woodiefrog's reviews
152 reviews

We Want What We Want by Alix Ohlin

reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Like a bag of wet leaves. 

Wow, No Thank You. by Samantha Irby

emotional funny lighthearted reflective

4.25

Truly not Roxane Gay (in-book ref i swear) but hilarious with moments that made my heart squeeze. 

Rouge by Mona Awad

2.75

Kittentits by Holly Wilson

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful fast-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

3.5

Lovely quirky alternative coming-of-age tale with ghosts? 

Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted sad tense fast-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

4.25

I’ve been pushing off reviewing this for reasons unbeknownst to me. Similarly I had to take a day off from reading before finishing the book, not at all because I was tired of the book, or even that it was too intense. I don’t know if it was me not wanting to finish the book because I formed some kind of attachment with the narration.

I say narration, because although clever writing tricks were deployed to make the reading an unraveling of intrigues of the characters as much as their relationship, and we are challenged to confront our initial impressions (or judgment) of the characters and their situations as the story progresses, I can’t say I emotionally like or dislike strongly any characters. Intellectually they are very interesting, to be sure. Perhaps the flamboyant nature of the writer’s voice and the absurd realism makes them too other-life-ly for me. Absolutely a breeze, overall, especially with the awesome voice acting. It’s a book I’d love to have on my shelf.

Wild Seed by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

I found this to be one of the most moving and tenderest of Butler’s books. Her prose flows like river and I couldn’t stop reading. 

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

adventurous emotional informative inspiring relaxing 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? Yes

4.0

My Life as Emperor by Su Tong, Howard Goldblatt

3.75

A bit repetitive during the middle, and some plot too melodramatic and without any buffer of logic to my taste (like

the death of the troupe including Yan and little girl; who would travel willynelly to enemy-occupied capital

not thinking it’s going to lead to disaster? Kinda too plot-devicy). Also I see the trend with Su Tong’s writing. Female characters/innocent appear, don’t expect them to even die well lol Could tune down the cruelty and violence and still make it work. So is it a bit like the “dark fantasy masquerading as ‘historically accurate’ but for dark’s sake in truth” criticism. 
Beautiful words, bizarre setting, historical feel without actual context.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence

Minor: Child death

Binu and the Great Wall by Su Tong

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Four star for reviving my memory of my usage of my native language. The often-contrive attempts at fostering a elegant simplicity in English cannot be more bruisingly obvious. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

3.0