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laurel00's reviews
319 reviews
Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Overall, this definitely was a sweet story, but I don't think it quite hit the mark for me.
The best part of this graphic novel is definitely the art. The first work by Ata that I've read was their short comic Zenith, and from that very moment, I fell in love with their art style. There's something about their character designs especially that feel very cozy and heartwarming to me, and I knew I absolutely had to get my hands on their other books.
In Nayra and the Djinn, Ata upheld that beautiful art style that I was excited for, while in fact elevating their craft even further by adding in this gorgeous colour scheme. All the shades of pinks and purples worked so well together, and it made every page truly stunning to look at.
Where the book lost me is in the writing itself. I loved the idea, and even at the beginning of the story, I had a lot of hope. The set up was great and I think there was a lot of potential to write some super interesting character arcs and include some very nuanced discussions about friendship, culture, religion, bulling, and growing up as a whole. However, I think the big issue is that there were too many ideas. Everything felt a bit rushed, especially at the end, and it really took me out of the reading experience. I think there were some comedic moments that made the characters very endearing to me, but it was hard to get invested in their problems and storylines because it felt like we kept jumping from one thing to another, with very little resolution or character development.
I think I was just so greatly anticipating this, because the cover itself made me so excited to read it, but I felt just a bit disappointed. I do still want to read some of Ata's other work, so although I may not recommend this graphic novel specifically, I still really liked Zenith and I'm hoping that some of their other books resonate more with me.
The best part of this graphic novel is definitely the art. The first work by Ata that I've read was their short comic Zenith, and from that very moment, I fell in love with their art style. There's something about their character designs especially that feel very cozy and heartwarming to me, and I knew I absolutely had to get my hands on their other books.
In Nayra and the Djinn, Ata upheld that beautiful art style that I was excited for, while in fact elevating their craft even further by adding in this gorgeous colour scheme. All the shades of pinks and purples worked so well together, and it made every page truly stunning to look at.
Where the book lost me is in the writing itself. I loved the idea, and even at the beginning of the story, I had a lot of hope. The set up was great and I think there was a lot of potential to write some super interesting character arcs and include some very nuanced discussions about friendship, culture, religion, bulling, and growing up as a whole. However, I think the big issue is that there were too many ideas. Everything felt a bit rushed, especially at the end, and it really took me out of the reading experience. I think there were some comedic moments that made the characters very endearing to me, but it was hard to get invested in their problems and storylines because it felt like we kept jumping from one thing to another, with very little resolution or character development.
I think I was just so greatly anticipating this, because the cover itself made me so excited to read it, but I felt just a bit disappointed. I do still want to read some of Ata's other work, so although I may not recommend this graphic novel specifically, I still really liked Zenith and I'm hoping that some of their other books resonate more with me.
The State of Israel vs. the Jews by Sylvain Cypel
I will say, I didn't love the way that this book was organized. Maybe I'm biased as someone who follows along much easier when a situation is presented in chronological order, and I'm sure there are some people who would appreciate the separation of chapters by topics and detailed sub-headers. But it did make it a bit difficult for me to follow along, and not quite as smooth of a reading as it could have been.
Nonetheless, I definitely recommend it if you're looking to delve deeper into the insidiousness of Zionism and all its proponents.
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Another deeply informative read that I consider necessary for anyone trying to understand the true ideologies and beliefs that constitute the basis of Zionism and that are at the core of the IDF and the overall government of Israel.
I will mention that this maybe shouldn't be the very first book you pick up on the topic, especially if you're very new to political non-fiction. There were definitely some items that were not quite as easy for me to grasp, but the fact that I have been reading a decent amount on Palestine and Israel in the past few weeks, helped me understand Cypel's deeply critical rundown of Zionism and how it works.
Some of the topics in this book that I found the most eye-opening include:
I will mention that this maybe shouldn't be the very first book you pick up on the topic, especially if you're very new to political non-fiction. There were definitely some items that were not quite as easy for me to grasp, but the fact that I have been reading a decent amount on Palestine and Israel in the past few weeks, helped me understand Cypel's deeply critical rundown of Zionism and how it works.
