alexander's reviews
403 reviews

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense

4.5

If I had a nickel for every novel I read this year involving seed conservation, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice, right?

The Pachinko Parlor by Elisa Shua Dusapin

emotional reflective

1.5

Is it interesting or is it just set in Japan?

Recognizing the Stranger: On Palestine and Narrative by Isabella Hammad

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad

5.0

Hearts can change, narratives can shift, we can learn, and I will not lose hope

Flirting With Disaster by Naina Kumar

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective

3.0

This would be a 5 star read if I thought Meena deserved or should even be with either of her caring, communicative kings

They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib

adventurous dark emotional funny informative reflective

4.5

Aside from the first essay that deliriously glazes Chance The Rapper this is a phenomenally written collection

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad

3.5

Everyone would rather die than be bored

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense

4.0

Incredibly satisfying ending and a fun read but a lot of tension is sacrificed for world building. It’s like playing an open world video game. Yeah, there’s this missing girl we’ve gotta find, but let’s spend a couple chapters on this other woman’s shitty boyfriend or a few pages on this groundskeeper’s son

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective

4.0

So glad I didn’t sell my Ali Hazelwood ($ALI) stock after her collection of dogwater 2024 releases and got to enjoy this fabulous return to form

Famous People by Justin Kuritzkes

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective

4.5

I kinda hate the idea of giving flowers to someone who’s already a successful, young screenwriter, but this faux celebrity memoir was incredibly entertaining

Liars by Sarah Manguso

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

4.0

Anger porn