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jedore's reviews
503 reviews
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia
Design Flaws of the Human Condition by Paul Schmidtberger
What a fun book! Kinda like a rom com, but with two friends (two gay men and a woman). It left me missing the time in my life when I lived in the gay district of my old city…never had so much fun and felt so cherished by my friends.
Everything about this book is New York City…the setting, the snarky intelligent humor, the situations that come up, and definitely the characters. Spot on.
The story was filled with valuable life lessons, but it wasn’t preachy at all. And it brought to light how grey life is, which made it feel real versus formulaic. I absolutely loved the characters…so real I wanted them as friends.
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, light, but meaningful read!
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.0
“…after you squeeze a person’s spirit away for awhile, it just stays squeezed away.”
What a fun book! Kinda like a rom com, but with two friends (two gay men and a woman). It left me missing the time in my life when I lived in the gay district of my old city…never had so much fun and felt so cherished by my friends.
Everything about this book is New York City…the setting, the snarky intelligent humor, the situations that come up, and definitely the characters. Spot on.
The story was filled with valuable life lessons, but it wasn’t preachy at all. And it brought to light how grey life is, which made it feel real versus formulaic. I absolutely loved the characters…so real I wanted them as friends.
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, light, but meaningful read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Stalking
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Lolita is the story of obsession and pedophilia that was as revolting as I had expected. At best, it was uncomfortable to be inside the mind of a narcissistic pedophile…at worst, utterly disgusting.
Character development was limited to the highly unlikeable pedophile, Humbert Humbert, but was absolutely masterful. In fact, Humbert WAS the story as there was very little action. (It would be fascinating to read a book from Delores’/Lolita’s perspective.)
To add to my negative feelings about Humbert, I found his pompous vocabulary and frequent use of un-translated French irritating. It also created emotional distance between me and this book.
This was one of those books I read purely out of curiosity and a desire to be better educated. Over the years, it has been regularly referenced in books, movies, and even song lyrics and I was missing out on meanings. Now I get it. I am glad I read it…all knowledge is power, but I won’t miss Humbert one bit.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
3.75
“You know, what’s so dreadful about dying is that you are completely on your own.”
Lolita is the story of obsession and pedophilia that was as revolting as I had expected. At best, it was uncomfortable to be inside the mind of a narcissistic pedophile…at worst, utterly disgusting.
Character development was limited to the highly unlikeable pedophile, Humbert Humbert, but was absolutely masterful. In fact, Humbert WAS the story as there was very little action. (It would be fascinating to read a book from Delores’/Lolita’s perspective.)
To add to my negative feelings about Humbert, I found his pompous vocabulary and frequent use of un-translated French irritating. It also created emotional distance between me and this book.
This was one of those books I read purely out of curiosity and a desire to be better educated. Over the years, it has been regularly referenced in books, movies, and even song lyrics and I was missing out on meanings. Now I get it. I am glad I read it…all knowledge is power, but I won’t miss Humbert one bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
This is my fourth Lisa See book...and the second one that made my all-time favorite list (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is the first). Lisa is an amazing author, goddess of research, and master of character development.
I've gotten a glimpse of the horrific treatment of Koreans by the Japanese (Pachinko) and the U.S. (The Peoples' History of the United States), but this story was an intimate and personal journey into the lives of those living on the island of Jeju. Wow, just wow...as I close the cover of what feels like every book I read these days, my faith in humanity lessens. The ability of one "tribe's" ability to completely disassociate and commit horrors against "outsiders" is mind boggling.
The story also cemented a personal opinion that I've been pondering for some time now, one based both on my own life experiences and the thousands of books I've read.
Women are, in general and by far, the stronger sex.
In the face of poverty, war, and other intense hardships, I've observed (personally or literally) many a man fall apart and their women carry them (as well as their children). The haenyo divers of Jeju took this to a whole other level as they were not only capable of carrying their men emotionally, but physically as well.
