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libbysbookshelf's Reviews (745)
THE HENNA WARS by ADIBA JAIGIRDAR
This is the first book I’ve read by a Bengali writer and it was great - very true to Bengali culture (or what I know about it through my brother-in-law, who is from Bangladesh).
I loved that it was a story about a young lesbian Muslim, growing up in Catholic Ireland with her Bengali parents and sister. Nishat struggles with bullying and homophobia and falling in love, but she is always true to who she is.
A perfect YA that I would have loved to have read when I was a teenager.
#thehennawars #adibajaigirdar #book #lesbian #yaliterature #lgbtq #lesbianliterature #pridemonth #pride #pagesforpride #sapphiclit #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bengaliliterature #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer
This is the first book I’ve read by a Bengali writer and it was great - very true to Bengali culture (or what I know about it through my brother-in-law, who is from Bangladesh).
I loved that it was a story about a young lesbian Muslim, growing up in Catholic Ireland with her Bengali parents and sister. Nishat struggles with bullying and homophobia and falling in love, but she is always true to who she is.
A perfect YA that I would have loved to have read when I was a teenager.
#thehennawars #adibajaigirdar #book #lesbian #yaliterature #lgbtq #lesbianliterature #pridemonth #pride #pagesforpride #sapphiclit #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bengaliliterature #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer
SISTERSONG by LUCY HOLLAND
This novel places itself firmly between historical fiction and low fantasy. Think of all the feminist myth retellings we’ve been spoiled with in recent years - this is like that. And it is good!
What sets this book apart, however, is the trans main character. Boy oh boy, did I love that element of the story! So empowering and uplifting. And we needed that because this book is not always a walk in the park. I loved it for that, though. I loved that we had blood and gore (when it was necessary) and sex romance that wasn’t corny. I loved the magic and the way that everything felt historically accurate. I believed these people existed and I believe that they believed they could use magic.
Although it’s a fantasy, it is also extremely realist and I am here for this genre!
I’m all about character driven novels, though, so when some of the plot became predictable, I was a tiny bit disappointed - not enough to make me angry but enough that it took me out of the magic of the book for a few moments.
All that’s left to say is a huge thanks to @lotties_little_bookshelf for buddy reading with me - we had some great discussions and I can’t wait to read another one with you soon!
#pagesofpride #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookreview #sistersong #lucyholland #bookrecommendations #bookreview #trans #transgender #pride #pridemonth #transrep #transrepresentation #bookreviewer
This novel places itself firmly between historical fiction and low fantasy. Think of all the feminist myth retellings we’ve been spoiled with in recent years - this is like that. And it is good!
What sets this book apart, however, is the trans main character. Boy oh boy, did I love that element of the story! So empowering and uplifting. And we needed that because this book is not always a walk in the park. I loved it for that, though. I loved that we had blood and gore (when it was necessary) and sex romance that wasn’t corny. I loved the magic and the way that everything felt historically accurate. I believed these people existed and I believe that they believed they could use magic.
Although it’s a fantasy, it is also extremely realist and I am here for this genre!
I’m all about character driven novels, though, so when some of the plot became predictable, I was a tiny bit disappointed - not enough to make me angry but enough that it took me out of the magic of the book for a few moments.
All that’s left to say is a huge thanks to @lotties_little_bookshelf for buddy reading with me - we had some great discussions and I can’t wait to read another one with you soon!
#pagesofpride #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookreview #sistersong #lucyholland #bookrecommendations #bookreview #trans #transgender #pride #pridemonth #transrep #transrepresentation #bookreviewer
THE STARS AND THE BLACKNESS BETWEEN THEM by JUNAUDA PETRUS
The first half of the book is beautiful. I was in awe of the writing and the characterisation. This writer is the real deal. It follows two lesbian teenagers, one from Trinidad and the other from USA. Through some unfortunate circumstances, which were explored so beautifully, the two characters come to meet and form a bond. But one of the characters becomes sick and this is where I lost it. I couldn’t read on. I found it stodgy and I didn’t really care. I’m sorry to say I had to DNF.
