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minibabble's Reviews (121)
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Bright neon yellow, sharp title, and super short. Saw it at a library and thought "sure, why not?"
Some topics and ideals are discussed in absolutist terms and extreme fifth wave feminism frameworks. Other parts are good and describe how men don't face the same challenges that women do, and women are systematically at higher risk for poverty, domestic abuse, etc. It also describes how micro-aggressions and falsely inflated egos amongst men who consider themselves allies are harmful (talking over women, taking over their spaces, speaking on behalf of them, etc.). Many men think they're trying to help, but they end up doing the opposite. That doesn't mean we should alienate or hate all men. It means we need to continue moving towards educating them on why their actions and thought processes are faulty.
At the same time, the author notes interesting stats about women experiencing abuse, and why misogyny is far more harmful and a bigger viable threat than misandry. That doesn't mean either one is good, however.
Take what you like and discard the rest.
Some topics and ideals are discussed in absolutist terms and extreme fifth wave feminism frameworks. Other parts are good and describe how men don't face the same challenges that women do, and women are systematically at higher risk for poverty, domestic abuse, etc. It also describes how micro-aggressions and falsely inflated egos amongst men who consider themselves allies are harmful (talking over women, taking over their spaces, speaking on behalf of them, etc.). Many men think they're trying to help, but they end up doing the opposite. That doesn't mean we should alienate or hate all men. It means we need to continue moving towards educating them on why their actions and thought processes are faulty.
At the same time, the author notes interesting stats about women experiencing abuse, and why misogyny is far more harmful and a bigger viable threat than misandry. That doesn't mean either one is good, however.
Take what you like and discard the rest.
Fresh Ink
Sharon G. Flake, Eric Gansworth, Malinda Lo, Sara Farizan, Daniel José Older, Nicola Yoon, Schuyler Bailar, Thien Pham, Walter Dean Myers, Gene Luen Yang, Melissa de la Cruz
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I like anthologies because it's a quick exposure to many different types of stories, writing styles, and authors. This truly is a really diverse collection. I liked that this anthology included a play, a graphic novel, and many different types of writing.
Here's my rating of each story as it appears in the book:
Here's my rating of each story as it appears in the book:
- Eraser Tattoo, Jason Reynolds, 3.75/5
- Cute story about a young African American couple and sweet storytelling
- Meet Cute, Malinda Lo, 1.75/5
- I hope you're hungry for nothing. Queer meet cute at comic con, but there's no plot or character development. They're lost in a building the whole time.
- Don't Pass Me By, Eric Gansworth, 4.5/5
- I liked the writing style here a lot. You learn more about the micro racism and daily erasure of Indigenous people, and the pressure Indigenous kids feel to abandon their culture to assimilate or pose as white.
- Be Cool for Once, Aminah Mae Safi, 2.25/5
- It had sooo much potential and a great set up, but the characters are weird. FMC is attending her favorite band's concert and hides backstage when she meets her crush? Just ugh.
- Tags, Walter Dean Myers, 4/5
- A play about the African American men gunned down (by police, gang violence, accidents, or otherwise) in the afterlife working to make sure they're not forgotten
- Why I learned to Cook, Sara Farizan, 4/5
- Bisexual Persian girl introduces her gf to her grandmother. Great insight into Persian culture, food, and the importance of food.
- A Stranger at the Bochinche, DNF
- Idk. Just couldn't get into it so I skipped it.
- A Boy's Duty, Sharon G. Flake, 1/5
- Literally nothing happens. Boy feels guilt for leaving his family/home behind and making a living as a thief, but then continues to steal from the one person helping him? Literally what?
- One Voice: A Something In-Between Story, Melissa de la Cruz, 4/5
- Exploring what it feels like to be on the receiving end of micro and macro aggressions and targeted discrimination against minorities on college campuses, and the lack of administrative support.
