Mr Fox by Helen Oyeyemi

I always get the feeling that there are certain writers out there who you’re supposed to love if you are truly a cutting-edge book person. Helen Oyeyemi is one of them. I’ve always read positive things about her books, yet there was something holding me back from diving in. That is, until I received Mr Fox as part of my Willoughby Book Club subscription. I almost always adore the books they send me, and out of all of Oyeyemi’s books, Mr Fox is the one that appeals to me the most.

DNF: The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl

I should have liked The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl, a historical novel about the illicit book trade between the United States and Europe. But I just couldn’t do it and it all comes down to one reason: style. There is a certain style with which some historical novels are written, and i just don’t like it. Here are some of the elements:

I Am Radar by Reif Larsen

I wanted to like Reif Larsen so badly. I was captivated by the look of his first book, The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet, by its maps and illustrations, but alas I could not finish it. And visually, Larsen’s website is a dream. Really go check it out. So with the above evidence in hand, I had to give Larsen another go with I Am Radar.

DNF – How To Tell Toledo From the Night Sky by Lydia Netzer

Oh boy. Can I just start by saying I really wanted to like How To Tell Toledo From the Night Sky by Lydia Netzer. I have been following Netzer’s career since she came out with Shine, Shine, Shine in 2012. She is one of those hot young things getting all the accolades and everyone I know seems to like her books. Boom. How To Tell Toledo came in at the library and I was ready.