woodiefrog's reviews
135 reviews

In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife by Sebastian Junger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 84%.

A bit of tired of white man’s mid life crisis being resolved by quasi spiritual enlightenment.

Also. A true sentence that I kept wondering if I missed some subtle hints of it being a joke but alas I don’t think so:
(Not all the Nazis) are bad, some are quite decent people.

Acting Class by Nick Drnaso

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

Drama turned into part thriller. Liked that in terms of techniques Drnaso has been pushing it further in this book. But I felt that it lacks the sincerity that moved me in his earlier works like Sabrina. 
Possibly related: had a night of weird dreams and unrestful sleep after reading this 😂 

Pearl: A Graphic Novel by Sherri L. Smith

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

Lovely illustrations done by Christine Norrie. A historical story rooted in real lives and filled with  encouragement even in moments of darkness. 
As a Chinese, I appreciate Sherri’s effort for adding just a little bit of subtle criticism of Japanese imperialism and the history of Okinawan people, instead of a full-on portrayal of victimship during the war. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and War

Minor: Child death

The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

4.5

Lovely book to open a morning with 🍵 Cute summer romance with a teeny edge of angst and bittersweet (but hopeful) undertone. I love all kinds of queer stories in their own rights, but sometimes I just want my queer babies to be loved, accepted, and happy. This is a story for that. 

Midnight, Water City by Chris McKinney

2.75

Too over the top campy for me. 
Also, never a fan of the dreaded wife jokeish set dressing 😑 

Exhibit by R.O. Kwon

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

This small book was a difficult one to get through for me. Rewound quite a few times (audiobook) because my mind droned elsewhere while listening. I think I’m still interested in Kwon’s literary career bc she’s Asian American and always included Asian characters and experience from different (somewhat) angles in her stories. The lack of emotional pull from her writing, however… 🤔 Same feeling from the Incendiaries. 

Victory Point by Owen D. Pomery

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

I encountered this book at the national library in Singapore and finished it in one setting. It feels more slice-of-life than dramatic in nature, and the effect of a smoothing, unhurried story was felt immediately as I neared the ending of the book. It’s a very simple story, a brief homecoming as an adult. There was no external conflict, barely any internal conflict, which can frustrate some readers, but if you knew to expect a lowkey experience rather than a plot-driven story, you would agree this works to its advantage. The art is simply illustrative. But on second thought, I suppose there are many points where only the graphic can best fill in the silence. Overall, a goof read for when one feels the elusive touch of existential melancholy.

Ruined by Sarah Vaughn

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

3.75

Very cute illustration. Kudos on showing male genitalia haha Story itself is okay. 

Milk Fed by Melissa Broder

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

3.75

This year is sapphic romance for me or what ↘️
A personal breeze but might be difficult if you have experience with eating disorders and/or extreme anxiety over body image. Essentially, this is a story about the anticlimactic nature of healing from your parental trauma as a young adult. 
Sex is treated as something realistic, visceral, unglamorous yet so very delectable to read. 
Fun use of food-related metaphors all around. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Child abuse and Toxic relationship

Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel by Julian K. Jarboe

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective 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

4.5

By no means I’m declaring it to be the be-all-end-all queer lit in the post covid scene, but it is for now my favorite. Idk if that’s even the word I should use to frame it, “favorite;” there’s imperfections, some even jolted me out of narratives, but the feelings many of the characters in these short stories have left such impressions that I know I will come to need their voices again in the future.