- Paladin/Samurai, Gene Luen Yang, 4/5
- Graphic novel! Really fun quick story. Great intro to Yang's graphic novel writing/design and I'm interested in seeing more from him.
- Kodama's Ramen Shop, Ellen Oh, 4.25/5
- Addresses generational and racial tensions amongst Korean and Japanese people. Great storytelling and I'd love to see an expanded novel version of this.
- Catch, Pull, Drive, Schuyler Bailar, 3.75/5
- Learn about the thought processes and anxieties that trans athletes have, and the aggression with which strangers interact with them.
- Super Human, Nicola Yoon, 5/5
- By far my favorite. What would you tell Superman ("X") if he decided to change his mind and wanted to destroy humanity instead of save it? What if he was Black? What if others started to call him alien and erase his humanity? This story is an absolute gem.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You'll like this book if you like Gillian Flynn and all the tropes in her book, but it starts to feel a bit predictable and loses the "thriller" feel pretty quick. Perhaps I'm in the minority for this because I read a lot of Gillian Flynn and similar authors.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but it felt like the book was Medium paced but on the slower side. The first 60% of the book is kind of a slog. It could've been condensed down a lot. By the time the plot builds up meaningfully, it's really easy to guess what's going to happen and doesn't feel like a thriller anymore. It's a compelling story with an interesting plot, but the build-up takes forever and it's simply too predictable by that time.
I wish there were a few more twists with thedaughters and husbands . For example, the story about her meeting her husband as a child would've been more interesting if that was a lie that she fabricated . There was space for more nuance or crazier plot/storytelling and it sorta fell flat. We sorta skipped over the grooming and pedo nature of the husband, and the alcoholic husband character just feels like a convenient plot device.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but it felt like the book was Medium paced but on the slower side. The first 60% of the book is kind of a slog. It could've been condensed down a lot. By the time the plot builds up meaningfully, it's really easy to guess what's going to happen and doesn't feel like a thriller anymore. It's a compelling story with an interesting plot, but the build-up takes forever and it's simply too predictable by that time.
I wish there were a few more twists with the
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another win by Emily Austin.
If you like reading about mentally ill queer women that do not have "successful careers" and are doing their best to stumble through life ,and/or have a sister that is mentally ill, this is the book for you.
If you enjoyed Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, this has similar themes, tonality, vibes, and plot.
The first half of the book moves kinda slowly and can feel kind of repetitive. It's a series of letters from one sister to another to explain her reasoning behind her suicide-- sorta multiple failed attempts of writing a suicide note. Parts of it can feel like the author is regurgitating the same thing a hundred times or like an unfocussed ramble, but that's exactly the point. After a few of these letters, you see an emerging theme of the issues the suicidal MC is dealing with, and we learn more about the plot/background. Slowly, we uncover the details of her life and environment.
My favorite part is the second half of the book. We learn about how the events unfolded from the sisters perspective, which helps us better understand the gaps/flaws in the one-sided narrative of the MC. Then we switch back to the MC who is recovering and learning better coping mechanisms. In the background, we learn about why she hates a conservative guy running for mayor, and the twistthat connects him to her best friend is brilliantly done.
There's good humor sprinkled throughout the book, so it never feels overtly heavy or like trauma porn. It's very digestible, in my opinion. Lighthearted and meaningful at the same time.
If you like reading about mentally ill queer women that do not have "successful careers" and are doing their best to stumble through life ,and/or have a sister that is mentally ill, this is the book for you.
If you enjoyed Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, this has similar themes, tonality, vibes, and plot.
The first half of the book moves kinda slowly and can feel kind of repetitive. It's a series of letters from one sister to another to explain her reasoning behind her suicide-- sorta multiple failed attempts of writing a suicide note. Parts of it can feel like the author is regurgitating the same thing a hundred times or like an unfocussed ramble, but that's exactly the point. After a few of these letters, you see an emerging theme of the issues the suicidal MC is dealing with, and we learn more about the plot/background. Slowly, we uncover the details of her life and environment.
