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iellv's reviews
66 reviews
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
4.0
I read this when I was in high school. She was indeed the moment, but I'm leaving a conservative rating because while I watched the show and appreciated it as an adult, I can't say the same about the book yet. I'll re-read this again one day for sure for sure!
Revelator by Daryl Gregory
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Strong middle, okay beginning, weak end. I’m surprised it took a turn for the deeply okay. Maybe I expected too much horror? The character development felt flat and unconvincing to me. Sunny was unconvincing. Whatever this book tried to do in the end was done way better. Just go read Sharp Objects, honestly.
This sounds so harsh djfjdjd there were genuinely some banger parts and lines, but I’m tired and overall I’m disappointed in the book so I’m a bit pissy about it.
Kiiiiind of in love with Stella though. Who knew I’d be into women who brandish shotguns in churches??? I certainly didn’t. God I’m so gay
This sounds so harsh djfjdjd there were genuinely some banger parts and lines, but I’m tired and overall I’m disappointed in the book so I’m a bit pissy about it.
Kiiiiind of in love with Stella though. Who knew I’d be into women who brandish shotguns in churches??? I certainly didn’t. God I’m so gay
Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism by Michael Parenti
medium-paced
5.0
Second to the last chapter is a lot less relevant, considering a bigger problem rn is people spouting familiar class relations talking points without bothering to go the extra mile. It was entertaining though and very interesting to see Parenti’s scathing (very deserved) observations of these ABC intellectuals. Anyway where would some of us be without Parenti!
The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.
Mama this is embarrassing. I am the target audience for this type of book (trans characters? monsterfucking? horror? historical setting?? hello??) but the writing style is grating. I’m gonna be honest… it’s kinda bad. Almost every sentence is structured strangely if not just passive. Mandelo overuses personification, which is especially noticeable because he is already a bit too descriptive—and that’s coming from someone who enjoys purple prose. I also caught at least 5 instances of questionable word choice before dropping this. 10 pages is a new low for me but I cannot be blamed for this. Each sentence felt circular bc of the poor rhythm too, if that makes sense. So many issues with clarity… and for what? For the chance to misuse big words? And despite all of these notes, the writing is still somehow dry? Fascinating.
I read abt the crazy age gap though. Bullet dodged ig! Jesus. Sorry to everyone who’s eating this up though I’m honestly kinda jealous. I’d fully intended to power through the writing but I am god’s weakest soldier.
I read abt the crazy age gap though. Bullet dodged ig! Jesus. Sorry to everyone who’s eating this up though I’m honestly kinda jealous. I’d fully intended to power through the writing but I am god’s weakest soldier.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
When I tell you I screamed over a timestamp.
What do I even say? I want to rate this 5 stars, I really do. This was extremely well thought out and well-written. Personally, I thought the pacing was almost perfect (I didn’t think it was too slow. Honestly I kind of wished this book was a bit longer), and I loved how seemingly different Robbie’s and Gloria’s chapters were in tone, but they all showed the fear, frustration, sorrow, and rage that made up the siblings’ shared suffering. No matter that they were both so far apart from one another. I’m only rating this 4.75 because I would have loved a longer ending! There was so much to cover in this book; I desperately needed a breather at the end. There were also more details I’d hoped to encounter, but that might just be because I have a general preference for very reflective books.
I am also not 100% sold on the decision to make Haddock THE villain to the point where all others paled in comparison. Personally I would have liked to know more about the neighbors, but I also understand that there was no way Tananarive could have included that without ruining the pacing of this book. Though I am surprised that Loehmann just fell off. I don’t think he could have helped any other way besides securing that slot for Gloria and Miz Lottie, but I thought it was funny that he just fell off and readers would likely completely forget about him, as I did.
What do I even say? I want to rate this 5 stars, I really do. This was extremely well thought out and well-written. Personally, I thought the pacing was almost perfect (I didn’t think it was too slow. Honestly I kind of wished this book was a bit longer), and I loved how seemingly different Robbie’s and Gloria’s chapters were in tone, but they all showed the fear, frustration, sorrow, and rage that made up the siblings’ shared suffering. No matter that they were both so far apart from one another. I’m only rating this 4.75 because I would have loved a longer ending! There was so much to cover in this book; I desperately needed a breather at the end. There were also more details I’d hoped to encounter, but that might just be because I have a general preference for very reflective books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Vomit
King's Maker by Haga, Kang Ji Young
medium-paced
3.0
I got curious because of the art style. Thought it was pretty good but nothing to yell about. I’d actually read this before, forgot, and then re-read it. I felt weird about the author adding in the pedophilia then and I still felt weird about it the second time around. It was given the weight and urgency it deserved, for sure, but was it gratuitous? Not all the time, but sometimes it really felt that way. Good premise and decent execution though. Very good tension-building and there were a lot of interesting moments between the main characters. I think the author captured boyhood attraction/attachment and loyalty and devotion really well!
The sequel could have been SO GOOD, but it ultimately proved to be meandering and underwhelming, so I dropped it.
The sequel could have been SO GOOD, but it ultimately proved to be meandering and underwhelming, so I dropped it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, and Rape
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
medium-paced
3.75
I’m sorry that I happened to read this just as I watched Rahul Kohli in Midnight Mass. I’m sorry Rahul Kohli I promise it wasn’t on purpose but I am so so into you. Anyway. This had a much cleaner structure than Eve Brown despite having more plot and character elements to play with (maybe that’s why it ended up being more solid?). What was missing was the explosion of charm I got from Eve Brown. I still love them a lot though!!
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
fast-paced
3.5
I rmr reading this in 2022? It was rlly good fun until the third act, which wasn’t a disaster, really. Just so unnecessary I was tempted to put the book down and pretend I’d finished it an otherwise perfectly cute and sexy novel. Still very good though! I’d recommend skipping to the last pages when you get to the third act though
The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Good! Didn’t expect to like it so much. I even added two of her other works to my library.
This one is simple and bleak. Bleak from start to finish.
I would send this to a tradwife and the “good for her” crowd to chew on. Only because I think it would be kinda funny.
This one is simple and bleak. Bleak from start to finish.
I would send this to a tradwife and the “good for her” crowd to chew on. Only because I think it would be kinda funny.