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mariakureads's reviews
1021 reviews
Collected Folk Tales by Alan Garner
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I've had this on my TBR for so long I had almost given up hope that I would get to read it, but the library had a copy!!!!
I liked the range of folk tales from around the world, although a lot are from Great Britain, overall it was a good mix of different countries which is nice to read but I only ended up enjoying a handful of tales.
A lot of the stories are fairly short which works if reading 1-2 a night and by a younger audience because as I read a few stories a day, to pace them out, I felt that their shortness left me wanting for more details to fall deeper into the tale for the ones that I was intrigued by whereas other stories just didn't do anything for me.
I also not having read anything by Garner wasn't sure what to expect but overall, this was a solid read.
I liked the range of folk tales from around the world, although a lot are from Great Britain, overall it was a good mix of different countries which is nice to read but I only ended up enjoying a handful of tales.
A lot of the stories are fairly short which works if reading 1-2 a night and by a younger audience because as I read a few stories a day, to pace them out, I felt that their shortness left me wanting for more details to fall deeper into the tale for the ones that I was intrigued by whereas other stories just didn't do anything for me.
I also not having read anything by Garner wasn't sure what to expect but overall, this was a solid read.
Monstress, Vol. 9: The Possessed by Marjorie Liu
emotional
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? Yes
4.5
Omg what an illegal cliffhanger!!!!!
Idk when the next volume is happening but I am psyched for it.
The political intrugue that is happening is insane but so are the family ties that Mika has. She has been through so much and each next step is steeped in memories, emotions , and tension.
Oh Liu has a great way of writing tension and that fact that it's been every volume highlighting different arcs but all tying together is intensive but I am here for it.
Idk when the next volume is happening but I am psyched for it.
The political intrugue that is happening is insane but so are the family ties that Mika has. She has been through so much and each next step is steeped in memories, emotions , and tension.
Oh Liu has a great way of writing tension and that fact that it's been every volume highlighting different arcs but all tying together is intensive but I am here for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture and Toxic relationship
Frida: Una Biografia de Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Wow... This book was heavily detailed, rich and colorful like the paintings Kahlo was known for.
Filled with history, of the era, art, and the woman herself, this edition is by far the most detailed book of Kahlo I've ever encountered. Hours worth of journal entries from herself as well Diego, letters written by her and to her, articles, and interviews highlight Kahlo and show her as this majestic, larger than life, exotic and fiery individual who captivated so many.
Her body wracked with pain since a child, would be her own roadblock time and time again, but she kept going. She kept defying people's expectations of her as well as her own, to be the person she was and this book provided so many faces of her to me that I don't think I really knew.
This audiobook, which I choose to listen to in Spanish, I can't describe it but made her come alive again. This woman I know OF but have never met, was during the 20+ hrs, as real to me as my own family; bright and vivacious, loud and soft spoken, strong and obsessive, passionate as well as bitter and dull from the pain in her later years.
Filled with history, of the era, art, and the woman herself, this edition is by far the most detailed book of Kahlo I've ever encountered. Hours worth of journal entries from herself as well Diego, letters written by her and to her, articles, and interviews highlight Kahlo and show her as this majestic, larger than life, exotic and fiery individual who captivated so many.
Her body wracked with pain since a child, would be her own roadblock time and time again, but she kept going. She kept defying people's expectations of her as well as her own, to be the person she was and this book provided so many faces of her to me that I don't think I really knew.
This audiobook, which I choose to listen to in Spanish, I can't describe it but made her come alive again. This woman I know OF but have never met, was during the 20+ hrs, as real to me as my own family; bright and vivacious, loud and soft spoken, strong and obsessive, passionate as well as bitter and dull from the pain in her later years.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Medical content, and Car accident
Minor: Drug use and Miscarriage
Spy x Family, Vol. 8 by Tatsuya Endo
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
This was a fun volume highlighting Yor, as she takes on a bodyguard role from the last volume.
It was great to see Yor in action, as it's been a while so I enjoyed that but that didn't happen till later in the volume as more than half of this felt like filler as it gave details of the backstory, a bit of Twilight and Anya, and even Yor's boss got a highlight, which wow because dude still has it.
I'm hoping this story picks up and moves along mostly because I'm hoping to see how the rest of Twilight's mission is going to go.
It was great to see Yor in action, as it's been a while so I enjoyed that but that didn't happen till later in the volume as more than half of this felt like filler as it gave details of the backstory, a bit of Twilight and Anya, and even Yor's boss got a highlight, which wow because dude still has it.
I'm hoping this story picks up and moves along mostly because I'm hoping to see how the rest of Twilight's mission is going to go.
Sakamoto Days, Vol. 14 by Yuto Suzuki
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I am enjoying that this volume is picking up from the last one, amidst a flashback story and in mid action as Young Sakamoto and Co. are in mid mission.
I'm surprised by the reveal, even though I knew it would come, beca se I didn't think Kindaka's involvement with the Order was quite this way and while I don't want to spoil it, the specifics of it is what surprised me.
Three stars because as much as I enjoyed this, it felt like filler to me, and a good one because it answers questions while raising new ones. I really can't wait for the next volume as this was again, left on a cliffhanger.
I'm surprised by the reveal, even though I knew it would come, beca se I didn't think Kindaka's involvement with the Order was quite this way and while I don't want to spoil it, the specifics of it is what surprised me.
Three stars because as much as I enjoyed this, it felt like filler to me, and a good one because it answers questions while raising new ones. I really can't wait for the next volume as this was again, left on a cliffhanger.
