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bites_of_books's reviews
748 reviews
The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
I just didn't care about this man or knowing his history and potentially hearing excuses for his behavior.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
I don't have much interest in the characters and overall it's written in a very dry and boring way for me.
Tongueless by Lau Yee-Wa
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A harrowing story about the education system in Hong Kong and the effects on the people who live there. Teachers who have to adapt constantly to a curriculum taught in multiple languages, students who struggle to follow the changes, society who fights against some changes while welcoming others. It's a complex story with morally grey characters, heartbreaking situations, and provides a lot of important perspectives on what it means to live in Hong Kong as both a resident and foreigner.
I'd recommend it only if you're into really dark stories that peel back layers of a complex society and look deep into its darkest corners.
I'd recommend it only if you're into really dark stories that peel back layers of a complex society and look deep into its darkest corners.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
French Windows by Antoine Laurain
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
A quick and short mystery thriller told by a therapist as he starts having sessions with a new patient. This woman seems to have issues with her career and so he gives her an assignment to observe her neighbors. It's all very mysterious and some of the stories about the neighbors I didn't like much but it all makes more sense in the end.
Pretty close to 3 stars but not quite enough for that.
Pretty close to 3 stars but not quite enough for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, and Mental illness
Body Kintsugi by Senka Marić
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Just like a piece of ceramics that was broken and put back together, this short novel is told in small chapters with short and matter-of-fact sentences filled with beautiful language that evokes the feelings that the main character is experiencing as she learns that she has breast cancer and all the treatments that she must endure.
As someone who works in the cancer field, I always appreciate a book that can give me perspective on what patients are going through. This one does that and more! It also goes into themes of self-perception, self-love, identity, and perseverance. Ideas about gender and what womanhood means bloom from this book.
I'm quite surprised that even though it's only 165 pages long, there are nuanced and deep ideas about illness, womanhood, time, life, and death. I particularly loved the chapters where Amazon warriors come to her in dreams, beautiful, powerful, and thought inducing.
I'd highly recommend!
As someone who works in the cancer field, I always appreciate a book that can give me perspective on what patients are going through. This one does that and more! It also goes into themes of self-perception, self-love, identity, and perseverance. Ideas about gender and what womanhood means bloom from this book.
I'm quite surprised that even though it's only 165 pages long, there are nuanced and deep ideas about illness, womanhood, time, life, and death. I particularly loved the chapters where Amazon warriors come to her in dreams, beautiful, powerful, and thought inducing.
I'd highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Squire by Nadia Shammas
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
An excellent graphic novel that tells the story of young Aiza, a girl of Ornu background, who dreams of becoming a knight someday. However, her people are heavily discriminated against so she must hide that part of herself if she wants to be accepted by those around her as she starts training to first become a squire. She has only learned of the honor and benefits of joining the army and we follow as she starts to learn the truth about what being in that army entails.
This is a story of learning about history, the way that it is told to the masses, and the consequences of only hearing one side of history for all your life. It is about asking questions and being open to change.
I highly recommend this story, I hope to read more from Alfageeh and Shammas soon.
This is a story of learning about history, the way that it is told to the masses, and the consequences of only hearing one side of history for all your life. It is about asking questions and being open to change.
I highly recommend this story, I hope to read more from Alfageeh and Shammas soon.
Sarao: Historias Mexicanas LGBTIQ+ by Rob Hernández
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
Una compilación de historias escritas por personas de la comunidad LGBTIQ+, desde historias horríficas de violencia a otras que me llegaron directo al corazón.
Ame leer estas historias, creo que son muy necesarias para la comunidad LGBTIQ+, y para mi fue terapéutico y de mucho valor leer estas experiencias desde el punto de vista de la cultura Mexicana.
Ame leer estas historias, creo que son muy necesarias para la comunidad LGBTIQ+, y para mi fue terapéutico y de mucho valor leer estas experiencias desde el punto de vista de la cultura Mexicana.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, Grief, Outing, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic
The Bicyclist's Guide to the Galaxy: Feminist, Fantastical Tales of Books and Bikes by Elly Blue
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
A wonderful collection of short stories by various authors, all centered around biking and books! It's all about how both bikes and books can bring people together, they can be a source of escape and connections. It's quite a beautiful thing to remember, that even in the darkest of things we can always count on a bike or a book.
Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Very entertaining but definitely check content warnings!
I didn't expect to care as much as I did about the characters, I truly wanted them to succeed. All in all, I might try the next one.
I didn't expect to care as much as I did about the characters, I truly wanted them to succeed. All in all, I might try the next one.
Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This memoir by Alice Wong collects a number of her essays and interviews (both as interviewer and interviewee) as well as photographs and art that she has created. It all comes together to tell her life story and the way that she has built her community around her.
The essays are quite varied, some are pretty dry while others are quick and accessible. I think that this memoir was quite clever in how it showcased the ways in which life for a disabled person can and will be affected by a society that doesn't care about disabled folks. It reinforces the need for allies to speak up about accessibility and work with the disability community to create a world that is fully accessible for everyone.
Overall this memoir felt very personal and some sections bring up very difficult topics so do read with care.
The essays are quite varied, some are pretty dry while others are quick and accessible. I think that this memoir was quite clever in how it showcased the ways in which life for a disabled person can and will be affected by a society that doesn't care about disabled folks. It reinforces the need for allies to speak up about accessibility and work with the disability community to create a world that is fully accessible for everyone.
Overall this memoir felt very personal and some sections bring up very difficult topics so do read with care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic