sar_letsread's reviews
4 reviews

Dawn by Octavia E. Butler

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read this book for my Science Fiction class and am now OBSESSED with Butler. She truly knows how to create such raw and beautiful and compelling characters that extend the plot to being more than just a plot. I’m driven emotionally by how graphic her word choice is, with each passing paragraph I’ve falling deeper and deeper in love with Butler’s characters. 
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

Go to review page

dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Honestly, this book was…a lot to handle. I couldn’t believe the ending and how much the plot moved from one place to another. I was definitely not expecting anything like this and quite frankly this book gave me a headache with the amount of twist the plot has. I believe if you like books that have great writing and crazy, crazy plots, this book is for you. But in my opinion, it was a lot to process and I will probably never read this again (THANK GOD!!) Overall, I actually look forward to reading other book made by Grady Hendrix, because this was definitely an experience I would like to have again with his other literary works. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.0

College Read: 
I read this for my Literary Studies class and I do NOT regret it. This book was so emotionally rewarding as the protagonist, Carmen Maria Machado, was taking the reader through an impactful journey. However, no matter how much I really enjoyed this book, I will not recommend this to someone who cannot handle stories involving emotional abuse. This book was hardcore and some may think not, but I truly am glad I had a wonderful Prof. to help navigate me and my peers through this book and Carmen’s story.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Communion: The Female Search for Love by bell hooks

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

All in all, this book was different and difficult to read as someone who really strives for a complete un-interest in love and especially intimacy. Before reading this, I believed that love, and the physical nature that came with it, was useless and unimportant due to the way I viewed myself with this world as a black woman. However, after I began this book it became painfully clear that I did indeed want to be loved and experience it alongside other beings that also want love. This has been very hard to address as my emotions have never really been the main concern of my life. Because of this I thought of myself as different and non-human if I’m being quite honest. Through Communion: The Female Search for Love, I now recognize that I must work on how I approach myself regarding love, how I perceive myself near it, and alongside others who also strongly encourage it. This will be an intense challenge, but with the help of reading more love-conscious books like this one, and many others from bell hooks, I hope to gain a more confidence and an intelligent understanding of love. I do this for the sake of myself, my mental health, and the people I engage with in the future. Thank you bell hooks for making me understand this. I never thought such an amazing person could create a new level of consciousness within my mind!
More...