April 2024 In the Books

I hope everyone had a wonderful month of reading in April. Overall, it felt a little slow for me, but I truly enjoyed every work I read.

Five fantastic finds! Photo Credit: Natalie Getter

The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes:

April began with a book that has been sitting on my shelves for some time. Why did it take me so long to come around to Lauren Beukes? This is a thrill ride of a novel that combines suspense, horror, and science fiction, so it’s no wonder that this author has won awards over so many different genres. The Shining Girls is about a time-travelling serial killer, and the one woman who survived her attack. This novel goes to some unexpected places, and I’ll definitely read more from Beukes in the future. (4.5 stars)

Your Utopia by Bora Chung:

I just adored Bora Chung’s first collection of fiction with Cursed Bunny. Your Utopia contains another set of breathtaking pieces, but this time the emphasis is science fiction, perhaps making this a more cohesive collection.  Where Cursed Bunny jumped around a little (fantasy, horror, science-fiction), the eight stories comprising Your Utopia are thematically linked.  There’s a shift here to speculative fiction, providing the reader with views into the future with a few technological twists. Translated once again by Anton Hur, this book is another phenomenal achievement from Bora Chung. (4.5 stars)

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie:

Published rather early in Agatha Christie’s career, The Seven Dials Mystery is her attempt at writing more in the thriller genre. There’s still a murder to solve, but Christie set her sights high by incorporating a secret organization and one of the most colorful protagonists she has ever created. (3.5 stars)

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester:

I never thought I’d enjoy a science fiction update to The Count of Monte Cristo, but this novel is so much fun. It focuses on a man named Gully Foyle and his quest for revenge against the spaceship that failed to come to his rescue. From the mind of Alfred Bester, this novel feels like an interesting blend of 1950’s Golden Age science fiction and Cyberpunk, which would follow many decades later. (4 stars)

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez:

I’ve been reading more short stories, and this collection from Mariana Enriquez is so much fun. These 12 stories contain such forces as zombie babies, witches, and curses. Set mostly in and around Buenos Aires, this book also contains some truly disturbing tales. My favorite of all the stories is “Back When We Talked to the Dead,” which I will be discussing along with several others in the coming days. (4 stars)

“There are only so many plots in the world. It’s how they unfold that makes them interesting.”-The Shining Girls

What was your favorite book in April? Let me know with a comment below!

Book Review: Your Utopia by Bora Chung

Earlier this week, I published my review of Cursed Bunny by Korean author Bora Chung. If you read that post, you’ll know I loved this varied collection of short stories from the bottom of my heart. In fact, I was so enamored with Cursed Bunny, that I immediately reserved her next book of short stories from my local library. Your Utopia contains another set of breathtaking pieces, but this time the emphasis is science fiction, perhaps making this a more cohesive collection.  Where Cursed Bunny jumped around a little (fantasy, horror, science-fiction), the eight stories comprising Your Utopia are thematically linked.  There’s a shift here to speculative fiction, providing the reader with views into the future with a few technological twists. Translated once again by Anton Hur, this book is another phenomenal achievement from Bora Chung.

Your Utopia (2024) by Bora Chung and translated by Anton Hur; Photo Credit: Natalie Getter (Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars)

At first, I was a little concerned after reading the first story. “The Center for Immortality Research” is a light-hearted work about an anniversary event that turns into a complete comedy of errors. As this is Bora Chung, expect her to shock her readers at the very end of this story. While this was an entertaining piece, it was far from being a favorite for me. I actually began to fear that I wouldn’t enjoy this collection as much as Cursed Bunny. My feelings completely changed with the second story. “The End of the Voyage” focuses on a group sent into space after a global pandemic that turns people into cannibals. When the virus gets aboard the spaceship, this story turns into a terrifying fight for survival. The last sentence of this one gave me the chills and will be remembered for quite some time.

Most of the stories feature the darker side of technological advancement and the effect it does (and will) have on our lives. “Maria, Gratia Plena” is about a technician who is scanning the brain of a criminal in a coma in order to piece together how a crime actually happened. The title story, “Your Utopia,” is told from the point-of-view of an intelligent car fighting to survive after humanity has been wiped out. This one turned out to be another favorite and served as another nightmare version of the future.

My favorite from this book has to be “A Song for Sleep.” The narrator for this one is a sentient elevator who becomes curious and then slowly falls in love with an elderly resident. It’s so heartbreaking (and so GOOD) as this artificial intelligence works so hard to understand life and the eternal question of why humans must age and die. If this story fails to move you, then you don’t have a soul!

As I write out my thoughts on here, I’ve come to the realization that the stories on here are just as varied as they were in Cursed Bunny. While all eight of the pieces in Your Utopia are science fiction, you’ll find some that are emotionally evocative and some that are lighter in tone, such as “A Very Ordinary Marriage”, in which a husband discovers that his wife is an extraterrestrial. Suffice to say, there’s something to enjoy for every taste. The final author’s note titled “The Art of Mourning” provides some great insight into Bora Chung and her work as an activist. I’m so thankful to have discovered her stories and now eagerly wait for the next ones.

“For the first time since my activation, I do not want to operate. I want to keep the traces of her fingertips close to me and to remain here with my doors open, playing this single song for her forever.”-“A Song for Sleep”

 

Have you read this book? I’d love to know your thoughts! Let me know with a comment below.

 

 

Book Review: Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung

This year, I’ve made it a personal quest to read more short story collections. It’s been going much better than expected, and I’ve had the pleasure of reading some incredible short stories from some of the most brilliant writers of contemporary fiction. During this journey, I discovered a couple of interesting trends: all the short story collections I’ve read are from women writers, and the works are extremely dark. Two of these books come from the genius of Korean author Bora Chung. I read her first book, Cursed Bunny, back in February. When I was finished, I knew immediately that I would be reading her recent follow-up, Your Utopia, and so I reserved it from my local library. While I was originally planning to review both together, I’ve decided to keep them separate, as they are quite different stylistically. One leans more toward horror, while the other is heavily science fiction. So let’s discuss the delightfully twisted tales of Cursed Bunny!

Cursed Bunny (2017) by Bora Chung and translated by Anton Hur; Photo Credit: Natalie Getter (Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!)

This is the most varied assortment of stories I’ve ever encountered in one book! I thought I knew what I was getting into with this collection, particularly as the first two stories were firmly rooted in body horror. The opener titled “The Head” is so disgusting that the less I say about it, the better. You’ll just have to read it to see what I mean. The second tale called “The Embodiment” is so surreal and Kafkaesque, as a woman becomes inexplicably pregnant despite never having been with anyone. Rather than provide any sympathetic advice, however, her physician tells her that in order to have a normal baby, this young mother will have to find a suitable father. The story then becomes an allegory on parenting and the pressures of a woman in Korea believing she must have a man in her life. Chung infuses both of these opening stories with a lot of humor, but it doesn’t take long for them to become so disturbing. I completely loved these stories, and, rightfully so, was mistaken in believing that all ten stories would be works of horror. Far from it, as Chung proves she is adept at moving from genre to genre with equal skill.

For example, “Goodbye, My Love” is fully in the science fiction vein, focusing on a scientist and her relationships with the androids she creates. While she works through the difficult decision to send her first ever creation back to the factory as it’s become obsolete, she wonders if perhaps the android has feelings about this as well. “Snare” is a dark version of the classic golden goose fable, while “Ruler of the Winds and Sands” is a fantasy fable taking place on a desert world. In this one, a princess embarks on a mission to restore the sight of the prince she is to marry, only to discover that things are not as they seem, and that human nature is a terrible thing.

Another group of stories take a darker and supernatural approach. One of the best horror shorts I’ve ever read is called “The Frozen Finger” and is a claustrophobic story of a woman trapped in a sinking car in complete darkness with only a cold hand for company and support. It’s so chilling! (no pun intended). Another favorite from this collection, “Reunion,” is a clever ghost story that takes the reader in so many directions, leading us to examine the darkness that exists in each of us. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the title story of this phenomenal book. “Cursed Bunny” is told from the point-of-view of a grandfather who takes revenge on a company by gifting them a cursed object, a rabbit lamp shade. As the story unfolds, we see how the curse works on a family but also how it comes back on the grandfather himself.

Overall, Chung’s first collection is an impressive debut, with translator Anton Hur doing an extraordinary job in converting these twisted tales for us English readers to enjoy. Here’s my warning: as impressed as I was with this book, I recognize it’s not for the squeamish or for the faint of heart. I encourage you dear reader to have the courage to check out this intriguing collection from one of my new favorite writers. If you still say Bora Chung is a no-go, I ask that you wait for my review of Your Utopia before making a decision.

“I could finally understand the horrific and cruel clarity of what he considered to be meaningful. The desperation and immense fear that your life, as well as the future to come, hinged on a moment.”-“Reunion”

Have you read this book? I’d love to know your thoughts! Let me know with a comment below.