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christcore's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Seamless. An emotional voyage through friendship, idolization, betrayal, jealousy, guilt…
The first book I’ve read that uses online interaction as a narrative device that didn’t feel forced or clunky. The audiobook is only 5 hours - go read it!
The first book I’ve read that uses online interaction as a narrative device that didn’t feel forced or clunky. The audiobook is only 5 hours - go read it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I didn't completely click with this but there were definitely aspects I enjoyed. I found the story interesting and compelling but overall it was a little too literary for my tastes. The themes also didn't speak to me in the same way they would to someone creative or musical. I wish it had been a bit longer just because I prefer nice, neat endings but I can understand why Shraya chose to leave certain things unresolved. I listened to the audiobook of this and thought the narration was really well done, giving me a good sense of the characters. I really enjoyed I'm Afraid Of Men and I'll see definitely pick up more of Shraya's work in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death and Grief
n_asyikin_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW: racism, cyberbullying
An enlivening exploration that brought to the forefront some issues relating to online culture, especially with the immediacy & intensity in engagement towards social discussions (e.g. racism, accountability, etc).
Shraya wrote in a compelling manner, evoking the same reactive emotions in me, the sorts one might feel when using social media sites. In other words, her writing was full of conviction; you'd find yourself being absorbed into the storyline with the line between what the characters went through, & what you perceived, blurring. I was engaged emotionally, but was also left contemplating a lot of the astute observations & commentaries made even hours after I've completed the book. I know I will still think about them for some time after.
Aside from the social commentaries, I thought this book explored well how the uncertainties & insecurities that may exist in our everyday interactions can be exacerbated by the internet. What should be a private misunderstanding or issue between two individuals can become a platform for unrelated audiences to engage & speculate sans valid evidences, reflecting a form of toxic entertainment. And critically, the book also pointed out how this toxicity could also be found done under the name of social justice. It highlighted how we tend to approach things in apathy & often, free of nuances - giving people no room for growth. That being said, how can people grow when we, the online community, cannot even agree on what one can do to show remorse? Furthermore, Shraya also pointed out how the unjust system (e.g. the privileged stay privileged, the powerful still exploits every day people) could be uphold while we were distracted by the chaos.
The book was well balanced out in terms of being driven by the plot & characters. Though at the end, there were one resolution that felt a bit like a cop out: why Kasi has not been responding to Neela. That being said, I did thought the (primarily) open ending was just perfect, though some might feel frustrated. However, I'd say don't let that stop you from reading this rather astute book. My mind & heart were opened wide to absorb it all in.
The harmony was not just between the progress between the plot & characters, but also between the insightful views & the humanity within the persons (i.e. characters) that are the nexus to this story. The Subtweet was such an engaging read!
An enlivening exploration that brought to the forefront some issues relating to online culture, especially with the immediacy & intensity in engagement towards social discussions (e.g. racism, accountability, etc).
Shraya wrote in a compelling manner, evoking the same reactive emotions in me, the sorts one might feel when using social media sites. In other words, her writing was full of conviction; you'd find yourself being absorbed into the storyline with the line between what the characters went through, & what you perceived, blurring. I was engaged emotionally, but was also left contemplating a lot of the astute observations & commentaries made even hours after I've completed the book. I know I will still think about them for some time after.
Aside from the social commentaries, I thought this book explored well how the uncertainties & insecurities that may exist in our everyday interactions can be exacerbated by the internet. What should be a private misunderstanding or issue between two individuals can become a platform for unrelated audiences to engage & speculate sans valid evidences, reflecting a form of toxic entertainment. And critically, the book also pointed out how this toxicity could also be found done under the name of social justice. It highlighted how we tend to approach things in apathy & often, free of nuances - giving people no room for growth. That being said, how can people grow when we, the online community, cannot even agree on what one can do to show remorse? Furthermore, Shraya also pointed out how the unjust system (e.g. the privileged stay privileged, the powerful still exploits every day people) could be uphold while we were distracted by the chaos.
