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mariaslibrary's reviews
117 reviews
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overly long and a little convoluted at times, but soooo much better than book 1. There was some solid world building, the characters had more depth and development, and there was reflection and critique from key characters of their own previous (book one) behavior that seemed nonsensical/irritating.
I'm not sure I liked it enough to continue reading more of the series over other books on my TBR - despite it ending on a bit of a cliffhanger / to-be-continued vibes. But for me at least this book was an engaging story and felt worth the read if only to avoid the FOMO, lol.
I'm not sure I liked it enough to continue reading more of the series over other books on my TBR - despite it ending on a bit of a cliffhanger / to-be-continued vibes. But for me at least this book was an engaging story and felt worth the read if only to avoid the FOMO, lol.
Brown Enough: True Stories About Love, Violence, the Student Loan Crisis, Hollywood, Race, Familia, and Making It in America by Christopher Rivas
3.75
I struggled getting through this book in the beginning. I was only two or three chapters in and set it down for about a year before I came back to it. Coincidentally right after I had traveled to the Dominican Republic for the first time. I found this context help me understand the author's perspective better, helped it ring more true.
I found the author's voice engaging and charismatic, but a lot of what he wrote sounded too familiar. I've read a number of nonfiction books from the latinx perspective around racism and anti-blackness and so a lot of this felt like it was giving an introductory coverage to topics I was more used to reading about in more depth. But I think that would make this a particularly great read for folks who Earnest exposed to this perspective.
There were several chapters or essays where I really did hear a unique perspective in the ways that his specific cultural background differs from other Latinx cultures I'm me familiar with.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book. For anyone, but most enthusiastically for people who are less familiar with the subject matter. I'm glad I came back to it and gave it a second chance.
I found the author's voice engaging and charismatic, but a lot of what he wrote sounded too familiar. I've read a number of nonfiction books from the latinx perspective around racism and anti-blackness and so a lot of this felt like it was giving an introductory coverage to topics I was more used to reading about in more depth. But I think that would make this a particularly great read for folks who Earnest exposed to this perspective.
There were several chapters or essays where I really did hear a unique perspective in the ways that his specific cultural background differs from other Latinx cultures I'm me familiar with.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book. For anyone, but most enthusiastically for people who are less familiar with the subject matter. I'm glad I came back to it and gave it a second chance.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Despite the fun fantasy premise, I could not get myself to actually care about these characters. I didn't find Feyre or Tamlim endearing or see why they were so quickly smitten with each other. I hear the second book explains that better, but regardless, I don't know why I should care about them?
The narration also felt like a lot of explanation, lots of telling. I wanted to love this book but honestly found it tedious and was dragging myself through it trying to figure out when I would actually feel invested... I never did.
I mostly read #ownvoices works, reading this work was an outlier for me, but I found the lack of diversity a bit of a slap in the face and awkward. You can create a world of all kinds of creatures and yet the amount of types I heard pale & golden to describe skin & hair...
I really only pushed through instead of it being a DNF because I keep hearing book #2 is better and makes it worth it. Fingers crossed.
The narration also felt like a lot of explanation, lots of telling. I wanted to love this book but honestly found it tedious and was dragging myself through it trying to figure out when I would actually feel invested... I never did.
I mostly read #ownvoices works, reading this work was an outlier for me, but I found the lack of diversity a bit of a slap in the face and awkward. You can create a world of all kinds of creatures and yet the amount of types I heard pale & golden to describe skin & hair...
I really only pushed through instead of it being a DNF because I keep hearing book #2 is better and makes it worth it. Fingers crossed.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This book seems well received, but honestly I'm surprised it doesn't have an even higher rating. Seems some folks found it a slow burn, but I thought we reached the spooky pretty quickly. I loved Mexican Gothic, but I thought this had a much faster build and I had a hard time putting it down. I started reading on a Friday, about 35 pages the first day, read another 240 pages the next day (only set it down then because I had to get ready for a party) and finished Sunday morning.
I loved the poltergeist type build, the forbidden tension with the priest, and all the use of historical context for world building.
I admit that the story reflecting my own ancestral roots might have made it more interesting to me than those with no connection to Mexico or wounds from the colonization of the Americas. I found this book had moments that poked at my own wounds that made me feel for, and fear for, the characters even more. I found the author's note at the end of the book quite impactful as well.
