December book review
The Finale of 2024 and the race to reader's annual targets... this month I trialled new genres and authors ready for the new year!
In the final month of 2024 I wanted to go out with a bang and get in as much reading as possible, starting with my physical TBR and visiting some new genres. After a very busy month of ups-and-downs I am happy to share my final Substack of the year!
Surrounded by idiots by Thomas Erikson - 2/5
Ironically this book was so obvious in context that you could get a similar takeaway from a Buzzfeed quiz - a self-analysis of your own core values and beliefs based upon generic personality traits and beaviour. Fortunately, I cannot say I wasted much time reading this painfully simple sociological explanation, as I finished it within 3 hours of my sunday morning. However, I would say that bar a few interesting graphs and statistics, there are much greater things to spend your time reading or even observing other people to get a similar level of understanding. Although harsh, I can say that I found the initial deciphering between personality ‘colours’ rather interesting and enjoyed indentifying myself and peers - eventhough Erikson highlights how 95% of the population are a mixture of 3 colours rather than just 1. The last few chapters are based upon the reaction of readers and a quiz - it all just felt very patronising as the information could be aquired quite easily elsewhere.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton - 2/5
I spent the majority of this book tearing my hair out as I come to the conclusion that I am just not the target audience for a Dolly Alderton ficitious novel. Last year I had read Alderton’s memoir “everything i know about love” during I time where I was about to push the ‘big red button’ (true fans of Dolly will know) and I fell inlove with Dolly’s charisma and relatability, inspired by her vulnerableness in a similar way to how I imagine having an older sister feels (as the eldest - I’ve always been curious). - So I assumed my admiration would also translate after reading her new ficiton novels - I was wrong.
Over the summer, I had read ‘Good Material’ Alderton’s first ficiton book based around a comedian in his 30s, apart from a few pulled heart-strings and some wholesome side characters I didn’t particulalry get on well with the prose yet blamed this on my inability to connect with the protagonist. However, due to my entusiasm for Dolly’s writing the year prior… I had bought both Good Material and Ghosts at the same time - optimisim and a pinch of cockiness got the better or me. I have come to the conclusion that romantic comedies, particuarly those written by milenials (sorry not sorry) are REALLY not for me.
Nina Dean is the classic thirty-two year old, white feminist living in London with the ‘quirky’ freelance job who strongly believes that society is nothing but against women in their thirties - insufferable. Although it is evident that Alderton is reflecting on her own societal fustratiosn through Nina, an understandable bitterness to have, I felt as though it didn’t land very well and instantly soured the book at the vert start. Nina appeared hypocritical, oblivious and rude within the first few chapters as she relentlessly complained about how hard it was to ‘be a woman who doesn’t like wearing make up and prefers pints type’ (by page 33 she had mentioned this 3 times already!), and then she went on to critique another woman for being ‘girly’ - so rather than cringely making a statement against how society does seem to label women from superficial factors she reinstated this ideology herself through utter bitterness.
However, there were moments where my heart-strings were pulled when Nina and her parents (Bill and Nancy/Mandy?!) go through the tribulations of her father’s onset dementia - the potrayl of the illness and how it effects close relations was raw and comendable - bringing a tear to my eye. It was this side to the protagnost in which I wish we saw more of - someone who was trying to work through something difficult without blame - until I was wound up again from her constant arguments with her clearly struggling mother.
There wasn’t really a single character in which I liked in this book (and not in a purposeful sally rooney type of way). Each character was extremely self-centred, lack any ability to grow from their mistakes or differences and lived in complete ignorance. I wish Dolly had taken some of her brilliant life lessons found in her memoir and applied them to the characters within Ghosts - although it may be more realistic that you would go back to the man who ghosted you if he was a sexy man in finance, there was space to provide a role-model ending to enlighten and encourage readers to focus on their own health and growth over their dating lives.
My final straw on page 281…
“it was the first time I’d seen any sign of insecurity in him”
So… not the time where he walked into the first date as red flag, ghosted you for a month after telling you he loved you, and refused to emotionally connect with you?!
Okay I’m finished but all in all I really need to get over my fear of DNFing.
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - 5/5
An exiherlating psychological thriller, ‘The Housemaid’ by Frida McFadden takes you on a mind-blowing journey through the lives of the Winchester family and their new housemaid, ‘Millie’. I ate this book up in one incredibly-filling sitting - I just couldn’t put it down. Everytime you think you’ve worked out the storyline you are shocked once again by a new twist and turn, it makes the ending gorgeously unpredicatble and deeply entertaining. Peppered with hints along the way to keep you on the edge of your seats, the intrigue never fails - my body felt physically urged to contoinue reading into the early hours of the morning.
Frieda’s portrayl of narratives and her impecable talent for character developement is gripping, allowing us into fall into the tricks of her writing and taken on an emotive journey ourselves. I felt fear for not only the protagonist but also in the end for a character I never imagined to sympahise with - truly shocking in every aspect. - a masterpiece in fast-paced thrillers that you want to love all in one bite.
Collided by Lauren Asher - 1/5
During my trialling of new genres and authors, I read ‘Collided’ by author, Lauren Asher as a recomendation of my favourite youtuber - Maya Beatriz. As much as I adored Maya’s review and booktube content, I hated this book (but I do take some accountability for this). Collided is the second edition to the ‘Dirty Air’ series, a tetralogy of Formula 1 themed romances - and yes I did read the second book in the series before the first on the basis of my own lack of research however it didn’t affect the storyline, with previous protagonists moving into the background into sidelines.
The driving plot was outright cringey and overly enforced onto the portagonists, Sophie and Liam, that it felt incredibily uncomfortable. I had to research the book after to decipher the implied age range as the overall prose felt childish yet its contents were the polar opposite - almost to the extent that it felt ill-written rather than naive and charming. Much like the reviews I have seen of this book - some people may feel bethrottled by the bad boy x good girl list tropes however I personally felt it lacked a lot of depth and unfortunately felt shallow in places where subthemes could have been explored greater (greif and loneliness).
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder - 4/5
Milk Fed is an outrageously erotic novel of self-discovery and appreciation of twenty-four year old Rachel. Rachel; a lapsed Jew, frequent(ish) therapy user for both her relationship with food and her mother. This equisite novel is character driven and hilarious yet heartbreaking, Broder finds the sweet spots over and over again as you fall deeper in connection to Rachel. Melissa Broder’s writing is stark, strange and intriguing, exploring the depths of eating disorders and desire to such delicate lengths - beautifully done.
The portagonist’s inner battle engulfs readers through desperation and utter confusion as Rachel uses major aspects of her younger-self as routes of self-love and self-loathing. It is interesting to watch someone punish themselves using their guilty pleasures as you watch the painfully wrenching journey the character must make to realise their happiness and potential. I enjoyed Miriam’s character as a nonchalent voice of guidance, it was clear as to what she represented but how the understood outcome came to life was suprising and in turn Miriam always did not pay much surface attention - added humour.
Rachel’s hunger for desire, for life, food and reassurance propelled me into this book, the character development is impeccable and the inner story is one of beauty. However, I did feel like it lost a bit of steam as we were taken into a slight detour of unnecessity. - All in all a great 4 star to finish off 2024 with, and one that I will (carefully) recommend to more.
Thank you all for the start of ATDE Substack and to many more book reviews, articles and more! Happy New Year x