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s_sheppard18's reviews
307 reviews
The Elopement of Atticus and NEON by Al Hess
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this novella as much as I've loved Al Hess's other works. This is a very cozy tale, and was a delight to read. The characters are relatable, and sweet, and I really loved the way their love for each other fills every page. This story touches on something that feels like a universal queer experience- learning to branch out from the life you know and take steps towards the life that is right for you. The characters face hardships throughout the story, but nothing is too heavy and the pacing is such that you don't spend any time wallowing. The narrative is one of tentative hope and forward motion. Once again, Al Hess does an excellent job with worldbuilding just enough for the length of the story without leaving the readers with too many unresolved questions. I'm so glad I picked this story up.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This novel was a wild ride from start to finish. I think the best thing I can say about it is that I was desperate to know what would happen next from the moment I read the first chapter, and I don't often feel that way even when reading things I love. The book flew by quickly and was easy for me to follow, which I expect and appreciate in a YA novel.
Did I love this book, though? That's debatable. I loved the experience of reading it, the excitement and action, the emotion. But the actual story fell a bit flat for me for a few reasons. One was that I keep seeing this book marketed as a feminist novel and if it is, it's very surface-level, more than anything that will evoke deep thought about feminist theory. I see this novel as more of a meditation on the power of feminine rage and violence than anything else.
Another area that bugged me was that it felt like there were some gaping holes in the world building, particularly the area of global politics as it relates to the alien war that the novel is set within. We get a brief overview of how gender politics influences the national political arena, which is limited by our main character's (kind of unreliable) perspective anyway. Perhaps this will be revealed more in the plot of the next novel, considering the twist at the end.
Speaking of the twist at the end- it felt far too abrupt, and left me a little irritated.The entire book, I was waiting for a more thorough explanation of "the gods" that were mentioned twice, then we get a couple pages of a reveal as the last pages of the story? The pacing on this just felt out of line with the rest of the book, and I felt like I wasn't given any time to absorb it or see how the characters react to it. I'm sure this is designed to get people to want to read the second book in the series, and I probably will read it, but leaving this to the very last pages of the book feels like a cheap trick to me, tbh.
My final qualm with the book is that there is no explanation about why the protagonist has these ideals that are so progressive compared to the people she has been raised with/around. Sure, she has reason to be simmering with rage, but where did she gain the perspective to know she should or could fight against the patriarchal power imbalance that permeates her life? Surely there's something in her life that woke her up to the possibility that things can be different, but we aren't told what that is, beyond the "I'm not like other girls" trope.
Overall, despite my criticism, I really enjoyed this book. It was like scifi romance popcorn for my brain. I appreciate the depiction of disability, and liked the representation ofa poly relationship (although I think the author could have given them a little more time together, and gotten them together earlier in the book). I am, despite my irritation with the ending, looking forward to reading the next installment.
Did I love this book, though? That's debatable. I loved the experience of reading it, the excitement and action, the emotion. But the actual story fell a bit flat for me for a few reasons. One was that I keep seeing this book marketed as a feminist novel and if it is, it's very surface-level, more than anything that will evoke deep thought about feminist theory. I see this novel as more of a meditation on the power of feminine rage and violence than anything else.
Another area that bugged me was that it felt like there were some gaping holes in the world building, particularly the area of global politics as it relates to the alien war that the novel is set within. We get a brief overview of how gender politics influences the national political arena, which is limited by our main character's (kind of unreliable) perspective anyway. Perhaps this will be revealed more in the plot of the next novel, considering the twist at the end.
Speaking of the twist at the end- it felt far too abrupt, and left me a little irritated.
My final qualm with the book is that there is no explanation about why the protagonist has these ideals that are so progressive compared to the people she has been raised with/around. Sure, she has reason to be simmering with rage, but where did she gain the perspective to know she should or could fight against the patriarchal power imbalance that permeates her life? Surely there's something in her life that woke her up to the possibility that things can be different, but we aren't told what that is, beyond the "I'm not like other girls" trope.
