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jarrahpenguin's reviews
1301 reviews
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
A fun, action-packed third instalment of the Murderbot Diaries. I missed ART and found some of the developments predictable but I still appreciated the story and got even more invested in Murderbot’s quest.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Slavery
The Cosmic Con by RON. KASMAN
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
The art is the highlight in this story about a teenage boy in the 70s who dabbles with a fictional cult after his uncle gets involved. But the narrative is slow and it fails to really get at the issues it promises, like why the uncle, a Holocaust survivor, would be into the cult. And why the teen sticks with it as long as he does in spite of his skepticism. There also isn’t a lot of character development.
It also feels like there’s a long time spent explaining the fictional cult, in a way that’s like teaching history, when it’s fictional. I’m not sure whether the creator was concerned about being sued by Scientology or another movement but it would’ve been more interesting to me to see a real example.
It also feels like there’s a long time spent explaining the fictional cult, in a way that’s like teaching history, when it’s fictional. I’m not sure whether the creator was concerned about being sued by Scientology or another movement but it would’ve been more interesting to me to see a real example.
The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell
informative
medium-paced
3.0
This book would be a good introductory read for someone who didn’t have any previous familiarity with the idea of cognitive biases. Each chapter in Montell’s book looks at a different cognitive bias like the sunk cost fallacy or confirmation bias, and connects it to modern social phenomena and the author’s personal experience.
I found it a bit basic and disjointed I was expecting at least a wrap-up chapter covering why people should care and offering some key takeaways on how to move forward in the “age” the title speaks to. Montell describes the problem but doesn’t offer much in the way of solutions or broader significance.
I found it a bit basic and disjointed I was expecting at least a wrap-up chapter covering why people should care and offering some key takeaways on how to move forward in the “age” the title speaks to. Montell describes the problem but doesn’t offer much in the way of solutions or broader significance.
Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us by Rachel Aviv
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
So good. Rachel Aviv shares a series of in-depth profiles of diverse individuals’ experiences of mental illness, drawing on interviews and their own diaries and other writings.
Her profiles are compelling, empathetic and very well-told. She also weaves in her own experiences and shows in an elegant, accessible way how individual experiences of mental illness are shaped by social, cultural, familial and individual narratives.
Lots of content notes but I never felt like Aviv was exploiting the darker moments. They were just facts, presented with empathy.
Her profiles are compelling, empathetic and very well-told. She also weaves in her own experiences and shows in an elegant, accessible way how individual experiences of mental illness are shaped by social, cultural, familial and individual narratives.
Lots of content notes but I never felt like Aviv was exploiting the darker moments. They were just facts, presented with empathy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This small, odd, beautiful book is a new favourite. It’s poetic and poignant. I found myself sobbing at the end because of how the worldview hit home. The way the author chose what to put in and leave out is masterful. Read it even if you think you don’t like sci fi.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic
The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A beautiful ending to the Earthsea series that draws in characters from Tales of Earthsea and those from the earliest books. It’s a contemplation of death and mortality that’s fitting, if a bit somber. There’s a lot of characters to balance and I wanted some more depth on some of them, particularly Seserakh.
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Hench is an entertaining, darkly funny novel that explores good and evil, vengeance and identity. The action scenes are great and the story is compelling. The ending felt more bleak than I had expected but I understand there’s a series planned so it makes sense as a jumping off point for the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Medical trauma
Blankets by Craig Thompson
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Blankets is a classic now and one I’d never got around to reading, but I’m glad I finally did. The semi-autobiographical story explores family, faith, abuse, growing up, being an outsider and experiencing young love. The narration and dialogue style is straightforward but the story writing gives it interesting flow back and forth between Craig’s childhood and teenage years. The art is beautiful and easy to follow and every once in a while he brings in a different style to effectively make a panel or page stand out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
The Secret to Superhuman Strength is a hefty, quirky book that’s a bit of a departure for Bechdel in theme and structure. It’s ostensibly about exercise and the body/mind dichotomy but it’s really an exploration of mortality and meaning. The structure is only loosely chronological, with scenes interspersed of Bechdel’s contemplating connections to Kerouac, Margaret Fuller, Buddhist teachings and more. I really liked the colour work by Holly Rae Taylor and the funny details that Bechdel inserts in several panels. Overall it wasn’t my favourite but I did appreciate the ending.
Thunderstruck by Erik Larson
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
3.75
Erik Larson tries to recapture lightning in a bottle by weaving together the story of Marconi’s invention of wireless telegraphy and the murder of Cora Crippen by her husband. Unfortunately he gets a bit bogged down in Marconi’s biography and random minutiae and it drags a bit when you really just want to learn more about the murder. Things do pick up and the last part is a page-turner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Suicide