Take a photo of a barcode or cover
mj_james_writes's reviews
1448 reviews
Beezer by Brandon T. Snider
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
All dialogue. Very overproduced for my taste.
Data Baby: My Life in a Psychological Experiment by Susannah Breslin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
The description missed some major information - like the journalist focus on p^rn. Nothing wrong with that, but the marketing on this book is just wrong. I’m very ace and I just am not interested.
Break Shot: My First 21 Years by James Taylor
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
I know it is short but the singing…no thank you.
The Future of Feeling: Building Empathy in a Tech-Obsessed World by Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
It is evident that the author is not a social scientist and by dismissing cognitive empathy the book set off to be ablest from the start.
Goddess in the Machine by Lora Beth Johnson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.
Started out unique and interesting. But just started to feel like every other YA novel.
A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.
No fault of the book. It was just easy to tell two chapters in that this was a book that I was no longer interested in.
Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.
I was so excited for this book I actually requested a paper arc from the publisher. I adored Felix Ever After and wanted to read more by the same author, especially their YA Fantasy debut. My first reading obstacle was that so many sentences start with someone’s name. I tried to brush it off as a preference as I am also editing now also. Then there are half developed scenes that just drop off suddenly.
Again this is more a preference so I went on. The rep is phenomenal with a trans man as our main character with a genderfluid and cis man as love interests. There was more emphasis on the romance than the world building, but the world has potential. But the romance feels flat to me. I don’t get why they like each other. But the final straw was describing how to throw a punch is just so wrong.
“Never hold your thumb on the outside of your fingers”…moving the thumb so it was tucked inside instead.” And later “You even tucked in your thumb.” I tried to play it off as it could just be the wrong word but there is no way. This is basic research and I just can’t anymore. So I’m DNF’ing it.
Again this is more a preference so I went on. The rep is phenomenal with a trans man as our main character with a genderfluid and cis man as love interests. There was more emphasis on the romance than the world building, but the world has potential. But the romance feels flat to me. I don’t get why they like each other. But the final straw was describing how to throw a punch is just so wrong.
“Never hold your thumb on the outside of your fingers”…moving the thumb so it was tucked inside instead.” And later “You even tucked in your thumb.” I tried to play it off as it could just be the wrong word but there is no way. This is basic research and I just can’t anymore. So I’m DNF’ing it.
The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 14%.
Nothing has happened. Voyerism. Word chooses that take you out of the story and make you realize sentences are fragmented. I really wanted to love this, but I have no connection at this point, and according to the other reviews that probably won’t change.
The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Title: The Red Scholar Wake
Type: Paper
Thoughts: I knew I would love this book from the first page. I knew I would question my love of this book from the first page. Ships are sentient. They get married and have relations…with humans. This is an Asian inspired space opera that is weirdly sapphic (ship/human) and questions society and politics. It is character heavy and beautifully written. I loved it even as I laughed as I tried to explain. One aspect I didn’t enjoy was the son Being upset that his parents were not intimate. Beyond being weird as an ace I found this kind of offensive. I think if it was framed more as him being upset at an unstable upbringing it would have worked. But nope he wanted is parents together together. Also, toxic bad relationship and immediate new relationship for political reasons. This is not a book for everyone but I adored it and want to go read everything from this author.
Type: Paper
Thoughts: I knew I would love this book from the first page. I knew I would question my love of this book from the first page. Ships are sentient. They get married and have relations…with humans. This is an Asian inspired space opera that is weirdly sapphic (ship/human) and questions society and politics. It is character heavy and beautifully written. I loved it even as I laughed as I tried to explain. One aspect I didn’t enjoy was the son Being upset that his parents were not intimate. Beyond being weird as an ace I found this kind of offensive. I think if it was framed more as him being upset at an unstable upbringing it would have worked. But nope he wanted is parents together together. Also, toxic bad relationship and immediate new relationship for political reasons. This is not a book for everyone but I adored it and want to go read everything from this author.