but just a confused boy. I don’t believe his immediate action serves as a direct indicator of his feelings toward his brother; it was how he processed his shock. People have different ways of experiencing grief, and The Stone Boy highlights this from the perspective of a child who, even thou...

Synopsis : In this poetry book, Rupi Kaur explores heartbreak, childhood, family, and self-love in short segments accompanied by art, adding a touch of extended imagination.  Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐ ): -Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: The book is a quick read even when taking in the poems slowly.  -Theme ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ : I think the general message of how one can overcome hardships and extract beauty from difficulty could have been explored with more distinctiveness.  -Overall enjoyment ⭐️ ⭐️ : I would have liked to see more development throughout the poems since most felt either incomplete or unimpressive.  Story Insights (mild spoilers):   This is my second time reading a poetry book by Rupi Kaur, and though it felt overall more positive than Milk and Honey, it still lacks depth.   Some of the pieces exploring her family life and culture were ones that I could relate to due to my background; however, the poems describing heartbreak and healing fell flat as I had no rel...

Synopsis : In this fictionalized essay, a man creates various Wikipedia identities to edit sources and manipulate information. His goals are to contribute to the common good and promote “progressive politics,” but is that all he does? How are his abilities impactful? Read and find out.  Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐ ): -Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️: At the beginning, I had to get used to the repetitive symbolism. It was an element of the story that took me a few paragraphs to understand, “slowing” down my reading in a way.  -Theme ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️: Messages about the power of information, media literacy, and humanity as a whole. -Overall enjoyment ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️: The overwhelming nuance of the piece made it not only memorable but a sort of wake-up call when it comes to the information we consume and, most importantly, the one we believe.  Story Insights (moderate spoilers):   This piece was an essay; a story; art. I went into thinking the character’s idea of editing Wikipedia would be show...

Synopsis:  What did it take for The Six, one of the most popular bands of the 70s, to rise to the top and then crumble completely? In this captivating fictional story presented in an oral history format, you experience an era full of chicks, pills, and a lot of rock and roll as told through distinct characters who share a palpable musical passion. At the center of it all is talented Daisy Jones, who joins the Six and brings the band tremendous success and to some members a few headaches as well… Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️):   -Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The format is heavy on the characters’ dialogue, making it a fast-paced read.) -Theme: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The story dives into how trust and hope are the building blocks of relationships, especially when it comes to Billy and Camilla.) -Emotional Impact/Attachment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The characterization of the band members is distinctive and unique throughout. The humanity of each can be recognized, making it easy to sympathize with them and their ...

Synopsis:  During the late 1990s in England, protagonist Kathy H. takes us through her life growing up in a secretive boarding school that she holds close to her heart and carved into her memory. We obtain glimpses of her childhood, friendships, and love life as the society she inhabits has provided her with an ephemeral life.    Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️):   -Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (The book runs slow all throughout. The build-up is subtle but gut-wrenching nonetheless) -Theme: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  (The story can be seen from the perspective of mortality and the fleetingness of human existence, along with how our relationships affect our lives) -Emotional Impact/Attachment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Ruth and Tommy are characters that one can sympathize with even through the eyes of Kathy alone, who is also memorable.) -Overall Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(This book was comforting, relatable, and destructive all at once.)   Book Insights (mild spoilers):   When I first opened this book...

  Synopsis : A road trip to Florida by a family of six leads to their definite end.  Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️): -Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️: Every moment was central to plot formation in the short story, capturing the substance of the theme in a few pages.  -Theme ⭐️⭐️⭐️: The problematic idea of everyone having some objective “good” was pleasantly developed. -Overall enjoyment ⭐️⭐️⭐️: The terror and humor were well-balanced. The southern vernacular was a distinctive and entertaining addition.  Story Insights (mild spoilers): I dove into the story completely blind. In the beginning, I felt like the story was heading in a direction without much shock, which was an undoubtedly wrong assumption. I could not help but reread some sections to gather a better understanding of the grandma. The most odious yet compelling of characters.  The misfit was predictable in terms of actions, but his philosophy is one that attaches to the reader. It was a character that left an imprint i...

Synopsis:  British retiree Anthony (Tony) Webster is a peaceable man with a simple life and a practical mind that are all obfuscated by his memory. He takes us on a journey through his past life events: school days filled with curiosity, friendships brushed with obsession, and a love life entangled with delusions. Are all of Tony’s stories, explanations, and justifications credible? Does his memory account for the skeletons in his past? ...or as readers, are we incentivized to antagonize him?   Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️): Pacing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (A slow burn, generally speaking, with sections that vary in excitement.) Theme: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  (The message of how the past can haunt us through the enigma of memory is satisfyingly developed.) Emotional Impact/Attachment: ⭐️⭐️ (Sympathizing with the narrator was, personally, not possible, making the story dull since every plot point is strained through his perspective.) Overall Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Despite the lackluster protagonist, I ...