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rebeccazh's reviews
2837 reviews
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
I actually read this last year. or last last year, I can't remember. had to reread again for class.
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
...... I'm extremely disappointed by how underwhelmed this book was. I gave up at about 10% because I just couldn't muster up any interest. I was really looking forward to this book but man I am disappointed. I think my main problem was that it was extremely plain and boring. It's about cool AI and gender concepts set in space, I thought I would have loved it. But I was just so bored........ What a pity.
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Atwood's dystopias are always terrifying because of how plausible they are. I enjoyed this one.
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
Awesome book. Wish there were more books that were collaborations between Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
Twelve Days of Faery by W.R. Gingell
This is such a cute book. What a delightful read. Of course, what made it was Althea. I love competent women.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Just realized I didn't write a review for this. I love Celie. There's something so likeable about her; I was drawn to her from the very first letter and I just devoured this book in one sitting. I love the letter format, I love the subtle switch from 'Dear God' to 'Dear Nettie' -- the final chains falling free. I also really appreciated Celie's desire/love for Shug, Shug's bisexuality, the community and friendships Celie gains, and most of all, the spirituality pervading the book. I think this is one of the favorite quotes I've ever read: I think us here to wonder, myself. To wonder. To ask. And that in wondering bout the big things and asking bout the big things, you learn about the little ones, almost by accident.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
This was a great book. I love Martha Wells' books so I was excited for this release, and I'm glad to have read it. I really loved how awkward, sarcastic, funny, and stoic Murderbot was. I really liked them, and I'm really looking forward to the next book.
Spindle by W.R. Gingell
This is such a cute and delightful read! It's Sleeping Beauty, but written in a lighthearted way, with a whodunnit plot and some cool magic stuff. Delightful. I was so charmed. Totally recommend it, what an enjoyable read.
Hold Me by Courtney Milan
5.0
.... I think Courtney Milan has found her niche. Or maybe her writing has improved after publishing so many books. Either way, I unreservedly have only praise for this book. (But honestly that cover is pretty, um. It makes me embarrassed introducing this to people.)
But that's literally my only complaint about my this book. I... loved how real this book was. I don't know. Maybe it's just coincidence, but I really resonated with quite a bit of Jay and Maria's journeys in the book. I had had instances when I felt exactly the way one of them did. Sidenote: I loved how long it took them to know each other -- I'm just not a fan of primary attraction, where you fall for someone's look/appearance, and not really really knowing the other person. I loved that the focus was on emotional attraction, vulnerabilities, and honesty, instead of physical attraction. Thank god.
I've tried a lot of Courtney Milan's books but her historical novels just always sort of hit and miss the spot. I love the way she writes the emotional aspect of her stories, but the worldbuilding was always so thin and sketchy; and in a lot of the romances, there is so much angst from forced misunderstandings, but the characters rarely grow or learn. So it's just... really hit and miss for me.
But this book is so different. It's so real. That's so stupid to say, but what I mean is, I feel the authenticity and solidity of the characters. There's humor and there's tension and there's tenderness. The characters are not a collection of traits; it's not like: this is a heroine who's feisty; but: this is a person who happens to be the heroine. I love the moments when the characters introspect and choose to let go of harmful assumptions, to process their emotions and face their vulnerabilities. They grow, and I love that.
My personal favorite moment was when Maria was going to leave after discovering Jay is A, and Jay is just standing there looking at her -- and she thinks that A is vulnerable, and Jay is not. But A is Jay. And she does it. She walks back. It's hard but she does it. I felt so proud of her. I mean... I really relate with moments like this. I love reading about moments like this.
My other favorite thing about this book is the diversity. Courtney Milan is pulling a Rick Riordan -- starts out with narratives about the majority group, and now that she's successful she branches out into people from all kinds of backgrounds and identities. Love it. I'm so glad Jay gets called out lol. Like right at the beginning, Jay said something like, 'I'm a feminist because I know lots of women and I've worked with so many of them'. And I was immediately wary. That's not how it works. Just coz you've interacted with many women doesn't mean the interactions were good. And stuff like that. And he gets called out for that later. I'm so relieved that small stuff like that doesn't get away and is addressed.
Anyway this was so enjoyable. The fact that it's so diverse and good is why I'm giving it stars. Also I wanna know how trans readers feel about this book -- is Maria represented respectfully??
But that's literally my only complaint about my this book. I... loved how real this book was. I don't know. Maybe it's just coincidence, but I really resonated with quite a bit of Jay and Maria's journeys in the book. I had had instances when I felt exactly the way one of them did. Sidenote: I loved how long it took them to know each other -- I'm just not a fan of primary attraction, where you fall for someone's look/appearance, and not really really knowing the other person. I loved that the focus was on emotional attraction, vulnerabilities, and honesty, instead of physical attraction. Thank god.
I've tried a lot of Courtney Milan's books but her historical novels just always sort of hit and miss the spot. I love the way she writes the emotional aspect of her stories, but the worldbuilding was always so thin and sketchy; and in a lot of the romances, there is so much angst from forced misunderstandings, but the characters rarely grow or learn. So it's just... really hit and miss for me.
But this book is so different. It's so real. That's so stupid to say, but what I mean is, I feel the authenticity and solidity of the characters. There's humor and there's tension and there's tenderness. The characters are not a collection of traits; it's not like: this is a heroine who's feisty; but: this is a person who happens to be the heroine. I love the moments when the characters introspect and choose to let go of harmful assumptions, to process their emotions and face their vulnerabilities. They grow, and I love that.
My personal favorite moment was when Maria was going to leave after discovering Jay is A, and Jay is just standing there looking at her -- and she thinks that A is vulnerable, and Jay is not. But A is Jay. And she does it. She walks back. It's hard but she does it. I felt so proud of her. I mean... I really relate with moments like this. I love reading about moments like this.
My other favorite thing about this book is the diversity. Courtney Milan is pulling a Rick Riordan -- starts out with narratives about the majority group, and now that she's successful she branches out into people from all kinds of backgrounds and identities. Love it. I'm so glad Jay gets called out lol. Like right at the beginning, Jay said something like, 'I'm a feminist because I know lots of women and I've worked with so many of them'. And I was immediately wary. That's not how it works. Just coz you've interacted with many women doesn't mean the interactions were good. And stuff like that. And he gets called out for that later. I'm so relieved that small stuff like that doesn't get away and is addressed.
Anyway this was so enjoyable. The fact that it's so diverse and good is why I'm giving it stars. Also I wanna know how trans readers feel about this book -- is Maria represented respectfully??
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
picked this up to get ready for the TV series, but the problem I have with a lot of Neil Gaiman's books is that they don't really hold my interest. I stopped at about 50% and I think I'll let the TV series fill me in on the rest.