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bookishbisexual's reviews
161 reviews
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.25
A very lighthearted, easy read. I needed something to break up all of the dark and intense books I was reading and this hit the spot. Five short stories of people at a crossroads in their life, who (with a nudge from a knowable librarian) make the changes they need to in order to live the life they want. A simple but worthwhile book for people of various ages, backgrounds and reading levels.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Was this book a difficult read? Yes. Did it take me longer than normal to finish it? Yes. Am I glad I read it? Yes! If you’re intimidated by the length or cultural barrier but want to attempt TBK; just start! Take your time, read the footnotes, and enjoy the ride!
PS - you may start craving fish soup a lot, fair warning
PS - you may start craving fish soup a lot, fair warning
A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon
5.0
An accessible, fascinating and sometimes humorous look at a not so humorous history. As a non-academic I found Emma Southon’s writing easy to follow and informative. I would highly recommend to anyone interested in this subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Murder
Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval
3.25
As much as I enjoy “weird girl books” this one wasn’t for me. I think the descriptions of bodily fluids were a bit too much for my taste. But I will say this was beautifully written!
Content Warnings
Spoiler - very graphic and frequent descriptions of urine/peeing.
Ghosts by Edith Wharton
4.0
A great selection of ghost stories, and a perfect thing to read during these cold winter months.
Like every collection of short stories there will be ones that hit and miss, but I enjoyed most of these and it made me want to read more of Edith Wharton’s work.
Like every collection of short stories there will be ones that hit and miss, but I enjoyed most of these and it made me want to read more of Edith Wharton’s work.
Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States by Samantha Allen
4.5
Reading this book in Feb 2025 was both reassuring and terrifying.
The people interviewed by Samantha are incredible and I’m so grateful I know about the work they’re doing. Living in Toronto I’m quite separated from the culture of red states and yeah, I have wondered why queer people would stay there (other than the cost of living). This was an eye opener for me.
Like some others, I did think the constant hits at NY and SF got old very quickly. There is a reason a lot of queer people flocked there and while I understand the critiques of the big city (again, I live in Toronto) their role as a “gay haven” for many years cannot be forgotten, lest we slip backwards.
Overall I would highly recommend this book to queer people everywhere.
The people interviewed by Samantha are incredible and I’m so grateful I know about the work they’re doing. Living in Toronto I’m quite separated from the culture of red states and yeah, I have wondered why queer people would stay there (other than the cost of living). This was an eye opener for me.
Like some others, I did think the constant hits at NY and SF got old very quickly. There is a reason a lot of queer people flocked there and while I understand the critiques of the big city (again, I live in Toronto) their role as a “gay haven” for many years cannot be forgotten, lest we slip backwards.
Overall I would highly recommend this book to queer people everywhere.
Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
A beautiful book about loneliness, connection and love. It did lose me a little in the middle, but overall this is a book I really enjoyed and am happy to recommend to others.
Consent by Jill Ciment
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
It’s always hard to rate a memoir - this is someone’s life after all. What I will say is this is very well written and paced. I’m glad I read it. But I wonder if my feelings are affected because of what I didn’t get out of the book - regret. I expected to see that from her and I didn’t. Is that my own bias or do I think she is still editing her life? She does know herself better than a random reader does. That being said, I do think there are still parts that Jill kept out of this book that I wanted to know.
I wanted to know if she ever felt for anyone else closer to her age throughout their marriage, if Arnold stayed faithful to her (since he was a serial cheater when they met), and if he ever actually spoke about his reaction to the police after her brothers abuse.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.5
A difficult but necessary book about generational trauma as it relates to anti blackness. I don’t know if I’ll ever re read it, but I will hold it close to me.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
5.0
A perfect book. Well written, thought provoking, engaging. This is something I’ll come back to time and time again. I only wish I spoke French so I could read her other work!