alyx's reviews
115 reviews

The 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Comic Book: Revised and Expanded by Gord Hill, Pamela Palmater

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.25

Title of this review: Audre Lorde, Please Look Away

Alternate title of this review: Shockingly, Less Homonationalism than Anticipated

This book reads like fanfic--it's funny, sweet escapism and wish fulfillment, exactly as McQuistion intended. Frankly, RW&RB is not typically the type of book I go for, precisely for that reason. But I'm burned out from work, sick on vacation, and feeling some kind of transmasc bi way about the movie trailer, so I thought, what the hell. I could use an absolute cotton candy of a book right now.

McQuiston's writing is snappy, funny, and page-turning (a la Rick Riordan, shoutout to the Lightning Thief cameo). More than that, the book is self-aware and occasionally self-critical, to my surprise and delight.

Sometimes, I want to read queer stories that don't make me cry or fume or fall into deep introspection. Sometimes, I just want to read about a disaster bisexual and his broody boyfriend pining with a side of geopolical escapism, meritocratic fallacies be damned.

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

Elliott is one of the best essayists I've ever had the pleasure to read. This collection moves seamlessly between memoir, mental health education/advocacy, history, political analysis, and social theory. A Mind Spread Out on the Ground is all of this and more; it's transcendental and dynamic.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.75

absolutely devastating, will be recommending to everyone I know

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

Serpentine by Philip Pullman

emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Once Upon a Time in the North by Philip Pullman

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0