A week after closing the back cover of this book and I still find myself thinking about the perfectly imperfect heroines of this story and replaying many of the scenes in my mind. Add this to the fact that I have a more complete knowledge about history (so I can do what I can to stop it from repeating) and it's no wonder it's an all-time favorite.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“You should be more careful out there,” the doctor says. “You have a dangerous job. I mean, do you see men doing it?”
“Of course not!” Young-sook exclaims. “The world knows that the cold water will cause their penises to shrivel and die.”
This is my fourth Lisa See book...and the second one that made my all-time favorite list (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is the first). Lisa is an amazing author, goddess of research, and master of character development.
I've gotten a glimpse of the horrific treatment of Koreans by the Japanese (Pachinko) and the U.S. (The Peoples' History of the United States), but this story was an intimate and personal journey into the lives of those living on the island of Jeju. Wow, just wow...as I close the cover of what feels like every book I read these days, my faith in humanity lessens. The ability of one "tribe's" ability to completely disassociate and commit horrors against "outsiders" is mind boggling.
The story also cemented a personal opinion that I've been pondering for some time now, one based both on my own life experiences and the thousands of books I've read.
Women are, in general and by far, the stronger sex.
In the face of poverty, war, and other intense hardships, I've observed (personally or literally) many a man fall apart and their women carry them (as well as their children). The haenyo divers of Jeju took this to a whole other level as they were not only capable of carrying their men emotionally, but physically as well.
A week after closing the back cover of this book and I still find myself thinking about the perfectly imperfect heroines of this story and replaying many of the scenes in my mind. Add this to the fact that I have a more complete knowledge about history (so I can do what I can to stop it from repeating) and it's no wonder it's an all-time favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Alcoholism
Homeopathy: Start Here by Ann Jerome PhD CCH
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
The first step in reconnecting with my long lost inner witch is to start practicing homeopathy (for myself and any of my loved ones who want to give it a shot). “Homeopathy: Start Here” was the first step in my education.
This short book, written by a long-time classical practitioner, is split into two almost even sections.
The first half is a toe dip into homeopathy…a little bit about it’s history, theory, the creation of the remedies, and practice. It explained it very clearly and totally opened my eyes. I now understand it’s VERY different than herbal medicine! I definitely plan on digging deeper, particularly about constitutions.
The second half is the presentation of a bunch of case studies. While I found it fascinating to learn about all of the issues homeopathy can resolve, I would have appreciated much more info on each case, such as the constitution of the person, what remedies worked for that specific person, etc. Simply hearing that some unknown remedy worked on various cases wasn’t nearly enough and, in fact, I felt detracted from the book.
I’m excited to learn more about homeopathy AND to have such an effective and affordable way to take charge of my health. As an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), I’m deeply appreciative of remedies that won’t give me all of the mild to serious side effects that Western, and even herbal, medicine does.
This short book, written by a long-time classical practitioner, is split into two almost even sections.
The first half is a toe dip into homeopathy…a little bit about it’s history, theory, the creation of the remedies, and practice. It explained it very clearly and totally opened my eyes. I now understand it’s VERY different than herbal medicine! I definitely plan on digging deeper, particularly about constitutions.
The second half is the presentation of a bunch of case studies. While I found it fascinating to learn about all of the issues homeopathy can resolve, I would have appreciated much more info on each case, such as the constitution of the person, what remedies worked for that specific person, etc. Simply hearing that some unknown remedy worked on various cases wasn’t nearly enough and, in fact, I felt detracted from the book.
I’m excited to learn more about homeopathy AND to have such an effective and affordable way to take charge of my health. As an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), I’m deeply appreciative of remedies that won’t give me all of the mild to serious side effects that Western, and even herbal, medicine does.
Only Killers and Thieves by Paul Howarth
This is definitely not my typical genre….all male characters, LOTS of aggression and violence. Pretty much a western set in Australia.
