gia0203's reviews
138 reviews

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

I’m so conflicted on this book because I’ve been so excited to read it for so long and I absolutely adored sundial by the same author, but it didn’t always hit the mark for me. I never really got used to the writing style and the twists at the end were quick and hurried. however, I loved the concept and parts of this were really poignant, horrifying and moving. the middle section was fantastic, so nail-biting and horrible, and I’ll be thinking about it forever. but equally the ending was so rushed that it sort of dampened my experience. lots to love here though. again, I’m conflicted. 

Women and Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Understanding Life Experiences from Early Childhood to Old Age by Sarah Hendrickx
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

The author makes sweeping generalisations that become frankly disrespectful in the sexuality and gender section. There was little nuance when speaking on autistic women’s relation to gender, and at times the author betrayed her internalised misogyny to the extent that it became uncomfortable. She used anecdotes from autistic women who hated and rejected other women, and while I understand this is one perspective, there weren’t any opposing views or arguments to this. Hendrickx seemed to cherry pick anecdotes that validated a particular theory that she had (cough it had hints of terf cough), but there has been and always will be feminist autistic women. 

She also started to turn away from the facts and research that made the first half of the book actually good, and began to use expressions like “in my experience…” and “it appears that…” which suggested she was speaking from personal bias rather than fact. It also did feel at times that she was dismissive of the trans autistic experience. I think some of this can be chalked up to the time period, but even still I couldn’t continue reading considering all of this… 

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

dark funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Gloriously strange and unsettling. The writing style was unique and some of the ideas here were very well executed. 

Mouth to Mouth: ‘Gripping... Shades of Patricia Highsmith and Donna Tartt' Vogue by Antoine Wilson

2.0

The concept of the novel is actually really interesting, and the writing style did engage me. However, that’s where the intrigue ended - this felt like a carbon copy of other similar thrillers. 

The Color of Blood by Mona Kabbani

dark sad

2.75

The writing style was beautiful, more poetic than prose, and I really liked the concept. However it just didn’t particularly click with me and I struggled to connect to the protagonists. 

Salt Slow by Julia Armfield

reflective slow-paced

4.0

A collection of stories that feel more like concepts. I adored the story Formerly Feral and some of the others stuck with me too. I love Julia Armfield and her delicate, quiet and surrealist style.

The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim

dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A delightfully weird read, I really enjoyed it. 

Motel Styx by Jonathan Butcher, Michelle von Eschen

3.0

An original little story with some interesting elements, especially in the first half. It didn’t really do much for me though. 

This is Where We Talk Things Out by Caitlin Marceau

dark tense fast-paced

3.5

An unsettling little novella. Didn’t quite live up to the online hype, but creepy all the same. 

Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price

4.75

A great starting point for Autistic people looking to unmask. This book held so many useful tips that I will definitely be using in my every day life. It’s more of a toolbox and won’t apply to everyone, even the author recognises that unmasking in the system we’re currently in isn’t always possible. Still I found it really helpful and encouraging.