Overall, despite my criticism, I really enjoyed this book. It was like scifi romance popcorn for my brain. I appreciate the depiction of disability, and liked the representation of
The United Methodist Church and Disability: Essays and Practical Tips for Churches, Clergy, and People with Disabilities by Rebecca L. Holland
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
This book has been hugely useful for me, as a disabled United Methodist starting to get involved in disability ministries. Based on the title, I wasn't sure if the writing was going to be dry, but I soon discovered that this collection of essays and articles from Rev Holland was very readable, engaging, and insightful. Rev Holland is knowledgeable about disability justice in the church, and vulnerable in sharing her own experiences and story of disability. I finished this book in two days, not because it was too short, but because I felt no need to put it down.
How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley
challenging
informative
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Hope for Cynics by Jamil Zaki
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This was a great book, and very full of emotion for such a scientific focus. I really appreciated how the author blended real-world details and his own lived experiences with the science he discusses. The care and appreciation the author has for his deceased friend who inspired this book really shines through.
Transforming: Updated and Expanded Edition with Study Guide: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians by Austen Hartke
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I'm not sure how to begin a concise review of a book that feels so deeply affirming that I believe it has changed my life. Transforming by Austen Hartke is a gift.
The book starts with some background information about trans identities which will be useful especially to new cisgender allies, then leads into a combination of apologetics, personal accounts from trans Christians, queer theology, social science, and affirmation that is unparalleled by any other queer theology book I've read thus far. Transforming concludes with a hopeful message- both for cisgender allies and transgender people themselves, and a wealth of further reading/research for anyone looking to learn more or actually do something about the discrimination and ostracization our trans siblings face.
This book has further developed my understanding of affirming theology and helped me to discern that I'm being called to lay ministry.
The book starts with some background information about trans identities which will be useful especially to new cisgender allies, then leads into a combination of apologetics, personal accounts from trans Christians, queer theology, social science, and affirmation that is unparalleled by any other queer theology book I've read thus far. Transforming concludes with a hopeful message- both for cisgender allies and transgender people themselves, and a wealth of further reading/research for anyone looking to learn more or actually do something about the discrimination and ostracization our trans siblings face.
This book has further developed my understanding of affirming theology and helped me to discern that I'm being called to lay ministry.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicide
Beyond a Binary God: A Theology for Trans* Allies by Tara K. Soughers
challenging
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
5.0
Beyond a Binary God by Tara K. Soughers is a vitally important read for Christian trans allies. She approaches it in a way that is obvious that she has written this as a cis-gendered person for other cis-gendered people. It truly is a book designed for allies, as Soughers is correct in stating that she can't speak to the lived experiences of trans people.
Speaking as a layperson with no real in-depth theological education, this book reads very academically. I wish it was a little more approachable from a layperson perspective, but she does her best to thoroughly explain all of her points throughout the book.
There were a few times I felt a little lost, or a little confused about why something was included. Full disclosure, I was ready to rate this book 4 stars instead of 5, up to the last 30 pages. The conclusion really brings it all together in a digestible way that I appreciated greatly. In fact, I think I would have gotten more out of the book if I had read the last chapter first, and went into the long-winded theological arguments with Soughers' end game in mind. I definitely see a re-read of the book in my future.
Speaking as a layperson with no real in-depth theological education, this book reads very academically. I wish it was a little more approachable from a layperson perspective, but she does her best to thoroughly explain all of her points throughout the book.
There were a few times I felt a little lost, or a little confused about why something was included. Full disclosure, I was ready to rate this book 4 stars instead of 5, up to the last 30 pages. The conclusion really brings it all together in a digestible way that I appreciated greatly. In fact, I think I would have gotten more out of the book if I had read the last chapter first, and went into the long-winded theological arguments with Soughers' end game in mind. I definitely see a re-read of the book in my future.
