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woodiefrog's reviews
143 reviews
Atana and the Firebird by Vivian Zhou
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
The cutest graphic novel I’ve read in a while. Zhou showcases her storytelling skills with simplistic yet compelling and dynamic frames. Love the nods to Ghibli and Moebius!
Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think the review describing this as weird lit fic is pretty right. High concepts relatable to today’s serious social media effect on our societies, but execution falls a bit flat. Some storylines are considerably weaker than others and do not contribute enough to the book imo, and ends abruptly in an unresolved manner. But overall I think it’s worth reading for at least another two years just bc of the tech talk aspect. We srsly need to get our acts together and soon.
The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
Did not finish book. Stopped at 65%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 65%.
I really really wanted to love this book. All the premises are my cuppa 🍵 but gosh there’s just, such slagging narrative voices. I think the Memory Librarian is not a great choice to open with, def burned most of my mental energy.
Great dust jacket writing, lukewarm take from theory to practice (falling back unto very cliched ideas of Big Bro technocratic dystopia), okay execution. And sadly, I was so sure the audiobook performance by Monáe would lift up the writing, it is not so imo in this case.
Great dust jacket writing, lukewarm take from theory to practice (falling back unto very cliched ideas of Big Bro technocratic dystopia), okay execution. And sadly, I was so sure the audiobook performance by Monáe would lift up the writing, it is not so imo in this case.
Most Dope: The Extraordinary Life of Mac Miller by Paul Cantor
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
4.75
Very considerate bio for Macmiller. Writing goes quite far back to illustrate the historical context of his childhood place, goes on to several important points of his life and career. Respectful written with elegant prose (but down to earth when needed). So glad we got this for Mac.
Noor by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
Strong narrative voice, fantastic worldbuilding, weak romance? (Why does it there to be a romance when there’s so little attempts at building a chemistry? Publishing quota? I think it would have worked very well to have the protagonist ending up in this book being alone and happy, with friends instead of plus one forced lover. Come on it’s 2024.)
The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I think this is probably what they call a dashing debut?
Deals with heavy topics although fundamentally in no more than cosmetic ways (that goes for the Korean and Chinese elements; same exotic, one-eye stereotype treatment American writers tend to give; very disappointing here). But these explorations I think deserves to be applauded, especially given it’s a debut. Not easy to manage fitting in so many in a short story.
On the note of “short:” this is going to diverge heavily depending on personal tastes, but I have found the purple prose worked against the storytelling’s favor overall. It’s good to catch attention but less than half way the rhythm got repetitive and tiring. I doubt I would’ve finished it had I not known the ending first; something dramatic to end the somewhat bland sense nothingness of the narrative. Note I say “sense,” bc while it’s slow paced there are very dramatic things all these characters experience… So it really should make me feel more perhaps. But it didn’t. Something of the delivery voice?
Mostly I read it bc I want to see how Kwon does the trick with perspectives and unreliable narrators here. Would recommend for a breezy read except the topics are really heavy. But it can be one for you if you are $&@@#% in the head like me 😂
Deals with heavy topics although fundamentally in no more than cosmetic ways (that goes for the Korean and Chinese elements; same exotic, one-eye stereotype treatment American writers tend to give; very disappointing here). But these explorations I think deserves to be applauded, especially given it’s a debut. Not easy to manage fitting in so many in a short story.
On the note of “short:” this is going to diverge heavily depending on personal tastes, but I have found the purple prose worked against the storytelling’s favor overall. It’s good to catch attention but less than half way the rhythm got repetitive and tiring. I doubt I would’ve finished it had I not known the ending first; something dramatic to end the somewhat bland sense nothingness of the narrative. Note I say “sense,” bc while it’s slow paced there are very dramatic things all these characters experience… So it really should make me feel more perhaps. But it didn’t. Something of the delivery voice?
Mostly I read it bc I want to see how Kwon does the trick with perspectives and unreliable narrators here. Would recommend for a breezy read except the topics are really heavy. But it can be one for you if you are $&@@#% in the head like me 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Car accident
Moderate: Drug use, Rape, and Vomit
Black Heart, Ivory Bones by Terri Windling, Ellen Datlow
dark
mysterious
3.75
Several strong entries and many more not quite on par ones. Recommend:
You, Little Match Girl by Oates, Snow in Summer by Yolen, Chanterelle by Stableford.
You, Little Match Girl by Oates, Snow in Summer by Yolen, Chanterelle by Stableford.
Steven Universe: Art & Origins by Cartoon Network Enterprises Inc, Chris McDonnell, Genndy Tartakovsky, Rebecca Sugar
4.0
Adorable applaudable volume of work showing many behind-the-scenes from the creation of the show. Love all the sketches, the shop talks. While I went in with the knowledge, I imagine it would be a nice way to learn more about the basics of animation in a practical manner too.
The Book of Love by Kelly Link
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really enjoyed Link’s short stories. This book however did disappoint 😞
The other review “really want to enjoy the book but life is too short,” I get you lmao
Managed to slog through mostly (followed almost immediately by forgetting the plot) and had to skip to the end since that’s usually another strong point of any book (or should be, at least). Not sure about this one, truly. Some good points on bringing in some diverse voices into romance, a bit of critique on the romance genre, but other than those slivers of sunshine I can’t say it’s a strong work of fiction. And it’s uneditedly long.
The other review “really want to enjoy the book but life is too short,” I get you lmao
Managed to slog through mostly (followed almost immediately by forgetting the plot) and had to skip to the end since that’s usually another strong point of any book (or should be, at least). Not sure about this one, truly. Some good points on bringing in some diverse voices into romance, a bit of critique on the romance genre, but other than those slivers of sunshine I can’t say it’s a strong work of fiction. And it’s uneditedly long.