Where I write about what I read (or watched).
- ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’: Jennette McCurdy’s memoir is the realest book of the year
Content warning: physical and emotional abuse, and eating disorders. I’m Glad My Mom Died is a 320-page-long headfirst deep dive into former actress Jennette McCurdy’s troubled and complicated relationship with her late mother, Debra, who died of cancer in 2013. I’m Glad My Mom Died is beyond gripping, and is…More - Disgusting and depraved: Missouri Williams’ debut ‘The Doloriad’ is something else entirely
Content warning: discussions of descriptions of incest, fatphobia, ableism, rape.This review also contains some spoilers. The Doloriad is a fascinating and thought-provoking book, though not in the way you’re probably expecting. Missouri Williams’ debut novel follows a family, or rather a clan, descended from incest struggling for survival in the…More - Kind of sexy, kind of disappointing – is ‘Milk Fed’ a well-disguised trainwreck?
Trigger warning: discussion of eating disorders and weight stigma. Melissa Broder’s Milk Fed was like a literary emotional rollercoaster for me, and while I hate actual rollercoasters, I think I enjoyed this one more than I would’ve expected. The book follows Rachel, a lapsed Jewish woman with a restrictive eating…More - ‘Animal’ – a raw, fearless, and disgusting debut
Trigger warning: discussion of sexual assault and rape. On the cover pictured above, Lisa Taddeo’s Animal is described as a ‘raging, funny and fierce thriller’ by the Financial Times. In my honest opinion, it is probably only two of those things, and it is certainly not funny. Taddeo’s debut novel…More - ‘Our Wives Under The Sea’, a poetic but unnerving literary horror
I once saw this book described as a ‘literary horror’ in a Goodreads review online, and immediately thought that no other phrase aptly described the kind of story this is. Our Wives Under The Sea is author Julia Armfield’s debut novel, coming after her critically acclaimed collection of short stories…More
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