I loved the magic and healing relating to Trinidadian culture and Queenie was my favourite character, but I just wasn’t interested in the horoscope stuff. For some people, this will be right up their street, though.
I want to make clear that this is not in any way a bad book. I am just not the right reader.
I would definitely check out other books by this writer.
I hate DNFing so I feel a bit sad, but on to the next one!
Also, hi, I’m vain!
#book #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #pagesforpride #lesbian #lesbianliterature #bookreviewer
The first half of the book is beautiful. I was in awe of the writing and the characterisation. This writer is the real deal. It follows two lesbian teenagers, one from Trinidad and the other from USA. Through some unfortunate circumstances, which were explored so beautifully, the two characters come to meet and form a bond. But one of the characters becomes sick and this is where I lost it. I couldn’t read on. I found it stodgy and I didn’t really care. I’m sorry to say I had to DNF.
I loved the magic and healing relating to Trinidadian culture and Queenie was my favourite character, but I just wasn’t interested in the horoscope stuff. For some people, this will be right up their street, though.
I want to make clear that this is not in any way a bad book. I am just not the right reader.
I would definitely check out other books by this writer.
I hate DNFing so I feel a bit sad, but on to the next one!
Also, hi, I’m vain!
#book #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #pagesforpride #lesbian #lesbianliterature #bookreviewer
THE PROPHETS by ROBERT JONES JR.
This is an instant classic. Robert Jones Jr. joins the ranks of Toni Morrison and James Baldwin as one of the greatest writers.
Most readers have read slave narratives and felt the pain of the Black slaves as they try to find happiness in impossible circumstances. But I can guarantee you have never read a slave narrative quite like this one. Somehow it felt modern, even though it was set in the early nineteenth century. But that wasn’t the only thing that sets it apart. It also shows an African spiritual side of the story, similar to the way Yaa Gyasi writes Homegoing, just more nuanced.
I could compare the writing style to Frederick Douglass and Franz Fanon and James Baldwin. I could compare the story to Beloved and Song of Solomon. But it is also its own thing.
The main story follows the lives of slaves and slavers on a plantation called Elizabeth in Empty, Mississippi. The main plot is about Isiah and Samuel who are young stable hands who also happen to be in love and have sexual intercourse in the barn. Most people on the plantation know about this and don’t really care because it’s not a problem in African cultures. However, the owner of the plantation wants these two young men to ‘mate’ with slave women to keep the slaves’ population high. For this reason, he allows one of the black men to bring bible teachings to the slaves to teach them that sodomy is sinful…
A perfect read for #pagesofpride and Black History Month, but also a perfect read in general. Every bookshelf in every home should feature this book. Every good reader should have this book living in their brain. The sooner the better.
@thesonofbaldwin thank you, you clever person!
#theprophets #robertjonesjr #book #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookstagrammer #booklover
This is an instant classic. Robert Jones Jr. joins the ranks of Toni Morrison and James Baldwin as one of the greatest writers.
Most readers have read slave narratives and felt the pain of the Black slaves as they try to find happiness in impossible circumstances. But I can guarantee you have never read a slave narrative quite like this one. Somehow it felt modern, even though it was set in the early nineteenth century. But that wasn’t the only thing that sets it apart. It also shows an African spiritual side of the story, similar to the way Yaa Gyasi writes Homegoing, just more nuanced.
I could compare the writing style to Frederick Douglass and Franz Fanon and James Baldwin. I could compare the story to Beloved and Song of Solomon. But it is also its own thing.
The main story follows the lives of slaves and slavers on a plantation called Elizabeth in Empty, Mississippi. The main plot is about Isiah and Samuel who are young stable hands who also happen to be in love and have sexual intercourse in the barn. Most people on the plantation know about this and don’t really care because it’s not a problem in African cultures. However, the owner of the plantation wants these two young men to ‘mate’ with slave women to keep the slaves’ population high. For this reason, he allows one of the black men to bring bible teachings to the slaves to teach them that sodomy is sinful…
A perfect read for #pagesofpride and Black History Month, but also a perfect read in general. Every bookshelf in every home should feature this book. Every good reader should have this book living in their brain. The sooner the better.