Some of the topics in this book that I found the most eye-opening include:
- the techniques used by the IDF to dehumanize Palestinians and desensitize their new soldiers so as to convince them to uphold the violence against the Palestinian people;
- the ties held by the government of Israel with powerful white supremacist figureheads;
- the relationship between islamophobia and antisemitism and how both of these prejudices are weaponized by the government of Israel;
- the anti-Arab racism that is taught to the people of Israel and the way that left-leading Israelis that publicly support Palestine are punished for their views and actions;
- the BDS movement and the government of Israel's dire need to control any criticisms that they undergo;
- the differing outlooks between American Jews and French Jews as well as between different generations of Jewish people;
- etc.
I will say, I didn't love the way that this book was organized. Maybe I'm biased as someone who follows along much easier when a situation is presented in chronological order, and I'm sure there are some people who would appreciate the separation of chapters by topics and detailed sub-headers. But it did make it a bit difficult for me to follow along, and not quite as smooth of a reading as it could have been.
Nonetheless, I definitely recommend it if you're looking to delve deeper into the insidiousness of Zionism and all its proponents.
Now The Wind Scatters by J. Donai
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
As much as I wanted to love this, I think I have to come to terms with the fact that, sadly, Greek mythology isn't a theme/genre in which I'm particularly interested. No matter how many times I tried to get back into this reading, I could never commit more than 30 min once every month or so.
Guardians of Dawn: Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
I probably didn't give it a fair enough chance to win me over, as I had stopped reading it ~3 chapters in, but my NetGalley ARC was about to expire and I just wasn't invested enough to finish it before the expiry date.
Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
I had to return it to the library and was unable to renew my reservation, but I will come back to it once it becomes available again.
Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
The thing that I loved the most about this was being able to connect and relate to someone who, in general, has lived a life that was extremely different from my own.
Growing up in a very white community, islamophobia was very rampant, and even as I became more and more detached from the people I grew up around and found more queer community, I kept a certain disdain for religion as a whole. It's hard for me to see queerness and religion as being able to coexist and I have often equated religion to a hatred of my queer community. If you are like me, and have been for the most part vehemently atheist, and you have trouble seeing religion as something that is not, by nature, homophobic, I think this is a perfect read.
It was beautiful to see the ways in which Lamya finds love and friendship and community through groups or organizations specifically for Muslims, the ways in which those very relationships grow and develop through their understanding of and conversations about Islam, the ways in which many of her non-queer Muslim friends were able to, in an act of love, learn about queerness so as to make her feel more accepted and comfortable around them.
There's also a bit of a habit, especially in groups of white feminist queers, to forget all the criticisms we have of our own families, environments, governments, etc. and judge Arab, Middle Easter, South Asian, Muslim communities for those same things, as if it is a criticism unique to those spaces. In this memoir, Lamya reflects on a lot of the difficulties growing up queer in a Muslim, South Asian family and Arab country. And while it would be easy to point to these things and say "See? The stereotypes are all true!", reading this helped shape two important facts: 1- just because there is misogyny and homophobia that is perpetuated in a certain environment does not mean that there are not people within those groups that fight against those issues and stand up for themselves and their communities, and 2- those same issues are rampant in non-Muslim countries, and you cannot allow internationalized bigotry to be justified by this misrepresentation.
Lamya complains about the social pressure to get married that forces many women in unhappy and sometimes dangerous marriages; arbitrary gender rules like having to wear makeup or closing your legs in public; heteronormativity and the heartbreaking and complex reality of having to stay quiet about your queerness around your family so that you can protect yourself while not necessarily losing those relationships; the feeling of not being able to fully relate to your straight friends no matter how much else you have in common because your queerness affects so many other aspects of your life and paints the way that you view the world. These are all issues I have to face coming from a white European background and, contrary to what my supposedly "progressive" Western country wants me to believe, they are not unique to communities built around Islam.
There are so many things I learned from this too that made me deeply sympathize with Lamya. The chapter where she describes her "toxic relationship" with the United States, as someone who struggles to keep up with the immigration administration of a country that is full of racism and bigotry, in contrast to the toxic relationships that some of her South Asian or Arab friends or family members are in because "where else can they go?" was so heartbreaking and beautifully written.
