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jerakahs's reviews
13 reviews
Biography of X by Catherine Lacey
adventurous
challenging
emotional
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
4.5
This is one of the most ambitious books I've ever read. At first, I took issue with the way the South is portrayed (in this alternate version of US history, the South secedes after WWII and becomes a theocracy, while the North becomes a flawed socialist "utopia"). While I still disagree somewhat with this portrayal of the South, I can't deny that the worldbuilding is pretty expertly done, and becomes less distracting throughout the book. But the larger narrative, that of C and X, was absolutely fascinating to me. I was utterly captivated. The prose style is notably journalistic, with footnotes, interviews, photographs, etc. I really loved this--it feels like a book that no one else could write. With both the concept/execution of the book and the character of X herself being so ambitious and motivated, I found myself really inspired and motivated myself. I would really recommend this book; it's can be a difficult read (definitely not a beach read) but incredibly rewarding.
Coexistence: Stories by Billy-Ray Belcourt
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer's Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book by Courtney Maum
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
4.5
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Dykette by Jenny Fran Davis
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Dykette attempts to serve a century of lesbian aesthetics, history, and queer/gender theory in under 200 pages. In some ways, Davis succeeds; almost every sentence is referential, painfully so at times. Admittedly, if you know a good deal about lesbian culture (past or present), it makes you feel like an insider. Certainly, a lot will go over non-lesbian heads. But it's also exhausting, reading so much queer theory laid out in such a shallow way. It comes across as self serving, a way for the narrator (who some have pointed out is a self-insert character for the author) to prove her own credibility and experience as a dyke. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the first 75% of this book, and would recommend that percentage to my other lesbians.