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bambooboy's reviews
98 reviews
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Light, enjoyable. My main issue is that--and I know I'm in the minority here--I cannot take British accents seriously. They're very goofy to me, especially whatever regions these narrators are from.
I saw some complaints about the shallow way the author touched on verbal abuse but I am glad they did not have a huge subplot about it. It would have made what was a fun, light, enjoyable read very depressing.
I did enjoy the inclusion of it, however, as it's a good sign for LGBT lit. For so long we have been trying to be treated as human, and as such any signs of abuse etc. wouldn't be given the spotlight, so cis/het readers wouldn't have anything to use as evidence of our unworthiness; it's also depressing to read about sad LGBT relationships after all the bury your gay tropes and doomed trans cautionary tales we've been given historically. For me, the inclusion of this dimension to Margo shows we are on our way to wholly human portrayals of LGBT characters. Not doomed, not perfect.
Also, the "Margo is my straight girlfriend" plot point was kind of weird. Why couldn't Margo have said she was bi? Bisexuals listen to girl in red, too!
I can't believe I welcomed in spooky season with a Christmas-themed romance! Very enjoyable. Would have read it even faster if I had had a text copy, such was my desire to devour.
I saw some complaints about the shallow way the author touched on verbal abuse but I am glad they did not have a huge subplot about it. It would have made what was a fun, light, enjoyable read very depressing.
I did enjoy the inclusion of it, however, as it's a good sign for LGBT lit. For so long we have been trying to be treated as human, and as such any signs of abuse etc. wouldn't be given the spotlight, so cis/het readers wouldn't have anything to use as evidence of our unworthiness; it's also depressing to read about sad LGBT relationships after all the bury your gay tropes and doomed trans cautionary tales we've been given historically. For me, the inclusion of this dimension to Margo shows we are on our way to wholly human portrayals of LGBT characters. Not doomed, not perfect.
Also, the "Margo is my straight girlfriend" plot point was kind of weird. Why couldn't Margo have said she was bi? Bisexuals listen to girl in red, too!
I can't believe I welcomed in spooky season with a Christmas-themed romance! Very enjoyable. Would have read it even faster if I had had a text copy, such was my desire to devour.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, Dementia, Grief, Pregnancy, Outing, Alcohol
Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh by Rachael Lippincott
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
If you really expect me to believe Alexander isn't bisexual you're out of your mind
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Violence, Alcohol
Content warning explanation under the cut.
Lucy is emotionally abused by her father and neglected.
This book mostly takes place in the regency era and therefore women are considered property. Misogyny ensues.
The father and the man Lucy is being sold to are bullies.
Audrey is in a minor car accident where her bike hits a car door.
Lucy's mother passed away when she was younger and there is some discussion of her grief over the death of her parent, though it did happen in the past so the actual death of the parent is not experienced in the read.
There is classism among who can hang out with or marry who in regency era England.
Lucy is strictly monitored over where she can go by her father and is mostly confined to their property. There is a scene at the end where Audrey is tied to a chair and locked in a room.
Audrey lets some "shit"s, "fuck"s, and "damn"s fly.
Audrey is attacked by hired men at one point, and there is the aforementioned bike/car accident as far as violence goes.
Lucy is promised to a much older man. While nothing happens between them, there is much discussion of their relationship and it's not from a lack of trying on his end.
Some minor alcohol consumption occurs in the book.
There isn't any explicit homophobia but the fact it exists and makes their relationship dangerous/impossible is discussed.
Lucy is emotionally abused by her father and neglected.
This book mostly takes place in the regency era and therefore women are considered property. Misogyny ensues.
The father and the man Lucy is being sold to are bullies.
Audrey is in a minor car accident where her bike hits a car door.
Lucy's mother passed away when she was younger and there is some discussion of her grief over the death of her parent, though it did happen in the past so the actual death of the parent is not experienced in the read.
There is classism among who can hang out with or marry who in regency era England.
Lucy is strictly monitored over where she can go by her father and is mostly confined to their property. There is a scene at the end where Audrey is tied to a chair and locked in a room.
Audrey lets some "shit"s, "fuck"s, and "damn"s fly.
Audrey is attacked by hired men at one point, and there is the aforementioned bike/car accident as far as violence goes.
Lucy is promised to a much older man. While nothing happens between them, there is much discussion of their relationship and it's not from a lack of trying on his end.
Some minor alcohol consumption occurs in the book.
There isn't any explicit homophobia but the fact it exists and makes their relationship dangerous/impossible is discussed.
You Just Need to Lose Weight: And 19 Other Myths about Fat People by Aubrey Gordon
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I don't really have words for how important this book is.
