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kierscrivener's reviews
872 reviews
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
4.0
3-4 Stars, really enjoyed Jemisin's writing of prose and world and found the characters compelling. Full thoughts when it's not 3am and I stayed up to finish
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
“When there's people around that we don't trust, we let them think we're the kinds of people who are allowed to exist. And the only kind of Librarian that's allowed to exist is one who answers to she.”
Didn't like this. I wanted to, I really wanted to. She runs away two days after her girlfriend/best friend is executed for reading 'unapproved materials' and succeeds to be so turned on by every little thing Cye did. and the character development and relationship building was sloppy. I read other reviews to see if I was alone in this and I am not.
Western isn't my genre so I shouldn't be surprised that a story so western didn't work. I could have forgiven some of it's faults if the tropes, accents and just westernness didn't aggravate me to no end. I know, I know I am reviewing a Western book, so complaining about it's westerness is kinda dumb. But there's western and then there's western. I am all there for a western lite, but this was aggressively western. So if you won't sell your soul for a western, this might be a little too much. (Are you tired of the word western yet?)
The love interest calls her 'hop a long' Must I repeat the sentence?
Gailey a queer non binary writer who wanted to infuse a western with themes of feminism and queer identity. Which was a hundred percent why I read this book. It did not work. If it had I could have forgiven every single trite moment if only they had of nailed the representation.
I did like Cye's introduction of saying 'call me they on the road and she in the city' but then they say it over and over and over again. 'Remember I am a woman' 'call me a woman' etc. When it is already established Esther has been drenched in heteronormity, she isn't even able to imagine a world where she is able to be queer and not killed. I think she's much more likely to misgender them in private then public. Especially as I don't think there is one scene where Esther even needs to refer to Cye by pronouns in front of a non librarian.
Including one nuanced scene of Cye feeling dysphoric in town or a conversation about hiding who they really are would have been a thousand times more impact the just repeating this one line. And this is a novella so everything is condensed meaning Esther only really has one conversation about her fears and identities (which is skipped/summarized) and isn't with Cye.
It is so strange, from hours of meeting the librarians she has been told directly that Cye is non binary and has gathered Bet and Leda are in a relationship and still spends 90% of the novel thinking she has to perform hetronormity in front of them. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. Focusing her internal struggle around fear rather then being able to build a connection through open dialogue between these women and enby who have experienced the same trauma.
And must I repeat her girlfriend was executed! Two days before this started. This is never explored more then on a barest surface level. Most of this is just her turned on by Cye and thinking about whether or not she's worthy to be a librarian. Which aggressively flips from feeling of uselessness to I have been here two days (and we have barely talked and when they do it's to roast me) how have I not proven myself. The internal logic just doesn't make sense.
and here's the spire on the top of this is that after a week (maybe two) of mostly failing, Cye is made head librarian and she's made the assistant. Just given it all. This is so unearned. Like she got groceries and sewed some spines.
I wanted to like it. I wanted to like it. I repeat in my darkest moments.
Didn't like this. I wanted to, I really wanted to. She runs away two days after her girlfriend/best friend is executed for reading 'unapproved materials' and succeeds to be so turned on by every little thing Cye did. and the character development and relationship building was sloppy. I read other reviews to see if I was alone in this and I am not.
Western isn't my genre so I shouldn't be surprised that a story so western didn't work. I could have forgiven some of it's faults if the tropes, accents and just westernness didn't aggravate me to no end. I know, I know I am reviewing a Western book, so complaining about it's westerness is kinda dumb. But there's western and then there's western. I am all there for a western lite, but this was aggressively western. So if you won't sell your soul for a western, this might be a little too much. (Are you tired of the word western yet?)
The love interest calls her 'hop a long' Must I repeat the sentence?
Gailey a queer non binary writer who wanted to infuse a western with themes of feminism and queer identity. Which was a hundred percent why I read this book. It did not work. If it had I could have forgiven every single trite moment if only they had of nailed the representation.
