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alexandriaslibrary's reviews
226 reviews
Jackal by Erin E. Adams
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25
A well-written & well-paced thriller about Black girls being hunted in a small Appalachian town. It really balanced interpersonal dynamics and the larger societal horror and was a true page turner
Vita Nova by Louise Glück
reflective
Masterclass poetry. Spring, rebirth, mythos and life after love
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Some funky short stories for fans of Her Body & Other Parties or Kelly Link. Lots of monsters and things that go bump in the night
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
What a romp! A great mix of plot-driven and character-driven, these 350+ pages breeze by. A bit outside my typical genre, but I thought the sci-fi and romantic themes were engaging and earned. As a true compliment, it reminded me of staying up all night to read a 100,000+ word fanfic on AO3 (given hurt/comfort and secret love)
Valentino and Sagittarius by Natalia Ginzburg
dark
reflective
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My Italian queen <3
Valentino was my preferred story of the two. A golden son (who is actually kind of a dud) shocks his family when he marries an older, ugly woman. Ginzburg hits this perfect pitch of dysfunction, love, and dark humor.
In Sagittarius, a mother who is bored with her life befriends a larger than life woman and they plot to open an art gallery. This one was slower, but still ended with an umph
Valentino was my preferred story of the two. A golden son (who is actually kind of a dud) shocks his family when he marries an older, ugly woman. Ginzburg hits this perfect pitch of dysfunction, love, and dark humor.
In Sagittarius, a mother who is bored with her life befriends a larger than life woman and they plot to open an art gallery. This one was slower, but still ended with an umph
The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexiévich
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
“Another one, if he died on the battlefield, at least he was looking to the sky.“
“How was it possible to survive amid this endless experience of dying? To look at it day after day. To think. To try it on despite yourself.
“How was it possible to survive amid this endless experience of dying? To look at it day after day. To think. To try it on despite yourself.
Is it possible to talk about it? What lends itself to words and to our feelings? And what is ineffable?”
A heartbreaking collection of personal accounts from the Soviet women of World War 2. Over 200 women from every side of the war (snipers, sappers, nurses, surgeons, laundresses, partisans, etc) tell their stories, some for the first time ever. They are grouped thematically (how they joined the war, first time seeing death, love on the front, reuniting with their children). But the stories are all hopeful and tragic, full of life and so much death.
It would be a great read for anyone interested in the human condition, World War 2 buffs, or those wanting to learn more about Soviet history. Really remarkable and will stay with my for a long time
A heartbreaking collection of personal accounts from the Soviet women of World War 2. Over 200 women from every side of the war (snipers, sappers, nurses, surgeons, laundresses, partisans, etc) tell their stories, some for the first time ever. They are grouped thematically (how they joined the war, first time seeing death, love on the front, reuniting with their children). But the stories are all hopeful and tragic, full of life and so much death.
It would be a great read for anyone interested in the human condition, World War 2 buffs, or those wanting to learn more about Soviet history. Really remarkable and will stay with my for a long time
The Theme Park of Women's Bodies by Maggie Cooper
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Micro story collection about women through many lenses. The titular story is a tour through a theme park designed after women's bodies & plights. Another story is about female pirate, and another about a group of lesbian cave explorers. Very easy and a good afternoon read. A good rec for someone looking to get back into reading
When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance: Poems by Joan Baez
reflective
Prose poems about nature & family from a beloved musician & writer 🫶🏼
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“And no matter what I was doing, another me sat in my belly, absolutely cold with terror over the question of my life.”
A striking novel following David, an engaged American man in Paris and his relationship with Giovanni. Each sentence is heightened, tense, and achingly beautiful, but not overly complicated. Heartbreaking, gritty and insightful.
A striking novel following David, an engaged American man in Paris and his relationship with Giovanni. Each sentence is heightened, tense, and achingly beautiful, but not overly complicated. Heartbreaking, gritty and insightful.
Come to Me by Amy Bloom
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
BRILLIANT collection!! One of the all-time great collections if you are interested in character psychology. Bloom writers characters that are struggling with their morals, anxieties, mental illness, and relationships. A mother having an affair, a relationship between a client and a psychoanalyst, a daughter struggling with her mother’s breakdown.
Super tight prose, very well paced, and honest insights.
Super tight prose, very well paced, and honest insights.