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mirandaleighhhh's review against another edition
I wasn’t expecting this to be great based on the cover of the copy I got from the library, but I was looking forward to another whimsical palette cleanser with the second installment. I’m so disappointed ☹️
There is excessive fat shaming (I mean really so much I was rolling my eyes), and the depiction of Arab culture and characterizations were racist. I’m confused that there aren’t more reviews discussing this. I skimmed through the rest to find insane shit about killing cats (apparently Sophie is in this and is a cat) and what appears to be human trafficking of his relatives who bare the brunt of the fat shaming??????????? ….?
I don’t care that this came out in the 90’s, it made me feel gross and honestly angry and it’s not worth my time. And what’s more is the story is so boring! I do not understand why she wrote this at all.
I am going to attempt to read House of Many Ways since I already got it from the library, but it’s really all soured for me now
There is excessive fat shaming (I mean really so much I was rolling my eyes), and the depiction of Arab culture and characterizations were racist. I’m confused that there aren’t more reviews discussing this. I skimmed through the rest to find insane shit about killing cats (apparently Sophie is in this and is a cat) and what appears to be human trafficking of his relatives who bare the brunt of the fat shaming??????????? ….?
I don’t care that this came out in the 90’s, it made me feel gross and honestly angry and it’s not worth my time. And what’s more is the story is so boring! I do not understand why she wrote this at all.
I am going to attempt to read House of Many Ways since I already got it from the library, but it’s really all soured for me now
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Racism, and Body shaming
bymaniak's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Fatphobia
pythonesque's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
The worst thing about this book -- it casts a shadow to the Howl's Moving Castle, and I hate to find flaws in it!
I wouldn't give this book to my younger self, because otherwise I definitely would have hated my body even more than I already did.
I wouldn't give this book to my younger self, because otherwise I definitely would have hated my body even more than I already did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Cultural appropriation, and Fatphobia
rcsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Nowhere near as good as the first book in the series. It's basically a retelling of Alladin and it's as problematic as the Disney version, plus loads of added fatphobia!
I did really enjoy how it wrapped up and tied into Howl though, and Tabitha screamed with excitement when Calcifer finally put in an appearance!
I did really enjoy how it wrapped up and tied into Howl though, and Tabitha screamed with excitement when Calcifer finally put in an appearance!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Islamophobia and Kidnapping
Minor: War
nonnayurbiz's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Xenophobia and Racism
Minor: Confinement
asolis's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
This book is technically fine but the inherent appropriation of the Arabian Nights theme made it hard to enjoy. You can completely skip this book with no adverse effect on understanding and enjoying book 3.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
Minor: Fatphobia
leif's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Racism, and Cultural appropriation
melonmachinery's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Racism, and Misogyny
lily1304's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.75
Disappointing compared to Howl's Moving Castle. The story was wiped clean of anything that made Howl's Moving Castle interesting - the characters were flat and there was no interesting puzzle to the plot. Even the feminist themes were gone - the female characters have very little agency besides manipulating children and each other.
Castle in the Air was published in 1990, before it was cool for white people to stay in our lanes I guess, because the setting is a fantasy-stereotyped medieval Middle East. It reminded me strongly of both of Calormen, C.S. Lewis' fantasy Middle East south of Narnia, and the Disney version of Aladdin.
Castle in the Air was published in 1990, before it was cool for white people to stay in our lanes I guess, because the setting is a fantasy-stereotyped medieval Middle East. It reminded me strongly of both of Calormen, C.S. Lewis' fantasy Middle East south of Narnia, and the Disney version of Aladdin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, and Kidnapping
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