I did like Cye's introduction of saying 'call me they on the road and she in the city' but then they say it over and over and over again. 'Remember I am a woman' 'call me a woman' etc. When it is already established Esther has been drenched in heteronormity, she isn't even able to imagine a world where she is able to be queer and not killed. I think she's much more likely to misgender them in private then public. Especially as I don't think there is one scene where Esther even needs to refer to Cye by pronouns in front of a non librarian.
Including one nuanced scene of Cye feeling dysphoric in town or a conversation about hiding who they really are would have been a thousand times more impact the just repeating this one line. And this is a novella so everything is condensed meaning Esther only really has one conversation about her fears and identities (which is skipped/summarized) and isn't with Cye.
It is so strange, from hours of meeting the librarians she has been told directly that Cye is non binary and has gathered Bet and Leda are in a relationship and still spends 90% of the novel thinking she has to perform hetronormity in front of them. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. Focusing her internal struggle around fear rather then being able to build a connection through open dialogue between these women and enby who have experienced the same trauma.
And must I repeat her girlfriend was executed! Two days before this started. This is never explored more then on a barest surface level. Most of this is just her turned on by Cye and thinking about whether or not she's worthy to be a librarian. Which aggressively flips from feeling of uselessness to I have been here two days (and we have barely talked and when they do it's to roast me) how have I not proven myself. The internal logic just doesn't make sense.
and here's the spire on the top of this is that after a week (maybe two) of mostly failing, Cye is made head librarian and she's made the assistant. Just given it all. This is so unearned. Like she got groceries and sewed some spines.
I wanted to like it. I wanted to like it. I repeat in my darkest moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia
Moderate: Gore
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I am not completely sure how I feel about it. I expected something vastly different. The title and the synopsis really focuses on her relationship with her mother, heritage and sexuality. And it was. It did advertise vignettes, but I guess it was told a little too progressively to be snippets and too scattered to feel progression.
We follow a twenties something bi Palestinian woman as she navigates a breakup and her constant need to go for the unattainable and to cheat out of fear. We see beautiful and poignant moments throughout but there's something missing. And it might be what I came in looking and didn't see. But we see her acting out and reacting because of fears and insecurity, and her realization of her own mother's trauma but I never feel like she ever fully lowers her guards, and the end has some poignancy but not enough to feel resolved or as if this is a stepping off point.
I love quiet stories but I like when we explore things and she never quite had enough introspection or conversation to fully invest me.
I enjoyed my way throughout and would definitely give Arafat another book
We follow a twenties something bi Palestinian woman as she navigates a breakup and her constant need to go for the unattainable and to cheat out of fear. We see beautiful and poignant moments throughout but there's something missing. And it might be what I came in looking and didn't see. But we see her acting out and reacting because of fears and insecurity, and her realization of her own mother's trauma but I never feel like she ever fully lowers her guards, and the end has some poignancy but not enough to feel resolved or as if this is a stepping off point.
I love quiet stories but I like when we explore things and she never quite had enough introspection or conversation to fully invest me.
I enjoyed my way throughout and would definitely give Arafat another book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Black Dog, Black Night: Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry by Paul Hoover
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I began this gorgeous collection of translated contemporary poetry in May of 2019 and was immediately in tears. I carried it with me, all summer, returning it every nine weeks as the library required
Each time flipping open to the first poem The Purple Colour of Sim Flowers and rereading the words by Huu Loan that made me weep
on a rainy forest evening
three brothers in the northeast battle
heard news of their sister's death
before news of her wedding
I have countless lines and full poems transcribed in various notebooks, apps and videos. I had dedicated threads in an old computer and phone with poignant lines that are now lost. But even if I still could gather every note taken, I don't think I could capture what this book holds for me
Two years is a long time. It has crossed the province in several directions, joined me in waiting rooms of doctor offices and lobbies of social services and started numerous conversations and gave me a window into twentith century Vietnam and into emotions that are universal
I have lost much by reading the poems separated but I have also memorized sections by reading them again and again.
