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loquaciousleon's reviews
46 reviews
Home Is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.25
I did enjoy this book, though more in a YA thriller way.
There were also disrespectful aspects of the book regarding SUD. I was, and still am, unsure if that was depicted in a way that was intentional for the character, or if it was unintentionally mishandled/stigmatizing and not trauma-informed.
It was not egregious enough for me to land on a negative mark, though it felt important to remain aware of and note throughout the book, and for this review.
There were also disrespectful aspects of the book regarding SUD. I was, and still am, unsure if that was depicted in a way that was intentional for the character, or if it was unintentionally mishandled/stigmatizing and not trauma-informed.
It was not egregious enough for me to land on a negative mark, though it felt important to remain aware of and note throughout the book, and for this review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book lived up to the hype.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
An Equal Music by Vikram Seth
1.75
Review from a classically trained musician:
If you want a story about obsession where the cishet male protagonist takes things the feminine love interest is enduring, so personally, that they LITERALLY slam their head against something and turn themselves into the victim? This is for you!!
(I would tell you what she is enduring but it is a spoiler!! But when I say it mainly affects her, I truly mean it.)
And that's a single page. I'm. Kinda baffled tbh. The protagonist was leaning towards insufferable, but when that happened around the mid 200's, everything then he truly became suffocating. (As the story is from their perspective.)
The music was barely present and enough to pull me through. Cause the music then became about his obsession with her; as literally everything else in this book.
If you want a story about obsession where the cishet male protagonist takes things the feminine love interest is enduring, so personally, that they LITERALLY slam their head against something and turn themselves into the victim? This is for you!!
(I would tell you what she is enduring but it is a spoiler!! But when I say it mainly affects her, I truly mean it.)
And that's a single page. I'm. Kinda baffled tbh. The protagonist was leaning towards insufferable, but when that happened around the mid 200's, everything then he truly became suffocating. (As the story is from their perspective.)
The music was barely present and enough to pull me through. Cause the music then became about his obsession with her; as literally everything else in this book.
Organ Meats by K-Ming Chang
challenging
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
4.5
This story tells a very vivid story amidst the seemingly bizarre ideas.
If subtext, metaphors, and spiritual themes are your thing, this book will be enjoyed.
If subtext, metaphors, and spiritual themes are your thing, this book will be enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Excrement, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Spoiler FREE Review.
-
This book is a work of art. Quite possibly a literal masterpiece.
The summary is not indicative to the quality of the content whatsoever. It barely captures the real premise.
-
The following is not stating the book is similar to these books, and to say, pieces were reminiscent of:
Virginia Woolf's stream of consciousness mixed with 'The Alchemist' and Gus Moreno's ('This Thing Between Us') spiritual perspective. All laced and layered together with these elements like Frank Herbert's writing.
'The Priory of the Orange Tree' mixed with 'A Short Walk Through a Wide World' in terms of external atmosphere.
'100 Years of Solitude' in terms of duplicity. (And any additional information would be a spoiler.)
This was a book that encouraged me to cancel plans, spend 10 hours on a single day to get through the second half, and made me fearful that it would make other books pale in comparison.
These thoughts have taken hours to sit and have not changed; infact, only solidified.
(Excluding other books paling in comparison...after sitting and staring at a wall for hours.)
-
This book is a work of art. Quite possibly a literal masterpiece.
The summary is not indicative to the quality of the content whatsoever. It barely captures the real premise.
-
The following is not stating the book is similar to these books, and to say, pieces were reminiscent of:
Virginia Woolf's stream of consciousness mixed with 'The Alchemist' and Gus Moreno's ('This Thing Between Us') spiritual perspective. All laced and layered together with these elements like Frank Herbert's writing.
'The Priory of the Orange Tree' mixed with 'A Short Walk Through a Wide World' in terms of external atmosphere.
'100 Years of Solitude' in terms of duplicity. (And any additional information would be a spoiler.)
This was a book that encouraged me to cancel plans, spend 10 hours on a single day to get through the second half, and made me fearful that it would make other books pale in comparison.
These thoughts have taken hours to sit and have not changed; infact, only solidified.
(Excluding other books paling in comparison...after sitting and staring at a wall for hours.)
Bewilderment by Richard Powers
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Richard Powers is a gift. This book is no exception.
Heavenbreaker by Sara Wolf
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This book only continued to get better. I found some of the emotions a little on the nose, but the plot kept building upon itself in really interesting and surprising ways.
The Unwritten Book: An Investigation by Samantha Hunt
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Man. My mind really enjoyed this book. It felt like it had heartfelt comfort and existential fun.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
5.0
°
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This was such a poorly written book; except for the last 30 pages.
It felt like the 303 pages before it were rushed and written by someone using the author's name.
85-90% of the book genuinely surprised me with how poorly it was written.
It felt like the 303 pages before it were rushed and written by someone using the author's name.
85-90% of the book genuinely surprised me with how poorly it was written.