"...homes like Hacienda San Isidro were haunted by more than the supernatural.
Colonialism has carved the landscapes of our homes with ghosts. It left gaping wounds that still weep... I hope this novel inspires the courage anger and compassion we all need to face the ghosts of colonialism that linger today."
The only critique - without giving any spoilers here- would perhaps be that I needed a little more from the ending. Even a page more, a half page. I would have love to know a little more of what the future held for our characters that remained. I was left a bit unsatisfied with what we got in that regard.
Overall, I just thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't even bear to slow down to savor it more.
I loved the poltergeist type build, the forbidden tension with the priest, and all the use of historical context for world building.
I admit that the story reflecting my own ancestral roots might have made it more interesting to me than those with no connection to Mexico or wounds from the colonization of the Americas. I found this book had moments that poked at my own wounds that made me feel for, and fear for, the characters even more. I found the author's note at the end of the book quite impactful as well.
"...homes like Hacienda San Isidro were haunted by more than the supernatural.
Colonialism has carved the landscapes of our homes with ghosts. It left gaping wounds that still weep... I hope this novel inspires the courage anger and compassion we all need to face the ghosts of colonialism that linger today."
The only critique - without giving any spoilers here- would perhaps be that I needed a little more from the ending. Even a page more, a half page. I would have love to know a little more of what the future held for our characters that remained. I was left a bit unsatisfied with what we got in that regard.
Overall, I just thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't even bear to slow down to savor it more.
Solito by Javier Zamora
medium-paced
4.5
This was one of our longer book club selections (Seattle Latinx Book Club) and I was worried it would take a bit to get through, but once his solo journey began I had a tough time putting this book down and at the conclusion I was still left wanting more.
I know this is a memoir, but I could easily see this as a trilogy. The second book being his life from arrival to the time in his life when this book was published, and another in the future of his life post publishing Solito (does this book ever help him connect with folks from his journey? What connections does he make & stories from others does he collect as a result of publishing Solito)
This book is wonderfully written from the perspective he had as a child going through the experience. The only thing I think could make it better is learning more about his post-arrival experience, the perspective of family members during & after the events of this book, and more about his reflections as an adult of the experience.
But perhaps that's just part of that emotional reaction that many great books leave you with, you're not ready to let them go and they leave you wanted more.
I know this is a memoir, but I could easily see this as a trilogy. The second book being his life from arrival to the time in his life when this book was published, and another in the future of his life post publishing Solito (does this book ever help him connect with folks from his journey? What connections does he make & stories from others does he collect as a result of publishing Solito)
This book is wonderfully written from the perspective he had as a child going through the experience. The only thing I think could make it better is learning more about his post-arrival experience, the perspective of family members during & after the events of this book, and more about his reflections as an adult of the experience.
But perhaps that's just part of that emotional reaction that many great books leave you with, you're not ready to let them go and they leave you wanted more.
Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
3.5 - 3.75
Would recommend for a fun, quick & easy read.
Quirky, fun and playful, this quick read was a nice reprieve from the heavier books I normally consume.
The book shifts perspective quite a bit and as a result a lot the characters seem underdeveloped. We don't really really see what's driving the characters to be where they're at and while some that makes sense because they're vapid, others hints at a depth to those characters without actually exploring it.
Perhaps that's all on theme though as it's like reality TV itself. Getting to know characters without ever really getting to know them, but we're here for the entertainment and Patrica Likes to Cuddle delivers in that regard.
Would recommend for a fun, quick & easy read.
Quirky, fun and playful, this quick read was a nice reprieve from the heavier books I normally consume.
The book shifts perspective quite a bit and as a result a lot the characters seem underdeveloped. We don't really really see what's driving the characters to be where they're at and while some that makes sense because they're vapid, others hints at a depth to those characters without actually exploring it.
Perhaps that's all on theme though as it's like reality TV itself. Getting to know characters without ever really getting to know them, but we're here for the entertainment and Patrica Likes to Cuddle delivers in that regard.
banana [ ] by Quenton Baker, Christina Sharpe, Torkwase Dyson, Paul Hlava Ceballos
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
4.0
One of those collections you revisit to see what hits you newly each time. Both moving and emotional and yet shows it's well researched, and demonstrates strong technical skill.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I did not expect to both start and finish this book in the same day. I tried to put it down but just kept licking it right back up.