My favorite part is the second half of the book. We learn about how the events unfolded from the sisters perspective, which helps us better understand the gaps/flaws in the one-sided narrative of the MC. Then we switch back to the MC who is recovering and learning better coping mechanisms. In the background, we learn about why she hates a conservative guy running for mayor, and the twist
There's good humor sprinkled throughout the book, so it never feels overtly heavy or like trauma porn. It's very digestible, in my opinion. Lighthearted and meaningful at the same time.
DNF 30%
3 stars
I think people that like weird feminist fiction like The Vegetarian, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, etc. will love this book. I can appreciate those stories, what they represent, and why it's important literature to combat patriarchy, but I don't usually like the book/plot itself.
The first story, The Husband Stitch, is extremely sexually explicit, which I wasn't expecting. It's a good allegory in terms of men dominating women, how patriarchy demands women to "comply" only exist to serve men. But I think it could've been better executed. Something just didn't click with me for this one.
3 stars
I think people that like weird feminist fiction like The Vegetarian, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, etc. will love this book. I can appreciate those stories, what they represent, and why it's important literature to combat patriarchy, but I don't usually like the book/plot itself.
The first story, The Husband Stitch, is extremely sexually explicit, which I wasn't expecting. It's a good allegory in terms of men dominating women, how patriarchy demands women to "comply" only exist to serve men. But I think it could've been better executed. Something just didn't click with me for this one.
DNF 30%
3 stars
It's hard to read this book. It's pretty grotesque, graphic, and uses strong imagery.
The allegory is meaningful; how men think they know what's best for everyone and everything, imposing their morals, choices, and lifestyle onto everyone around them. It represents how patriarchy forces women to simply fulfill certain roles and expectations to serve men rather than exist independently.
It's good but also bad. You have to be in the right mindspace to read it.
3 stars
It's hard to read this book. It's pretty grotesque, graphic, and uses strong imagery.
The allegory is meaningful; how men think they know what's best for everyone and everything, imposing their morals, choices, and lifestyle onto everyone around them. It represents how patriarchy forces women to simply fulfill certain roles and expectations to serve men rather than exist independently.
It's good but also bad. You have to be in the right mindspace to read it.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ugh what a disappointment. It had so much potential based on the description but it all fell totally flat.
The book was overtly male attention focused, filled with self-pity, and really cringe millennial “humor” for people that peaked in college.
The male love interest is perfect. How does that make any sense? No one is perfect. This eliminates and interesting relationship develop, nuance, and realistic compromises that relationships demand.
I’m not a fan of books that reference pop culture trends because they change every 10 mins and become cringe quickly. I prefer referring pop culture phenomenons or icons— thins we recognize and can appreciate even 5 years from now.
It’s blatantly obvious the only people that read this before publication are “lost” millennials.
MC constantly complains about her day job, feeling like a failure compared to her peers, and struggling to find love. Sounds relatable and fun on the surface, but it’s cheaply executed. She hooks up with her ex to distract herself, and thinks she should immediately start dating him again. She makes no effort to improve her life. Hate your job after being there for 3 years? Look for another one. Feeling lost in dating? Focus on building up your career and making a more conscious effort towards finding a partner
I have very little empathy for the MC. She was super whiny and it ruined the book. No character growth whatsoever. What a flop
The book was overtly male attention focused, filled with self-pity, and really cringe millennial “humor” for people that peaked in college.
The male love interest is perfect. How does that make any sense? No one is perfect. This eliminates and interesting relationship develop, nuance, and realistic compromises that relationships demand.
I’m not a fan of books that reference pop culture trends because they change every 10 mins and become cringe quickly. I prefer referring pop culture phenomenons or icons— thins we recognize and can appreciate even 5 years from now.
It’s blatantly obvious the only people that read this before publication are “lost” millennials.
