Scan barcode
moonyreadsbystarlight's reviews
576 reviews
Saga, Vol. 8 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Violence
Saga, Vol. 7 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
How to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend by Linda Addison
fast-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
This was a really neat book of short stories. None of these were terrifying, but most everything embodied various spooky elements, whether through magic, zombies, or even real-life horror.
Snotgirl, Volume 2: California Screaming by Bryan Lee O'Malley
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
I'm getting into the plot a bit more and I'm starting to get more of a feel for the weirdness that comes with this comic and it's something I can see myself liking. I'm still not in love with any of the characters (I'm really into more character-driven stuff). But I am willing to continue the series and see if I can really get into the groove of it.
Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator: Uncommon Love and Life by Amy Gahran
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
This was a really accessible and enlightening book. Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator is not a run-of-the-mill self-help relationship book that tells you how to make your life and relationships better. This book does not pretend to know the answers or prioritize one way to do relationships. Gahran describes many different ways people can organize relationships off (and on) the traditional "relationship escalator" by diving into the perspectives of those living in nontraditional relationships. In discussing the many ways that people do (or don't do) relationships, it opens the door for self-reflection, regardless of what relationship format you end up favoring. I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in (or currently practice) nonmonogomy, however I also think that monogamous people would highly benefit from reading this as well -- if not to understand people in other relationships, then to feel more intentional in their relationship framework and expand their communication with their partner.
I had a couple of small problem that mostly boil down to terminology. While I think her discussion of asexuality and aromanticism was really great for the most part, I do think that the initial definition that she gave of asexuality is not the one that I see most asexuals use. Additionally, the use of "tribe" to describe a close-knit group (who might not quite be a polycule or literal family), is not ideal, as that word has its own definition in Indigenous communities. I do understand that she was likely using the terms most used in the community, this would have been a good opportunity to suggest new terminology or at least acknowledge the problem of the term.
I had a couple of small problem that mostly boil down to terminology. While I think her discussion of asexuality and aromanticism was really great for the most part, I do think that the initial definition that she gave of asexuality is not the one that I see most asexuals use. Additionally, the use of "tribe" to describe a close-knit group (who might not quite be a polycule or literal family), is not ideal, as that word has its own definition in Indigenous communities. I do understand that she was likely using the terms most used in the community, this would have been a good opportunity to suggest new terminology or at least acknowledge the problem of the term.
The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My head is still reeling from finishing this. Not only did this book completely emotionally break me, it did so while completely immersing me in the atmosphere of the era and in the lives of the characters. This book goes between perspectives, showing the lives of several gay men and trans women as they begin to weave together and fray apart through time. While many parts of the book are peppered with wit, it does not shy away from the dark realities of queer people during the 80's and 90's. There are so many nuances to Cassara's writing throughout the story, details that he changes as time passes that really makes the story more immersive and more devastating. From setting to characters to theme, this is a brilliant work of art and a beautiful homage to those we have lost.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Transphobia
There Are Things I Can't Tell You by Edako Mofumofu
emotional
fast-paced
2.25
This childhood friend-to-lovers oneshot had some cute moments. I also enjoyed aspects of the plot and did feel for the characters during parts of this. However, it seemed like too much for a one-shot. Despite being a story that relied on a lot of pining, it went very quickly. I also don''t think that the time allowed us to really get an understanding of who the characters were outside of their relationship with each
other; this was especially true for Kasumi's character. A few of the flashbacks were a bit confusing and left me unsure of when they ended and the main timeline started again. It also felt like the events of the present day timeline went really quickly. I do think that the general idea of it was good and the relationship was cute. However, the execution was ultimately a bit awkward and rushed.
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
other; this was especially true for Kasumi's character. A few of the flashbacks were a bit confusing and left me unsure of when they ended and the main timeline started again. It also felt like the events of the present day timeline went really quickly. I do think that the general idea of it was good and the relationship was cute. However, the execution was ultimately a bit awkward and rushed.
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
How to They/Them: A Visual Guide to Nonbinary Pronouns and the World of Gender Fluidity by Stuart Getty
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
This has an incredible amount of useful information as a primer for folks who are not familiar with nonbinary people and they/them pronoun usage. I definitely do not want to disregard the fact that this information is important and well-articulated. They go into so much history, but not in a way that takes too long or goes into some less relevant areas (I know it can be hard to cut out things that feel important even though they're tangential!). I also think that the way they use their own experience works really well for the writing style that they have. It also makes the topic seem a lot less heavy, which can be really important for an intro book like this.