What a complex, heart wrenching, personally very familiar portrait of grief and love.
I also saw a strong lesson regarding parents having a vision of who their kids should be and the need to let that dream die and instead love & accept them for who they actually are.
I absolutely loved the multiple pov format. It suited this story so perfectly. So impressed with this book. Well done.
What a complex, heart wrenching, personally very familiar portrait of grief and love.
I also saw a strong lesson regarding parents having a vision of who their kids should be and the need to let that dream die and instead love & accept them for who they actually are.
I absolutely loved the multiple pov format. It suited this story so perfectly. So impressed with this book. Well done.
Esperanza Renace by Pam Muñoz Ryan
3.75
3.5 - 3.75
I liked this book and my rating might be unfairly low as perhaps the things I felt were lacking were deliberately not there because the book for a Middle Grade audience.
I would have liked to see a clearer interrogation of racism, classism, sexism, capitalism, and labor rights issues. There was some "their valid points on both sides" sentiment around the strikes and push for labor rights, but more often than not it seemed to villify those pushing to improve working and living conditions.
I get this story is about her grandmother's experience, so it's not going to change to the extent that the character Esperanza makes different choices than their grandmother did, but you can still have more informed conversations and perspectives in the book. Or not spend 80+% of the time talking about how awful and scary the strikers are, and then 20% or less of the time giving a milk toast endorsement of "well maybe they have some good intentions I agree with" and "it's sad & unfair what happens to them for striking". There's next to zero critiques of the capitalism that drives the mistreatment and abuse our characters. In fact it's the company who "gracious enough" to send protection for workers during the strikes. Thanks goodness for our abusers right?
I don't mean to focus on the things that I don't like so much, when I overall did like the book. I think I'm just frustrated that something good had the potential to be great. I would still recommend this to readers, but more enthusiastically for readers that already have a good handle on justice issues around farm workers, labor rights, and history of immigration in the United States or that are willing to do some of that research themselves afterwards.
I liked this book and my rating might be unfairly low as perhaps the things I felt were lacking were deliberately not there because the book for a Middle Grade audience.
I would have liked to see a clearer interrogation of racism, classism, sexism, capitalism, and labor rights issues. There was some "their valid points on both sides" sentiment around the strikes and push for labor rights, but more often than not it seemed to villify those pushing to improve working and living conditions.
I get this story is about her grandmother's experience, so it's not going to change to the extent that the character Esperanza makes different choices than their grandmother did, but you can still have more informed conversations and perspectives in the book. Or not spend 80+% of the time talking about how awful and scary the strikers are, and then 20% or less of the time giving a milk toast endorsement of "well maybe they have some good intentions I agree with" and "it's sad & unfair what happens to them for striking". There's next to zero critiques of the capitalism that drives the mistreatment and abuse our characters. In fact it's the company who "gracious enough" to send protection for workers during the strikes. Thanks goodness for our abusers right?
I don't mean to focus on the things that I don't like so much, when I overall did like the book. I think I'm just frustrated that something good had the potential to be great. I would still recommend this to readers, but more enthusiastically for readers that already have a good handle on justice issues around farm workers, labor rights, and history of immigration in the United States or that are willing to do some of that research themselves afterwards.
Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality by Tanya Katerí Hernández
4.75
The amount of work the author put into this book is impressive. Unlike many popular non-fiction books this one is filled with evidence to support the points made in the book. It really makes an unrefutable case for the existence and pervasiveness of anti-Blackness in the Latinx community.
It definitely had me thinking about new examples & points to make when responding to those relatives that claim "I can't be racist, I'm Latino". What I really wish is for them to read this book. Would make a great required reading.
Despite it being a heavily evidenced work, I found it reasonable in difficulty to complete. At only six chapters it was filled with so much information, but never felt like too much or overly lengthy. A feat in itself for such an important & far reaching topic while not wanting to lose your audience.
It definitely had me thinking about new examples & points to make when responding to those relatives that claim "I can't be racist, I'm Latino". What I really wish is for them to read this book. Would make a great required reading.
Despite it being a heavily evidenced work, I found it reasonable in difficulty to complete. At only six chapters it was filled with so much information, but never felt like too much or overly lengthy. A feat in itself for such an important & far reaching topic while not wanting to lose your audience.