I'm Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya
emotional
fast-paced
2.0
As personal as this was, Shraya is not telling me something that I, like many women already are aware of, especially as a woman of color. We are hyper vigilant even at rest. Women in general walk and talk with caution, and women of color have to, in addition, school their faces, change their appearance and manner of speaking to assimilate gender norms.
Shraya's viewpoint is heightened because of their transition and she's aware of it and at different points of the book, allows that fear to hold her captive and what feels like compounds her already negative experiences with variations of toxic masculinity, homophobia, and racism.
I respect the author for writing this, I do, but there are certain moments that I had issues with, such as Shraya's rememberence of choosing Manpreet to force a first kiss upon because as she put it she senses that Manpreet liked her and she was younger this making her a perfect target.... This view point bothered me so much. It's a thought, not from genuine interest, or even true curiousity, but because at this moment Shraya is male, and from a male view is looking at Manpreet and an assumption of entitlement to take. That Shraya mentions this, is accounting to some guilt on her part but there's no apology or reflection and nothing else comes from this moment or others like it through the book.
I feel like there is a lot missing information at different points that could have helped explain and add reflection to different moments of the book that I found I had a problem with, because there's moments where it feels that Shraya is misogynistic and views not just me but women with the viewpoint as well.
Shraya's viewpoint is heightened because of their transition and she's aware of it and at different points of the book, allows that fear to hold her captive and what feels like compounds her already negative experiences with variations of toxic masculinity, homophobia, and racism.
I respect the author for writing this, I do, but there are certain moments that I had issues with, such as Shraya's rememberence of choosing Manpreet to force a first kiss upon because as she put it she senses that Manpreet liked her and she was younger this making her a perfect target.... This view point bothered me so much. It's a thought, not from genuine interest, or even true curiousity, but because at this moment Shraya is male, and from a male view is looking at Manpreet and an assumption of entitlement to take. That Shraya mentions this, is accounting to some guilt on her part but there's no apology or reflection and nothing else comes from this moment or others like it through the book.
I feel like there is a lot missing information at different points that could have helped explain and add reflection to different moments of the book that I found I had a problem with, because there's moments where it feels that Shraya is misogynistic and views not just me but women with the viewpoint as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Transphobia
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, Vol. 1 by Fujita
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was cute, a bit messy for me but cute.
Cute because the characters and their interactions with each other were fun and entertaining as they go through their daily lives, work, and relationships and a lot of their otaku-ness.
But I say messy because a lot happened but there was no sense of time so I didn't and couldn't figure out how much time had passed from one chapter to the next. In addition, there doesn't seem to be a an actual plot and maybe that's why I can't figure out the pace because each chapter feels like a snapshot of a moment.
Not sure if I want to continue the rest of the series but this was cute and fun.
Cute because the characters and their interactions with each other were fun and entertaining as they go through their daily lives, work, and relationships and a lot of their otaku-ness.
But I say messy because a lot happened but there was no sense of time so I didn't and couldn't figure out how much time had passed from one chapter to the next. In addition, there doesn't seem to be a an actual plot and maybe that's why I can't figure out the pace because each chapter feels like a snapshot of a moment.
Not sure if I want to continue the rest of the series but this was cute and fun.
Love from Godzilla by Olivia Luchini
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I love Godzilla and this was such an adorable picture book showcasing himself, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Mecha Godzilla and more showing the different ways that loves make a person or monster feel.
The illustrations are wholesome and make some of the monsters look so cute. Seeing them drawn in this style, it would be hard to think they're Godzilla's foes in the movies.
The illustrations are wholesome and make some of the monsters look so cute. Seeing them drawn in this style, it would be hard to think they're Godzilla's foes in the movies.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Definitely a introspective book with elements of space and while it's well written, I was hoping for more of something.
Not sure what was missing but I found the pacing to be very slow, adding on to the feeling of introspection and meditation that I wasn't expecting every chapter, every page but there it was time and time again, slow and methodical told from the varying voices of the different characters.
It's also a lot of listing and naming of the different geographical locations visible to the characters from their view ports and memories which are all written with detail and again introspection but eventually it feels the same chapter after chapter, which I don't know if it's some kind of metaphor to describe living in space but it's beautifully written nonetheless just not for me.
Not sure what was missing but I found the pacing to be very slow, adding on to the feeling of introspection and meditation that I wasn't expecting every chapter, every page but there it was time and time again, slow and methodical told from the varying voices of the different characters.
It's also a lot of listing and naming of the different geographical locations visible to the characters from their view ports and memories which are all written with detail and again introspection but eventually it feels the same chapter after chapter, which I don't know if it's some kind of metaphor to describe living in space but it's beautifully written nonetheless just not for me.
Faking it with the Billionaire by Willow Fox, Allison West
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.
Is it terrible that I got to page five and was already like "wait, what?" Because the FMC has just met the MMC and she has a thought of "I feel that sizzle between us and do everything I can to push that feeling away. Bury it. He doesn't get to hold my heart."
WHAT SIZZLE?!?!?
Please know that at this point MMC hasn't said or done anything remotely cordial or alluding to being civil. The FMC has just finish side sweeping him to show she can be a bodyguard and she's talking about her heart already.... Girl no.
Had a good premise and I was intrigued by it which is why I bought the book, but this scene has just turned me off from reading the rest.
WHAT SIZZLE?!?!?
Please know that at this point MMC hasn't said or done anything remotely cordial or alluding to being civil. The FMC has just finish side sweeping him to show she can be a bodyguard and she's talking about her heart already.... Girl no.
Had a good premise and I was intrigued by it which is why I bought the book, but this scene has just turned me off from reading the rest.