angel_kiiss's reviews
123 reviews

The Crow: Skinning the Wolves by James O'Barr

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

A WWII retelling, similar to the “savior” complex exhibited by Tarantino in Inglorious Bastards (although know that I consider Bastards Tarantino’s best work). O’Barr knows how to write a narrative. Compelling but overall comes off as a little trite.
Has nothing to say that we don’t already know or that we haven’t already heard before.

A Crow story by technicality.

Content Warnings

Normal People by Sally Rooney

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Rooney seems to have a reoccurring problem with writing rich kids a her “relatable” characters. These rich kids are also socialists which, I guess is legit, but I can’t get behind “rich kids proposing the communist lifestyle.”

I felt like the story ended up being about Marianne being “saved” by Connell. She finds herself emotionally reliant on him and multiple times throughout the book states that she would do anything for him (heavily implied “anything” as physical).
It all comes off as feelings for no real reason until the last 20 pages. The book goes on and on about how Marianne is the only person who understands Connell but does nothing to show why - and vice versa. There’s no early event that explains why they are so devoted to each other or why they would be so connected in the first place.

Seduction: A Celebration of Sensual Style by Caroline Cox

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informative fast-paced

4.0

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

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fast-paced

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

3.75

The characters are sometimes relatable, but not likable at all. But I would read anything from Sally Rooney

Content Warnings

So Sad Today: Personal Essays by Melissa Broder

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emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

I know some people have come away not liking this collection, but I found it really relatable. What Broder says about depression, anxiety, and general existentialism resonated with me as a lot of it is stuff I’ve thought and been troubled by, too.

When she touched on some political topics I did seen how it could cross the line into “white feminist-y” territory, but within the overall confessional context of the book I believe that she was coming from an honest place that every good meaning, anti racist, white person comes from.

Content Warnings

Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto by Nancy Fraser, Tithi Bhattacharya, Cinzia Arruzza

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hopeful informative medium-paced

4.75

It’s actually a good book. A legitimate manifesto for feminism that could be likened to Marx and Engels.
I was surprised by how legit it is. Usually things like this are so white feminist or tone deaf. This is a legit, real, manifesto.

Essential Bukowski: Poetry by Charles Bukowski

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.75

Now I get the hype over Bukowski. Overall, a showcase of Bukowski's best work, some stunning work. Well curated, except for the 4 or 5 poems which should not have been included.

A great Bukowski introduction as long as you've never read some of Bukowski's pedo poems. It's the way Debritto just pretended those poems don't exist. It really reads as an "essential" Bukowski as assembled by a man obsessed with Bukowski.

I'd give it 5 stars if "swastika star buttoned to my ass" wasn't included.

Content Warnings