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river69rat's reviews
56 reviews
Babel by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
An absolutely fantastic and clearly deeply researched novel surrounding the power of language at the height of British colonialism.
The way past colonial actions shape our world today is something I'm really interested in, this book opened my mind up to so many perspectives and challenged me at points. I also loved the use of ideas around the 'good' immigrant and the way that means assimilating yourself entirely to a culture that will never actually respect you.
I think this book is especially poignant with the current extremely hostile atmosphere around immigrants in the UK, and a rise in the racist depiction of who is 'actually' British.
I had one small gripe that stopped this being 5* and that's the authors notes. Personally I did not need the authors own voice and I found it very distracting throughout.
Still a fantastic book that I'm ashamed I'd put off reading until now!
The way past colonial actions shape our world today is something I'm really interested in, this book opened my mind up to so many perspectives and challenged me at points. I also loved the use of ideas around the 'good' immigrant and the way that means assimilating yourself entirely to a culture that will never actually respect you.
I think this book is especially poignant with the current extremely hostile atmosphere around immigrants in the UK, and a rise in the racist depiction of who is 'actually' British.
I had one small gripe that stopped this being 5* and that's the authors notes. Personally I did not need the authors own voice and I found it very distracting throughout.
Still a fantastic book that I'm ashamed I'd put off reading until now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Blood
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Sometimes therapy is running away to the mountains with your husband and your cousin who's also your boyfriend and then doing cannibalism
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I will say, I think this book needed more explicit content warnings, there is graphic child sexual abuse which I had not been expecting.
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I will say, I think this book needed more explicit content warnings, there is graphic child sexual abuse which I had not been expecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Blood
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was worried as I really didn't love the opening on the boat (I hate boats and ocean traversing) but once it got into the retelling of Frankenstein's story it became absolutely fantastic. Just a really brilliant little book, a near perfect classic.
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.75
Literary brilliance but I struggle with non-linear story telling so much. Still, feels like an important read and I am glad to have been immersed into a perspective I will never be able to experience for myself.
The author built some incredible characters, so very complex and extremely human and raw behind such beautiful language.
The author built some incredible characters, so very complex and extremely human and raw behind such beautiful language.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
The first part of this book is not good. Very romance focused initially and the plot drags. Once she joins the army and part 2 begins the story picks up a lot and it gets much better. I think the politics and world building was weak, and I found the main character overly lucky with a lot of plot conveniences. But! This was a really nice fun read, super easy to pick up and keep reading for hours at a time. By the end I was enjoying it so I'd say it's worth the read but it's not going to blow your mind in terms of plot or writing quality.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Finished wiping my tears to say Ove is simply too young in this book. 59 is not old man territory!! He's younger than my mum who has a similar attitude to him in some ways but still understands computers and phones? Idk his age constantly threw me out of so many interactions - alongside him also apparently being super buff lol
I just loved the Beartown trilogy so much that I am shocked with how much I did not love this book. Was a drag to get through unfortunately. I did cry heavily, multiple times but it's not one that will stick with me and I'm just glad it's done.
I just loved the Beartown trilogy so much that I am shocked with how much I did not love this book. Was a drag to get through unfortunately. I did cry heavily, multiple times but it's not one that will stick with me and I'm just glad it's done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
My first ever enemies to lovers! Really enjoyable, super interesting dynamics around religion and race all wrapped into a fast paced fantasy novel. Can't say I understood all of the magic but that didn't stop my enjoyment in the slightest. Loved Juniper and Thorn and this, will definitely be reading anything Ava Reid releases!
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love flawed characters I really really do but Sadie was insufferable and only got worse. She accounted all her life's problems onto Sam with no accountability and there was no real reflection or resounding apology in the end. The Dov stuff was especially annoying, choosing to forgive her abuser but blaming Sam for the fact she was abused. Not saying Sam is the perfect amazing guy (definitely not) but the grudge she holds against him throughout the novel is unnecessary and ridiculous and she never grows from it.
Still I absolutely devoured this book after my first ever DNF, brilliant writing obviously I cried too.
Still I absolutely devoured this book after my first ever DNF, brilliant writing obviously I cried too.
The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
My first ever DNF! It's not a hard read but the language used gave me a headache the whole time and just felt I wasn't getting any intrigue or interest or anything really at all out of it. I was excited for evil and just got a whole load of yapping instead.
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
'She wished she would just be a good mother or a bad one; this vacillating in between was unbearable'
Of course I sobbed and cried, a wonderful story of grief and sisterhood. Had my gripes as I did with Cleo&Frank (sorry but the Bonnie and Pavel relationship is WEIRD they were 15 and 28 when first meeting... Sure maybe if they'd been apart from 10 years and came back but like he literally watched her grow up like it is strange), but the way grief and sisterhood and addiction is discussed is wonderful. Just a heartbreaking book, but was lacking something that Cleo&Frank had.
I will be eagerly awaiting the next Coco Mellors!
Of course I sobbed and cried, a wonderful story of grief and sisterhood. Had my gripes as I did with Cleo&Frank (sorry but the Bonnie and Pavel relationship is WEIRD they were 15 and 28 when first meeting... Sure maybe if they'd been apart from 10 years and came back but like he literally watched her grow up like it is strange), but the way grief and sisterhood and addiction is discussed is wonderful. Just a heartbreaking book, but was lacking something that Cleo&Frank had.
I will be eagerly awaiting the next Coco Mellors!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Suicide