dmbooks's reviews
120 reviews

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

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4.5

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

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4.0

The Passion of Bootblacking by Amelia Horo, Amelia Horo

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hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.5

I really liked this. Quick, informative, and inspiring. Great overview of the basics and some intermediate stuff — history, practical care, and the possible social and/or erotic aspects of bootblacking. I may keep a paper copy at the stand for anyone looking to learn more or to pass along to newer bootblacks.
I love when elders share about their experiences, and it was really cool reading about the author’s experience as someone genderfluid and legally blind. You can read more about the author at the leather history preservation foundation website.

Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I expected to love this. It definitely held my attention in terms of the author letting you know a little at the beginning and building some tension with more information being revealed as you go. Parts were beautifully written. What I didn’t like was that parts felt a bit repetitive, maybe embellished on for the sake of length. It also felt like many of the reveals were expected, and didn’t go far enough. Still would recommend to someone who likes these styles of works.

Severance by Ling Ma

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emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

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adventurous emotional hopeful relaxing fast-paced