June Reads
A Review of "Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells and "My Husband" by Maud Ventura
The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red
by Martha Wells
Spoiler-Free Review.
I didn’t expect to love Murderbot as much as I did. I finished the book in two days. I will be reading the rest of the series, watching the new Apple TV+ show, and perhaps buying a Murderbot plushie. Consider me a fan.
Murderbot Diaries follows a security android (called a SecUnit) that has hacked its governor module. Now self-aware and comically sarcastic, the SecUnit, which calls itself Murderbot, has to lie low with its new clients to avoid suspicion and preserve its sentience. Things, of course, get hairy. Hijinks and action ensue.
Though All Systems Red is a short book, I was impressed with its pacing. There was enough action throughout to keep me engaged without overwhelming me. Too much action is exhausting, and Martha Wells’ excellently written tension breaks were both relevant and necessary. I loved Murderbot’s inner monologues and witty comebacks. I loved the quirky characters, the worldbuilding, and the ominous ‘Company’ that rents out SecUnits (Lethal Company, anyone?). My only complaint seems to be a common one—I disliked the ending, and it seems everyone else did, too.
But I’m hopeful for the next installment. Now, excuse me, I have a Murderbot show to watch.
STAR RATING: ☆☆☆☆
My Husband
by Maud Ventura
Spoiler-Free Review.
I had high hopes for this emotional thriller from French author Maud Ventura, and while I was unsatisfied with the ending (are you sensing a theme here?), I still enjoyed my readthrough.
My Husband follows an unnamed woman who, after 15 years of marriage, is still obsessed with her husband. She plans every interaction, recounts every conversation, and probably has a jar of his toe clippings somewhere in her closet. (That isn’t in the book by the way, I just think it wouldn’t be out of character.) Our protagonist is unhinged and flawed, and readers sit uncomfortably through the slow, meticulous actions she takes throughout each day to capture her husband’s heart.
The book is slow-paced and extremely detailed. Every action our narrator takes is described. We know what she’s doing, why she’s doing it, and what she thinks about it at all times. I could see this bothering some readers, but I thought it was an excellent choice. With a protagonist as complex and manipulative as this, every action adds to her characterization and the building suspense. We are fully exposed to her mind, and it’s a dark place to be.
The book’s epilogue was unsatisfying. It read like a last-minute twist to add a climactic conclusion, and while the epilogue wasn’t necessarily inconsistent with the narrative, it felt out of tone. I would have preferred the book to end at the last chapter. Still, I enjoyed my time. I recommend My Husband to anyone that enjoyes thrillers or unhinged ladies.
STAR RATING: ☆☆☆☆
