clicc_clacc_jac's reviews
63 reviews

Die Hot with a Vengeance: Essays on Vanity by Sable Yong

challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Beauty unpacked with a healthy dose of anthropological discussion. This one isn’t to be missed and its own frivolity hides a powerful and moving message. 

Transgender History, second edition: The Roots of Today's Revolution by Susan Stryker

informative fast-paced

4.0

Henry Henry by Allen Bratton

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Mysteries of Pittsburgh, The City and the Pillar, Thank You for Everything Julie Newmar…dare we say Catcher in the Rye? A queer coming of age story that follows and breaks with tradition. Unabashedly queer and messy, the books main character has a little bit of us all and also enough of his own story you might not be able to put it down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Rape

The book has some deeply upsetting and graphic depictions of sexual assault of a child. Although as a survivor of abuse I would say it was handled well and respectfully.

The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

5.0

You should read this book, especially if you’ve consumed media about this case in other ways.

The City and the Pillar by Gore Vidal

lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

3.5

Blatant racism and anti-semitism disrupts an otherwise compelling and thoughtful queer story. Although its depiction of gay men is bleak and not necessarily bright, it isn’t wrong in many cases. The book is introspective in a way but can’t escape the authors poor use of female characters and his clearly outdated but nonetheless harmful racist/anti-semitic ideology.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism

The very end of the book is a graphic rape scene. This is a huge giveaway and knowing it is going to happen will impact the whole book, but sometimes it is good to know

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

funny mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

I really enjoyed Murakami’s writing in Wind-up Bird Chronicles…so I was excited to try another book of his in particular one I have heard praised. This isn’t a bad book and his usual writing tricks are in full force. The book is fun to read….the content though? Not as fun. The story is a bit too convoluted (even for Murakami’s standards) and some of the content is incredibly distressing. In the end I am happy I read the book and I wouldn’t tell folks not to read it, just check trigger/content warnings and don’t enter with expectations for clarity. Then again, is that ever an expectation when reading Murakami?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty

Moderate: Sexual assault

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

3.25

I wasn’t able to put it down, the book moves fast and is packed with unsettling and dark imagery. Is it an enjoyable read? No….is it hard to put down? Yes.
Read triggers

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Rape, Suicide, Blood

Moderate: Child abuse

What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract for a Better Society by Minouche Shafik

challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Loaded: A Disarming History of the Second Amendment by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

The Chaos Machine: The Inside Story of How Social Media Rewired Our Minds and Our World by Max Fisher

challenging informative slow-paced

4.5