⋆⋆⋆½

Content Warning: death, violence, murder, racism, misogyny, rape, sexual assault, suicide, gore.

When Detective Monique Blue Hawk arrives on the scene at the Children's Museum of Science and History in Norman, Oklahoma, she quickly realizes that this is unlike any crime she's investigated before. One security guard has been brutally murdered, the other wounded but fortunately alive, and at the center of it all are the unrepatriated indigenous remains that the museum holds in its so-called "Room of Secrets." Parts of an old skeleton have been taken, but its strange deformities lead Monique to contacting her uncle, a powerful spiritual leader who informs her that she might be dealing with something beyond the ordinary...

November is Native Heritage Month, and it seemed the perfect time to pick up a book by an Indigenous author. I was planning to read more this month, but due to life circumstances, it sadly didn't work out that way for me. However, I think it's important to remember that we should be reading novels written by Indigenous authors all the time, not just during November! Many of the books I read are an exploration of cultures not my own, and so I'm going to make a conscious effort going forward to make sure and include more Native-authored books in my repertoire, as I actually haven't read many before!

At the foundation of this story is Choctaw tribal beliefs, interwoven into the fabric of a mystery-slash-horror story. It was fascinating to learn about so much Choctaw history, as well as their creation myths and their afterlife, and I think that anyone who reads this book will come away with a new understanding of the depth and complexity of their culture. It also enlightened me to issues that I had only tangentially been aware of before: museum displays of Native skeletal remains and sacred burial pieces, the pressing need to repatriate these back to their true homes with their tribes, as well as the bloody, painful history of the Removal Trails and how white people then and now continue to desecrate Native graves.

Monique was someone I immediately liked: tough and authoritative, but also kind and vulnerable when she needs to be. The rest of the cast was pleasant enough as well, though I found a lot of them falling into stereotypes and clichés. Although she is not the only character we follow throughout the story, she was by far the most interesting. Mihesuah's writing didn't quite click with me, which is one of the reasons that I ended up giving this three and a half stars rather than a full four. There were some lovely descriptions, but then slightly amateurish ways of introducing characters and scenes, and as a whole the writing felt somewhat flat and dry for me.

In all honesty, I think tighter editing would have helped this book to really shine. The horror aspects of the book were well-done, leaving one feeling deeply unsettled (in the best way), and the sections that take place in the hollow are disturbingly atmospheric. I must say that the primary reason I actually ended up lowering my rating for this book was due to the ending. It's funny -- even Monique says "that felt too easy." It was a lot of build-up for a scene that lasted only a chapter or so, and after all the horrible things we learn about those responsible for what's been going on, it was disappointing. 

In the end, though, I think that this is a novel worth your time and attention. The historical aspects are particularly engaging, and learning about Choctaw culture was definitely enough to keep me interested until the very end. If you like horror mixed in with mystery and cultural exploration, you should give this one a shot! 

Book Review: Hello, Transcriber by Hannah Morrissey

 

⋆⋆⋆½

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death (including that of a child), violence, suicide, murder, sexual assault, domestic abuse, parental neglect/abandonment, drugs, overdose, rape, animal death, brief mentions of homophobia and transphobia.

Living in the crime-ridden Black Harbor, Hazel Greenlee makes her living by transcribing police reports. Though her dream is to be a novelist, she hasn't had much lived experience, and she secretly hopes that perhaps this job will provide some much-needed inspiration. What she doesn't expect, however, is to be smack in the middle of a murder investigation -- living beside one of the men involved in hiding a corpse. As she becomes more deeply involved in the case, as well as with the lead investigator, Nikolai Kole, she begins to wonder if the future she imagines living outside of Black Harbor will be cut short by violence. 

My main motivator for reading this book was Hazel's job: a police transcriber. Not only did that seem like it would have plenty of potential for an intriguing storyline, but as someone who also enjoys writing (and has since childhood), I felt that I could relate to Hazel's desire to try and find a job that not only somewhat incorporates that passion, but also which might provide her with some material for her own work (though I'm not sure that's strictly a good idea, considering her job is supposed to be confidential!). 

The first few pages didn't quite captivate me. I found Morrissey's writing to be slightly overwrought; there were very detailed descriptions of the daily-goings on in Hazel's life, almost to the point of taking away from the narrative. It's one of my biggest pet peeves, so while some may not find it a problem, it took me a while to find myself fully immersed in the story. Once I hit around the 25% mark, however, I found myself becoming more invested in the story playing out. Eventually, the writing didn't bother me quite so much, and I did find myself admiring Morrissey's ability to weave rather evocative scenes.

I went into this expecting the mystery to be the main plotline, but I think that it actually ended up being more focused on Hazel's inner turmoil -- her marital problems, her aspirations, her self-loathing and occasional penchant for cruelty -- as well as her relationship with the charismatic Nikolai Kole. I didn't mind this, as their relationship fascinated me with its layers of deceit and its intertwining with the mystery, but I think that some might be disappointed by the mystery taking the backburner.

By the halfway point I was eager to see how Hazel's life would continue on its (rather disastrous) journey, but I'm sad to say that the ending left me cold. There wasn't much buildup, and it felt almost an afterthought, and slightly inconsequential. Mentally, I said to myself simply, "Oh." So...that was it. I enjoyed the story as I read it, but for me, it was an interesting concept where the execution unfortunately fell flat. 

That being said -- I will be looking into Morrissey's future novels, as I think there's great potential here, and I could see myself reading something else by her! 

Book Review: Wings of Silk by Li-Ying Lundquist

 

⋆⋆⋆½

Thank you to NetGalley and Acorn for allowing me to read this ARC!

Content Warning: death, miscarriage, spousal abuse, rape, sexual assault, misogyny, racism, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, depression, harassment.

Growing up in Mao's Communist China, Ying-Ying jumps at the chance to go to college in America. Arriving in New York City, she finds that not all is as it seems concerning the great American Dream, and that her relatives living in the States -- meant to care for her and help her onto the path of success -- are not as kind or considerate as she'd hoped. In spite of facing obstacle after obstacle, including homelessness, not being able to speak English, as well as the pain of being so far from her family and overcoming cultural differences, Ying-Ying is determined to make the best of her life, and show everyone that she can be the independent, powerful woman she's always wanted to be.

Initially, I requested this book thinking it was a memoir. As it turns out, it's not, but it is heavily inspired by the author's life, and there's no doubt when reading it that many of these experiences are hers. I saw a lot of rather negative reviews concerning this book, and to be honest, my expectations were quite low. In the end, perhaps because I was already expecting to be a bit disappointed, I actually rather enjoyed this novel and I found myself admiring Ying-Ying, as well as the author who crafted this story about a life of both hardship and love.

I wasn't sure if I would be as interested in this book since the majority of it actually takes place in America, but reading a firsthand account of an immigrant's attempts to make the most of her newfound freedom away from Mao's regime, and her innocent wonder for the new things she discovers in New York (like deli cheeses and bagels), was both captivating and touching. 

For me, the writing was a bit dry; I was surprised when I learned that this wasn't a memoir, because the style it's written in makes you feel as if these are all true life accounts. It didn't quite have a poetic or lyrical flow (which I rarely expect to find in memoirs, but as this is a fictional story, I would have preferred a bit more of those qualities), but it was concise and straightforward, and therefore very easy to read.

Although there were some other issues, such as the pacing, I never stopped rooting for Ying-Ying, and while this book was not quite a four or five star read for me, I really admire the voice that Lundquist has given to women, immigrants, outsiders, and all combinations of those things! Many people disliked the Christian aspect present in this novel; though there is a spiritual thread throughout, I never felt like it was being pushed on me. 

God doesn't even really factor into Ying-Ying's story until perhaps the last 10 to 20%, and she never strikes you as being hypocritical or judgmental of those who don't share her faith. In fact, she makes a point of baring Ying-Ying's mistakes, errors and sins, and relishes in her imperfections, which left me with a positive, hopeful feeling amongst all of the struggles throughout her life.

This wasn't a book I could really say I loved, but I liked it a lot and I think if you are interested in stories about immigrants and capable women who forge their own paths, it's worth giving this one a shot! All in all, a sweet, moving, and rather tender exploration of life and what it means to understand yourself not as others see you, but as you see yourself.