MC constantly complains about her day job, feeling like a failure compared to her peers, and struggling to find love. Sounds relatable and fun on the surface, but it’s cheaply executed. She hooks up with her ex to distract herself, and thinks she should immediately start dating him again. She makes no effort to improve her life. Hate your job after being there for 3 years? Look for another one. Feeling lost in dating? Focus on building up your career and making a more conscious effort towards finding a partner
I have very little empathy for the MC. She was super whiny and it ruined the book. No character growth whatsoever. What a flop
2.75 stars.
This book has a great premise and potential for plot, but it all kind of falls apart. We look at the different stories of strangers in a coffee shop who are going back in time to have another conversation with someone, even though they cannot change the outcome of events. I like the structure of mini-stories within a larger novel, but all of the mini stories make the female characters seem stupid, naive, and boy-crazy.
The successful women begin to regress and are shown to want a more traditional life. It feels like it undermines feminist choices and freedoms. The author could've shown a healthier balance of women pursuing successful careers/path instead of unrealistically giving up all of their achievements/lifestyles/life for a guy. This author doesn't write women well whatsoever.
Also, this is literary fiction, which I don't like that much. If you want a "minimal plot, just vibes" book with an interesting twist, this is a good fit. Otherwise, I'd skip it. I wish a different author would re-write this premise but with more substantial plot, nuanced and well developed characters, and more consequences.
This book has a great premise and potential for plot, but it all kind of falls apart. We look at the different stories of strangers in a coffee shop who are going back in time to have another conversation with someone, even though they cannot change the outcome of events. I like the structure of mini-stories within a larger novel, but all of the mini stories make the female characters seem stupid, naive, and boy-crazy.
The successful women begin to regress and are shown to want a more traditional life. It feels like it undermines feminist choices and freedoms. The author could've shown a healthier balance of women pursuing successful careers/path instead of unrealistically giving up all of their achievements/lifestyles/life for a guy. This author doesn't write women well whatsoever.
Also, this is literary fiction, which I don't like that much. If you want a "minimal plot, just vibes" book with an interesting twist, this is a good fit. Otherwise, I'd skip it. I wish a different author would re-write this premise but with more substantial plot, nuanced and well developed characters, and more consequences.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to the Author, Publisher, and the Atmosphere LAUNCH giveaway team for the digital advanced reader copy.
This book was good, but much cheesier and more predictable than TJR's previous books.
Joan does feel like a typical femme character of other romances-- some internal turmoil related toher sexuality , uncertainty about her future and career, self-doubt, etc., which seems to mostly disappear after she meets her love interest. This didn't feel particularly feminist, unique, or intriguing to read, but the book is written at a fast enough pace and engaging manner that encourages the reader to continue. I wish Joan had more close friends that she could interact with to see more diverse perspectives of queer women and women in early stages of STEM/Aerospace, including computer scientists and engineers who were increasingly more important in more advanced calculations.
Vanessa is much more flamboyant, open, and fun character. She felt more interesting, fleshed out, and dynamic, including her past trauma. I liked her character a lot; she was much more ambitious, driven, focussed, and was constantly rooting for her-- more so than the main character.
Some of the fights/arguments betweenJoan and Vanessa felt a bit overkill and unrealistic. The spicy scenes were at the level of crushed red pepper flakes at best. I think there were higher quality scenes in 7 Husbands, which felt like red chillies.
The sister character is written well and unlikeable because she continuously thrusts the responsibility of her child onto Joan. All other characters felt like a plot device and were simply there for convenience. They weren't fleshed out at all.
I think TJR did a better job representingsapphic romances in Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo , because it implicitly and explicitly described the nuanced complications of women (especially public figures) being openly queer in 1950s/60s America . This book, rightfully, assumes the reader understands that it is difficult for women to be queer in the 1970s/80s, but I wish it discussed more nuance in this. I also wish it showcased the queer community that persisted during those times.
