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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
This storyline has a particular death in it that I can't condone. but I love the story and the frog mug and the girlfriends and it makes me cry every time.
So, I really like Thessaly and want to find out more about her. But she's only a supporting character here, and I just don't think Barbie is interesting enough to be the protagonist of a whole arc.
As for Wanda... She deserved so much better, okay? I cried real tears in the last few pages, but I can't help but feel that her death is unnecessary - what does it add to the thematic concerns? Nothing.
More to the point: Wanda's death is troubling. And no, I'm not going to mark this as a spoiler, because I think it counts as a content warning. Let me be clear: a trans female character dies in this volume after getting left behind because according to the actual moon, she's not really a woman. And I don't really see how this plot point contributes to the story as a whole.
As for Wanda... She deserved so much better, okay? I cried real tears in the last few pages, but I can't help but feel that her death is unnecessary - what does it add to the thematic concerns? Nothing.
More to the point: Wanda's death is troubling. And no, I'm not going to mark this as a spoiler, because I think it counts as a content warning. Let me be clear: a trans female character dies in this volume after getting left behind because according to the actual moon, she's not really a woman. And I don't really see how this plot point contributes to the story as a whole.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Critical Score: A-
Personal Score: A-
Reading Experience: 📘📘📘📘(4/5)
Another one that gets better as it goes. I’m shocked that this straight (I think) guy wrote something so progressive 30 years ago and managed to get by with few problems. I was bawling my eyes out at the end. The fantasy adventure was magical and brought out my joy for stories.
Gaiman is such a mature writer. He consistently merges wisdom and creativity in moving, fresh stories. Bravo again.
I’ve decided to, instead of continuing to make my way through the series gradually, go ahead and get the rest of the installments from my library and read to the end.
Critical Score: A-
Personal Score: A-
Reading Experience: 📘📘📘📘(4/5)
Another one that gets better as it goes. I’m shocked that this straight (I think) guy wrote something so progressive 30 years ago and managed to get by with few problems. I was bawling my eyes out at the end. The fantasy adventure was magical and brought out my joy for stories.
Gaiman is such a mature writer. He consistently merges wisdom and creativity in moving, fresh stories. Bravo again.
I’ve decided to, instead of continuing to make my way through the series gradually, go ahead and get the rest of the installments from my library and read to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Transphobia
A Game of You has plenty to unpack over the course of multiple, careful rereadings. I enjoyed the characters, themes, darker elements, ideas, and threads interweaving throughout the narrative.
Plus, Samuel R. Delany's introduction comments on the wonderful quality of Sandman--not only do you get to enjoy Gaiman's upon a first reading (the pithy humor, the relatable characters, and the wonderous journeys and themes), but after many readings elements decide to become less shy and if you read carefully enough you will brush up enough to see the multitudinous gems present in his fine tales!
Plus, Samuel R. Delany's introduction comments on the wonderful quality of Sandman--not only do you get to enjoy Gaiman's upon a first reading (the pithy humor, the relatable characters, and the wonderous journeys and themes), but after many readings elements decide to become less shy and if you read carefully enough you will brush up enough to see the multitudinous gems present in his fine tales!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
7.7.22
"He reached out his hand and picked up the land. I don't know how.. it was like a little jeweled world. It didn't matter that it was tiny, if it was tiny. I could see every waterfall and stream, every leaf on every tree. I could see everything. And then it crumbled in his hand. It was just dust.. sand.. A glittering, multicolored sand that fell away into the chilly wind at the end of the world."
Dream continues to fascinate me, and I just can't stop.
Dream continues to fascinate me, and I just can't stop.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This took me ages to finish - not only because life picked up pace but also because I knew it would end with Wanda’s death - and that was hard to bear.
I loved Wanda. She was so funny, unfazed, and a great friend. I’m glad Barbie went to her funeral among all those puritans and evened out the scales in Wanda’s favour.
Also, it was again one like a horror movie: George made me shudder from start to finish, the cuckoo gave me the creeps, and the art style only added to this atmosphere.
I’m torn if I liked it or not, but it definitely made me think: about friendship, about imagination, about how we perceive ourselves and each other. That’s worth a bit of an uncomfortable read. 4 stars
I loved Wanda. She was so funny, unfazed, and a great friend. I’m glad Barbie went to her funeral among all those puritans and evened out the scales in Wanda’s favour.
Also, it was again one like a horror movie: George made me shudder from start to finish, the cuckoo gave me the creeps, and the art style only added to this atmosphere.
I’m torn if I liked it or not, but it definitely made me think: about friendship, about imagination, about how we perceive ourselves and each other. That’s worth a bit of an uncomfortable read. 4 stars
This one comes with a trigger warning regarding hardcore misgendering and uncomfortable treatment of a trans woman. It's good, but it's weird, and I'm not a fan of Barbie. Eh.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced