vivvs's reviews
34 reviews

Dimension 20: Fantasy High by Brennan Lee Mulligan

adventurous emotional funny inspiring

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The Wizard, the Witch, and the Wild One - Interlude #1: Twelve Brooks by Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Erika Ishii, Lou Wilson

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

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A County Affair by Aabria Iyengar, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Erika Ishii, Lou Wilson

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

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The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

when i was around 11, i picked up my first john green novel (i believe an abundance of katherines; all i know is that is 100% contained subject matter too advanced for me). the way he captured my emotions on growing up, the world around me, how blissfully naive i was, but how i knew i was naive and thus tried to convince the world that my self-awareness was at its peak. i have not touched his writing since 2018; i did, however, listen to a handful of these essays in the pandemic at 15. at 17, my mother came home from a work trip with this book in tow, because “it’s by john green, your guy!! and it’s SIGNED!!”
 
my life changing english teacher (we all had one) would often quote anton checkhov on how to write — something along the lines of “start with the specific, end with the universal; start with the universal, end with nothing”. this book further proves that the best connections to any writing will erupt from the specific and personal. john green lays his entire life down in front of you in this book. it is so intimate. reading this book places you not just in the man’s shoes, or his brain, but his life. when reading this i was there, watching his life unfold. i was with him, living his life, but it was also mine. 

i, almost a full decade later after my first foray into john green, still find his work compelling. beautiful in a much simpler way, with the perfect amount of prose and metaphor for my liking. i am especially tickled by the amount of references to literary works i am now a fan of. when my mother gifted me this book (that i wouldn’t read for 2 years - sorry mom!), she did not know that “my guy” was not john green, but rather his brother, hank green: the other one, the one who has written my favorite books of all time. she also did not know that john green signs so many books, it can be hard to find an unsigned copy of a new release. 

i have been looking for hope like this for a while now. 
i give the anthropocene reviewed 5 stars.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Did not finish book.

not my kind of book but i did in fact trade my copy for the secret history  and that was a win sooo

What If? 2: Additional Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe

funny informative fast-paced

4.5

as long as randall munroe writes i will read. 

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

1. jesus fucking christ 
2. i will always love a tragic hero (who even is the tragic hero here? that’s for you to decide)
3.

YOU’RE TELLING ME  …. i missed a CHEKHOV’S GUN… that was not only obvious, but also an ACTUAL GUN?????

4. jesus fucking christ (again)

We the Animals by Justin Torres

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

read in 2 hrs … just didn’t strike enough of a chord with me to get over 3 stars. heartbreaking though. 

everyone who says it was “too perverse” has never read anything heavy. the metaphors and symbolism were conveyed just fine for me. if you aren’t ready for a book that talks about sex in disgusting ways don’t start here i guess? …

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Homophobia

Moderate: Outing, Domestic abuse, and Rape

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-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

4.75

such a powerful story, writing wasn't my fav ever hence why not a full 5 star but so so moving. i love u peaches my bbg