this week's reading

reading diary 1.04-8.04. paradise logic and summer sons

1. Paradise Logic by Sophie Kemp

In three words:

Camp, gross, funny.

Fully picked it up because of the cover. Also seen one praising review on TikTok and that sealed the deal.

To be honest, I was concerned at first since the description sounded a little bit too “weird girl” fiction, which in the last few years has become kinda gauche.

I’m glad to report though, it wasn’t the case.

The book follows a twenty-three-year-old Reality Kahn (yes, that’s her name, but also not really) embarking on a quest so great, so bold. A quest to become the greatest girlfriend of all time. There would be multiple adventures awaiting her on the journey. She would need to perform as the waterslide commercial actress, receive messages from the beyond in the form of advice from the esteemed and ancient ladies’ magazine, Girlfriend Weekly, meet other girlfriends, and of course, find the boyfriend.

Sounds fun and absurd, right? It was. Except when it wasn’t.

This is one of the most unique books I've read and I’m so happy I did that, but it has a very specific language that made it hard to pick the book up or read it sans pausing.

The humor works, and the language works in most parts. But I felt like sometimes the author was trying a little toooooo hard to be absurd, but still winking at the camera. For example, there are a lot of French words that are added for the ridiculousness of the text, elevating the absurdity and the contrast between Reality’s perception and… well… reality. And I didn’t mind that, because I happened to know that language. But for someone unfamiliar, it could be plain annoying.

To sum up, I did enjoy it, but it was a bit of a struggle to sit down and finish it.

Quote:

 “Here’s the thing. Fais Attention, SVP!!! There weren’t many jobs afforded to women at age twenty-three even if you were bright and pure of spirit. Even if you strive to always be clean. Even if everything in your life is done de rigueur. If you were not a cashier at the store, the main jobs were charter school instructor or lady who masturbates on websites to the delight of her adoring fans. The girl was not about to do either of those things.”

Rating: I would give this book four rare periwinkle garden snakes wearing sunglasses out of five. Moving on.

2. Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

In three words:

Sweaty, haunting, hungry, hoooooooooot

God. I love this book.

This was a reread by the way. I first read it in 2021 and the amount of times I tried to look up “books like summer sons” following that was too many to count.

I think, although, it’s devastating to admit, there’s no book like to this one. There are countless books that have elements of it, that’s for sure. But this one is simply too unique.

It took me so long to reread it, because I was afraid that it won’t hold up to my memories. But it did. I might even say it worked better on the second read. Now, it’s not a book for everyone, but it’s a book for me. It has every magical haunting element I want, it has absolutely bonkers characters that you just cant NOT fall in love with.

You know, sometimes I wonder if the days of staying up until 2 a.m. because I can’t put a book down — days when I’d push my plans back just to read a little more during lunch — are behind me. I still read books that are intriguing, interesting, sure. But they almost never consume me completely anymore. And then, once in a blue moon, there’s a book like Sommer Sons. A book that somehow makes you feel high, makes you giggle along with characters and makes you shake with fear and anticipation.

I read to find books like this.

Okay, I’ll sop yapping here’s what it’s about:

We follow Andrew, who inherits a life, after Eddie - his best friend - dies of an apparent suicide. Eddie leaves Andrew a roommate he doesn’t know, friends he never asked for, lots of money and a phantom that hauntes him.
Against the backdrop of the backstabbing academic world, suffocating southern landscapes, and the circle of reckless boys, fast cars, and hard drugs that ruled Eddie’s nights, the walls Andrew has built against the world begin to crumble.

I need to mention that the language is pretty flowery, and although it somehow felt fitting, the first 100-150 pages might be toughth to get through. But once the plot picks up, oh boy does it pick up.

This is the book that initially got me interested in reading more horrory-esque things and with summer coming along it just seemed like the perfect time to revisit it.

And I will forever continue my quest of finding books that feel simular.

Quote:

“The endless taunting text messages and the raw late nights, fistfights and firelight, the one bright savage thing he’d gained from all the loss since the turn of summer—nothing else kindled him to human, eager life. It’s not going to be another almost. He’d made that mistake over and over in total ignorance for almost a decade, and he wasn’t going to do it again.”

Rating: 11 blood curses out of 5 “hey, princess”

and what are you 🫵 reading this week?