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maiagaia's reviews
88 reviews
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
Just watch the Netflix show or play the games. I'm not sure if it's just the translation or what, but it's difficult to take a stoic fantasy protagonist seriously who says "what the heck." The stories and writing style are flat and boring. I think the author was trying to make some interesting commentary about the world's perception of powerful women, but it never fully got there for me. I came out of this with hardly any understanding of Geralt (and I honestly can't say for sure if what I do know is only because of the aforementioned adaptations).
His Bride for the Taking by Tessa Dare
fast-paced
1.0
This fell prey to the talking heads problem. Pages upon pages of blocks of dialogue with little to no description. It felt like reading a bad play.
The comedy in it fell incredible flat and added nothing. It was a waste of words that could have been used to build character and/or conflict.
The idea was promising but fell flat, and the final plot twist was pretty gross. Not much to say since it was so short, but I think its length was the only good thing about it.
The comedy in it fell incredible flat and added nothing. It was a waste of words that could have been used to build character and/or conflict.
The idea was promising but fell flat, and the final plot twist was pretty gross. Not much to say since it was so short, but I think its length was the only good thing about it.
The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
A quick, fun read. The perfect, fluffy thing to read in an afternoon. The set up was fun, but the two break all the agreed upon rules way too quickly for my taste, making the set up a bit pointless. I wish the author had trusted her readers enough not to explicitly spell out every character motivation. I understand the impulse, but I roll my eyes when The Already Obvious Point is hammered home for the second, third, or even fourth time by a line of text that just explains the actions we have already observed.
The Black Panthers Speak by Philip S. Foner, Clayborne Carson, Julian Bond
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.5
This books is a great primary source, but I would not recommend it as a first read for someone wanting to learn about the Black Panther Party simply because very little context is given. If you already have at the very least a working knowledge of the Black Panther Party, this is a good compilation of some of the most prominent voices in the Party.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said? Probably very little, if anything at all. I read this for school nearly ten years ago, and I remember loving it. On this reread, I have to say I loved it more. I feel that East of Eden will only get more poignant and thought-provoking the older I get.
Of course it has the depth of metaphor that you'll learn about in any literature class, but even more than that, the characters are so fully formed that my heart ached for them.
I think this was the book that kick-started my love of stories that deal with cyclical behaviors or experiences, the ones that are filled to bursting with character foils and plot foils. I could talk all day about how certain characters or plot points mirror others in this book and how much that bolstered my already great reading experience.
I think it's important to note that Steinbeck has some particular views on the whole nature vs nurture debate that I deeply disagree with. For some, this may ruin the experience because the entirety of the novel is predicated on the idea, and it is only really somewhat undercut at the very end. Of course, that was only my interpretation of the ending, and you may totally disagree with that. Additionally, if you agree with Steinbeck's view of nature vs nurture, this will not bother you at all.
And of course, this was written in the 1950s by a white, straight, cis man, so there are some less than savory undertones surrounding people of different races and of women. There are two characters who are referred to repeatedly by racial slurs, so please be aware of that before going in.
Of course it has the depth of metaphor that you'll learn about in any literature class, but even more than that, the characters are so fully formed that my heart ached for them.
I think this was the book that kick-started my love of stories that deal with cyclical behaviors or experiences, the ones that are filled to bursting with character foils and plot foils. I could talk all day about how certain characters or plot points mirror others in this book and how much that bolstered my already great reading experience.
I think it's important to note that Steinbeck has some particular views on the whole nature vs nurture debate that I deeply disagree with. For some, this may ruin the experience because the entirety of the novel is predicated on the idea, and it is only really somewhat undercut at the very end. Of course, that was only my interpretation of the ending, and you may totally disagree with that. Additionally, if you agree with Steinbeck's view of nature vs nurture, this will not bother you at all.
And of course, this was written in the 1950s by a white, straight, cis man, so there are some less than savory undertones surrounding people of different races and of women. There are two characters who are referred to repeatedly by racial slurs, so please be aware of that before going in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This novel is a great example of strong narrator voice. I can see it not working for some people because it's a very distinct style.
This book succeeds in being very creepy and, at certain parts, downright scary. However, like many horror novels, once it begins to explain some of the creepy goings-ons, it loses steam. While I enjoyed the climax and denouement, the rest of the third act was a huge let down. It was simultaneously too much information and not enough. That is to say, it was enough information to demystify things, but there weren't enough interesting answers to keep me intrigued.
Also, Bongo is the best character, though I liked them all.
This book succeeds in being very creepy and, at certain parts, downright scary. However, like many horror novels, once it begins to explain some of the creepy goings-ons, it loses steam. While I enjoyed the climax and denouement, the rest of the third act was a huge let down. It was simultaneously too much information and not enough. That is to say, it was enough information to demystify things, but there weren't enough interesting answers to keep me intrigued.
Also, Bongo is the best character, though I liked them all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Dementia
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Great mystery, but the characters are pretty bland. I tabbed their introductions so that I could flip back and be reminded of who all of them were. Overall, not the most memorable book, unfortunately, though I see the influence it has had on the mystery genre.
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Things I liked:
- The maturity and self-reflection on display from both main characters. Whenever one of them would have a knee-jerk negative reaction to something, it was only temporary. Once the initial defensiveness or anger dulled, they thought through the interactions and considered that they may have misinterpreted the other person's intentions. What a concept.
- The main plot. Cute, fluffy, sweet. Everything I wanted from this type of book.
- The rep. Fatness, dyslexia, gayness, adhd all get a part in the story. It was refreshing.
- Fandom love. I have definitely read fanfic in my time (Game of Thrones's final 4 seasons were increasingly blights upon humanity), but I've never written fanfic or participated in fandom to the extent that the characters do here. However, I loved seeing ADULTS unapologetically participate in something they love. It was a refreshing pushback against certain creators who have not-so-subtle disdain for their more involved fans.
Things I'm on the fence about:
- April's parents. I understand that for many people, the fatshaming starts with their parents. However, I wasn't expecting that struggle to be such a big part of this book, and it was honestly depressing. On the one hand, I wish that entire subplot had been removed or at the very least toned down, but on the other hand, I understand how important that story is for some people. It dampened my enjoyment because of how depressing it was, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad addition.
- The make-up scene. I don't like grand gestures as the climax of a story. They always gloss over the issue that caused the split and don't allow the characters to really work it out. I was hoping for more discussion to happen between these two since their communication had been really strong throughout. Instead, the reconciliation felt very surface-level. It wasn't a bad scene, and the characters were on the same page at that point, but THEY didn't know that because they never actually said that.
- The media excerpts between chapters. I loved some of them while others felt more obligatory. Like, the author had great ideas for a handful of them but then realized she needed to have more and slapped some stuff together. I loved the messages between the main characters and excerpts from the actual show, but I was not at all interested in the spoofy excerpts from the love interest's former roles. Those were a little too over the top for me, and some of the fanfic excerpts were a little to on-the-nose.
Things I didn't like:
- the final scene. Let me clarify, I like where all the characters end up. Let's just say there is a suggestive through-line in the chapter that's very out of place and left me mostly feeling perplexed by its inclusion.
- The number of sex scenes. Thankfully, they were not integral to the plot and easily skipped. I don't have anything against sex scenes, there were just too many. It felt like every scene had to end with sex, and I just didn't care. They were very well-written, so for anyone looking for a sexier book, this will probably be a knock-out. It's just not what I was looking for.
- The maturity and self-reflection on display from both main characters. Whenever one of them would have a knee-jerk negative reaction to something, it was only temporary. Once the initial defensiveness or anger dulled, they thought through the interactions and considered that they may have misinterpreted the other person's intentions. What a concept.
- The main plot. Cute, fluffy, sweet. Everything I wanted from this type of book.
- The rep. Fatness, dyslexia, gayness, adhd all get a part in the story. It was refreshing.
- Fandom love. I have definitely read fanfic in my time (Game of Thrones's final 4 seasons were increasingly blights upon humanity), but I've never written fanfic or participated in fandom to the extent that the characters do here. However, I loved seeing ADULTS unapologetically participate in something they love. It was a refreshing pushback against certain creators who have not-so-subtle disdain for their more involved fans.