Not only do I absolutely recommend this, I think it's a necessary read for white queers especially. It helps further understand intersectionality, and see the ways in which so many queer spaces feel unwelcoming towards Muslim queers for the still rampant and unchecked islamophobia that exists within those circles. It gives a great insight into the relationship that many queer Muslims have with their religion, so that you never have to pester a Muslim person IRL with the oh-so invasive question: "How can you be queer and still be Muslim?". And above any lessons you may learn from this memoir, it is in and of itself a stunning piece of literature that deserves so much praise and success. I'm so happy I got the chance to read this and deeply appreciative of Lamya for having put her story out there in the world.
Growing up in a very white community, islamophobia was very rampant, and even as I became more and more detached from the people I grew up around and found more queer community, I kept a certain disdain for religion as a whole. It's hard for me to see queerness and religion as being able to coexist and I have often equated religion to a hatred of my queer community. If you are like me, and have been for the most part vehemently atheist, and you have trouble seeing religion as something that is not, by nature, homophobic, I think this is a perfect read.
It was beautiful to see the ways in which Lamya finds love and friendship and community through groups or organizations specifically for Muslims, the ways in which those very relationships grow and develop through their understanding of and conversations about Islam, the ways in which many of her non-queer Muslim friends were able to, in an act of love, learn about queerness so as to make her feel more accepted and comfortable around them.
There's also a bit of a habit, especially in groups of white feminist queers, to forget all the criticisms we have of our own families, environments, governments, etc. and judge Arab, Middle Easter, South Asian, Muslim communities for those same things, as if it is a criticism unique to those spaces. In this memoir, Lamya reflects on a lot of the difficulties growing up queer in a Muslim, South Asian family and Arab country. And while it would be easy to point to these things and say "See? The stereotypes are all true!", reading this helped shape two important facts: 1- just because there is misogyny and homophobia that is perpetuated in a certain environment does not mean that there are not people within those groups that fight against those issues and stand up for themselves and their communities, and 2- those same issues are rampant in non-Muslim countries, and you cannot allow internationalized bigotry to be justified by this misrepresentation.
Lamya complains about the social pressure to get married that forces many women in unhappy and sometimes dangerous marriages; arbitrary gender rules like having to wear makeup or closing your legs in public; heteronormativity and the heartbreaking and complex reality of having to stay quiet about your queerness around your family so that you can protect yourself while not necessarily losing those relationships; the feeling of not being able to fully relate to your straight friends no matter how much else you have in common because your queerness affects so many other aspects of your life and paints the way that you view the world. These are all issues I have to face coming from a white European background and, contrary to what my supposedly "progressive" Western country wants me to believe, they are not unique to communities built around Islam.
There are so many things I learned from this too that made me deeply sympathize with Lamya. The chapter where she describes her "toxic relationship" with the United States, as someone who struggles to keep up with the immigration administration of a country that is full of racism and bigotry, in contrast to the toxic relationships that some of her South Asian or Arab friends or family members are in because "where else can they go?" was so heartbreaking and beautifully written.
Not only do I absolutely recommend this, I think it's a necessary read for white queers especially. It helps further understand intersectionality, and see the ways in which so many queer spaces feel unwelcoming towards Muslim queers for the still rampant and unchecked islamophobia that exists within those circles. It gives a great insight into the relationship that many queer Muslims have with their religion, so that you never have to pester a Muslim person IRL with the oh-so invasive question: "How can you be queer and still be Muslim?". And above any lessons you may learn from this memoir, it is in and of itself a stunning piece of literature that deserves so much praise and success. I'm so happy I got the chance to read this and deeply appreciative of Lamya for having put her story out there in the world.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
"Perhaps someday they'll assign us side by side, in some small village far upthread, deep cover, each watching each, and we can make tea together, trade books, report home sanitized accounts of each other's doings. I think I'd still write letters, even then."
This is, without a doubt, one of the most romantic things I have ever read. You may be worried about having too many expectations for this novel considering all the hype it has received over the years, but I am here to ease your worries: no matter what those expectations may be, this book will surpass them.
I've tried to read this in the past; this is actually my third time picking it up from the library, and on both prior occasions I did not make it past the first chapter. I have a big issue with understanding complex world building, and I usually can work my way through it with the assumptions that things will become more clear as I get through the pages. But the beginning of this story is so destabilizing, and drops you in the middle of a conflict and an existence that is hard to conceptualize, I assumed I would be incapable of understanding anything or connecting in any way to the characters. With lots of convincing, I decided to give it a third chance, and pushed myself through the first couple of chapters. 30% of the way in, I knew this was going to be a 5-star read.
The prose in this is absolutely stunning, I need to get a copy for myself so I can go back and annotate every single beautiful passage. I took pictures of almost every page of the book so I would have a memory of this gorgeous writing until I can buy my own paperback. It shattered me into a thousand pieces, put me slowly back together, only to break me again over and over.
I promise it is best to go into this 1- knowing as little as possible and 2- accepting that you will very likely be confused at the beginning. It is so incredibly worth the read.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most romantic things I have ever read. You may be worried about having too many expectations for this novel considering all the hype it has received over the years, but I am here to ease your worries: no matter what those expectations may be, this book will surpass them.
I've tried to read this in the past; this is actually my third time picking it up from the library, and on both prior occasions I did not make it past the first chapter. I have a big issue with understanding complex world building, and I usually can work my way through it with the assumptions that things will become more clear as I get through the pages. But the beginning of this story is so destabilizing, and drops you in the middle of a conflict and an existence that is hard to conceptualize, I assumed I would be incapable of understanding anything or connecting in any way to the characters. With lots of convincing, I decided to give it a third chance, and pushed myself through the first couple of chapters. 30% of the way in, I knew this was going to be a 5-star read.
The prose in this is absolutely stunning, I need to get a copy for myself so I can go back and annotate every single beautiful passage. I took pictures of almost every page of the book so I would have a memory of this gorgeous writing until I can buy my own paperback. It shattered me into a thousand pieces, put me slowly back together, only to break me again over and over.
I promise it is best to go into this 1- knowing as little as possible and 2- accepting that you will very likely be confused at the beginning. It is so incredibly worth the read.
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
THIS WAS SO INCREDIBLY CUTE AHHH !! I was genuinely sad once I got to the end of this book, I could have read a thousand more pages and still never been fully satisfied. I need twelve different sequels, a feature-length film, and a TV show spinoff, I cannot get enough.
I love these characters so, so much. It's always such an amazing experience to come across characters that you so wholeheartedly root for. They deserve the world and more and I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about them. I was fully giggling and kicking my feet the entire time I was reading this, definitely in my top favourite book couples.
I thought the story was really interesting, I loved how involved the grandmothers were. It's really nice to see older sapphic couples in fiction, and it was extremely endearing to see how much they supported their granddaughter in every sphere of her life. I'm definitely a big fan of found family, but there's also a special place in my heart for characters with families that are invested in their lives and support them through and through.
It's a super cozy read with a bunch of wonderful queer and disability representation, I absolutely recommend it!
I love these characters so, so much. It's always such an amazing experience to come across characters that you so wholeheartedly root for. They deserve the world and more and I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about them. I was fully giggling and kicking my feet the entire time I was reading this, definitely in my top favourite book couples.
I thought the story was really interesting, I loved how involved the grandmothers were. It's really nice to see older sapphic couples in fiction, and it was extremely endearing to see how much they supported their granddaughter in every sphere of her life. I'm definitely a big fan of found family, but there's also a special place in my heart for characters with families that are invested in their lives and support them through and through.
It's a super cozy read with a bunch of wonderful queer and disability representation, I absolutely recommend it!
The Night Eaters, Book 1: She Eats the Night by Marjorie Liu
dark
mysterious
tense
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
The best part of this graphic novel is definitely the horror itself. There were so many amazing subtleties throughout the panels, I kept doing double takes and flipping back through pages to notice things I didn't originally pick up on. The disgust and the gore were so well executed, I didn't know if I wanted to spend a ton of time hyper-analyzing every single detail or if I wanted to speed through the story so I could figure out what everything meant and find answers to all my questions. I really loved the character design too, the art style itself is so beautiful, which created such an exciting dichotomy in contrast to all the blood and guts and monsters.
