drapetomaniac's reviews
58 reviews

Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi

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

4.5

This book was exactly what I was looking for. A silly, lighthearted book with a fun concept that is well executed. Watching Shibata slowly devolve into her pregnancy was captivating, and the ending really tied it all together. I was so excited to read this book when I bought it, and I was definitely not disappointed.
The Last Children of Tokyo by Yōko Tawada

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

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

4.75

While this book did take a while for me to read, it was fantastic. I don't give 5 star ratings often (this is literally my second), and Breasts and Eggs deserves it. I don't really have much to comment on it, it's just a great book.
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin

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reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This book definitely fell a little flat. I have heard only good things about Winter in Sokcho, yet after reading it isn’t very memorable. The main character doesn’t do more than exist and many of her flaws aren’t fully explained. Kerrand has the potential to be a good character, but like the book itself, falls flat. The plot of the book is fine, but there is little development and the end scene seemed a little predictable. 
Overall, it’s not a bad book, but it’s not a good book either. 
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The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

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adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

First, getting a bit of context about the Sri Lankan civil war is essential to fully understand what is going on. 
As for the actual review, while the book started out a bit slow, it picked up and quickly became difficult to put down. Trying to guess if Maali will side with Sena or Dr Ranee is something on your mind throughout the book, and each new piece of information is unexpected yet cohesive. Karunatikala’s interpretation of the afterlife is well-developed and interesting and offers insight on how those who are dead continue to influence people who are still living. 
Overall, it’s a fantastic read. 
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Assembly by Natasha Brown

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book is absolutely wonderful. It's a small snippet into the narrator's life as she navigates being a black woman in corporate London. As the book progresses and she arrives at her boyfriend's estate, she enters a reflective moment and thinks about her life in relation to English nationalism and how she is contributing to that. It doesn't feel like the same points repeated in other books, however, which makes this book even more special.
My only tool of expression is the language of this place. Its bias and assumptions permeate all reason I could construct from it.
This line is definitely my favorite in the book. I don't have much to say about this quote, it simply encompasses how colonialism has affected everything in modern life, even the way language is worded.
Overall, a fantastic quick read and would 100% recommend. 
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A Feather on the Breath of God: A Novel by Sigrid Nunez

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dark reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 42%.
it was interesting at first, but oh my god did this book become a chore to read. i don’t think i can physically finish it, and if i do, it’ll take me a few months. 
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

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3.75

It’s a solid book. It’s definitely a must if you are learning about the basics of intersectional feminism. It shares the basics of how black women need to be supportive in a straightforward, thought provoking way. Some of the anecdotes can be a little repetitive and off topic, but their inclusion is welcome and helps to think of intersectional feminism as more than a theory and rather what is necessary. However, if you are already even a bit familiar with intersectional feminism, it’s not going to be the most useful book.
Overall, it’s still good and I do recommend it.