@thesonofbaldwin thank you, you clever person!
#theprophets #robertjonesjr #book #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #bookreader #bookrecommendation #bookstagrammer #booklover
WILDER GIRLS by RORY POWER
I’m very sorry to say that this book was not for me.
YA fantasy, mystery, thriller, entirely plot driven. I should have known. All the signs were there.
It’s not a bad book, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
I believe this is quite a polarising book. What are your thoughts?
#wildergirls #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #pagesforpride #queer #lesbian #queer-lit
I’m very sorry to say that this book was not for me.
YA fantasy, mystery, thriller, entirely plot driven. I should have known. All the signs were there.
It’s not a bad book, but it’s just not my cup of tea.
I believe this is quite a polarising book. What are your thoughts?
#wildergirls #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #pagesforpride #queer #lesbian #queer-lit
CLEANNESS by GARTH GREENWELL
I don’t know how to review this book well. It’s always difficult when a writer is so exceptional, but they take you to new and dark places - places you weren’t sure you wanted to go, but found yourself compelled to keep visiting.
I’ll often call about honest and raw, but I feel I have a new measuring stick for that now. This felt extremely realist. Like reading someone’s diary, no, even that’s too performative; more like reading their thoughts. Yes, that’s what it was. Or even someone talking to their therapist.
It’s about a gay American teacher living in Bulgaria and the setting and sense of place were very well conveyed without unnecessary description.
This book is mostly about sex and sexuality and love, and the aubergine 🍆 level was off the scale! Maybe not in the fun smutty way - mostly dark and dirty. Still very hot, though!
Anyway, I started off saying I don’t know how to review this but it turns out that I do. Cleanness is a realist novel about sex and I thought it was brilliant. It won’t be for everyone, though.
#garthgreenwell #cleanness #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #bookrecommendation #pagesofpride
I don’t know how to review this book well. It’s always difficult when a writer is so exceptional, but they take you to new and dark places - places you weren’t sure you wanted to go, but found yourself compelled to keep visiting.
I’ll often call about honest and raw, but I feel I have a new measuring stick for that now. This felt extremely realist. Like reading someone’s diary, no, even that’s too performative; more like reading their thoughts. Yes, that’s what it was. Or even someone talking to their therapist.
It’s about a gay American teacher living in Bulgaria and the setting and sense of place were very well conveyed without unnecessary description.
This book is mostly about sex and sexuality and love, and the aubergine 🍆 level was off the scale! Maybe not in the fun smutty way - mostly dark and dirty. Still very hot, though!
Anyway, I started off saying I don’t know how to review this but it turns out that I do. Cleanness is a realist novel about sex and I thought it was brilliant. It won’t be for everyone, though.
#garthgreenwell #cleanness #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #bookrecommendation #pagesofpride
BOY QUEEN by GEORGE LESTER
Well, well, well, that was a sneaky little book, wasn’t it? I mean, I was expecting to find it cute and fun, but it was so much more than that! I have just received a first grade education in drag, honey! I was so moved by this book that I actually went into Mac Makeup today and asked them about their contouring and eyeshadow palettes.
I’d say Boy Queen by @thegeorgelester is a love letter to all things drag. It’s the perfect ‘love yourself’ book, but it’s also brutally self-aware. It’s YA through and through; modern, feisty, dramatic and full of love!
I loved that there were three possible love interests because it kept me guessing throughout. Seth is hot and everything, but he’s no Greg ♥️ know what I mean?
Anyway, I feel really happy after reading this and I need you all to go out and buy it and read it for #pagesofpride. You’ll be so glad that you did.
#book #bookstagram #boyqueenbook #boyqueen #gay #dragqueen #queerliterature #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookreader #booklover #gaybooks #gayliterature
Well, well, well, that was a sneaky little book, wasn’t it? I mean, I was expecting to find it cute and fun, but it was so much more than that! I have just received a first grade education in drag, honey! I was so moved by this book that I actually went into Mac Makeup today and asked them about their contouring and eyeshadow palettes.
