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orcamagicka's reviews
194 reviews
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
3.75
I'm a bit biased in my lack of preference for this one because I recently read the author's second novel, "The Spirit Bares it's Teeth", which was more polished compared to this one. I also preferred the romance, prose, and characters of that one more.
Overall I enjoy White's style. He has a knack for conveying raw gruesome imagery that deeply disturbs, and for writing deeply awful antagonists. I also love the use of body horror, transformation, and monstrocity to portray trans stories. I too envy a more grotesque form on occasion.
However there are times when his writing toes the line of overdoing it and instead comes across as just edgy. This debut novel definitely steps that line at various points throughout the book, but I'm glad he's inproving his craft.
The plot sucked me in and kept me engaged with a fast pace throughout most of the book. However past the 75% mark it started to lull for me. There were a few sudden twists and things that came up at the end that had me scrunching by brows and thinking, "Well that was convenient." The lead up to the final stand off kinda seemed to drag on and like Benji was seriously underestimating himself, which I could not understand why given his *situation* at the end.
Overall still an enjoyable read.
Overall I enjoy White's style. He has a knack for conveying raw gruesome imagery that deeply disturbs, and for writing deeply awful antagonists. I also love the use of body horror, transformation, and monstrocity to portray trans stories. I too envy a more grotesque form on occasion.
However there are times when his writing toes the line of overdoing it and instead comes across as just edgy. This debut novel definitely steps that line at various points throughout the book, but I'm glad he's inproving his craft.
The plot sucked me in and kept me engaged with a fast pace throughout most of the book. However past the 75% mark it started to lull for me. There were a few sudden twists and things that came up at the end that had me scrunching by brows and thinking, "Well that was convenient." The lead up to the final stand off kinda seemed to drag on and like Benji was seriously underestimating himself, which I could not understand why given his *situation* at the end.
Overall still an enjoyable read.
Man o' War by Cory McCarthy
3.5
"Gender should be like the tides. And I'm a man o' war."
(Quote paraphrased)
(Quote paraphrased)
Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis
2.75
This is one of those books where the premise has a lot of potential and is something I largely agree with, but the writing itself lacks detail and nuance and kinda falls flat. The final chapter about abolitionist alternatives, which was the topic I (and probably other people) was most interested in really fell flat and simply did not have enough satisfying arguments and alternatives. Which is especially frustrating because I know for a fact they exist. It’s not enough to lay out the historical context for an issue if you can’t lay out in detail the alternative solutions, especially in a human culture that has normalized prisons and punishment as “justice” since (arguably) civilization began.
I highly recommend the podcast Truer Crime for those who want a more in-depth look at the systemic nature of crime and abolitionist theory (hosted by a Black woman who was herself a victim of crime). That podcast more greatly impacted and challenged my previous views on prisons, crime, and the death penalty than this book did.
I highly recommend the podcast Truer Crime for those who want a more in-depth look at the systemic nature of crime and abolitionist theory (hosted by a Black woman who was herself a victim of crime). That podcast more greatly impacted and challenged my previous views on prisons, crime, and the death penalty than this book did.
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappé
4.5
Kept pausing to screenshot and highlight various parts. History is a flat circle and we just keep running 'round and 'round. Dear Palestine, I'm sorry for my years of ignorance. I will be better.
A must-read for everyone.
A must-read for everyone.