poenaestante's reviews
489 reviews

Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker

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funny informative medium-paced

5.0

Super informative book. I read a digital copy from the library but I just bought a physical copy to keep as a reference.  Queer is such a dense topic but this book did an AMAZING job of explaining it, unpacking many of the ideas, and then queering everything! I learned so much and gained a lot of information that will undoubtedly be useful as more and more conversations arise around what queerness is and why it matters!
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National Dish: Around the World in Search of Food, History, and the Meaning of Home by Anya von Bremzen

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informative medium-paced

3.5

There is a lot of interesting information in here, but something is off. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but it's almost like the author wrote this book for herself, like personal memoirs and less for an audience. A lot kf things just go unexplained, she makes up weird acronyms qnd nickname  for things.  This book is like watching someone eat a delicious meal and waiting to be offered a taste. It feels almost...rude? I dunno. It definitely feels highly narcissistic and self-aggrandizing. I guess travel writing requires you to like the traveler and I, sadly, just don't like Anya von Bremzen.

I will note for posterity that I skipped the Spain and Turkey chapters because I just am not terribly interested in those foods.
Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

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lighthearted fast-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

4.0

This kind of stuff is catnip for me. Awww, it's cute boys falling in love! The lettering is horrendous and the drawings could've used more love in places but none of it distracted from the great story. I think I'll take a look at the tv show soon.
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Close to the Knives: A Memoir of Disintegration by David Wojnarowicz

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challenging dark emotional slow-paced

5.0

This is a searching and fearless portrait of a terrifying, thrilling, and oddly beautiful time. Wojnarowicz kept staring where others winced and looked away. He also walked down the alleys other's avoided, and recorded what he saw and how he felt, not with cool remove but with a deep sense of belonging to these funky, dirty, drug-infested, and queer spaces --- spaces where he could be free. The central question he pleads us to answer from the beyond the grave is whether the oppressive suffering is necessarily bound up with the human condition or if there exists some possibility for it to lift.
Rest In Power, David. 
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The Darkness Manifesto: On Artificial Light and the Threat to Our Ancient Rhythm by Johan Eklöf

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challenging hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.0

A nice and quick read, though a bit repetitive. I heard Johan on NPR and was very moved by his words and ideas. He articulated many things I believed about energy and electrificatio  but had never quite put into words.
Bellies by Nicola Dinan

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

This book is sorta simple with a twist of transness. Like Ming's transition is kinda the only thing that makes this book interesting in the way that it kinda makes every character in the story more interesting in a way they would likely be loathe to admit.  I might just be jaded because I know a lot of trans people and so this feels very quotidian to me in a way it might not for someone in Michigan or the Midlands or whatever. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn't brilliant.

Also, it might be weird to say but the most interesting part of this book was the food.  Nicola should put out a companion cookbook.
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I Hear the Sunspot by Yuki Fumino

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

More sweet LGTBIA graphic novel goodness. I didn't realize this was part 2. It didn't matter much but I'll probably try to read part I before reading part 3.
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A Visible Man by Edward Enninful

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emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Nice vignettes from the remarkable life of Edward Enninful, an intrepid, courageous and innovative queer Ghanaian. I am glad to know his story and I'm inspired by his drive
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M Is for Monster by Talia Dutton

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Flung Out of Space: The Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith by Grace Ellis

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

4.5

Very well-written and illustrated graphic novel.

I didn't really know anything much about Highsmith before except I'd seen that Carol movie. I wonder if she'd have been a better person if she lived in more affirming times. I kinda think not, but at least she would have lived in times more accepting of flawed women. 
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