I’d say Boy Queen by @thegeorgelester is a love letter to all things drag. It’s the perfect ‘love yourself’ book, but it’s also brutally self-aware. It’s YA through and through; modern, feisty, dramatic and full of love!
I loved that there were three possible love interests because it kept me guessing throughout. Seth is hot and everything, but he’s no Greg ♥️ know what I mean?
Anyway, I feel really happy after reading this and I need you all to go out and buy it and read it for #pagesofpride. You’ll be so glad that you did.
#book #bookstagram #boyqueenbook #boyqueen #gay #dragqueen #queerliterature #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookreader #booklover #gaybooks #gayliterature
HER BODY & OTHER PARTIES by CARMEN MARIA MACHADO
This is the book that confirms for me that Machado is one of the greatest living writers.
A collection of short stories with tropes from the gothic, Her Body is effortlessly brilliant. Machado takes inspiration from fairytales and the erotic, but don’t try to categorise this collection. Some of these stories are like nothing you’ve ever read and others you will recognise just the right amount to be shocked when you reach the conclusion.
If you like to be uncomfortable when you read - and I don’t mean guts and gore, I mean experimentation - then this is the collection for you.
I’m starting to wonder if short story collections are my new favourite thing.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #books #herbodyandotherparties #carmenmariamachado
This is the book that confirms for me that Machado is one of the greatest living writers.
A collection of short stories with tropes from the gothic, Her Body is effortlessly brilliant. Machado takes inspiration from fairytales and the erotic, but don’t try to categorise this collection. Some of these stories are like nothing you’ve ever read and others you will recognise just the right amount to be shocked when you reach the conclusion.
If you like to be uncomfortable when you read - and I don’t mean guts and gore, I mean experimentation - then this is the collection for you.
I’m starting to wonder if short story collections are my new favourite thing.
#book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #books #herbodyandotherparties #carmenmariamachado
MELT MY HEART by BETHANY RUTTER
My first queer read for Pride Month! I wanted to kick off with something cute and simple, and that’s exactly what this book is. Not much brain power needed, just lie back and enjoy the summer of love and ice cream and friendship and kissing and swimming in the sea and pub gardens and fashion and art and politics and a little bit of sex!
I loved being able to read this in a day, especially since I’ve been under the weather and unable to focus on anything else. I feel nice and rested and very content now.
Can’t wait for my next queer read!
#book #pagesforpride #pride #pridemonth #queerbook #meltmyheart #queerlife #queerliterature #bookstagrammer #bethanyrutter #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendation
My first queer read for Pride Month! I wanted to kick off with something cute and simple, and that’s exactly what this book is. Not much brain power needed, just lie back and enjoy the summer of love and ice cream and friendship and kissing and swimming in the sea and pub gardens and fashion and art and politics and a little bit of sex!
I loved being able to read this in a day, especially since I’ve been under the weather and unable to focus on anything else. I feel nice and rested and very content now.
Can’t wait for my next queer read!
#book #pagesforpride #pride #pridemonth #queerbook #meltmyheart #queerlife #queerliterature #bookstagrammer #bethanyrutter #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendation
COSMOPOLITAN by AKHIL SHARMA
This is another Faber Stories short story and it was just as good as the others I’ve read, if not better.
The story is about a retired Indian man living in America. His wife and child have left and he is alone for the first time in his life. One day, he realises that he is attracted to his neighbour, so he reads Cosmopolitan magazine to try to win her over.
This little story is about loneliness and the vulnerability that comes with it. I found it very honest and sweet and I’ve had a lovely half an hour with these characters.
#faberstories #book #shortstory #cosmopolitan #akhilsharma #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer
This is another Faber Stories short story and it was just as good as the others I’ve read, if not better.
The story is about a retired Indian man living in America. His wife and child have left and he is alone for the first time in his life. One day, he realises that he is attracted to his neighbour, so he reads Cosmopolitan magazine to try to win her over.
This little story is about loneliness and the vulnerability that comes with it. I found it very honest and sweet and I’ve had a lovely half an hour with these characters.
#faberstories #book #shortstory #cosmopolitan #akhilsharma #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookreviewer