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splitdice's Reviews (151)
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Complicated
So I read this book right after Orbital and honestly I think this book used it's inherent structure as a fiction book sooo much better than Orbital did. I cried multiple times, it's honestly a very challenging read emotionally so probably not best read if you're emotionally struggling right now. It's so bleak but also hopeful
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
I thought it was good but it kind of missed the "punch" to elevate it above a 4
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
slow-paced
say what you want about melania as a person but this was not a good book in the slightest. ai... maybe? it reads like a badly written college essay. the included pictures were probably the best part
informative
medium-paced
i think On Photography should be read first, especially in refrence to the first few essays, but the last few are really impactful.
adventurous
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
i predicted the big twist quite early on but that did not take away my enjoyment from the book. i really enjoyed the narritive structure otherwise, and it took a few chapters to get into and get whats happening, but i think its worth it. i think i will be finishing this series pretty soon!
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
i feel like this is a book that is defined around its structure, and i must say that i felt like this structure fell flat sometimes. its experimental, so i appreciate that, and when it hits it really hits (choose-your-own-adventure). however, i think the entire book suffers at some parts. its kinda sad knowing where machado is now after reading this book too. as a lesbian, i also really enjoyed how much she talked about how much pressure that queer women in specific have to be perfect and the denial of abuse.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
first half is really hard to get through, but i think if youre able to read this kind of book its worth it. i really enjoyed vannessa's character as well. i can understand how someone reads this book and gets the wrong message, but i do appreciate how russell does not make an invertly in your face message.
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tbh this would have been way better as a series of essays OR with half of the characters. i understand why it won the booker prize because of topicality, but i feel like as a work of fiction it does nothing. not sure why this is labeled as sci-fi though...?
there are some reflective isolated thoughts that i enjoyed, but everything was so underdevolped and unnuanced that i feel like it failed on its message. i also feel like the lack of diverse characters (mainly white, one japanese woman) meant the lack of a lot of nuance about humanity. all in all i like the idea, but horrid execution.
there are some reflective isolated thoughts that i enjoyed, but everything was so underdevolped and unnuanced that i feel like it failed on its message. i also feel like the lack of diverse characters (mainly white, one japanese woman) meant the lack of a lot of nuance about humanity. all in all i like the idea, but horrid execution.
soft dnf for now i just dont think im in the mood to read a book like this