The book was well balanced out in terms of being driven by the plot & characters. Though at the end, there were one resolution that felt a bit like a cop out:
The harmony was not just between the progress between the plot & characters, but also between the insightful views & the humanity within the persons (i.e. characters) that are the nexus to this story. The Subtweet was such an engaging read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Racial slurs, Bullying, and Death
forlorn_traveller's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Death, and Grief
angelicathebookworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
loraora's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
maisierosereads's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was another audiobook I listened to on Scribd! I was looking for a reasonably short fiction book to listen to while I got some chores done, and as well as being just 5 hours (220 pages) long this had been on my TBR for a while.
The Subtweet explores the complexities of friendships, how they can form, how they can go wrong, and how they can be complicated even more by social media (and the public awareness that comes from any level of celebrity). It was really refreshing to read a book focused on friendships between adult women - all women of colour, one of whom is trans.
I liked the mix of perspectives and time periods - I found the miscommunication much more bearable with the context of each character's thought processes. Both of the main characters were well-rounded and likable (even with their evident flaws) - and I'd say pretty much everyone in the book goes through a significant level of character development by the end, too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death
moonlitemuseum's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When I started reading the Subtweet and was greeted with Neela's intense internal monologue I couldn't help but wonder if I was going to finish. Not because the prose is bad (it's amazing, peppy and funny and dry in its character's high points and reflective and thoughtful and clear in their lows) but because it felt almost embarrassing to be so close in a character's head, knowing if I were in her periphery that she'd judge me and find me lacking. The things Neela turns her nose up at in the first chapter are all things I am embarrassed about propagating, and the critical observations she makes about those around her are harsh but thoroughly earned.
Then Rukmini appears. Rukmini is one of the most fun, vibrant and knotty characters I've had the joy of reading. Through Rukmini's perspective I quickly learned how to make sense of and appreciate Neela; then, asII sighed at some of Rukmini's more naive or sincere choices I began to realize that I had, perhaps, been too harsh on Neela at the start. This is just a chronicle of my reactions to the first two chapters or so, and the book has a thousand more tricks up its sleeve before it runs through to its climax.
The author is deft with her characters and knows well how to cast them in antagonistic and sympathetic lights, while beckoning the reader to commiserate with all of the central cast in how a white-supremacist society forces them to play against one another, to offer each other up in sacrifice. But as a white reader, I can only speak on this in a limited perspective. What did seep into my bones and hook my heart through my ribcage was how very real the Subtweet was in its approach of social media, jealousy, insecurity, the right to "own" a song or a friendship or a person, the way our own lack of true communication will twist around and throttle us when it matters most.
It's gonna be really hard to beat this one. This was a wonderful book and I enjoyed every second of it.
Then Rukmini appears. Rukmini is one of the most fun, vibrant and knotty characters I've had the joy of reading. Through Rukmini's perspective I quickly learned how to make sense of and appreciate Neela; then, asII sighed at some of Rukmini's more naive or sincere choices I began to realize that I had, perhaps, been too harsh on Neela at the start. This is just a chronicle of my reactions to the first two chapters or so, and the book has a thousand more tricks up its sleeve before it runs through to its climax.
The author is deft with her characters and knows well how to cast them in antagonistic and sympathetic lights, while beckoning the reader to commiserate with all of the central cast in how a white-supremacist society forces them to play against one another, to offer each other up in sacrifice. But as a white reader, I can only speak on this in a limited perspective. What did seep into my bones and hook my heart through my ribcage was how very real the Subtweet was in its approach of social media, jealousy, insecurity, the right to "own" a song or a friendship or a person, the way our own lack of true communication will twist around and throttle us when it matters most.
It's gonna be really hard to beat this one. This was a wonderful book and I enjoyed every second of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism
meremeth's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
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