badmom's reviews
495 reviews

Blackouts by Justin Torres

dark emotional informative mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

The structure of this novel can be confusing as it often moves between past & present, through different voices & states of consciousness, referencing literary quotes & research data & history & art. However, it is a fascinating look at memory + perspection as well as a glimpse at how society at large perceives homosexuality. The voices are poetic and rich and endearing; the imagery is entrancing. 
I’m left wanting to reread it, and also read more. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death

Moderate: Homophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, Lesbophobia, and Confinement

Minor: Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity

White Ivy by Susie Yang

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

The Parasites by Daphne du Maurier

dark emotional funny 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Daphne du Maurier is always brilliant at highlighting the worst in people, even those we think might be likable. Maybe especially those - she examines every move, choice, thought in ways that make us question ourselves. In The Parasites, three privileged siblings in post-WWII England are tasked with self-reflection, a chore they take on at first with some disdain and little seriousness. But as one evening wears on, the reader is taken into the past of each from their own increasingly lucid point of view; they begin to understand (or finally admit to understanding) their experiences. 
Throughout, du Maurier uses a curious point of view  - sometimes second person, sometimes first, occasionally third. This forces an often unpleasant connection between characters and reader; we recognize our own flawed thinking and wonder in the back of our minds if we would behave similarly. 
This novel in unsettling but captivating, and necessary still nearly 80 years later. 

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The choice of first person narrative through Patroclus is clever & moving, giving the entire story more emotional depth, in addition to adding an outside perspective to one of the most famous Greek heroes. 

The historical references and details of weaponry & battle are peripheral; the bulk of attention is spent humanizing the characters through their lesser-known thoughts & behaviors. 

In the end, this well-known war story becomes a rich, beautiful examination of friendship, love, & family. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and War

Moderate: Misogyny, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Sexism

Minor: Homophobia, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Slavery, and Infidelity

Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini

emotional funny reflective 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

3.5

Authentic early 2000s American cis/straight teen voices with universally recognized teen concerns, narrated by a nerdy, angsty outsider. The low-key sci-fi element gives a boost to the narration by humorously pointing out the typical misconceptions & misunderstandings of humans in general, and teenagers in particular. 
Some microaggressions + barely acknowledged misogyny interrupt the redemption arc but overall this is a thoughtful & interesting story. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Sexual content

Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol, and Rape

Minor: Bullying, Racism, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Cursing, and Classism

A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, a History, a Memorial by Viet Thanh Nguyen

dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Rat Girl by Kristin Hersh

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Dederer tackles a seemingly impossible question - How do we separate art from artist? - with layers of other questions that made me think deeper than I ever have on this topic. She explores all of the ways she (and most of us) has tried to make sense of loving art created by monstrous people; she shares her own experiences along with research of how scholars and laypeople alike have approached this dilemma. The result is this compilation of painful truths & personal revelations kindly blended with psychology and brief portions of politics & economics. 
Despite its rich breadth & depth, this study flows beautifully and offers valuable insights in its trek to answers. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Rape

Moderate: Violence, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Pedophilia, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Transphobia

The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Robert Jones Jr. weaves an ultimately gorgeous tapestry from an ugly point in history using  the voices of enslaved people, their African ancestors, and the enslavers. The language is poetic throughout, drawing reality truthfully yet landing on the ways people rose above, how they survived and dreamed and loved, and created the life they deserved. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Trafficking, Torture, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Colonisation, Classism, Racial slurs, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Slavery, Rape, Racism, Outing, Death, and Homophobia

Moderate: Sexual content, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Abandonment, Bullying, Child death, Religious bigotry, Excrement, Alcohol, Ableism, Genocide, Suicide, Miscarriage, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, and Cannibalism

Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? by Lorrie Moore

emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

I like Lorrie Moore’s stream-of-consciousness style of bringing us into the minds of characters. I love her use of pop culture & nostalgia to enrich the settings, moving us backward & forward in time. I wanted to know more about these people’s adult lives though, or at least the narrator’s; I was hoping for more introspection coupled with concrete scenes of daily life. But I’m thinking the point is they still aren’t self-aware (or brave) enough to really examine their choices and so we’re left all feeling unsatisfied & melancholy.  

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Alcohol, and Fatphobia

Minor: Infertility, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Suicide