angel_kiiss's reviews
123 reviews

Inside Man by K.J. Parker

challenging mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.0

It’s obviously a commentary on good and evil, yin and yang, and the necessity for both. The problem is, I didn’t understand anything that was happening in the book. In order to communicate the lack of knowledge the characters have regarding “the plan,” the reader is also given no information as the what the hell is going on. 

Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

One man horrifically harasses women and then complains for 150 pages when someone does the same thing to him. 

So, it’s actually pretty well written and an easy read, but is there really any reason to publish a book centered on female-abuse? About how one man “gets off” on emotionally hurting women, then asks us to feel sympathy for him when a woman uses him the same way?

Aisling was truly the hero of this story. One of the biggest “good for her” books I’ve ever read, actually. I hope she continues for fuck over men in peace. 

Oh, and drop her name so I can support her photography. I want to buy her book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

Being Lolita: A Memoir by Alisson Wood

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur

fast-paced

1.75

Half-baked poetry

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Content Warnings

Minor: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Rape

The Dharma of the Princess Bride: What the Coolest Fairy Tale of Our Time Can Teach Us about Buddhism and Relationships by Ethan Nichtern

funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

3.25

This Is Pleasure by Mary Gaitskill

challenging reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I was under the impression that this would be a provocative look at “both sides” of the #MeToo movement, but I was thoroughly disappointed. Our main “abuser” was less “I truly didn’t mean to offend these women,” and more “damn I know I was extremely sexually confrontational to these women I just met and didn’t consider that this was inappropriate behavior for a professional environment but I have NO idea why I’m being targeted,” kind of man. 

I expected a more complex look at the characters but in actuality they were pretty shallow depictions. The main woman seemed to be more in denial rather than coming to grips with the fact that someone she considered a close friend was an abuser, and most of her sections seemed to look down on the women who were coming out. 

Overall, it was interesting but I didn’t find it as provocative as everyone was hyping it up to be. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual content

I Am the Rage by Martina McGowan

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Grief, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Racism

Minor: Slavery and Racial slurs

The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

1.5

It should have been a red flag to me when I saw this on a list with Rupi Kaur.

I liked that it started with a trigger warning for everything mentioned throughout the book. It's something that should be adopted for all literature, but especially poetry. Unfortunately, it was all down from there.

Poetry is more than just short, punchy sentences, spaced out to "look" like poetry. Everything in this collection felt, unfinished, cliche, and lacked lyricism. The content is strong but the writing renders it free of any real impact and strips it of genuine emotion. This feels like the devastating aftershock of insta-poetry.

Out of everything, I liked only one line, on page 86. I won't even call it a poem, but it was a strong descriptive sentence that I liked.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Sexual assault, Self harm, Eating disorder, Alcoholism, Suicide, Cancer, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Blood

What in God's Name by Simon Rich

funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0