bea_sr_my's reviews
128 reviews

dark emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

pretty good read, but even if I look at it through the lens of the 70’s (when it first came out), it doesn’t sit quite right with me.
I appreciate it being a pioneer on sharing sapphic stories in such a blatant tone… It’s also well written and it keeps the reader engaged in the fall out of Molly’s life.
however,

the blatant anti-butch discourse (that was used way too often to be seen as a mere device to indicate the character’s preference), that incest discussion (with a 16 year old) that came out of nowhere only to deliver shock value, and the portrayal of the only black women she has a relationship with as a bratty materialistic bimbo, pissed me off.

Moreover, Molly just doesn’t feel real. Of course, we don’t all have to suffer through the bindings of societal expectations, but there’s no way a poor southern kid in the 60’s is that sure of herself.

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Good Girl by Anna Fitzpatrick

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

3.25

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

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challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

But when someone's gone and you're the primary keeper of his memory—letting go would be a kind of murder, wouldn't it?

I feel like I’ve just been run over by a steamroller, but in a good way. It has been a while since a book had this kind of impact on me… Probably because it’s a lot easier to connect to and feel for the characters when you know they echo so many real people, that faced the same struggles.
Definitely one of the rawest, most beautifully written take on grief, life, love, friendship and regret I’ve ever read.

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca

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challenging dark tense fast-paced