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alexamidala's Reviews (235)
I absolutely adored this memoir. RuPaul has lived such a wild life and it was a joy to be along for the ride. It was incredibly fascinating to learn about Ru's traumatic childhood, the beginning of his entertainment career in the punk scene, and his drag transformation from genderfuck to glamazon. His honesty when discussing heartbreak and addiction were endearing to read and all too relatable. Thank you for sharing your story, Mama Ru.
3.5 rounded down. I kind of liked this book, but I also kind of hated it. First, I don't know why it's described as an eco-horror. It's not a horror at all and the wildfires play a very small roll in the actual plot, they're more of a background element that creates a small amount of anxiety throughout the novel. I also feel like calling this novel an exploration of rape culture is not completely correct, as that topic does not come up until the last few chapters of the book. Also, the characters were absolutely detestable, except for Megan, who just gets treated like shit by her roommates from the begining to the end of the book. And I'm not even gonna get into the subplot about the pet cat. Anyway, this novel did have some interesting things to say about capitalism, climate change, sexism, and rape culture, but it was unfortunate that none of these ideas came to fruition until the end of the book.
Any Man was a phenomenal book! Definitely the most interesting book I've read so far this year. This novel follows various men who have been sexually assaulted and mutilated by a female serial rapist named Maude. It is disturbing, gruesome, and brutal, but is one of best explorations of rape culture and gender roles that I have ever read. The writing style is lyrical and experimental, and unlike any other novels I've read this year. Any Man will haunt me for some time, but it is such an important story and I am glad it has been told. If the premise intrigues you, I would absolutely recommend this novel, but please check out the trigger warnings before you start reading.
Sailor Moon will always be a five star manga to me! The characters are so funny and relatable, Takeuchi's artwork is absolutely magical, and the story is charming and heartwarming. The eternal edition is gorgeous and I really enjoyed reading the translation notes at the end. I have nothing to say that hasn't been said a million times already, but Sailor Moon is truly a special series that still dazzles decades after its original release.
3.5 stars rounded up. I am a little unsure about my feelings on Thirst. Overall, I think it is really well-written novel, and I would recommend it if you are a fan of vampire novels. However, part one and part two are so different that I feel like they should be reviewed separately. I would give part one five starts. The writing was dark, atmospheric, gothic, and haunting. It was very reminiscent of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, so of course I loved every moment of it. Part two, however, wasn't for me. It follows a woman whose mother is dying of a neurological disease, and unfortunately I found the content extremely triggering and hard to read. I powered through it because I was interested to see how these two seemingly unrelated stories would be tied together, but I found the ending a little predictable. Ultimately this was a good book, but not a perfect fit for me personally.
3.5 rounded down This was a weird, bleak indie comic. Blood of the Virgin follows Seymour, who is trying to make it in the film industry during the seventies. He runs into many issues with the film he is making, which causes problems with his relationship with his wife and family. Throughout this gloomy graphic novel, we get a few random stories scattered throughout. One is about a cowboy turned into a movie mogul and the other is about the Holocaust. I enjoyed these short stories, but the way they were randomly placed in the comic was so bizzare. Overall, I liked Blood of the Virgin. While it was moving, it was still somewhat confusing at times. The artwork was nice and I really did care about Seymour and his family, but I was left with lots of questions that were never answered.
When We Lost Our Heads is a wonderful novel about female rebellion and rage. I picked it up because of its gorgeous title and cover, and because the main character was Marie Antoinette. I quickly learned that the main character is not actually Marie Antoinette, but instead a spoiled heiress to a sugar factory in nineteenth century Canada who happens to be named Marie Antoine. What a coincidence. While I was surprised by the plot, I was not at all disappointed. This novel was whimsical, grotesque, and delightful. Each of the women this book follows are unique and I was genuinely interested in each sub plot. This novel was also an excellent commentary on gender, class, and the way women earn power in our society. When We Lost Our Heads is a must read for those of you who support women's rights, but also women's wrongs.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is a wonderful, cozy, found family story set in space. I have absolutely loved every Becky Chambers’ novel I have read so far, and this one is no exception. This novel was such a fun, character-driven ride. A majority of this 500 page novel is spent getting to know the crew of the Wayfairer, and Chambers makes each character extremely memorable and loveable. I especially enjoyed that such a large portion of the cast were aliens. Chambers' world building is amazing as usual, so learning about all these different species and their cultures was super interesting! If the idea of cozy science fiction novels sounds interesting to you, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet is a must read!
I was really excited to read this one, but unfortunately it did not meet my expectations. The synopsis of this novel sounded so interesting, but I found the actual book to be a little repetitive. The characters are pretty one-dimensional, the plot moved slowly, and nothing really terrifying happens for the first 150 pages or so. Also, where was the reckoning I was promised in the title? This novel contains lots of violence against black people, and after reading scene after scene describing the atrocities of slavery, I feel like a reckoning was warranted.
Despite the issues, there were some aspects of this novel I really enjoyed. I think the setting is so ominous and unique, and it really helps create a haunting mood. I also think McQueen is a phenomenal writer, and this is clearly demonstrated during the interstitial chapters. This was overall an okay read, but I wish the pacing, character development, and horror aspects were a little stronger.
Despite the issues, there were some aspects of this novel I really enjoyed. I think the setting is so ominous and unique, and it really helps create a haunting mood. I also think McQueen is a phenomenal writer, and this is clearly demonstrated during the interstitial chapters. This was overall an okay read, but I wish the pacing, character development, and horror aspects were a little stronger.
Another case of good title, beautiful cover, and laughably bad book. The writing in this book is truly so terrible, it felt like reading fanfiction written by a fourteen-year-old. I cannot believe I read the simile "her pupils were as wide as a hentai doll’s" in a book that wasn't written by a middle schooler. I had so many issues with the way this novel was written. For instance, every time the author specifically states the product a character is using, I'm reminded of My Immortal by Tara Gilesbie. Agnes doesn't just take off her makeup, she applies Garnier Micellar Water. Emily doesn't just smell good, she is wearing Delina La Rosée by Parfums de Marley. The characters can't even just listen to music, they have to listen to "7 Rings" by Ariana Grande or "Born to Die" by Lana Del Rey. This may just be a personal pet peeve of mine, but there's something about this that just screams self-insert fanfiction, like the author just wanted to include products and pop culture references that she enjoys. I absolutely hated it and it happens on every other page.
Although this book probably deserves one star, I am giving it two because I was genuinely interested in the storyline centered around Sergei and Greta. Unfortunately, this part of the novel comes after 200 pages of garbage, and even though I was interested in this short section, the writing was still completely atrocious.
Bottom line: don't read this book. Despite its cover, it's not the Harmony Korine, A24 type of novel you are looking for.
Although this book probably deserves one star, I am giving it two because I was genuinely interested in the storyline centered around Sergei and Greta. Unfortunately, this part of the novel comes after 200 pages of garbage, and even though I was interested in this short section, the writing was still completely atrocious.
Bottom line: don't read this book. Despite its cover, it's not the Harmony Korine, A24 type of novel you are looking for.