There are years of works available to us, shouting the dangers of anti-fat bias, the lies we are told; but Aubrey Gordon lays it out, step-by-step, in a way that is accessible and digestible. It solicits empathy in its honesty. Gordon does a great job too of offering other equally important titles of equally important voices on fat people and the history and now of how we treat each other.
I wish I could shove this into the hands of everyone I meet! I kept reading passages and rereading them and wanting to post them but then realizing I'd be posting the entire chapter because that's how good every single chapter was.
If you're a fan of Maintenance Phase you'll love this, though be aware that tonally it isn't as silly as her and Michael get together. It's much more serious. And if you're not a fan of Maintenance Phase but like this book, you should check out Gordon's podcast! They dive deep into different health crazes/diet books/health "influencers". They have a great chemistry and it's a good way to both laugh and rage at the machine.
There are years of works available to us, shouting the dangers of anti-fat bias, the lies we are told; but Aubrey Gordon lays it out, step-by-step, in a way that is accessible and digestible. It solicits empathy in its honesty. Gordon does a great job too of offering other equally important titles of equally important voices on fat people and the history and now of how we treat each other.
I wish I could shove this into the hands of everyone I meet! I kept reading passages and rereading them and wanting to post them but then realizing I'd be posting the entire chapter because that's how good every single chapter was.
If you're a fan of Maintenance Phase you'll love this, though be aware that tonally it isn't as silly as her and Michael get together. It's much more serious. And if you're not a fan of Maintenance Phase but like this book, you should check out Gordon's podcast! They dive deep into different health crazes/diet books/health "influencers". They have a great chemistry and it's a good way to both laugh and rage at the machine.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Dysphoria
Moderate: Chronic illness, Hate crime, Sexism, Gaslighting, Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual harassment, Classism
Deeper discussion of content warnings below cut.
Gordon speaks in general on many topics that could be triggering, such as the medical malpractice many doctors partake in when they refuse to provide adequate healthcare for their fat patients, the general attitude toward fat people existing, etc.
She also gets into some specific stories about people who were disabled or died due to this malpractice. As a fat person Gordon also talks about all the aggressions, micro and macro, that she experiences or has experienced.
Overall the content is heavy, and I definitely suggest taking it slow, especially if you are someone who has had to deal with these traumatic experiences on the daily.
She also gets into some specific stories about people who were disabled or died due to this malpractice. As a fat person Gordon also talks about all the aggressions, micro and macro, that she experiences or has experienced.
Overall the content is heavy, and I definitely suggest taking it slow, especially if you are someone who has had to deal with these traumatic experiences on the daily.
Moby Dyke: An Obsessive Quest To Track Down The Last Remaining Lesbian Bars In America by Krista Burton
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
4.0
the author occasionally plays into the divisive mentalities that she claims to hate, but otherwise this was a sweet little jaunt across america to find community in the last few lesbian bars we have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Alcohol
The September House by Carissa Orlando
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
It can be hard to write an allegory for domestic violence without coming off insensitive or ham-fisted. In The September House, Orlando manages to gracefully use the metaphor of a haunted house beautifully. This book was darkly funny, with engaging characters that keep you wanting more of them after you put the book down. I was concerned that she was going to go the coward's route and have the protagonist institutionalized after being characterized as crazy, but luckily she does not! There is real growth among the characters and you find yourself rooting for them, even those that you might be surprised by. The descriptions are artistically disgusting, and the detached nature of the protagonist's voice is startlingly realistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Gaslighting
Minor: Self harm, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Detailed description of content warnings below
--Father is an alcoholic, who becomes sober and then relapses
--Father is emotionally and physically abusive to mother; attempts to be abusive to daughter so mother removes her from home
--Multiple child murders, graphic descriptions of torture and murder
--Gaslighting protagonist as to existence of ghosts
--Many graphic descriptions of bodies being twisted and deformed, tortured
--Protagonist is abused emotionally and physically for many years and the ways she copes are covered
--Multiple people commit suicide in the house, deaths described
--Multiple descriptions of vomit, especially vomiting flies
--One character is murdered in a fireplace, attempts made to burn entire house down
--Daughter attempts to institutionalize mother
--Father is emotionally and physically abusive to mother; attempts to be abusive to daughter so mother removes her from home
--Multiple child murders, graphic descriptions of torture and murder
--Gaslighting protagonist as to existence of ghosts
--Many graphic descriptions of bodies being twisted and deformed, tortured
--Protagonist is abused emotionally and physically for many years and the ways she copes are covered
--Multiple people commit suicide in the house, deaths described
--Multiple descriptions of vomit, especially vomiting flies
--One character is murdered in a fireplace, attempts made to burn entire house down
--Daughter attempts to institutionalize mother
The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.
Not my personal style, but nothing wrong with it.
What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism