Take a photo of a barcode or cover
crafty_goblin's reviews
73 reviews
Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
The summary sounded great but I was quickly bored, it kind of fell flat quickly.
Bilbo's Last Song by J.R.R. Tolkien
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
"Farewell to Middle-earth at last.
I see the Star above my mast!”
A short poeme-song by Bilbo. Beautifully illustrated.
This poeme represents a conclusion, of sort, to Bilbo's story (journals).
This "book" is more for the illustration work than the reading experience. The words are, of course, full of emotion and the poeme is beautiful. But the illustration are stunning and narrates Bilbo's last goodbye just by themselves.
I see the Star above my mast!”
A short poeme-song by Bilbo. Beautifully illustrated.
This poeme represents a conclusion, of sort, to Bilbo's story (journals).
This "book" is more for the illustration work than the reading experience. The words are, of course, full of emotion and the poeme is beautiful. But the illustration are stunning and narrates Bilbo's last goodbye just by themselves.
From Prejudice to Pride: A History of the LGBTQ+ Movement by Amy Lamé
fast-paced
2.75
Short, fast read and expeditive.
I guess if you are totally ignorant of your history (or queer history if you are not one) them it could be a start to go further then.
But there are definitely better starter books for queer history.
A few random well known facts and events about queer history and some fact and stories about famous queer people through history (the most mediatic ones like Wilde or Hadrian. Not especially the ones that really worked and impacted queer movement in my opinion and idolization of famous queer that actually was more bad image for the movement than good.)
If you want to know more about queer history or educate yourself there are way better reference then this one.
I guess if you are totally ignorant of your history (or queer history if you are not one) them it could be a start to go further then.
But there are definitely better starter books for queer history.
A few random well known facts and events about queer history and some fact and stories about famous queer people through history (the most mediatic ones like Wilde or Hadrian. Not especially the ones that really worked and impacted queer movement in my opinion and idolization of famous queer that actually was more bad image for the movement than good.)
If you want to know more about queer history or educate yourself there are way better reference then this one.
One Day at Horrorland by R.L. Stine
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Goosebumps has been my first introduction to horror reads when I was a kid. 20 years later I still find it totally creepy and hilarious.
Horrorland is a series with several books.
Imagine being a teen, going on a holiday trip with you younger brother, your impatient father with kind of anger issue and your mother. Ok that's not the horror part of the book (or is it?). And before you reach your holidays destination, you find yourself and your family stuck in a creepy "amusement park" with nothing close to be amusing at all and creepy monsters trying to kill you for their own entertainment.
It's funny creepy and tense in ways only goosebumps can produce. Typical kind of vibes you can find in any goosebumps.
I really recommend Goosebumps in general and Horrorland series specifically, for kids and teens who like creepy but funny stuff. It's a safe and fun introduction to horror reads (comedic horror) and it's really well written.
Horrorland is a series with several books.
Imagine being a teen, going on a holiday trip with you younger brother, your impatient father with kind of anger issue and your mother. Ok that's not the horror part of the book (or is it?). And before you reach your holidays destination, you find yourself and your family stuck in a creepy "amusement park" with nothing close to be amusing at all and creepy monsters trying to kill you for their own entertainment.
It's funny creepy and tense in ways only goosebumps can produce. Typical kind of vibes you can find in any goosebumps.
I really recommend Goosebumps in general and Horrorland series specifically, for kids and teens who like creepy but funny stuff. It's a safe and fun introduction to horror reads (comedic horror) and it's really well written.
The Sandman by E T A Hoffman by E.T.A. Hoffmann
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Short story neither dark nor comedic but somewhere in between. I wasn't impressed but the stylistic is top notch.
Among the Burning Flowers by Samantha Shannon
mysterious
tense
slow-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? N/A
4.75
I received this book as ARC from Netgalley.
I didn't read the others two books of this series when I read this one and I don't regret doing it like this.
I actually owned the others two books as paperback for a few months now but was always put off by the size of them. You definitely need time and energy to go through it if Among the burning flowers is any proof of this. The book is around 200 pages so way less than the others two. And in my opinion, a good way to start with this series, to be sure you are in a mood for it before reading the massive books in the series then.
It's detailed, descriptive, heavy in politics and world building. A map could be great but as I read an Arc version it's not the definitive vision. Hopefully it will be added in the final version.
Great characters development and diversity. I liked most of the main female characters and how they are built. Lot of depth and substance.
I'll definitely read the other two massive books because this story is awesome. It's rich and well written. Its poetic and darkly beautiful. The feeling are well exposed and the world building seems to be massive if I based my impression on this shorter book.
If you like a good high fantasy with lot of politics, mythical creatures, knights and monster hunters, princesses (though those ones are pretty badass and not the patriarchal and sexist traditional kind) who own their shit and great plots, then go for it. I totally recommend this book and I'll go for the test of the series myself soon with pleasure.
I didn't read the others two books of this series when I read this one and I don't regret doing it like this.
I actually owned the others two books as paperback for a few months now but was always put off by the size of them. You definitely need time and energy to go through it if Among the burning flowers is any proof of this. The book is around 200 pages so way less than the others two. And in my opinion, a good way to start with this series, to be sure you are in a mood for it before reading the massive books in the series then.
It's detailed, descriptive, heavy in politics and world building. A map could be great but as I read an Arc version it's not the definitive vision. Hopefully it will be added in the final version.
Great characters development and diversity. I liked most of the main female characters and how they are built. Lot of depth and substance.
I'll definitely read the other two massive books because this story is awesome. It's rich and well written. Its poetic and darkly beautiful. The feeling are well exposed and the world building seems to be massive if I based my impression on this shorter book.
If you like a good high fantasy with lot of politics, mythical creatures, knights and monster hunters, princesses (though those ones are pretty badass and not the patriarchal and sexist traditional kind) who own their shit and great plots, then go for it. I totally recommend this book and I'll go for the test of the series myself soon with pleasure.
Bad Gays: A Homosexual History by Ben Miller, Huw Lemmey
informative
slow-paced
4.75
A long and complete audiobook (or book) with all the bad gays figures whom paved our history. This book is not just pointing those bad gays, figura whom impacted badly the queen movement and community over the decennies but is also a whole history of sex, politics and moeurs worldwide since eon. Really like this one. Really informative and the reader of the audiobook (on everand) was awesome and keep your entertained pretty well along the whole book
Porn Is Not Sex Ed!: A Young Person's Illustrated Guide to Debunking Sexuality Myths by Jessica Melendez
1.75
I like the idea of a book for middle grade explaining porn. But, if the idea is good the realization here totally missed the spot.
From the very first page, It starts saying that people feel embarrassed to speak about sex because we don't get it and feel the need to be an expert and bla bla bla and then said ok we're here to speak about porn.
Porn isn't sex. It seems to be the main topic of the book but here the approach is already wrong.
What should be normalized here first of all is discussion about sex even before porn comes around to mess up with what you know (or should know). Lack of communication around sex is problematic. Bad ethics in porn industry is problematic. Objectization and hyper sexualization in medias is problematic. Rape culture is problematic. Lack of representations outside of gender binary tradit onal model in sex-ed is problematic. Porn, per se, isn't the issue. Lack of communication about anything remotely close to sex (outside of reproductive purpose) is the massive issue.
I like the interactive and comics strip parts. The form. Not so much the content unfortunately.
Another point that bothered me is speaking of evolution of sexualization in medias based on the way we access it. It is only partially true and lack of relevance if the evolution of moeurs and the explanation of how things are differently approached, accepted, canceled, persecuted , excused (mostly when it shouldn't ) or shamed depends of eras, beliefs, and location.
I'm totally against a binary approach of sex (and porn). Not in terms of genders (though gender binary focus is also an issue here) but in term of either you have sex or not. It's not black and white. It's a full spectrum and there's way more between having sex and not having sexat all.
The definition and explanation about consent is a bit reductive for my tastes. It's not just giving permission. It's setting rules and defining what are the limits for every participant, where you are comfortable and when you are not anymore. Either for watching porn, having whatever sort of sex or just in term of relationship. It's also how to deal when people (most of them whatever how they identify but mostly men in our actual society) don't do thing the right way, how to be sure of your own decision, how not be manipulated or see your comfort and understanding of a sexual situation diminished and so on. How to seek your pleasure and say it when it doesn't work for you even if it bruises male ego.
The book seems to be middle grade target, it means 8-13 years old, right ? But the language is sometimes too childish to explain a concept and sometimes totally out of the age target by being too mature.
Also, speaking about gender stereotypes but including the only male-female without including the non cis aspects of it (non binary, trans,two spirits...) is tricky and biased. I mean, there is a mention that there are more genders but added as an afterthought, not better than a footnote made of barely a full sentence.
The definition of male gaze is wrong for so many reasons that I won't detailed here. It's simplist even for kids or teens and unfortunately stereotypical and partially wrong.
The writer seems to have a vision, let's say, idolized of por or maybe outdated. That's not really helpful at the end. I get it that you cannot (or don't want) to speak about certain aspects of porn and sexuality with teens but the fact is they are already exposed to it and not discussing it properly is THE issue.
Totally canceling (or diabolizing) porn is also the best way to push them to take a look at it and take recommendation where they shouldn't. All kind of porn isn't sex-ed, yes, but all porns aren't bad. Now, there is a lot of ethical studios creating ethical porn for the last few years and more safe, consent friendly and diversity approached. Is still not sex ed, yes. But it's something that should be explained to be sure they access the right content if they are curious (and they will).
The asexuality part is so reductive and false. Wanted to include queer and Ace spectrum without deeper knowledges than the basic definition of Asexual in the dico is a really bad thing. It sounds like a queer washing after thought (again). And it's false and non inclusive information. Or at least not relevant enough. Sex can be an interest for asexual too (demisexual to mentioned just one). Just saying that sex isn't an interest for asexual, at all, is plain wrong. It's a spectrum there is so much more to add to this.
Except for one or two "after thoughts", few words here and there (really so little for something around those topics) the 2SLGBTQIA+ are totally forgotten. It's men and women dynamics, cishet.
Overall, it's a very cishet American way of doing sex-ed and "explaining" porn and the difference between both. As a queer woman and sensitivity reader, I cannot recommend this at all.
I'm aware that I received it as an Advanced reader copy and that the content might not be totally definitive. But I can see the need for at least 20 more pages to includes the 2SLGBTQIA+ pov, ethical porn and more and correct half of what I read. I hope it's a really early draft.
From the very first page, It starts saying that people feel embarrassed to speak about sex because we don't get it and feel the need to be an expert and bla bla bla and then said ok we're here to speak about porn.
Porn isn't sex. It seems to be the main topic of the book but here the approach is already wrong.
What should be normalized here first of all is discussion about sex even before porn comes around to mess up with what you know (or should know). Lack of communication around sex is problematic. Bad ethics in porn industry is problematic. Objectization and hyper sexualization in medias is problematic. Rape culture is problematic. Lack of representations outside of gender binary tradit onal model in sex-ed is problematic. Porn, per se, isn't the issue. Lack of communication about anything remotely close to sex (outside of reproductive purpose) is the massive issue.
I like the interactive and comics strip parts. The form. Not so much the content unfortunately.
Another point that bothered me is speaking of evolution of sexualization in medias based on the way we access it. It is only partially true and lack of relevance if the evolution of moeurs and the explanation of how things are differently approached, accepted, canceled, persecuted , excused (mostly when it shouldn't ) or shamed depends of eras, beliefs, and location.
I'm totally against a binary approach of sex (and porn). Not in terms of genders (though gender binary focus is also an issue here) but in term of either you have sex or not. It's not black and white. It's a full spectrum and there's way more between having sex and not having sexat all.
The definition and explanation about consent is a bit reductive for my tastes. It's not just giving permission. It's setting rules and defining what are the limits for every participant, where you are comfortable and when you are not anymore. Either for watching porn, having whatever sort of sex or just in term of relationship. It's also how to deal when people (most of them whatever how they identify but mostly men in our actual society) don't do thing the right way, how to be sure of your own decision, how not be manipulated or see your comfort and understanding of a sexual situation diminished and so on. How to seek your pleasure and say it when it doesn't work for you even if it bruises male ego.
The book seems to be middle grade target, it means 8-13 years old, right ? But the language is sometimes too childish to explain a concept and sometimes totally out of the age target by being too mature.
Also, speaking about gender stereotypes but including the only male-female without including the non cis aspects of it (non binary, trans,two spirits...) is tricky and biased. I mean, there is a mention that there are more genders but added as an afterthought, not better than a footnote made of barely a full sentence.
The definition of male gaze is wrong for so many reasons that I won't detailed here. It's simplist even for kids or teens and unfortunately stereotypical and partially wrong.
The writer seems to have a vision, let's say, idolized of por or maybe outdated. That's not really helpful at the end. I get it that you cannot (or don't want) to speak about certain aspects of porn and sexuality with teens but the fact is they are already exposed to it and not discussing it properly is THE issue.
Totally canceling (or diabolizing) porn is also the best way to push them to take a look at it and take recommendation where they shouldn't. All kind of porn isn't sex-ed, yes, but all porns aren't bad. Now, there is a lot of ethical studios creating ethical porn for the last few years and more safe, consent friendly and diversity approached. Is still not sex ed, yes. But it's something that should be explained to be sure they access the right content if they are curious (and they will).
The asexuality part is so reductive and false. Wanted to include queer and Ace spectrum without deeper knowledges than the basic definition of Asexual in the dico is a really bad thing. It sounds like a queer washing after thought (again). And it's false and non inclusive information. Or at least not relevant enough. Sex can be an interest for asexual too (demisexual to mentioned just one). Just saying that sex isn't an interest for asexual, at all, is plain wrong. It's a spectrum there is so much more to add to this.
Except for one or two "after thoughts", few words here and there (really so little for something around those topics) the 2SLGBTQIA+ are totally forgotten. It's men and women dynamics, cishet.
Overall, it's a very cishet American way of doing sex-ed and "explaining" porn and the difference between both. As a queer woman and sensitivity reader, I cannot recommend this at all.
I'm aware that I received it as an Advanced reader copy and that the content might not be totally definitive. But I can see the need for at least 20 more pages to includes the 2SLGBTQIA+ pov, ethical porn and more and correct half of what I read. I hope it's a really early draft.
Queer Lens by Paul Martineau, Ryan Linkof
informative
fast-paced
5.0
I start by giving my thanks for this book to Netgalley and Getty Publishing.
This book is a copious work edited by Paul Martineau and Ryan Linkof, exploring the transformative role of photography in LGBTQIA+ communities from the 19th century to the present day.
This book is awesome. Beautifully created work and well crafted and referenced.
It's one of the rare photography books focusing on queer visions and promoting the work and history of so much of the talentuous and grandiose queer photographers paving our history.
The essais coming with the collection of photographies are top notch. Greatly detailed and interesting. A good way to partner with the photographies to show more of what queer history is made of and how much repressed but loud we are.
I found some of my favorite photographers along those pages and I was happy to discover new artists and new pieces.
The quality of this book is stunning.
It is definitely one of the "beautiful book" I'll add on my shelves.
This book is a copious work edited by Paul Martineau and Ryan Linkof, exploring the transformative role of photography in LGBTQIA+ communities from the 19th century to the present day.
This book is awesome. Beautifully created work and well crafted and referenced.
It's one of the rare photography books focusing on queer visions and promoting the work and history of so much of the talentuous and grandiose queer photographers paving our history.
The essais coming with the collection of photographies are top notch. Greatly detailed and interesting. A good way to partner with the photographies to show more of what queer history is made of and how much repressed but loud we are.
I found some of my favorite photographers along those pages and I was happy to discover new artists and new pieces.
The quality of this book is stunning.
It is definitely one of the "beautiful book" I'll add on my shelves.