rotator's Reviews (37)

Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus

4.0

dark sad

I didn’t like Yellowface but after much insistence from friends I decided to give this a shot. My conclusion at 200 pages is that RFK doesn’t know how to communicate her ideas with any subtlety. As a true academic, the thesis of the book is clear almost immediately and supports the thesis with evidence (through footnotes) constantly. However, this approach does not make for an enjoyable read whatsoever. Instead, I would recommend The Secret History (dark academia with a MUCH more interesting exploration of good/bad) or Wuthering Heights (if you’re in a masochistic mood).

Kitchen

Banana Yoshimoto

5.0

Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Toshikazu Kawaguchi

3.0

Between Two Fires

Christopher Buehlman

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Travelers

Helon Habila

informative sad medium-paced

obviously not all immigrant or refugee stories have to be happy or positive but this whole thing was just hopeless. and not only hopeless but it felt so disconnected from each of the characters' emotions that it was hard to grasp anything other than the facts of the events. an emotionally degrading experience with no catharsis. not my cup of tea, which is why it took me so long to finish it, but sadly enlightening that the immigrant situation between europe and africa is also horrific.

Run With the Wind

Shion Miura

3.0

The Archive Undying

Emma Mieko Candon

5.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

i was skeptical going in because of lukewarm reviews but DAMN this has everything i love and it’s done so well. yes, many parts are (intentionally) confusing, and many elements are only explained in medias res, but i enjoyed slowly learning about the setting rather than through some lengthy exposition at the beginning. it kept me reading because i was curious and locked me in because i ended up loving it.

it’s a brave thing to care, to open yourself up to pain, to be human. but if we don’t have that, what’s the point in living at all?