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kaileehaong's reviews
423 reviews
Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
This book sheds a lot of light on women and their status in Korea in the 80s and on into present day. We essentially follow the life of Kim Jiyoung as she is born up until her mid-life where she is beginning to go insane. The unfolding of her personal timeline gives us insight into why she is the way she is today. Gender inequality sits at the center of this novel.
Old Enough by Haley Jakobson
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s not often I read extremely modern books, and by extremely modern I mean Snapchat, instagram, “YAS queen slay” type books, for a reason. This book was okay. Many of the characters were extremely insufferable (including our protagonist) and on top of that, there were MANY people introduced, even if only for a fleeting moment, so at times it felt difficult to keep track of all the people involved. At the end of the day, I have to be grateful for a queer storyline that doesn’t end in some major tragedy, death, or heartbreak, so for that I’m really glad I read the book.
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
A very strange book indeed. Many things I didn’t anticipate happening. Fantastical elements utilized but in a way that either felt too unbelievable or too over the top (even for magical realism).
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A very strange read, for sure. It paced a bit slow for me, but the concept of mother-turned-dog was interesting. The style of writing made it at times a bit hard to follow and drab, as it felt a little stream of consciousness-y despite being written in third. Gruesome at points, but it mostly didn’t linger on that.
Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Men I Trust by Tommi Parrish
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wonderful, beautifully painted graphics/illustrations throughout. For me, the storyline was fast paced, especially toward the end, but the treatment of the characters felt authentic and interesting. Eliza especially.
Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
emotional
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
4.5
An excellent read that I couldn’t put down. We follow Jonny, a 2S Cree, through his journey of queerness, loss, addiction, and grief. Intertwining integral past situations and relationships with his present day struggles/needs, we get to see the full picture of who Jonny is, and who and what made him.
The Private life of trees by Alejandro Zambra
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
3.0
A quick novella occurring in literal time over the span of one evening, but in the head and imagination of writer Julián, multiple worlds unfold in this evening: his past lives, the life of his wife, and the speculated future of his stepdaughter Daniela. It’s an interesting and quick little story.
And Then He Sang a Lullaby by Ani Kayode Somtochukwu
emotional
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
The first third of the novel tells the stories of Segun and August as individuals who have no connection. They meet at school and slowly their lives begin to intertwine. Despite glaringly different personalities, it often felt hard to decipher who was who in the novel, as the POV dipped into a close 3rd often. There were a lot of minor characters that came into play frequently, and these folks were also hard to keep track of sometimes. Overall a great and devastating novel.