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hzmt's reviews
276 reviews
Unhinged by Vera Valentine
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This had no right to be as fun and enjoyable as it was.
Extremely silly.
Extremely silly.
Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I hated this book.
100% a self insert character and was written as some sort of catharsis for the author but should have stayed in her diary instead of publishing it as her debut novel.
The writing is bad and littered with senseless swearing, over-sexualized gratuitous violence, and weak allegory to fascism while simultaneously referencing historical, literary horror such as The Haunting of Hill House while taking zero notes on prose and writing style. Also it served to age itself out of relevance quickly by referencing old web forums by name, thus condemning itself to an inherently minuscule shelf life compared to its inspiration.
Several times throughout the book, the third person omniscient POV reveals tangential information that diverges from the story and reveals nothing useful. Towards the end, the book just falls apart into ranting about the political state of the UK and completely strays from the story, just sufficing as a space for the author's expletive laced essay about the world with inclusion of slurs but at the same time censoring some of them? (I don't like the r word, but if you're going to imply the usage, just use it and don't back down, you didn't back down from any of the other god awful stuff in this book, why was that the line?).
Honestly this book felt like a gross hindrance to the movement and lacked any real horror other than knowing that there are people out there that can write the cringiest, edgelord, angsty bullshit call it trans horror; and then be published and praised for bravery.
100% a self insert character and was written as some sort of catharsis for the author but should have stayed in her diary instead of publishing it as her debut novel.
The writing is bad and littered with senseless swearing, over-sexualized gratuitous violence, and weak allegory to fascism while simultaneously referencing historical, literary horror such as The Haunting of Hill House while taking zero notes on prose and writing style. Also it served to age itself out of relevance quickly by referencing old web forums by name, thus condemning itself to an inherently minuscule shelf life compared to its inspiration.
Several times throughout the book, the third person omniscient POV reveals tangential information that diverges from the story and reveals nothing useful. Towards the end, the book just falls apart into ranting about the political state of the UK and completely strays from the story, just sufficing as a space for the author's expletive laced essay about the world with inclusion of slurs but at the same time censoring some of them? (I don't like the r word, but if you're going to imply the usage, just use it and don't back down, you didn't back down from any of the other god awful stuff in this book, why was that the line?).
Honestly this book felt like a gross hindrance to the movement and lacked any real horror other than knowing that there are people out there that can write the cringiest, edgelord, angsty bullshit call it trans horror; and then be published and praised for bravery.
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The last 25 percent of the book was fantastic but does not forgive the first 75 percent being an uncommunicative dredge. The lack of chemistry between Lowe and Misery was also infuriating as well as the lack of communication with the ending putting a bandaid over something that REALLY should have been hashed out better.
Fences by August Wilson
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom: A Play in Two Acts by August Wilson
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
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? Yes
4.5
Remarkable and depressing. A look at classism and racism that still remains relevant to this day.
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Beautifully written and dreamy.