Scan barcode
sydreading's reviews
44 reviews
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
for an emma donoghue novel this was not my favourite. i had to take a big break in the middle of reading it because i was having trouble picking it up. the unspecified time jumps confused me, although reading in succinctly would have prob helped. i love that the characters are real people, and that emma told a story through them, i wish she hadn’t spent so much time building up the historical environment and emphasizing the impact of smallpox in the beginning of the book only to sort of disregard it as the book came to a close. also if there was supposed to be sapphic tension i did not feel anything, jenny’s character could have been a bit more focused on i think
GLEEM by Freddy Carrasco
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
really neat art style, took me a bit to understand what was happening in each short
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use
Rave by Jessica Campbell
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ow
Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.
pretty graphic and lots of transphobic language. might revisit in a physical version
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
kind of felt like there was a huge tonal shift between the first and second half of the book, wish that the consistency that hooked me in the beginning had kept up thru the end
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Gaslighting
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
unique perspectives of queerness and pregnancy and transition
Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
explicit description of self-harm within the first few minutes of listening to this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
The Repeat Room by Jesse Ball
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
had me hooked a little in the first half but actually wtf did i just read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Incest, and Suicide
Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
it was a bit difficult for me to enjoy this completely over the subplot that i had trouble connecting with the character but overall a really good story of culture