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pjsparkles822's Reviews (495)

Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy: A Graphic Novel: A Modern Retelling of Little Women

Rey Terciero, Louisa May Alcott, Bre Indigo

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is such sweet retelling of Little Women including diversity in race, sexual identity, relationships, etc. I really enjoyed it. I also loved that it is a graphic novel which is one of my new favorite mediums to read :D

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I read this because I have started watching WandaVision. This storyline is EPIC and so so sad. But also a must read.

The Duke and I

Julia Quinn

challenging dark emotional funny medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This books features a graphic rape scene about 3/4 the way through the book. It was not necessary for the plot and yet there it was. It put a major damper on the book (and also the show).

Content Warnings

How to Be an Antiracist

Ibram X. Kendi

DID NOT FINISH

I had a copy of this from the library that was only for 7 days and I didn't finish it in 7 days. Once I get the book again, I will continue :)

Strange Planet

Nathan W. Pyle

funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

If you've seen any of Nathan Pyle's art you are familiar with the alien beings trying to figure out life on this planet. It's honestly hilarious, but it is truly a book of memes. I laughed so hard I cried at some of them. The ones about cats spoke to me spiritually because I have cats and it's basically my life. It's a fun lighthearted read to start the year off.

Solutions and Other Problems

Allie Brosh

dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

This is a book of essays again from Allie Brosh. I would say this book is significantly less humorous than her first book, but she is dealing with a lot of personal trauma in this book. Yes there are funny moments in this book, don't get me wrong. My favorite essay is Cat. That is not actually a shock if you know me, and honestly it perfectly described living with a cat, and cat's funny attachments with toys. But the chapter on the intense trauma Allie experienced with her health, the death of her sister, her divorce, etc were heartbreaking, but so beautifully written and honestly brilliantly illustrated. I really enjoyed this book, it was an interesting read.

Content Warnings

Survival of the Thickest

Michelle Buteau

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

I loved this book. I became familiar with Michelle Buteau in Always Be My Maybe and getting to hear her story in her own words was hilarious and touching at the same time. Her career stories from experience September 11th as someone that lived in NYC at the time as well as a news editor really shook me in a way I wasn't expecting. She had some HILARIOUS experiences on the road as a comedian too. her story about her journey to motherhood was difficult to read, but also so beautiful. This is one of my favorite reads of 2020 and memoris/essay books ever!

Content Warnings

Hyperbole and a Half

Allie Brosh

2.25

challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

I love Allie Brosh's blog-- The Kenny Loggins story I ended up needing my inhaler because I was cackling so hard. In the first story about her dog she used what I will call the "r" word as a descriptor and I couldn't get past it. It made me really uncomfortable. I did finish the book and some of it was a really funny but thinking it's okay to use that in a book just didn't sit right with me. I know in 2013 being "woke" wasn't a thing so much but still. Because of that I just couldn't get into the rest of the book--I did finish its and there were parts that were funny but yeah.... :S

Content Warnings

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

Ibram X. Kendi, Jason Reynolds

5.0

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

I loved this book and I learned so much. I think reading this as a primer for Stamped: From the Beginning is a great move for anyone, not just young people. This book left me wanting to learn even more about the history of racism in the United States, and it made me think about the people I have been raised to see as heroes in the Black community (I am a Black woman for reference). I'm super excited to do a deep dive into almost all of the people mentioned in this book, it's definitely the history I wish I was taught in school.

#veryfat #verybrave: The Fat Girl's Guide to Being #brave and Not a Dejected, Melancholy, Down-In-The-Dumps Weeping Fat Girl in a Bikini

Nicole Byer

2.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

The concept of this book I loved--fat women should live their lives however they want and be happy. The message it really sent is that wearing bikinis is brave--wearing not bikini's is not brave. I think most of this book is supposed to be satire-- so I understand that literally the message isn't you have to wear a bikini to be brave. But either way I didn't really enjoy it. I am a fat Black woman, and I just felt more triggered by this book than anything. That said I think most of my feeling about this book is really about my own emotional issues. So take this review with a grain of salt.

Content Warnings

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