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apollo0325's reviews
382 reviews
This World is Full of Monsters by Jeff VanderMeer
2.5
Bonkers little short story. Got lost in the sauce, but that’s sort of VanderMeer’s thing. If you’ve read Annihilation and hit the last 1/3 of it, this entire short story is akin to that major part of Annihilation towards the end.
The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
If you’re coming in hoping for plot, you will be disappointed. This book is a social commentary about our relationship and obsession with food and beauty standards, the complacency of and the active harm done by the wealthy / corporations, and the climate crisis. There’s a lot happening (and also not happening) in this book, and it’s a double-edged sword.
When we talk about food, the climate crisis, corporations, and beauty standards, we’re encompassing a nuanced and complex conversation that requires anyone dabbling into this subject matter to understand how everything is intertwined and connected. We see how the depletion of natural resources destroys our world and ourselves and how at the end of the day, profits come up on top.
But I think this book was trying to include too much in its effort to commentate on these social issues. I also just didn’t really care about any of these characters except for Ijo and by the end, Beatrice. My care for Ijo came more from her romance than her as a character (arguably the best romance in the book), and my fondness for Beatrice grew as the book progressed. I had the same problem when I read the Seep. I definitely didn’t give a shit about Reiko, and ultimately even though Beatrice became my favorite, I still didn’t really feel any like… immeasurable joy for her ending.
The other gripe is how sex heavy this book is. Everybody’s having sex in public and with each other. I’m tired lmao
Ultimately, this book has some ideas that fell flat with characters that felt flatter. I don’t think this is going to be a book I’ll revisit especially considering how fucking LONG it is. WHY IS IT SO LONG???? I don’t think Chana Porter is an author for me.
When we talk about food, the climate crisis, corporations, and beauty standards, we’re encompassing a nuanced and complex conversation that requires anyone dabbling into this subject matter to understand how everything is intertwined and connected. We see how the depletion of natural resources destroys our world and ourselves and how at the end of the day, profits come up on top.
But I think this book was trying to include too much in its effort to commentate on these social issues. I also just didn’t really care about any of these characters except for Ijo and by the end, Beatrice. My care for Ijo came more from her romance than her as a character (arguably the best romance in the book), and my fondness for Beatrice grew as the book progressed. I had the same problem when I read the Seep. I definitely didn’t give a shit about Reiko, and ultimately even though Beatrice became my favorite, I still didn’t really feel any like… immeasurable joy for her ending.
The other gripe is how sex heavy this book is. Everybody’s having sex in public and with each other. I’m tired lmao
Ultimately, this book has some ideas that fell flat with characters that felt flatter. I don’t think this is going to be a book I’ll revisit especially considering how fucking LONG it is. WHY IS IT SO LONG???? I don’t think Chana Porter is an author for me.
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Comic / Manhua) Vol. 2 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Little WWX AND LWJ 🥺🥹😭
Again, kinda running into a speech bubble issue where it doesn’t always naturally flow.
Again, kinda running into a speech bubble issue where it doesn’t always naturally flow.
Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
An accessible rom-com that involves a lot of baking, kpop references, and young love. Is it the pinnacle of the genre? No. It’s not really doing anything new here, but did I have fun and read it all in a day? Absolutely!
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Mo Dao Zu Shi (The Comic / Manhua), Vol. 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Banger graphic novel adaptation. Only qualm would be some of the speech bubbles don’t really match the flow of the page.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.25
As an avid iCarly viewer in the mid-aughts, Sam Puckett was 100% my favorite character. Hilarious, strong, and absolutely wack, I loved her energy. So when Jennette McCurdy announced a memoir that chronicled her early childhood into her twenties that included snippets of her time on iCarly, I knew I had to read it. I hardly keep up with most celebrities, but I always wondered what had happened to Jennette over the years after iCarly (I never watched Sam & Cat because I don’t like Ariana Grande lmao).
This was such a heartbreaking memoir. It was simple in writing but so smart in a way that Jennette just didn’t hide her feelings or gave us information without any particular emotional attachment so we as the readers could assess the situation for ourselves. The situation was pretty fucked from beginning to end. As someone who is a recovering emotional binge eater, it was not easy to read those similar thoughts reflected through McCurdy’s experience. While the disorders may be different, the feelings are identical. Powerlessness, frustration, anxiety, it all coalesces into shame, guilt, and for some, tragedy.
McCurdy wrote a powerful and moving memoir. It was beautiful and tragic, and I hope one day, McCurdy finds the peace she deserves.
A small, personal critique I had with the book was some difficulty parsing the timeline. We spend a lot of our time in Jennette’s early childhood prior to being casted as a regular on iCarly, but from there, time seems to move much faster. Only slight pacing issues.
This was such a heartbreaking memoir. It was simple in writing but so smart in a way that Jennette just didn’t hide her feelings or gave us information without any particular emotional attachment so we as the readers could assess the situation for ourselves. The situation was pretty fucked from beginning to end. As someone who is a recovering emotional binge eater, it was not easy to read those similar thoughts reflected through McCurdy’s experience. While the disorders may be different, the feelings are identical. Powerlessness, frustration, anxiety, it all coalesces into shame, guilt, and for some, tragedy.
McCurdy wrote a powerful and moving memoir. It was beautiful and tragic, and I hope one day, McCurdy finds the peace she deserves.
A small, personal critique I had with the book was some difficulty parsing the timeline. We spend a lot of our time in Jennette’s early childhood prior to being casted as a regular on iCarly, but from there, time seems to move much faster. Only slight pacing issues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Vomit, Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
Minor: Stalking and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
DEFINITELY be cautious if you struggle with eating disorders, abuse by parental figures, and alcoholism
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
I was really intrigued to see Chuck Tingle, an author well known for his spoofy/satirical erotica release a traditionally published horror novel, and the premise hooked me immediately. Unfortunately, I felt the execution was fairly lackluster, and while the concept of a conversion camp mixed with horror elements was super cool, it didn’t feel like enough.
Spoilers ahoy!
Don’t get me wrong, the body horror and the horrific imagery were baller as hell. Tingle does a great job of making you feel unsettled with his descriptions, but the rest of the book was lacking in coherency. Why the Peter Pan/shadow reference? It felt very out of place especially because we’re having characters recite Bible verses every chapter at least once if not multiple times. The conversion camp part was cool, but it didn’t feel like enough. I wanted to see more of the camp and Rose interacting with other campers. The pacing of the book was FAST which I don’t think was a bad thing initially because it got you into the momentum of the story. However, the pacing sacrificed characterization for both the protagonists and the antagonists. Rose’s dad is obviously heavily involved in the conversion camp; why was his plot almost immediately dropped after Rose left? Also, why was Pastor Ben the BBEG?? That felt odd too. And Rose’s mom, why was nothing followed up there? Lastly, what forces your conversion camp demon to kill you? When is the line drawn? The rules of this universe were confusing at best and convoluted and convenient at worst.
I think there was a lot of ideas and moments that definitely felt thought of first before the plot was present. Even if that wasn’t the case, then it feels like that was the case. Was not impressed and even a bit disappointed :(
Spoilers ahoy!
I think there was a lot of ideas and moments that definitely felt thought of first before the plot was present. Even if that wasn’t the case, then it feels like that was the case. Was not impressed and even a bit disappointed :(
The Seep by Chana Porter
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was really intrigued by this book because of the concept of a “quiet” alien invasion that turns into a symbiotic relationship between said aliens and humans exploring grief, love, and the human experience. I think it definitely achieved what it was trying to do, but it had the subtlety of an Acme anvil in a Looney Tunes episode. Perhaps the book wasn’t necessarily about subtlety and wanted to be overt in its themes and characters, but I don’t think it was developed enough to really drive home Trina’s emotions.
The writing itself was good and accessible and the world building was well done that it didn’t bonk you over the head over-explaining and instead showed how the Seep changes and interacts with daily human life.
The writing itself was good and accessible and the world building was well done that it didn’t bonk you over the head over-explaining and instead showed how the Seep changes and interacts with daily human life.
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.5
I love seeing modern takes on Lovecraftian/cosmic horror in a vast array of media because people can take this literature that is chest deep in racism and xenophobia and class to breathe it new life. I had high hopes for the Ballad of Black Tom, but I think it falls into the inherit problems of Lovecraft’s work.
The character motivations are messy and confusing and/or characters are simply one dimensional with no substance and simply lets the story happen to them. The vagueness can be effective, but I felt in the Ballad of Black Tom, it didn’t work in its favor. This story didn’t scratch the cosmic horror itch I was hoping, and it’s probably been one of my most disappointing reads of this year alongside the Last Tale of the Flower Bride.
It’s very short though so that’s a plus.
The character motivations are messy and confusing and/or characters are simply one dimensional with no substance and simply lets the story happen to them. The vagueness can be effective, but I felt in the Ballad of Black Tom, it didn’t work in its favor. This story didn’t scratch the cosmic horror itch I was hoping, and it’s probably been one of my most disappointing reads of this year alongside the Last Tale of the Flower Bride.
It’s very short though so that’s a plus.
Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
ANOTHER ABSOLUTE BANGER FROM FANTASY QUEEN, FONDA LEE!!!!!
Fun, exciting, and wild, Untethered Sky is a short story examining bravery, camaraderie, and nature vs nurture. It was sort of a character study, but honestly, this felt like it could have been a companion novel to an existing series. Fonda Lee’s world-building is complex but accessible and her characterizations are equally complex and nuanced.
Fonda Lee, I will literally buy anything you release. Don’t ever stop writing.
Fun, exciting, and wild, Untethered Sky is a short story examining bravery, camaraderie, and nature vs nurture. It was sort of a character study, but honestly, this felt like it could have been a companion novel to an existing series. Fonda Lee’s world-building is complex but accessible and her characterizations are equally complex and nuanced.
Fonda Lee, I will literally buy anything you release. Don’t ever stop writing.