Instead of havinginternalized homophobia and being regressive towards herself, I wish Joan was a bit more mature and confident in her sexuality and had a queer friend group. The diverse backgrounds and perspectives of this friend group could outline more nuance in the lived experiences of queer women during conservative times. Life was tough and they had to suffer a lot, but the entirety of their existence wasn't shielded from public view, hidden in shame, or "scary." A lot of these women lived part of their lives in secret, but also had a community and space that was bright, vibrant, and necessary for the progress that we see today. Lesbian and queer bars were at the peak of their popularity and locale during the decades this novel takes place, and it is a shame the book overlooked this.
The first 100 pages are quite slow and uninteresting. The last 50 pages of the book were packed with the majority of the plot, so pacing throughout the book is inconsistent. That said, the last few chapters had me totally hooked, rooting for the characters, reading as fast as I can to see what would happen. The last few chapters bumped this up from a 3.5 to a 4 for me.
This book was good, but much cheesier and more predictable than TJR's previous books.
Joan does feel like a typical femme character of other romances-- some internal turmoil related to
Vanessa is much more flamboyant, open, and fun character. She felt more interesting, fleshed out, and dynamic, including her past trauma. I liked her character a lot; she was much more ambitious, driven, focussed, and was constantly rooting for her-- more so than the main character.
Some of the fights/arguments between
The sister character is written well and unlikeable because she continuously thrusts the responsibility of her child onto Joan. All other characters felt like a plot device and were simply there for convenience. They weren't fleshed out at all.
I think TJR did a better job representing
Instead of having
The first 100 pages are quite slow and uninteresting. The last 50 pages of the book were packed with the majority of the plot, so pacing throughout the book is inconsistent. That said, the last few chapters had me totally hooked, rooting for the characters, reading as fast as I can to see what would happen. The last few chapters bumped this up from a 3.5 to a 4 for me.
TLDR: This book won't make nearly as big a splash as Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It was still an entertaining and fun read, but is ultimately really forgettable compared to a lot of other TJR books. It's slow and might feel like a drag, but the last few chapters might be worth it. If you want a romance with a twist, this is a good pick, but lacks sufficient nuance, plot, and background.
My TJR book rankings, for context:
- 7 Husbands
- Malibu Rising
- Daisy Jones
- Atmosphere
- Carrie Soto
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another hit by Backman, which is not surprising whatsoever. He is one of the most brilliant writers of our generation, and has a unique gift for building really human characters, settings, relationships, and dynamics.
The first half of this book is SLOW and kind of a drag to read. That's the only reason why this is not 5 stars. I almost gave up, but persisted because of the raving reviews. I'm glad I did. The first half of the book builds up to a big event in the middle of the book. Everything that unfolds after the event in the second half of the book is pure perfection. Backman very accurately describes the psyche of teenage boys, patriarchy, misogyny, and male dominion.
He brilliantly paints the politics of sexual assault cases, including the ways those with conflicting interests viewing and distorting the incident as an inconvenience rather than a crime deserving of punishment. The public doubting the girl, blaming her and accusing of her having alternative motives, etc. are brilliantly weaved together to showcase how society will always doubt the survivor and undermine their truth to protect the rapist. This book was just fucking fantastic.
The first half of this book is SLOW and kind of a drag to read. That's the only reason why this is not 5 stars. I almost gave up, but persisted because of the raving reviews. I'm glad I did. The first half of the book builds up to a big event in the middle of the book. Everything that unfolds after the event in the second half of the book is pure perfection. Backman very accurately describes the psyche of teenage boys, patriarchy, misogyny, and male dominion.
He brilliantly paints the politics of sexual assault cases, including the ways those with conflicting interests viewing and distorting the incident as an inconvenience rather than a crime deserving of punishment. The public doubting the girl, blaming her and accusing of her having alternative motives, etc. are brilliantly weaved together to showcase how society will always doubt the survivor and undermine their truth to protect the rapist. This book was just fucking fantastic.