miajakobsen's reviews
142 reviews

A Lover's Discourse: Fragments by Roland Barthes

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4.0

Barthes writes really beautifully about love. "Special Days" is perhaps my favourite fragment.

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

LILY: The entirety of this moment was the taste of apple, cool and sweet, like honey, and how much I loved him, how much I felt I was loved. But time moved forward, as it had to, as it always did.

This book was an easy read, with compelling characters and vivid writing. The way Khong explores generational trauma and immigrant experiences was definitely relatable as a Euro-Chinese immigrant. I also love the subtle hints towards Nick's bisexuality (his relationship with Timothy was not platonic and he describes a girl he likes having a "face very near a boy’s").

Focusing on 3 generations (May, Lily, Nick) really underscored what it's like to have a complicated relationship with your parents and empathize with them as you grow and learn more about their individual lives separate from you. And what our parents' dreams for us might say about them. Khong captured that feeling really well.

TIMOTHY: She hummed a song to herself while she cooked, and now, when I didn’t recognize it, I wanted to know where it was from. It was a kind of jealousy, or suspicion: Who were you, before me?

However, the 3 sections also left me wanting more of each story. I loved reading how Lily and Matthew fall in love, and it was a shame we had to hear how their relationship fell apart instead of seeing it happen. We at least got to stay with Nick more as he met May, but I wish we got to properly revisit Lily again. I was initially a bit bored at May's section, learning more of her story and relationship to Ping really informed my understanding of Lily, and in turn, Nick.

I'm definitely excited to re-read this in the future—knowing the full story—to understand May, Lily, and Nick better and the whole plot about time and science too.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

This Place: 150 Years Retold by Sonny Assu, Katherena Vermette, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Jen Storm, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, David A. Robertson, Brandon Mitchell, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, Richard Van Camp, Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley, Chelsea Vowel

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emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: A Guide to the Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

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informative inspiring reflective

5.0

The Essential Dykes to Watch Out for by Alison Bechdel

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funny reflective

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Alison Bechdel is brilliant. So much love for these characters.

Bluets by Maggie Nelson

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reflective

4.0

If I were today on my deathbed, I would name my love of the color blue and making love with you as two of the sweetest sensations I knew on this earth.

A lovely commonplace book about the colour blue.

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Volume 1 by singNsong, 싱숑

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