oddbirb's reviews
10 reviews

You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue

adventurous challenging informative mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A psychedelic fever dream about power and its contamination.

Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski

challenging dark hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This was a really interesting read in context to the current political climate.  History repeats itself for better or worse and the only thing that changes is language.

Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This book is horrific, and unforgivingly dark.  I loved it. I took off a quarter star because certain tropes were overdone but it was entertaining and grotesque.

There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib

reflective slow-paced

2.0

The prose in this book is beautiful but it’s like reading one long simile that borders on self masturbatory.  Perhaps I am not the target audience it’s a beautifully written book just not for me. Nothing really happens it’s like listening to your grandpa talk out loud if your grandpa was a beautiful confused rambling poet.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

4.5

Very relatable and honest, it wasn’t what advertising had me expect.  I’m glad Jennette was able to do something else.

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I was blushing and kicking my feet, really encapsulates school aged crushes.

Infidel by Pornsak Pichetshote

hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

A heavy handed moral lesson that could have been interesting if it wasn’t so rudimentary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Murder

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous lighthearted fast-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

3.5

I liked this book even though Circe was a bit of a cry baby sometimes.  I rooted for her anyway.

Relic by Douglas Preston

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Negative Space by B.R. Yeager

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book was bizarre but compelling.  Incredibly uncomfortable and unsettling in a way that kept me hooked.  I never really understood what was going on perfectly but the dark vibes were just right.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Drug abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gore, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Vomit