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manureads's reviews
151 reviews
Ace by Angela Chen
5.0
Ace is one of those books I wish I could give to 15 year old me because had I had a book like this earlier, figuring myself out would have been less frustrating, less lonely. It made me feel seen but it also made me think and taught me a lot which was a delightful surprise. Ace progresses very naturally: it starts by covering the basics before delving into more complex issues, making it accessible for everyone. It examines how asexuality intersects with race and disability which is a crucial conversation to have within the community. It also touched on topics and fears that I still have like where to draw the line between friendship and romance if there is no sexual desire to do it for you. Ace is extremely well researched and the writing is crystal clear. If you’re ace or questioning, this a great book for you. If you’re allo and you want to educate yourself on the topic, this is a great book for you.
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
5.0
Moon of the Crusted Snow is a post-apocalyptic/dystopic novel set on an Anishinaabe reserve. Right at the cusp of a harsh winter, the community gets cut off when power mysteriously goes out, taking away cell service and internet. With leadership divided and food supplies dwindling, tensions grow quickly, and just as they discover that the rest of the country was also affected, a stranger barges into their lives threatening to break the fragile balance that was established.
I read this book in one sitting and it chilled me to my bone. For a short novel, it makes you reflect on a lot of issues from colonialism and intergenerational trauma to resilience, surviving through it all and coming together as a community. We feel for the characters and the stranger made me angry every time he was on the page. It’s a slow burn and the ending is no surprise, but it’s not meant to be: tension is built masterfully throughout.
Reading this during a pandemic highlighted some interesting parallels: Rice managed to predict the rush to the stores and the initial denials. For this reason, It was also a comforting read at a time like this, because the whole story is filled with hope. There is apparently a sequel coming out and I am excited for it! This story will stick with me for a long time.
CW: death, mentions of suicide, and (implied) cannibalism.
I read this book in one sitting and it chilled me to my bone. For a short novel, it makes you reflect on a lot of issues from colonialism and intergenerational trauma to resilience, surviving through it all and coming together as a community. We feel for the characters and the stranger made me angry every time he was on the page. It’s a slow burn and the ending is no surprise, but it’s not meant to be: tension is built masterfully throughout.
Reading this during a pandemic highlighted some interesting parallels: Rice managed to predict the rush to the stores and the initial denials. For this reason, It was also a comforting read at a time like this, because the whole story is filled with hope. There is apparently a sequel coming out and I am excited for it! This story will stick with me for a long time.
CW: death, mentions of suicide, and (implied) cannibalism.
Nos vies suspendues by Charlotte Bousquet
3.0
Lecture intéressante et je me suis vite plongée dans l’histoire. J’ai aimé l’élément un peu surnaturel, les personnages principaux était très bien écris et j’ai beacoup sympathiser avec tout ce qu’ils vivaient. J’étais contente de la fin qui était satisfaisante tout en reconnaissant que plus largement le problème n’avait pas magiquement disparu.
Cependant, il a plusieurs détails qui sont venus distraire de l’action principale. Déjà, je ne vois pas trop comment l’intrigue secondaire rejoint la principale et j’avais parfois l’impression de lire deux histoires différentes. De plus, certains personnages secondaires semblaient un peu inutiles. Ces détails quoique insuffisants pour rendre la lecture mauvaise, avaient tout de même parfois pour effet de me sortir de l’histoire.
En bref, histoire poignante malgré quelques détails distrayants.
Cependant, il a plusieurs détails qui sont venus distraire de l’action principale. Déjà, je ne vois pas trop comment l’intrigue secondaire rejoint la principale et j’avais parfois l’impression de lire deux histoires différentes. De plus, certains personnages secondaires semblaient un peu inutiles. Ces détails quoique insuffisants pour rendre la lecture mauvaise, avaient tout de même parfois pour effet de me sortir de l’histoire.
En bref, histoire poignante malgré quelques détails distrayants.