I think, for me, the issue is that as much as I loved the illustrations, the story didn't hold up quite as much as I wanted it to. I loved the small humour here and there, it made the characters feel very realistic and endearing, but it was also included in scenes where I think it undermined the weight of the moment, especially at the end. The conclusion as a whole I found to be kind of underwhelming and anticlimactic.
I did want more from this, but it was definitely still enough to get me excited to pick up the sequel. I might recommend this to horror fans, especially considering it's a pretty short read, but I wouldn't go into it expecting something revolutionary.
I think, for me, the issue is that as much as I loved the illustrations, the story didn't hold up quite as much as I wanted it to. I loved the small humour here and there, it made the characters feel very realistic and endearing, but it was also included in scenes where I think it undermined the weight of the moment, especially at the end. The conclusion as a whole I found to be kind of underwhelming and anticlimactic.
I did want more from this, but it was definitely still enough to get me excited to pick up the sequel. I might recommend this to horror fans, especially considering it's a pretty short read, but I wouldn't go into it expecting something revolutionary.
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
emotional
informative
reflective
5.0
"But writing with empathy is not enough. It never has been. […] To truly write from another experience in an authentic way, you need more than empathy. You need love."
I picked this up on a whim because, as I passed by a display of books by Indigenous authors at my library, its cover whispered in my ear begging me to take it home, and how could I resist? And I am so incredibly glad that I did.
I've been saying for years now that I don't like reading non-fiction, that I'm not a fan of memoirs, that reading essays reminds me of being back in school—a feeling that I try very hard to avoid. And yet, this collection of essays told through the lens of Elliott's personal life experiences as a biracial, Tuscarora woman was such an amazingly captivating and emotionally engaging read.
There are a million different quotes from this book that I could've chosen to start off my review, and I'm honestly shocked I managed to land on just one. I love that Elliott uses these essays not only to inform, not only to take a critical stance on certain topics, but to tell the story of her own life experiences through these discussions. Her essay on poverty wasn't just well-research and deeply analytical, but was also an extremely vulnerable depiction of her childhood living in poverty as a young Native girl and how it has affected her now, as an adult. Her essays on sexual assault and abuse are simultaneously critical think pieces, deep dives into Elliot's own trauma, and a direct call to the reader that forces you to reexamine your own opinions and life experiences—and how the two affect one another.
It's a great read for Native American Heritage Month, but regardless of when you pick it up, I strongly suggest you take your time with each essay, and engage with all the questions Elliott offers to her audience (either implicitly or explicitly). This is a truly wonderful collection, Elliott is very clearly an incredibly talented author, and I'm so excited to pick up some of her other work!
I picked this up on a whim because, as I passed by a display of books by Indigenous authors at my library, its cover whispered in my ear begging me to take it home, and how could I resist? And I am so incredibly glad that I did.
I've been saying for years now that I don't like reading non-fiction, that I'm not a fan of memoirs, that reading essays reminds me of being back in school—a feeling that I try very hard to avoid. And yet, this collection of essays told through the lens of Elliott's personal life experiences as a biracial, Tuscarora woman was such an amazingly captivating and emotionally engaging read.
There are a million different quotes from this book that I could've chosen to start off my review, and I'm honestly shocked I managed to land on just one. I love that Elliott uses these essays not only to inform, not only to take a critical stance on certain topics, but to tell the story of her own life experiences through these discussions. Her essay on poverty wasn't just well-research and deeply analytical, but was also an extremely vulnerable depiction of her childhood living in poverty as a young Native girl and how it has affected her now, as an adult. Her essays on sexual assault and abuse are simultaneously critical think pieces, deep dives into Elliot's own trauma, and a direct call to the reader that forces you to reexamine your own opinions and life experiences—and how the two affect one another.
It's a great read for Native American Heritage Month, but regardless of when you pick it up, I strongly suggest you take your time with each essay, and engage with all the questions Elliott offers to her audience (either implicitly or explicitly). This is a truly wonderful collection, Elliott is very clearly an incredibly talented author, and I'm so excited to pick up some of her other work!