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sspaghettiboness's reviews
128 reviews
The Daughters' War by Christopher Buehlman
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Christopher Beuhlman, should you ever come across this review, I edged for 1.5 years waiting for this book, and I hate you so much but what a brain shaking and leg jerking climax.
His writing is not like any other author you’ll find. Go scour. You’ll wind up back here, re-reading his novels and waiting.
His writing is not like any other author you’ll find. Go scour. You’ll wind up back here, re-reading his novels and waiting.
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.
At about 1/3 of the way through, this book is still reading like an alternate and lesser version of The Wind Up Bird Chronicle to me. Haruki is very hit or miss with me, this one was a miss.
I also feel really uncomfortable with the narrator talking about his sister’s developing breasts and how consistently objectified all women are in his books. When he’s good, he’s great. When he’s not, he’s a misogynist.
I also feel really uncomfortable with the narrator talking about his sister’s developing breasts and how consistently objectified all women are in his books. When he’s good, he’s great. When he’s not, he’s a misogynist.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
Really exciting premise and concept. The story itself is just boring. The narrator is pathetic and meek. The characters aren’t developed. There was literally nothing appealing or unappealing, it was just well written and clean. The cover art is the most exciting thing about this book.
The Lesser Dead by Christopher Buehlman
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
I appreciate what the author is trying to do, it just reads as them trying too much. There’s not enough substance to warrant the ambiguity.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
dark
funny
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
While I felt tortured a bit by the fact that my own menopause is in the future (about 25 years but, still, it will happen), I have a lot of good to say about this book.
The pacing between reflection and gory horror is so, so well done. I think a lot of authors struggle with finding a balance, and Mary makes it seem effortless. It progresses the plot at a much quicker pace than I had expected based on past reads.
Horror and gore are here in spades. Like. Pure splatterpunk. I’d be curious to know what books the author would say influenced him. The authors note at the end said he had been working on this novel since he was 13 years old, and it shows.
The way Cassidy used the senses in her writing is so smart. It focuses predominantly on the visuals, and involves the rest as necessary. Some books feel like they’re trying too hard to incorporate smells and onomatopoeias and touch.. Cassidy used scents, for example, that are common and easily identified instead of obscure and esoteric odours.
What stops me from giving this book 5 stars is that the plot doesn’t really appeal to me. I couldn’t relate to any characters with my own experience; so it was hard for me to root for anyone, but the prose is so gorgeous I couldn’t put it down.
If you like this, highly recommend Nightbitch, which is a completely different book, but still delves into the disgusting side of the female experience and resulting feminine rage.
The pacing between reflection and gory horror is so, so well done. I think a lot of authors struggle with finding a balance, and Mary makes it seem effortless. It progresses the plot at a much quicker pace than I had expected based on past reads.
Horror and gore are here in spades. Like. Pure splatterpunk. I’d be curious to know what books the author would say influenced him. The authors note at the end said he had been working on this novel since he was 13 years old, and it shows.
The way Cassidy used the senses in her writing is so smart. It focuses predominantly on the visuals, and involves the rest as necessary. Some books feel like they’re trying too hard to incorporate smells and onomatopoeias and touch.. Cassidy used scents, for example, that are common and easily identified instead of obscure and esoteric odours.
What stops me from giving this book 5 stars is that the plot doesn’t really appeal to me. I couldn’t relate to any characters with my own experience; so it was hard for me to root for anyone, but the prose is so gorgeous I couldn’t put it down.
If you like this, highly recommend Nightbitch, which is a completely different book, but still delves into the disgusting side of the female experience and resulting feminine rage.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0