sahanasri's reviews
173 reviews

Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

omg mwa chefs kiss i loved this!!

Vampires of El Norte beautifully threads together so many fun genres and themes, from gothic star crossed lovers to colonialism to 1800’s Texas to vampires!!! The world building is awesome (and clearly super well researched) and I loved the Spanish woven throughout as an extra treat (but not strictly necessary for understanding the plot). The two main characters and their desires are also super compelling. Their dynamic… the YEARNING… perfection. I’m also not typically a huge fan of supernatural/horror elements or vampires but the general spooky atmosphere and historical attention to detail really makes it work!

Especially the use of vampires as a metaphor for colonialism!!

Loved this book will definitely be checking out more from the author <3

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood and War

Coming Out as Dalit: A Memoir Of Surviving India's Caste System by Yashica Dutt

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

I had been meaning to read this book for a long time and am so glad I finally did. Coming Out as Dalit is so well written (definitely obvious that the author is a journalist), deftly merging personal and historical narrative to help understand the devastating impact of the caste system in a more nuanced way. As an Indian American seeking to better understand my own privilege, the parallels to systemic racism in America were definitely enlightening. This was a wonderful place to continue my  education around caste - and due to the numerous citations of other works I have plenty of places to keep learning!

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-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

4.25

Man this was a crazy one for sureee

I read this for a work book club and did not finish in time since it’s kind of long but glad I read it anyway! I’m not typically a fan of crime thrillers but this was so so beautifully written, especially with the descriptions of nature in Monta Clare. I found myself pausing just to reread one of those gorgeous random lines in the middle of all the plot. Plot wise this was definitely hard to predict and the ending felt fairly satisfying. My only critiques were that the middle definitely dragged and as a result the characters started feeling annoying and repetitive. Overall one of the central themes being obsession was not something I had seen before and was so darkly fascinating to read… anyway shoutout my girl Saint she was the realest one no one deserved her :,)

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

what can i say i love a food memoir and i love miss ina garten :,) 
This book felt like a big hug in the exact way I wanted it to be (and very needed right now for a bit of escapism). I love Ina’s voice - both as an author and a narrator - and how down to earth and friendly she is (yes i did grow up watching her shows so nostalgia factor is def at play here). Hearing her talk about the challenges of her early life and how she has made peace with that was reflective and beautiful. I also (obviously) love the way she talks about food in relatable and unpretentious ways. Also love love love how she describes her changing relationship with Jeffrey (a king amongst men)! I will say things get a little unrelatable with later problems being furnishing a fancy Paris apartment and interviewing celebrities… but overall still works as escapism for me at least. Recipe and photo inclusions were super fun too! Definitely will be making coconut cupcakes :)

Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

I didn’t hate this book, but I most definitely didn’t love it. I’ll admit I read this mostly out of curiosity, as I definitely saw Anna Marie Tendler as the victim of her marriage with John Mulaney’s very public breakdown. However, this memoir really reveals that both of them must have been struggling and there is likely no real victim, just two hurt people. I feel like Tendler was trying to emulate Girl, Interrupted (but fair if she wasn’t and was just trying to write her experience in a psych ward) but I found this a lot less interesting or compelling in the ways that Girl, Interrupted is. Tendler is an interesting person with a difficult past, which made this book inherently interesting to a degree, but it was just kind of a slog to get through. kind of just read it to read it 

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

3.0

To be honest I thought this was just alright - it very much reads as a book by an inspirational speaker and is a little too directed at white women for my tastes. There were definitely still parts I enjoyed, like Doyle’s interpretation of falling in love for the first time, struggles with parenting and co-parenting, and dealing with addiction and mental health. Overall an interesting life story for sure but did not hold my interest.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.5

lmaooo this was fun! love their established dynamic and that we’re less watching them fall in love and more just watching them realize it. silly and actually fun but idk if they really remind me of harry and sally

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

This was a short yet utterly haunting read. Its main character and lack of resolution give you such a detached view of humanity and really explores emotionally and physically what it would feel like to age as the last person in the world. Definitely a little too depressing for me to be able to fully process, but it was so moving and careful in all the right places. I love speculative fiction that actually explores a woman’s perspective and this definitely held up, just don’t think I could survive another read of this without emotional distress…

Black Friend: Essays by Ziwe

funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.5

I read this as an audiobook because I love Ziwe and wanted to hear her style of delivery (and she definitely delivered). I didn’t love the beginning of the book - it didn’t feel that groundbreaking or new - but I loved hearing Ziwe’s accounts of how she grew up, her college poetry class, and how she slowly grew her audience to get her show. As the book continued I liked it more and more, and Ziwe’s voice is so refreshing and fun - she keeps her commentary biting, funny, and insightful, usually all at once. The note this book ends on is particularly special, and felt genuinely moving in a way I needed while listening to it. Having context on Ziwe’s personal philosophies makes me feel even more impressed and invested in her career - can’t wait to see what she does next.

The Reckoning of Roku by Randy Ribay

adventurous emotional mysterious 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

4.0

damnnn they got me again even with a new author!! This book took a second to get going - but I was so hooked once I hit the halfway mark. The combination of Roku and Gyatso was super interesting and different from what I expected. I even found myself quite attached to the new character and setting which is a testament to the extended world building (which seemed to be more Philippines inspired which was sick). Aside from the mysterious new setting and the fun of seeing a new avatar develop, the central themes of grief and love in this book were handled with such care. I found it particularly moving to see the characters grow and change through their loss in complex ways. sooo excited for the next one yippee (pls never let this series end im begging)