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"Pensive Tuesday": Cut by Catherine Lacey (Short Fiction Review)

Story Review (spoiler warning): “if you’re raised with an angry man in your house, there will always be an angry man in your house.” These were the words I typed into the Google search engine as I was desperately trying to come across this story. I remember the lines from “something” I saw “somewhere”. Kind of. Little did I know, I would find more than just a poem… As I came across the original fiction piece in the New Yorker with these lines, I went on to read a story that left me with a lot of questions and a lot of thoughts. Following Peggy, a woman in her 40s, married, childfree, and in literal and symbolic pain, I felt like I was navigating the life of someone I would want to have a conversation with in real life only to be left with the impression that they lead a life that’s far too predictable, boring, and static. Of course, I believe everyone and their narratives should be granted a certain level of “grace” since we are all just human with stories that can be easily misunderst...
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"Wondering Wednesday": Those Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin (Philosophical Fiction Review)

Synopsis:  Behind the exuberant ecstasy of a fictional city lies a dark secret necessary to maintain the Utopia.  Categorical Rankings (/⭐️⭐️⭐️): -Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️: The narrator walks readers through the narrative of the story in a smooth and engaging manner.  -Theme ⭐️⭐️: The idea of happiness not being able to exist without some kind of suffering reminds me of the yin and yang concept as well as the question, Can there be peace without war?  -Overall enjoyment ⭐️⭐️: I liked the composition of creative storytelling with philosophical reflection, but I wish the topic left for the audience to discuss gave way to more complex afterthought.   Story Insights (spoilers): I usually feel closer to the writer of a creative piece if it involves metafiction. It’s like the author is drawing me into a conversation and closer involvement in the story. This was the case with “Those who Walk from Omelas,” but the moral dilemma of whether the “born defective,” “feeble-minded,...
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"Fun Friday": Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney (Book Review)

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...
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"Thoughtful Tuesday": A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Short Story Review)

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...
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"Short Story Sunday": The Stone Boy by Gina Berriault (Short Story Review)

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...
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“Tranquil Thursday”: The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur (Poetry Book Review)

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...
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“Atypical Wednesday”: The Hofmann Wobble by Ben Lerner (Essay Review)

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...
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“Surprise Saturday” (#2): Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Book Review)

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 ...
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"Dystopian Tuesday": Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Book Review)

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...
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“Short Story Monday”: A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor (Short Story Review)

  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...
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