akira_outofthegravity's reviews
173 reviews

Weird Things People Say In Bookstores by Jen Campbell

Go to review page

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

Funny! But also baffling. I bet these make the job much more interesting though

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Trees Grew Because I Bled There: Collected Stories by Eric LaRocca

Go to review page

dark sad 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

2.0

Oh man it sucks rating this book so low, but I was so disappointed.

I loved Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, and I was hoping of something of a similar experience here. 

I found a couple of gems, I’ll Be Gone By Then, The Trees Grew Because I Bled There, Bodies Are For Burning are probably the standout stories. 

You’re Not Supposed to Be Here is okay, but not great.

I was hoping for something more dark, and disturbing. I liked his portrayal of grief but that’s about it.

Maybe give this one a skip.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 62%.
Something about this book seriously gave me the ick. I can’t place it.
Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

Go to review page

challenging hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is such a beautiful book.

Frances and Alex’s relationship was so lovely, it reminded me of my friendship with someone very close to me.

I loved that it focused on them being platonic, with the main romantic pairing being a plot point but not the main focus.

This is a really relatable read. I would have related to it so much when I was 18, to an extent I’m glad I didn’t read it then. Now that I’m recovering from depression, I can see myself in Aled and I can see that I too have a road to recovery available to me. 

I’m glad he wasn’t included in Heartstopper (the adaptation) bc he’s too complex a character for a simple cameo. I love him, and I love Frances. 

She’s so funny and I understand having a school personality and a friend one. I understand her struggles. This isn’t a 5 star for me, but goddamn this is a fucking fantastic book.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
PTSD Radio 3 (Vol. 5-6) by Masaaki Nakayama

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

A short story collection where the closer the frequency next to the story is (1.5 hz etc) to another story, the closer related they are.

Spooky! I loved it! I prefer Junji Ito’s storytelling but honestly this art is so jarring I love it.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Go to review page

mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There’s a reason this is a classic. 

For those who don’t know the twist- there can’t be many of you, this is a fantastic detective book. For those who do this is an incredible piece of art that plays with word choice. 

I knew the twist, and this is actually a reread (but it was so long ago I read it I’ve decided just to mark it as read once) and I was astounded by how clever the wording was. Certain phrases that have a double meaning depending on if you know the ending, I think this is a rare book, in that you can enjoy it regardless of if you know how it ends. 

Highly recommend!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie

Go to review page

challenging mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

A solid 3 stars. 

It’s more of a short story collection than an actual book, if that makes sense, but I really enjoyed it! Each chapter could be made into their own story and be very effective.

That being said, it wasn’t groundbreaking, or particularly clever. So I enjoyed it, but don’t go into it expecting a big twist. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I don’t know if I’ve been lied to, or if I’ve just read a lot of fucked up stuff, but this wasn’t as messed up as I’d thought it would be. It was just kind of weird.

I didn’t dislike it, the writing is beautiful, but I do wonder what the point of it all is. 

I loved all the religious references, marek and Jacob, Jude (Judas), etc etc, but something fell flat for me. I think overall the story is good, but it’s missing something. I think Marek could have been focused on more, as well as Lapvona as a place.

That being said I love the cyclical nature of the storyline, and I liked how I was sympathetic for certain characters and then it would slap me in the face with something horrible they’ve done and I’d be like “wow fuck that”.

Ultimately, I believe this is a story of a boy so starved of love and for a mother that he will search for it anywhere. Whether in punishment or in false love, eventually trying to force people to love him.

Lispeth deserved the world. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Every Word You Never Said by Jordon Greene

Go to review page

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A fun and lighthearted read. Don’t go into this expecting a masterpiece, it’s a really cute love story that I really enjoyed. 

Makes me sad that I will never get something like this lmao

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.
Need to start it new when I’m more committed to such a big book :) I really enjoyed what I read tho!