—
my father's body is a map
a record of his journey
he carries a bullet
lodged in his thigh
there is a hollow where it entered
a protruding bump where it sleeps
the doctors say it will never awaken
it is the one souvenir he insists on keeping
mother has her own opinions
bô cua con điên — your father is crazy
–
I love Hanoi even though it's empty without you
-
the past generation has gone
by ways various and new
–
i've located you to a letter of the alphabet do not think it wrong of me it is by no means a reduction of your being this is done only so i may address you free of inhibitions found in a name
Each time flipping open to the first poem The Purple Colour of Sim Flowers and rereading the words by Huu Loan that made me weep
on a rainy forest evening
three brothers in the northeast battle
heard news of their sister's death
before news of her wedding
I have countless lines and full poems transcribed in various notebooks, apps and videos. I had dedicated threads in an old computer and phone with poignant lines that are now lost. But even if I still could gather every note taken, I don't think I could capture what this book holds for me
Two years is a long time. It has crossed the province in several directions, joined me in waiting rooms of doctor offices and lobbies of social services and started numerous conversations and gave me a window into twentith century Vietnam and into emotions that are universal
I have lost much by reading the poems separated but I have also memorized sections by reading them again and again.
—
my father's body is a map
a record of his journey
he carries a bullet
lodged in his thigh
there is a hollow where it entered
a protruding bump where it sleeps
the doctors say it will never awaken
it is the one souvenir he insists on keeping
mother has her own opinions
bô cua con điên — your father is crazy
–
I love Hanoi even though it's empty without you
-
the past generation has gone
by ways various and new
–
i've located you to a letter of the alphabet do not think it wrong of me it is by no means a reduction of your being this is done only so i may address you free of inhibitions found in a name
Invisible Flower by Yoko Ono
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
"A young farm boy told me we were too far north for any roses to survive"
Nineteen year old Ono write and illustrated wrote this telling a story of flowers that were invisible too anyone who didn't pay attention. Set against the backdrop of World War II, it shows a story of hope and creativity and finding beauty in unusual places.
and strangely enough she named the person who could glimpse behind the curtain John, this was ten years prior to her meeting her husband and John is a ubiquitous name but a beautiful coincidence
Many will find this childish and simple, but despite this it drew me in and made me think deeply because of it's simplicity and in moments of nuance she shows beauty and others say that it isn't about talent or eloquence to tell a meaningful and creative story.
Nineteen year old Ono write and illustrated wrote this telling a story of flowers that were invisible too anyone who didn't pay attention. Set against the backdrop of World War II, it shows a story of hope and creativity and finding beauty in unusual places.
and strangely enough she named the person who could glimpse behind the curtain John, this was ten years prior to her meeting her husband and John is a ubiquitous name but a beautiful coincidence
Many will find this childish and simple, but despite this it drew me in and made me think deeply because of it's simplicity and in moments of nuance she shows beauty and others say that it isn't about talent or eloquence to tell a meaningful and creative story.
Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This is a book with a lot of disappointed reviews and I didn't hate it. I didn't love it either. But I didn't hate it. It has the same style as Crazy Rich Asians but less introspection. Lucie as a character is very flawed, and I never grew to care for her. I did laugh several times aloud and I appreciated the conversations on racism, biracial identity and how you can be internally racist and that just because someone loves you doesn't keep them from being racist. These conversations were mostly had in the last few chapters but Kwan did show her unsurety around her identity and the racism she experienced throughout but I didn't feel like Lucie as a character or her romance had reached a satisfying amount of growth by the end. Especially the romance, he was barely in it and there was little to root for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
2.25
This didn't work for me it is distant in narration and we are jumped into a middle of a narrative -several narrative jumping in and out of timelines and we end in the middle of the narrative as well. Literally in mid sentence. I understand the reason she finish mid sentence to illustrate Lucy's story is just beginning but with the story beforehand not being cohesive or satisfying the open endingness just doesn't work.
I love character focused novels so the lack of plot wouldn't have bothered me if it had of been an introspection tale. But we don't see inside Lucy (or Sam's head), it is very tell and not show. Which when the story is relying on their internal journey we don't see it is hard to be anything but bored and slightly irritated because I wanted, wanted to love this story.
I love character focused novels so the lack of plot wouldn't have bothered me if it had of been an introspection tale. But we don't see inside Lucy (or Sam's head), it is very tell and not show. Which when the story is relying on their internal journey we don't see it is hard to be anything but bored and slightly irritated because I wanted, wanted to love this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying by Marv Wolfman
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
This was really well down especially in the way George Perez formatted the art to keep the mysterious figure a secret when showing his actions and to illustrate Bruce's head space. I also really loved seeing the introduction of Tim and the aftermath of Jason's death. If you want to read classic Batman, this is a good one to pick up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Death of parent
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
adventurous
medium-paced
2.5
It was good, it wasn't great. For all the spice I really expected to have more Darkling in it. I am a book heretic but this is one I'll stay with the show over the books, but I'll still read them in this break. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't overly compelling either. I mostly have shrugs
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
"Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing out of the grate. It gets no sun and water only when it rains. It's growing out of sour earth and its strong because it's hard struggle to live has made it strong. My children will be strong that way."
Sn absolute favourite. I adore the way Betty Smith tells stories and characters, not only Francie but her family and those around her are fleshed out. Especially her parents Katie and Johnny and her aunt Cissy. They are full characters with flaws and abounding personality but despite all their mistakes they are akways given a compassionate lense. This isn't a nice story, she tells a story of Francie at fourteen (based on herself) being told by a teacher to burn her work for it being ugly and sordid as she wrote what was true. Of her experience with poverty and alcoholism. But despite the grim subject matter, there is so much humanity. She writes with care, always believing good intentions that she imbued compassion for every character.
She never shies away from reality, writing honestly about things that especially in 1943 would have been scandalous. Even eighty years later writing as honestly about sex, harassment and assault as she did is not common.
I have over a thousand words of notes, and ordered a copy so that I can comb through, highlight and annotate and will return with full thoughts. But for now, know I recommend.
And that firstly, I think the opening chapters aren't the best hook, I understand why she wanted to start with Francie but once we move on to 'book two' and see the Nolan and Romley families and Katie and Johnny's life, romance and dynamic. I cared inenormently more. I had context and I had grounding in the story.
Second this is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Her delivery of humour and poignancy is flawless
"The tree hadn't died. It hadn't died. A new tree had grown from it's stump and it's stump had grown along the ground until it reached a place where there were no washlines above it then it had started to grow toward the sky again."
"This tree in the yard. This tree that men had chopped down. This tree they had built a bonfire around trying to burn up its stump. This tree lived. It lived. And nothing could destroy it.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing out of the grate. It gets no sun and water only when it rains. It's growing out of sour earth and its strong because it's hard struggle to live has made it strong. My children will be strong that way."
Sn absolute favourite. I adore the way Betty Smith tells stories and characters, not only Francie but her family and those around her are fleshed out. Especially her parents Katie and Johnny and her aunt Cissy. They are full characters with flaws and abounding personality but despite all their mistakes they are akways given a compassionate lense. This isn't a nice story, she tells a story of Francie at fourteen (based on herself) being told by a teacher to burn her work for it being ugly and sordid as she wrote what was true. Of her experience with poverty and alcoholism. But despite the grim subject matter, there is so much humanity. She writes with care, always believing good intentions that she imbued compassion for every character.
She never shies away from reality, writing honestly about things that especially in 1943 would have been scandalous. Even eighty years later writing as honestly about sex, harassment and assault as she did is not common.
I have over a thousand words of notes, and ordered a copy so that I can comb through, highlight and annotate and will return with full thoughts. But for now, know I recommend.
And that firstly, I think the opening chapters aren't the best hook, I understand why she wanted to start with Francie but once we move on to 'book two' and see the Nolan and Romley families and Katie and Johnny's life, romance and dynamic. I cared inenormently more. I had context and I had grounding in the story.
Second this is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Her delivery of humour and poignancy is flawless
"The tree hadn't died. It hadn't died. A new tree had grown from it's stump and it's stump had grown along the ground until it reached a place where there were no washlines above it then it had started to grow toward the sky again."
"This tree in the yard. This tree that men had chopped down. This tree they had built a bonfire around trying to burn up its stump. This tree lived. It lived. And nothing could destroy it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infertility, Grief, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Xenophobia