gossamer_lens's reviews
1350 reviews

Twenty-One Very Short Stories by Sparrow

lighthearted 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

1.0

This wasn't horribly painful to make my way through. But it was boring for a Christmas book advent. The stories didn't feel particularly witty, punny, elevated, dark... or much of anything. Felt like some painless fluff to wade through to continue on through the advent calendar. 

The Pocket-Sized Book of Believer Lists by

informative fast-paced

0.25

Just a list of things... after realizing what it was in the first page or two... it was increasingly painful to continue page after page. I guess maybe not the worst if you had decided to pick this up, or if you like lists for the sake of lists... or even if it was just one list. But as part of a Christmas Advent, I thought it a most poor choice. 

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

emotional lighthearted reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

This book felt impactful for the age range, middle grade, that it was made for. I personally didn't enjoy it very much due to the childish perspective not being used in a way that felt very resonate, revealing or purposeful. It just felt to me like an adult giving snippits of their childhood without any real reflection or purpose. I could see that being impactful for kids in similar circumstances reading this book though, so they feel less alone. 

Y: The Last Man - The Deluxe Edition Book One by Brian K. Vaughan

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.25

I like the premise and themes. As a book published in the early 2000's, there are some issues of the time with how LGBTQ+ people and women are handled, imo. If this was a written work I think they would be light enough to be forgotten after a first twinge of cringe. But instead, the format makes it a pervasive sort of issue. 

I think so far the story, character arcs and themes make it so I can push on and want to know what happens next. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Self harm, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Car accident

Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman

informative lighthearted reflective

3.0

I think in general Gaiman should stick with fiction. The first two installments were very... "rich guy who has little real consequences for things has thoughts that he thinks are common sense". The last two installments were much more focused in on art and creation and his feelings on that, which made it worth the cringe of reading the first 2 installments. I don't know that I would recommend this book so much as say that Gaiman has some interesting thoughts that lead to some great fiction writing. Maybe his being out of touch in many ways assist with his fiction writing. Who knows. 

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

adventurous emotional hopeful sad fast-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

Just... sooo soooo good. If you ever read the MurderBot Diaries and loved Miki... this book was hands down made for you. The vibes are immaculate, the writing is great, the plot is intriguing, the characters... I would die for the main character. I love it!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Grief

Moderate: Child death and Medical trauma

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I just... so good. I loved it. The ending wasn't how I would have wanted it ended... but reflecting on it, it was perfectly satisfying, well-written and enjoyable. It was very Neil Gaiman esq in the way the plot progressed and the whole vibe was a fun dark and mysterious thing. I went into it expecting more horror/thriller which it wasn't. But I kinda loved it for that. It feels like something that will sit in my brain for longer due to what it actually is. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

Lost Boy, Lost Girl: Escaping Civil War in Sudan by John Bul Dau

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative sad fast-paced

5.0

This memoir gives two interesting perspectives into a civil war I knew nothing about. It was written in such a direct, powerful, and emotional way that I had a hard time putting it down at times. But then, it handled such intense topics I had to also take breaks at times... but my thoughts would linger on it. I have a hard time rating non-fiction. I couldn't rightly say I "enjoyed" this book. But I found it powerful, informative and very well-written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

The Chimes by Charles Dickens

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.0

The first few pages reminded me... I well and truly love Dickens' style of writing. It is so full of descriptions, repeating for emphasis, wit and banter. I love it! This story didn't feel as classically crafted as his Christmas Carol. But the moral, characters and tale were charming, poignant and very relevant in modern times. If someone likes the Christmas Carol and hasn't ever gotten to this, I do think they would enjoy it a lot. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Death

Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.75

I typically gravitate towards books that are strong in themes... this one wasn't. But what it lacked there it made up for in the melodramatic. It was emotional, sad, romantic, and complicated. Wharton's characters have a strong sense of reality. They are complicated,and messy and my heart couldn't help feeling for them even while judging them immensely. If you want a short, passionate, and sad book this would be the one for you!