rafdee13's reviews
65 reviews

The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

mysterious sad slow-paced

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

2.5

It seems like the basis of another story, like those notes you find in videogames from a past character telling you where a key is. But there is no key. Nothing ever gets resolved. When it ended I was like "That's it????"

Nature Poem by Tommy Pico
Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.

I'm sorry. Some lines are great but this feels like a compilation of tiktok skits as poems, and not in a good way.

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I remember the audiobook vividly. It's really good and food is such a central part of who we are. 

Dear God. Dear Bones. Dear Yellow. by Noor Hindi

fast-paced

4.5

It's hard to review this or do the "feelings" thing because what is there to say? I've thought many of these things myself, of course without the us government actively dropping bombs on my people the second I've thought them. The horror of assimilating to the same country killing your people is something so atrocious and so tied to my self loathing.

 What is there to say? "I know I am American because everytime I walk into a room something dies." Everything I've used or eaten or walked on, someone died for. What do you do with that?

Pandemic 1918: Eyewitness Accounts from the Greatest Medical Holocaust in Modern History by Catharine Arnold

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

This book shares primary sources from individuals experiencing the 1918 influenza pandemic. They are mostly everyday people from the US, Canada, and Britain, with some smattering of celebrities and famous persons. The perspectives outside these countries are mostly from British colonial holdings, and many from soldiers and nurses abroad for the Great War. 

It was very informative and was a clear mirror in the response of covid 19 to influenza. There were even some entries about people complaining about masking, having to avoid community and public events, and governments refusing health protocols for the war. Of course followed by figures, writings, and estimates of deaths resulting from said departures from public health. This came out before covid 19 BTW, so fascinating to chew on in relation. 

The inclusion of current theories and concerns about influenza and global pandemics in general was very welcome. Bird flu as the potential source of the virus, and its worrying new variant right at this moment is extremely concerning. 

Criticisms I have of the books if they while it includes perspectives and witnesses ON indigenous peoples dealing with the pandemic across the globe, it doesn't have perspectives FROM them. I know that the author was probably limited to what they could read, ie sources written in English. But for a worldwide plague, I'd like to know how everyday people outside of the core nations and their favored peoples were dealing with it. I picked up this book because I was trying to find resources on Puerto rican and caribbean experiences with influenza, and it had absolutely nothing. 

The Future Is Disabled: Prophecies, Love Notes and Mourning Songs by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

5.0

Los coquíes aún cantan by Karina Nicole González

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It was alright. Some things I really liked, others...idk, the characters didn't feel very human despite 800 pages spent with them. They felt very flat. I would spend Tane's section waiting to get back to Ead's. Then it would go to Loth's who was...idk...a nice guy? Roos was a little more interesting, but for someone who

promised his dead lover (who he talks about 24/7) that he would protect their granddaughter

he doesn't seem to think of her much or mention her whatsoever! I forgot she had any relevance to him until the end. 

The food and locations didn't feel very inventive or fleshed out either. It was like "here's fantasy Netherlands with some different food words mashed together" but for every land. 

Sorry, I think I'm being more mean then warranted. The writing style is good and easy to follow. The plot relationship building moments between characters were enjoyable. Outfit descriptions were vibrant. I think I'd give it up to 200 and see if you'd like to continue. 

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jiménez

emotional funny 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

4.5

This book spoke to me as a Puerto Rican. I could see my family here, the women of my family holding everything together by sheer necessity and by the tips of their fingers. 

Many people seem to be ragging on Nina specifically as self hating and self loathing about being Puerto rican but I don't think that's true. I also struggle with my Spanish, not because I hate my culture but because of forced assimilation by American doctors and culture. I appreciate that there's representation of an extremely alienating experience that both Americans and other Hispanics use as ammunition. 

I had the audio version, with the author reading aloud. I can tell she's probably done beat poetry as the rhythms of her writing and reading flow as such. It's beautiful. 

the ending had me nearly crash the damn car though, fuck.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual assault