I read it to honor the aboriginal people of Australia. As horrific as it is, it’s important that we don’t stick our heads in the sand about the experiences of the natives throughout the world.
I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through to the end. The only reason I did was because the main character was a sensitive boy who retained his softness into manhood despite all the horrors he witnessed and even took a small part in.
The writing was excellent. Character development was awesome…the author nailed the bad guys. I did figure out the ending about midway through, which did detract from my reading experience a bit.
All in all a very good read given the education, and hopefully empathy, you gain.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“Men fear that which is alien, that which they cannot control. Hence most are afraid of certain animals, predators, those they cannot tame. In this country, that would be snakes, dingoes to an extent, but mostly the wild native.”
This is definitely not my typical genre….all male characters, LOTS of aggression and violence. Pretty much a western set in Australia.
I read it to honor the aboriginal people of Australia. As horrific as it is, it’s important that we don’t stick our heads in the sand about the experiences of the natives throughout the world.
I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through to the end. The only reason I did was because the main character was a sensitive boy who retained his softness into manhood despite all the horrors he witnessed and even took a small part in.
The writing was excellent. Character development was awesome…the author nailed the bad guys. I did figure out the ending about midway through, which did detract from my reading experience a bit.
All in all a very good read given the education, and hopefully empathy, you gain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
With every book I read about witches, I feel more and more connected to a tribe. Definitely not a typical one. This tribe isn’t restricted by the boundaries of time and place. It’s filled with countless generations of strong women who were/are deeply connected to nature and use its gifts to heal. They refused to follow the herd and be stifled by the patriarchy. They are my sisters.
This book is the prequel to Practical Magic…I have the full series and chose to read them in chronological order. It is the story of the matriarch of the Owen witches that takes place in the late 1600s in England, Curaçao, Salem, and New York.
Although it’s magical realism, you learn a lot about history…of each place and the plight of those women who chose to live on the edges.
The plot was formulaic, thus predictable…it was the characters that kept me turning the pages. Alice Hoffman has a gift for character development.
The two biggest detractions for me were the magical realism and Hoffman’s diversions into Jewish history. My personal preference is for more realistic fiction, so that’s totally on me. I think more readers would agree with me that the breaks from the story to educate us on the plight and contributions of Jews were overindulgent, wholly unnecessary and mild to moderately irritating.
Looking forward to reading Practical Magic, which I’ve heard is very different than the movie.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
“Tell a witch to go, and she’ll plant her feet on the ground and stay exactly where she is. Instead of doing as she’s told, she’ll take a knife to her arm and let her blood drip onto the ground, and in that way she will claim the earth for herself and for her daughters and for all the daughters who follow her. It is the future she’s claiming, the right to be a woman who can do as she pleases.“
With every book I read about witches, I feel more and more connected to a tribe. Definitely not a typical one. This tribe isn’t restricted by the boundaries of time and place. It’s filled with countless generations of strong women who were/are deeply connected to nature and use its gifts to heal. They refused to follow the herd and be stifled by the patriarchy. They are my sisters.
This book is the prequel to Practical Magic…I have the full series and chose to read them in chronological order. It is the story of the matriarch of the Owen witches that takes place in the late 1600s in England, Curaçao, Salem, and New York.
Although it’s magical realism, you learn a lot about history…of each place and the plight of those women who chose to live on the edges.
The plot was formulaic, thus predictable…it was the characters that kept me turning the pages. Alice Hoffman has a gift for character development.
The two biggest detractions for me were the magical realism and Hoffman’s diversions into Jewish history. My personal preference is for more realistic fiction, so that’s totally on me. I think more readers would agree with me that the breaks from the story to educate us on the plight and contributions of Jews were overindulgent, wholly unnecessary and mild to moderately irritating.
Looking forward to reading Practical Magic, which I’ve heard is very different than the movie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Infertility, Death of parent
Minor: Slavery, Torture, Antisemitism, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation