July-August ’22 Wrap-Up: Unrated Books, Iffy Sci-Fi, and the Osemanverse

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Two measly months wrapped up in one post yet again? I’m afraid so. I have a hunch that as autumn settles, I’ll start reading more consistently again, but for now, please take this minute nibble I can offer.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh

Starting this wrap-up off, we have a piece of contemporary literary fiction centering an unnamed protagonist, and her time spent in a drug-induced haze in hopes of sleeping a year away, resting her soul enough to face the world again when she wakes.

Prior to this book, I’d always been surprised by the attribution of the term “unlikable characters” as it’s often bestowed on characters I actually quite enjoyed (eg. Connell and Marianne from Sally Rooney’s Normal People, the infamous Holden Caufield). This book, however, features undoubtedly the most insufferable character I’ve ever come across. Though encompassed fully with distaste, I found it definitely made the story since the progression of this story’s plot is very much “this happened and this happened and this happened” as opposed to anything dynamic. This novel is more its protagonist than anything else. Incessantly vain and inflated, this character makes observations through her many layers of privilege and fails to understand that her calling out other people’s navel-gazing, pompous faults is only her recognizing reflections of herself.

Despite the unlikability of the main character, I enjoyed my stroll through this novel as I took my time with it. However, as it wrapped itself up, there was a tonal change that took me quite by surprise, leaving me unsure exactly what to make of it. The final pages have stuck with me for quite a while, especially due to their total contrast to the rest of the book, and while I enjoyed them, it muddles the novel as a whole. (Upon finishing this book, I gave it 4 stars, but could honestly rate it anywhere from 1 to 5 and still think it’s a fit rating–well, maybe 1 through 4. Perhaps it’s better off unrated.)

The Prism Affect by J. Wint (Skylight, #1)

During his first year at Skylight University, Jet Stroud is plunged into a new life where he discovers the reason behind the glowing eyes he’s always had: ephebus mortem, a rare condition that kills its victims by the age of twenty-four.

Along with his unafflicted roommate and friend, Cutter, and Sterllar Sylvant, a young professor who lost her older sister to E.M., Jet is determined to gather all of the other students sharing his condition to find a cure. Through this, he must also maneuver the ostracization he faces due to E.M.’s taboo nature whilst his state worsens with encroaching hallucinations and delusions.

This is the only book I’ve written a proper post for in the last few months, as I acquired an e-copy via BookSirens in exchange for a review. I enjoyed this novel well enough, and I think could be even further enjoyed by someone who generally prefers science fiction (I’m still unsure of where I land on the particular spectrum.) (3.5 stars.)

Solitaire by Alice Oseman (Solitaire, #1)

I didn’t go into this novel with much expectation as the Goodreads reviews were mildly grim. My interest in books targeted toward the young adult reading audience has been slowly waning throughout the year which also doesn’t help, but this book, fortunately, surprised me. Following Tori Spring, it’s hard to pin down what precisely this novel is supposed to be, as the tagline reads “this is not a love story”, whilst one of the main focuses is on her developing relationship with a fellow student, the oddball Michael Holden. The book’s namesake, “Solitaire”, is attributed to an anonymous collective arranging pranks that get increasingly severe as time goes on. Though the book is named after the group, it peculiarly seems a bit more like a subplot until the final conclusion.

Aside from the strange plotting of the story, I enjoyed the characters a lot more than I expected. I would advise checking trigger warnings before picking this up, as many readers have noted how poorly some topics were tackled. I wasn’t bothered in the same way, but I feel it’s necessary to mention it. (4.5 stars–it feels strange to give a book such a high rating when I didn’t walk away awestruck, but I didn’t walk away with many complaints either and quite enjoyed the process of reading it.)

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman (Solitaire, #1.5)

Set during Nick’s graduation and Charlie’s last year of secondary school, this novella explores the struggles of coming of age and the apparent veering of paths as Nick gets excited about the upcoming future of his life at university, while Charlie experiences the struggle of being left behind, testing the two’s seemingly invincible relationship.

For those particularly invested in Nick’s and Charlie’s relationship, this will be an excellent read with all the angst their hearts could possibly desire. I enjoyed it but also felt the story had little bearing on the scope of these characters in the big picture. With that being said, it does its job as a novella, filling out the universe, and allowing the reader a bit more time with these widely beloved characters. As opposed to This Winter (#.5) which further outlines a few panels in Heartstopper, Vol. 4 and an event frequently referenced in Solitaire, Nick and Charlie explores some unexplored territory which is as much to its benefit as it could be to its drawback (my personal favorite part about This Winter was the ability to gain further insight into something I had a slight idea of already). (3 stars.)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, #1)

One of the most beloved sci-fi tales of the last fifty years, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy follows Arthur Dent as the Earth is destroyed and he is whisked away by his friend, Ford Prefect, who has a long, previously undisclosed history and understanding on the universe beyond the only planet Arthur has ever known. Together, they explore the universe, running into several unique characters in their travels.

Since changing things up this year by picking up and enjoying more science fiction than I have in times past, I really thought I’d love this book, especially after reading the first few pages of richly humorous satirical observations on the world in which we live. Though the book went on to have this humor sprinkled throughout the book, I was a little disappointed that the quirky space adventures taking precedence over the novel didn’t captivate me nearly as much as the satire dangled in the beginning. While I found this story quite dull, I suppose it’s more a matter of preference than a reflection of the material’s actual quality as this novel is often beheld as many readers’ favorite piece. (2 stars.)

Bunny by Mona Awad

The clash of my love for philosophizing and irritation with the nonsensical is surely my villain origin story.

This is without a doubt the weirdest book I’ve ever read, and not much else has left me feeling dumber than finishing it. It’s hard to come to a pointed conclusion with this convolution (this word is not necessarily used unkindly) but my best attempt is to describe Bunny as a sharp, wildly absurd satire outfitted with grotesque horror elements and blurred lines between the tangible and obscure, real and conjured. I wouldn’t personally refer to it as dark academia, as the focus is far less on academic ventures and more on the saccharinely gruesome clique and cult-ish behavior therein (maybe check out the trigger warnings on this one!).

In all honesty, I can’t quite tell if we’re meant to walk away with insights into an allegorical image this novel paints, or, rather, if the intention is to fully submit to the chaos in an absurdist approach. I lean towards the former but perhaps it’s instead a twining of the two at once. (I wasn’t quite sure how to rate this, and am still uncertain but am settling somewhere around a 3 or 3.5 stars though I’m leaving it unrated on Goodreads.)

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

I really enjoyed this memoir’s honesty and love, the latter veering from the cliches of soft and gentle and, instead, in the care and dedication detailed, how it’s typeset (metaphorically) in bold — defiant and forward, yet still true, if not amplified because of it. The lovely descriptions of food woven throughout this book bring a sensory facet to the reading experience, provide further insights and vignettes into Korean culture, and show how much love can be expressed through it. (4 stars.)

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I had high hopes for my reading as it picked up quite a bit towards the end of July and into the beginning of August. Unfortunately, I next picked up a book that didn’t immediately hook me, and while I’m still in the middle of reading it, I’m finding other titles to pick up that I’m more interested in. As I’m waiting for summer to finally melt into the delectable autumnal months, I foresee myself diving back into reading once more.

Have you read any of the books on this list? Did you like them? Why, or why not? Are there any books you’ve read that you’ve had a hard time rating? What have you been reading over the last few months? Have you found any favorites? Any least favorites? Is this reading slump universal, or is it just me? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!