piakau's reviews
374 reviews

Olive by Emma Gannon

medium-paced

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

2.0

I should have quit while I was ahead on this one. I wanted to like this based on the premise, but I didn’t like the writing and found the characters quite unlikable. They just felt flat and their actions didn’t make much sense to me. I was also hoping for more from the ending.

I was hoping Olive would find happiness for herself but it seemed to be tied to finding a man - who has kids..

Ratkaisuja läskeille by Raisa Omaheimo

informative medium-paced

5.0

Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

Wow, this was so, so good. Really impressed with how the author was able to keep all the different perspectives distinct and authentic, especially considering so many characters were children and multiple cultures were represented. As someone in the nonprofit sector I also appreciated the interactions between Ms Hind and her manager.

Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

So many good essays and insights. I do wish I had read/seen more of the movies, books etc. the author references but she provides enough context to appreciate the commentary regardless.

Ru by Kim Thúy

reflective slow-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? No

3.5

I had a hard time giving this book a rating so this may change as time goes on. Although I enjoyed the writing style, I was left wanting more to bring it all together it the end.

Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to Be an Ally by Emily Ladau

informative medium-paced

5.0

This was only about 4h so doesn't go into too much depth, but it's a solid "intro to disability/ableism" type book.

I Am a Cat by Natsume Sōseki
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.

It's been over a year since I last picked this up so I think it's time to admit that I'm unlikely to ever finish it. It was enjoyable but very slow and meandering (as might be expected from a book told from the perspective of an idle cat). Maybe I'll pick it back up one day.

Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

I have mixed feelings about this book. The story was good and it was interesting to read a book from this perspective and time period. It got me thinking about how quickly things can change and the ripple effects of what happens to one generation. But much of the plot and characters felt simplistic and flat, which makes sense now that I have read a bit more about the author.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, and Rape

23 transmyyttiä : Totta ja tarua transihmisistä by Mona Bling

emotional informative lighthearted sad medium-paced

4.5

Tämä oli suhteellisen lyhyt ja kirjoitustyyli oli enemmän kevyt kuin tieteellinen. Tämä tekee kirjasta helposti lähestyttävän ja sopivan ihmisille jotka ovat valmiita oppimaan mutta eivät ole varmoja mistä aloittaa. Pidin siitä että kirjaan oli tuotu paljon eri ihmisten kokemuksia ja että tässä avattiin enemmän minkälainen tilanne on transihnisille juuri Suomessa tällä hetkellä. Tärkeä teos. Tykkäsin äänikirjana.

Motherhood by Sheila Heti

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

I had a hard time rating this book. There isn't really any plot and the characters aren't particularly lovable, but it felt real. The writing style won't be for everyone but in the end I liked it, especially as an audio book. It was like being with someone, listening to them grapple with some tough questions. The theme is important and there were some insightful thoughts about the purpose of life, motherhood, and being a woman of a certain age that aren't often talked about. I found myself going from "why am I even listening to this" to "wow I really needed to hear someone say that, I'm so glad this book exists". I don't know that I'd recommend this to everyone, but I am glad I picked it up.