Things I'm on the fence about:
- April's parents. I understand that for many people, the fatshaming starts with their parents. However, I wasn't expecting that struggle to be such a big part of this book, and it was honestly depressing. On the one hand, I wish that entire subplot had been removed or at the very least toned down, but on the other hand, I understand how important that story is for some people. It dampened my enjoyment because of how depressing it was, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad addition.
- The make-up scene. I don't like grand gestures as the climax of a story. They always gloss over the issue that caused the split and don't allow the characters to really work it out. I was hoping for more discussion to happen between these two since their communication had been really strong throughout. Instead, the reconciliation felt very surface-level. It wasn't a bad scene, and the characters were on the same page at that point, but THEY didn't know that because they never actually said that.
- The media excerpts between chapters. I loved some of them while others felt more obligatory. Like, the author had great ideas for a handful of them but then realized she needed to have more and slapped some stuff together. I loved the messages between the main characters and excerpts from the actual show, but I was not at all interested in the spoofy excerpts from the love interest's former roles. Those were a little too over the top for me, and some of the fanfic excerpts were a little to on-the-nose.
Things I didn't like:
- the final scene. Let me clarify, I like where all the characters end up. Let's just say there is a suggestive through-line in the chapter that's very out of place and left me mostly feeling perplexed by its inclusion.
- The number of sex scenes. Thankfully, they were not integral to the plot and easily skipped. I don't have anything against sex scenes, there were just too many. It felt like every scene had to end with sex, and I just didn't care. They were very well-written, so for anyone looking for a sexier book, this will probably be a knock-out. It's just not what I was looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Eating disorder and Misogyny
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I'm rating this book and writing this review less than ten minutes after finishing the book because it has taken me months to finish it (and that's not counting a year ago when I tried to read it the first time and gave up), and I can't imagine another day of giving it real estate in my head.
Is the layout interest? Yes.
Is it unique? Yes.
Does that make a good book? God, no.
This book should have been trimmed by about 25%. Nearly every chapter and footnote ran on for far too long. Later in the book, pages are "missing" or "damaged," so we only get bits and pieces of the topic, and the book would have been better off with that effect being used earlier in the book as well.
The characters are fine enough. The narrator of sorts is an extremely stereotypical character that, while well-realized, was not interesting enough to carry a book of this length. The interesting parts of his character were pushed out of the spotlight by his recounting of every woman he fucked. I wanted more of the backstory, the fear, and the vulnerability.
There are parts of this book where the reader is supposed to feel frustrated, and it worked! Hence why it took my this long to read it. It is so bloated and self aggrandizing that I frequently put it down after only reading a handful of pages. Is this tone purposeful? I hope so because the alternative is worse. However, that makes it a miserable reading experience.
I went into this hoping and expecting to love it, and maybe if it had some MAJOR edits, I would have. Instead, I find myself on the other side wishing for a very, very different version of this story.
Is the layout interest? Yes.
Is it unique? Yes.
Does that make a good book? God, no.
This book should have been trimmed by about 25%. Nearly every chapter and footnote ran on for far too long. Later in the book, pages are "missing" or "damaged," so we only get bits and pieces of the topic, and the book would have been better off with that effect being used earlier in the book as well.
The characters are fine enough. The narrator of sorts is an extremely stereotypical character that, while well-realized, was not interesting enough to carry a book of this length. The interesting parts of his character were pushed out of the spotlight by his recounting of every woman he fucked. I wanted more of the backstory, the fear, and the vulnerability.
There are parts of this book where the reader is supposed to feel frustrated, and it worked! Hence why it took my this long to read it. It is so bloated and self aggrandizing that I frequently put it down after only reading a handful of pages. Is this tone purposeful? I hope so because the alternative is worse. However, that makes it a miserable reading experience.
I went into this hoping and expecting to love it, and maybe if it had some MAJOR edits, I would have. Instead, I find myself on the other side wishing for a very, very different version of this story.