moonyreadsbystarlight's reviews
576 reviews

Trans: A Quick and Quirky Account of Gender Variability by J. Jack Halberstam

informative

4.0

I read this shortly after it came out (at least five years ago), so it'sbeen a while but I realized I never rated it. It has good information and I've used the beginning chapter as a part of a gender studies class. I would need to reread it to say much more or talk about it with how language has changed since its publication.

A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow, Vol. 1 by Makoto Hagino

3.0

Cute, simple, and it's got neat marine life. The emotions felt a bit rushed but it's compelling enough, I'll probably pick up the next volume 

The Skin and Its Girl by Sarah Cypher

emotional hopeful reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This queer family saga weaves together many stories along with history. It blends fiction/myth and reality. It's thematically layered and beautifully written. I will absolutely be planning a reread of this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer and Infidelity

Interrogation and gaslighting by soldiers

The Out Side: Trans & Nonbinary Comics by The Kao, Min Christensen, David Daneman

hopeful reflective

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Transphobia and Medical content

Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories by Ghassan Kanafani

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Xenophobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Fatphobia

Earth Keeper: Reflections on the American Land by N. Scott Momaday

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

4.25

Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar

4.0

I read this partly because of the Fundie Friday coverage, partly because of my cults & extreme beliefs TBR. I went into this knowing a fair amount (mostly via the aforementioned youtube channel) but I still came out of it with more perspective on this family and the impact of IBLP and reality TV. Her experience is also a testament to how horribly victims/survivors of abuse are treated by many people and systems.

I read this shortly after Britney Spears's memoir. While they are from quite different places, both women were done very wrong by the entertainment industry, the media, and power-hungry men. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

Minor: Grief and Pandemic/Epidemic

A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt

emotional reflective tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.5

Wow. I'm not sure that I've completed processed all of it, but this was beautiful and profound. I'm definitely getting a physical copy to reread

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Grief, and Colonisation

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage

Dinosaur Sanctuary, Vol. 1 by Itaru Kinoshita

adventurous informative reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.25

Slice of life-ish but it's about a dinosaur zookeeper. Cool notes from the paleontologist they consulted! Book 2 will probably go into background they've been alluding to, so I'm excited. Definitely will continue and want my own copy!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Medical content

Moderate: Death

Animal injury

Unfamiliar, Vol. 1 by Haley Newsome

adventurous lighthearted

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Death