u/Ashestoashesjc

It was a book with a devious, diabolical, plotting, scheming, unlikeable, irredeemable, and unrepentant female protagonist.

4.5 stars.

It does exactly what it says on the tin. Our protag, Lalla, is a mother and housewife who doesn't feel things as strongly as the people around her, but she doesn't let that stop her from getting what she wants and living the life she wants to live, by any means necessary.

Some of the middle dragged for me, the final twist >!wasn't all that shocking, !<and it took a bit longer to read than an under-400 page book should have, but I overall had a good time and laughed often at the absurdity of Lalla's callous—and occasionally violent—responses to domestic woes.

It's M.K. Oliver's debut and I found it well-written, the chapters were short and punchy, and reading from a perspective I don't regularly see kept me engaged and amused.

My Goodreads review, which about sums up my feelings:

"A book with a devious, diabolical, plotting, scheming, unlikeable, irredeemable, and unrepentant female protagonist.

4.5 stars."

It does exactly what it says on the tin. Our protagonist, Lalla, doesn't feel things as strongly as the people around her, but she doesn't let that stop her from getting what she wants and living the life she wants to live, by any means necessary.

Some of the middle dragged for me, it took a bit longer to read than an under-400 page book should have, but I overall had a very good time and laughed often at the absurdity of Lalla's callousness in response to domestic woes.

It's M.K. Oliver's debut and I enjoyed the writing, the chapters were short and punchy, and reading from a perspective I don't regularly see kept me engaged and amused.

Would recommend if it sounds up your alley!

And recs for good books about similarly unapologetically unhinged women are always welcome.

I switched to a Basic after a decade with a Paperwhite and, after getting used to the size difference, I mostly love it. Warm lighting would be a nice bonus, but I needed the larger capacity and wanted to keep the recessed screen.

The only problem is that the Kindle seems to hate to stay in its case. I often flip the front cover around and hold the Kindle up that way, but it's like the lightest touch makes the thing fly out.

I never had this problem with my Paperwhites, and sometimes (especially with third-party cases) even found the fit a bit too snug. I really like the matcha color and look and feel of the fabric, but maybe a third-party cover would be a better bet.

Anyone else having this (admittedly minor) issue? Or any recommendations for third-party cases that have worked for them?

Looking for funny books set in (or written by authors—especially women—from) Africa/the Middle East/Asia.

I recently read "Funny in Farsi" by Firoozeh Dumas and "The Bandit Queens" by Parini Shroff and had a great time with both, and a large part of why is getting a look at cultures less familiar to me or commonly depicted with an added dose of levity.

Some of the topics covered in each are still quite serious (xenophobia, misogyny, the caste system) and different books might handle them with a more no-nonsense approach, but finding humor even amongst darkness is human and very compelling to me.

Does anything come to mind?