However, I did have a couple of issues with the text. The main one was audience. The book is very informal and full of jokes and humor. I would assume that this would be more middle grade or on the younger side of YA. But, there is some information that seems geared towards adults (such as how to talk to kids about they/them pronouns and how to use gender neutral language in the workplace), as well as some sexual jokes that are toeing the line of inappropriate for the younger group that I assumed the book was for. I think that the humor would make it harder for adults to take seriously, which is a shame because the information is so important.
A couple of smaller points: there are also a few times where they used "they" as a placeholder for "nonbinary" or "people who use they" which might be confusing for some people, and I would have liked to see some acknowledgement that some nonbinary people use "she" or "he" a bit earlier on (it is mentioned but only once and a decent way through the book).
All of that being said, I still think this book is a great resource. I would recommend it, probably for teens and parents. I know I critiqued the fact that I was unclear about the audience, but the way that it ended up being written lends itself well to a parent/child buddy read, which is really great.
I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
However, I did have a couple of issues with the text. The main one was audience. The book is very informal and full of jokes and humor. I would assume that this would be more middle grade or on the younger side of YA. But, there is some information that seems geared towards adults (such as how to talk to kids about they/them pronouns and how to use gender neutral language in the workplace), as well as some sexual jokes that are toeing the line of inappropriate for the younger group that I assumed the book was for. I think that the humor would make it harder for adults to take seriously, which is a shame because the information is so important.
A couple of smaller points: there are also a few times where they used "they" as a placeholder for "nonbinary" or "people who use they" which might be confusing for some people, and I would have liked to see some acknowledgement that some nonbinary people use "she" or "he" a bit earlier on (it is mentioned but only once and a decent way through the book).
All of that being said, I still think this book is a great resource. I would recommend it, probably for teens and parents. I know I critiqued the fact that I was unclear about the audience, but the way that it ended up being written lends itself well to a parent/child buddy read, which is really great.
I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Tragedy of Heterosexuality by Jane Ward
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This was a very interesting read. Throughout her introduction, she discusses her perspective, but she also brings in points from many others – especially women of color, which is particularly important since she is writing from a white perspective. Her discussion of the heterosexual “self-help” industry, in particular was interesting and very important in understanding parts of heterosexual culture. I think that this discussion of the impact of misogyny on heterosexual relationships is very important. While I did not agree with all aspects of the solutions that she gave, I do agree that there needs to be a reframing of what it means to like/desire women for heterosexual men to see woman as human and whole, rather than sex objects, in order to fix the animosity that is essential to parts of heterosexual culture.
However, parts of the book – particularly towards the latter half – could have been better. She could have used the quotes from her queer respondents in a way that made that section stronger. I understand the need to have all of the quotes in the work, but I think that using fewer within her text while she discussed the point (while, perhaps, utilizing an index to house the rest of the quotes) would have been more effective. There were also parts where she used personal antidotes too heavily for my taste; they would have been more successful if she had tied them more in with a reference to a previous study or other point that she had made. I do think that in most of these instances, she had pulled a similar point from her findings, but she did not allude to those points when she brought it up later in the book. There were other points that I would have liked to see explored as well (for instance, queer women's experiences with compulsory heterosexuality could bring an important layer to this conversation, especially since this is from a queer perspective).
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
However, parts of the book – particularly towards the latter half – could have been better. She could have used the quotes from her queer respondents in a way that made that section stronger. I understand the need to have all of the quotes in the work, but I think that using fewer within her text while she discussed the point (while, perhaps, utilizing an index to house the rest of the quotes) would have been more effective. There were also parts where she used personal antidotes too heavily for my taste; they would have been more successful if she had tied them more in with a reference to a previous study or other point that she had made. I do think that in most of these instances, she had pulled a similar point from her findings, but she did not allude to those points when she brought it up later in the book. There were other points that I would have liked to see explored as well (for instance, queer women's experiences with compulsory heterosexuality could bring an important layer to this conversation, especially since this is from a queer perspective).
I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.