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magmmagenta's reviews
81 reviews
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
No clue why people like this so much. Literally nothing happens, you just hear about which drugs the main character took that day to sleep as much as she could, what movies she watched, and listen to her complain about how much she hates her "best friend". She's not supposed to be a likeable character, but goddamn!! And so so boring. Do not recommend. This is a PSA: NEVER LISTEN TO THE BOOKTOKERS. Lesson learned. Again.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I keep editing my review because the more I reflect on this book the more I hate it. And the more I hate that so many people liked it and recommended it. Found some parts (more-so quotes) about the "power of friendship" endearing. Although in the end Sam and Sadie really weren't good friends to each other at all. Many other parts, though, were incredibly pretentious. Constant vocab drops and preachy with modern day talking points and buzzwords. Could've used a serious edit. Wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Just annoying and boring and stupid.
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A character and setting study. Feel like I've lived through the setting by reading it's description throughout the book; I really enjoyed that aspect. Putting into perspective that the main character is not supposed to be good or likeable makes me like the book more than I rated it. Just some of her inner dialogue was so nasty.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
2.0
Eating disorders - the book. I can see why people could find solace in reading about her struggles with eating disorders and abuse, but it was not for me. A "woe is me" book (rightfully so, but still), with far less about the healing and independence than I thought it would be about. Just a depress fest. On the upside, reading about her talking like "Drinking. This feels good, this is the answer. Throwing up all the time is a solution." snapped me into realizing for a moment how stupid wallowing in your own pity is. No matter how justified under the circumstances are. Pick yourself up. You've been hurt, but you deserve better. Especially from yourself. Not blaming her in any way, just an observation on life and how pain causes an endless cycle of pain, unless you decide to acknowledge and step away.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I Hate Everyone But You by Allison Raskin, Gabe Dunn
lighthearted
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
1.0
I really hated Genevieve. I just wanted to read a cute book about friendship, as I was promised. Instead I ended up reading about a girl and her friend who clearly spends too much time online, and jumps at her friend's throat anytime she has a question, opinion, or isn't the perfect little SJW she is. So stupid. "Seriously??? We can't ever talk about it anymore? If I disagree with you about something I'm not allowed to say so?" "Not about this stuff. No." That's basically her response anytime her friend calls her out for sleeping with a horrible 30 year old woman, or reckless drinking, or quitting the journalistic paper just because some advisor wrote about her own opinions. She also says she doesn't like labels for her sexuality, and yet,,, seems to be obsessed with them. Anytime a guy is white or "cis" or straight she always mentions it. She always brings up how she's gay or whatever too. It's insufferable. Just like so many insufferable people online. Hence me saying earlier that she clearly spends too much time online, because it's the same talking points you hear over and over on there. Go touch grass, Gen. And by extension: the people who wrote this book. No one cares what you look like or who you date. Just live your own life and be kind. Ok, rant over. Don't waste your time on this book. If anyone has actual good recommendations for books about friendships, please help me out. I'm starving.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Love the world building, I could really visualize the places they lived and walked through as well as all the many different characters and creatures. When I realized it was the same author as the Spiderwick Chronicles it all made sense. Will be interesting to see if she explores more of the main character's relationship with her dad/dad's murderer and that effect on her. That was my only complaint; initially she seemed to be entirely ok with living with her parent's murderer, but that was revealed to not really be the case as you got nearer to the end. She's playing chess. Her twin sister is a spineless piece of shit though.