gossamer_lens's reviews
1421 reviews

Snail World: Life in the Slimelight by Sam Copeland, Aleia Murawski

lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.75

Very cute art. If you like snails and miniatures, this is a book for you. 

Dancing On Ice by Time Princess

dark emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

4.25

I truly enjoyed this book. The complicated mother daughter dynamic really drew me in. Having played soccer and had a best friend with a coach for a father, it felt really real and grounded. Dynamics like that can be hard, straining and rewarding all in one go.

The romance also felt grounded and subtle and I like that you can see things beginning but not quite ending. It fits very well with the ending of the book that I achieved. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

dark funny medium-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

5.0

Just... Very very good. I absolutely love the wit if the writing and I love how much disdain this books holds for the christian god. It just calls things into stark question and centers on how much life just goes on and it is what it is. And that doesn't change with whatever overarching lie we tell ourselves to make it feel better. 

The Art of War, with eBook by Sun Tzu

informative fast-paced

2.5

This was really boring.. but I guess you can say I read it now. It is interesting that something is old exists and I get to read it. But otherwise I found it uninteresting.

Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

A very wonderful overview of how Poverty in America exists, came to be, why the Rich want to keep it, and how recently all political parties are failing to help address the concerns of poor Americans. I was only disappointed by a lack of actionable items or real call to action. The ending asks all people to become "poverty abolitionists". It is a hard call to action for me, because it comes across as very "hope for better and make personal choices to do better" which feels very "black box on Instagram for BLM". Like is it something to be and engender? sure! Is it the end of the line? No. I think if I wasn't more aware of this issue I would find that very satisfying as an end... but as I am not unfamiliar with it, it just felt like I read something affirming instead of helpful. Which is nice, but wasn't what I was hoping for.  

Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.5

A good overview of RBGs life and what can be left as her legacy. It is hard to read this after her death and to have noted a few places where things were glossed over and worded to make RBG sound like she did most of the work on some things that peers/others could have had more credit given to them. But overall, it was enjoyable and gave interesting insights into her life.

Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow, just wow. So dark and good. Really has things to say with the most intriguing things happening throughout. Just... I live to find these sorts of books. I cannot even describe it. It was very dark so might recommend looking at trigger warnings if that is your kind of thing. So very good. My god. 

If you enjoyed this book/review, you may be interested in checking out other books I recommend: https://www.gossamerlens.com/post/black-history-month-book-recommendations 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

The Follower of Flowers by Natalia Hernandez

adventurous sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I think I liked this installment in the series just slightly less than the first because I wanted more focus on the characters and character dynamics. But things definitely got moved along and put in place for the next book to be able to focus more on that... so I'm excited to see where it goes. The romance was very light, cute and fun. The friendship relationships are complicated and intriguing. The plot makes me need to know what happens next. Very fun! 

Have You Seen Claudia? by Time Princess

adventurous dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I am not particularly fond of mysteries... but I found this fun, surprisingly dark, and enjoyable. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Murder

A Romance Novelist Desperately Tries to Romanticize Midwestern Winter by Mary Spencer

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

This is my favorite book in the whole advent series... it is way too relatable and hilarious. Every Christmas rom-com ever has made me have thoughts adjacent to what this book puts forward. It is on the nose, but in the perfect way! I couldn't stop giggling and laughing all the way through my husband reading it out loud for us. Just such a fun experience for such a quick little read!