The Necessity of Stars by E. Catherine Tobler
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
A message of transformation and hope in a world on the edge of collapse... Exactly what my heart needed to read this week. I wish this novella was a novel, simply because I want to read more of the lush and lyrical prose and spend more time with the characters. This is definitely something I'll go back to and read many times over. Absolutely perfect, from the unique characterization of the narrator to the gentle, just-enough world building.
Ordinary Equality: The Fearless Women and Queer People Who Shaped the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Rights Amendment by Kate Kelly, Nicole LaRue
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
3.75
Ordinary Equality is a book with solid, important content that I wish I had learned more about in school. It focuses on the intersectionality within the suffrage and ERA movements in a way I don't often see in books like this, which is doubly important in this day and age.
My only qualm is this- it felt like maybe it was designed for a younger audience, because of the overall tone, use of slang, and asides from the author. That style of writing in a nonfiction book really isn't for me. I also wish it was a bit more detailed. I felt like a got a brief overview of each person featured, but some parts felt almost like I was reading a Wikipedia article. Though, to be fair, there are only so many ways to say "so-and-so was born at this time in this place," without eventually getting a little boring.
My only qualm is this- it felt like maybe it was designed for a younger audience, because of the overall tone, use of slang, and asides from the author. That style of writing in a nonfiction book really isn't for me. I also wish it was a bit more detailed. I felt like a got a brief overview of each person featured, but some parts felt almost like I was reading a Wikipedia article. Though, to be fair, there are only so many ways to say "so-and-so was born at this time in this place," without eventually getting a little boring.
Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Before I get into the few gripes I have with this novel, let me first say that it was a good book and definitely worth reading. I'm very glad I stuck with it despite the main character being utterly insufferable for the first 60% or so. I did guess what the plot twist would be, but it was still delivered well and I enjoyed what happened with the story afterwards.
I think the main thing that is preventing me from rating this 5 stars is how heavy handed the narrative was about the political situation and how the characters were affected by said political situation. This is marketed as an adult political space opera but read very YA to me (and by the looks of the reviews, I'm not the only one). It's giving "a book about fascism for people who have never heard of fascism." It's definitely no Memory Called Empire, which is what I think of when I hear adult political space opera.
Regardless, Some Desperate Glory had me completely hooked once I had determined I was going to overlook the main character's obvious and many flaws. I was really hoping that she'd get better after the twist was revealed, and luckily, she did. The speed of her character growth was a tad bit unbelievable, butI suppose there's no real-world equivalent to throwing off your fascist brainwashed upbringing because you're confronted with the power of the multiverse.
Speaking of unbelievable, there was also a good deal of ~fancy complicated fantasy science hand waving~ which made the science part of science fiction feel a little soft for me.
In the end, I have to give at least 4 stars, because I frankly hated putting the book down. It was genuinely exciting and the end had me close to tears for a moment. A solid debut from Emily Tesh!
I think the main thing that is preventing me from rating this 5 stars is how heavy handed the narrative was about the political situation and how the characters were affected by said political situation. This is marketed as an adult political space opera but read very YA to me (and by the looks of the reviews, I'm not the only one). It's giving "a book about fascism for people who have never heard of fascism." It's definitely no Memory Called Empire, which is what I think of when I hear adult political space opera.
Regardless, Some Desperate Glory had me completely hooked once I had determined I was going to overlook the main character's obvious and many flaws. I was really hoping that she'd get better after the twist was revealed, and luckily, she did. The speed of her character growth was a tad bit unbelievable, but
Speaking of unbelievable, there was also a good deal of ~fancy complicated fantasy science hand waving~ which made the science part of science fiction feel a little soft for me.
In the end, I have to give at least 4 stars, because I frankly hated putting the book down. It was genuinely exciting and the end had me close to tears for a moment. A solid debut from Emily Tesh!