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akira_outofthegravity's reviews
173 reviews
One Rainy Night by Richard Laymon
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Pulp fiction at its finest.
Could have done without the rape and racism but it’s a quick easy read. A lot of gore, which I liked. I particularly liked the bit where Trev thinks a boy is holding a ball on a string, but it turns out to be some poor girls head.
I guess I would describe it as a video-nasty in a book.
A cheesy slasher in a book.
Not for thinking too much about, yknow?
Could have done without the rape and racism but it’s a quick easy read. A lot of gore, which I liked. I particularly liked the bit where Trev thinks a boy is holding a ball on a string, but it turns out to be some poor girls head.
I guess I would describe it as a video-nasty in a book.
A cheesy slasher in a book.
Not for thinking too much about, yknow?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gun violence, Rape, Racism, Death, Body horror, and Gore
Moderate: Confinement, Violence, and Sexual violence
Minor: Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Car accident, Cannibalism, and Misogyny
Mostly Void, Partially Stars by Jeffrey Cranor, Joseph Fink
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A collection of my favourite episodes from my favourite podcast- what could I hate?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Gore
Silent Parade by Keigo Higashino
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It’s honestly like coming home to a warm hug when I read a Detective Galileo novel.
This book was pretty good! It’s nicely written and structured well. The story is filled with twists and turns as usual. Most I didn’t see coming, but a couple I did which I felt very good about lol. I think the connection between the cases was pretty good. The motive reminded me a bit of his previous work Malice.
I found the conclusion and ending to be a bit rushed, and I wasn’t totally satisfied with who actually killed Saori. But aside from that I really liked it! I loooooved all the literary references and I loved the reference to The Devotion of Suspect X!
While not as great as his other books I think it’s still a worthy read.
This book was pretty good! It’s nicely written and structured well. The story is filled with twists and turns as usual. Most I didn’t see coming, but a couple I did which I felt very good about lol. I think the connection between the cases was pretty good. The motive reminded me a bit of his previous work Malice.
I found the conclusion and ending to be a bit rushed, and I wasn’t totally satisfied with who actually killed Saori. But aside from that I really liked it! I loooooved all the literary references and I loved the reference to The Devotion of Suspect X!
While not as great as his other books I think it’s still a worthy read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Confinement, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape and Infertility
Surrendering to the Italian's Command by Kim Lawrence
lighthearted
fast-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
3.0
I didn’t hate this!
The main guy isn’t as insufferable as I’d expected, I really liked Tess. I think the exploration of trauma and guilt was p interesting for a Mills & Boone. I liked that the disabled character called out Danilo for infantilising her.
Over all I didn’t hate it, or laugh at it, as much as I thought I would!
The main guy isn’t as insufferable as I’d expected, I really liked Tess. I think the exploration of trauma and guilt was p interesting for a Mills & Boone. I liked that the disabled character called out Danilo for infantilising her.
Over all I didn’t hate it, or laugh at it, as much as I thought I would!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content and Ableism
Minor: Pregnancy
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke And Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What have you done today to deserve your eyes?
I had so much fun reading this!! That’s what this collection is: fun.
My ranking is as follows:
1. Things have gotten worse since we last spoke.
Disturbing, darkly funny, I had no idea where it was going. It’s outlandish and yet believable, I loved loved loved it- the hype is justified and so are the trigger warnings.
2. They Do It Like That All Over.
The last story holds a huge punch. It’s sickening how anxiety producing it is, and yet. I think it’s a commentary on how politeness (like Mr Fowler’s silent acceptance- though he disapproves- of his husbands extreme racism) makes him complicit and vulnerable, but it could just be a Shirley Jackson-esque tale of terror that works equally well.
3. The Enchantment.
Though still entertaining I didn’t like this one as much because I didn’t really know what was going on. It’s a book that slaps you one way, the beginning is absolutely the best part. It meanders into a tale of paranoia, but never really answers anything. I still enjoyed it though.
Honestly an amazing read.
I had so much fun reading this!! That’s what this collection is: fun.
My ranking is as follows:
1. Things have gotten worse since we last spoke.
Disturbing, darkly funny, I had no idea where it was going. It’s outlandish and yet believable, I loved loved loved it- the hype is justified and so are the trigger warnings.
2. They Do It Like That All Over.
The last story holds a huge punch. It’s sickening how anxiety producing it is, and yet. I think it’s a commentary on how politeness (like Mr Fowler’s silent acceptance- though he disapproves- of his husbands extreme racism) makes him complicit and vulnerable, but it could just be a Shirley Jackson-esque tale of terror that works equally well.
3. The Enchantment.
Though still entertaining I didn’t like this one as much because I didn’t really know what was going on. It’s a book that slaps you one way, the beginning is absolutely the best part. It meanders into a tale of paranoia, but never really answers anything. I still enjoyed it though.
Honestly an amazing read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Animal death, and Body horror
Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Suicide
Minor: Self harm, Sexual content, Racism, and Vomit
In Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke a character is forced to eat raw, rotten meat.
Black Paradox by Junji Ito
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I didn’t enjoy it as much as his other works, but the art is stunning as always and I enjoyed most of it, it just isn’t as compelling as his other pieces.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Confinement, Medical trauma, and Medical content
Dune by Frank Herbert
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 37%.
I may try again but for now I am insanely bored. Life’s too short to deal with books that drag.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: War
Minor: Pedophilia and Rape
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a very unique novel. I think reading this as a look into Dazai’s life, and as someone who’s suffering from mental illness in a world that doesn’t understand it. The main character is a deeply disturbed individual, but I believe this is due to his trauma than his actual personality.
I think it’s a sad novel, and I find it sad that Osamu Dazai never found peace.
I think it’s a sad novel, and I find it sad that Osamu Dazai never found peace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
I really liked this book. It’s a bit like every zombie film out there, but there’s hope in this one which I like. I genuinely cared for all the characters, and I cried a lot.
It’s not the most mind blowing but I liked it enough to cry when sad things happened, which doesn’t happen with badly written books.
Sassafras and lullabies.
It’s not the most mind blowing but I liked it enough to cry when sad things happened, which doesn’t happen with badly written books.
Sassafras and lullabies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, Pregnancy, Animal death, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Vomit, Grief, Gun violence, Violence, and Medical trauma
The Liminal Zone by Junji Ito
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Honestly, in the afterword Junji Ito wonders if he’s running out of ideas, but I think this is some of his best work yet!
I really liked Slumber and Madonna. Very good, not disappointed!!
I really liked Slumber and Madonna. Very good, not disappointed!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Blood, and Death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment