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zenzi2read's reviews
691 reviews
At Night All Blood Is Black by David Diop
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
David Diop it takes the band of Brothers/surviving the horrors of war story device in a completely new direction.
He explores the demands of war. The way that a soldier’s asked to be hyper violent – an action that demands a certain amount of insanity – but to have some control and decorum over violence and insanity is meted out.
Can someone who has seen done and experienced what these men have returned to any type of normalcy?
The ending didn’t quite work for me, but the middle was amazing.
He explores the demands of war. The way that a soldier’s asked to be hyper violent – an action that demands a certain amount of insanity – but to have some control and decorum over violence and insanity is meted out.
Can someone who has seen done and experienced what these men have returned to any type of normalcy?
The ending didn’t quite work for me, but the middle was amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, War
Minor: Torture, Xenophobia
The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.5
This was the type of book that made me feel like I was the character.
Despite the fact that Baxter‘s job is repetitive monotonous and exhausting there are a few story threads that maintain the tension and anxiety.
This book contains subject matter that go quickly become depressing. The racism, homophobia, and isolation could make this a devastating read, but Mayr find ways to avoid the trappings of some historical fiction featuring black men characters while making it realistic. I could tell that this book was well researched.
Despite the fact that Baxter‘s job is repetitive monotonous and exhausting there are a few story threads that maintain the tension and anxiety.
This book contains subject matter that go quickly become depressing. The racism, homophobia, and isolation could make this a devastating read, but Mayr find ways to avoid the trappings of some historical fiction featuring black men characters while making it realistic. I could tell that this book was well researched.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Police brutality
The Shadow by Melanie Raabe
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I felt like the pacing of this was way off. The characters were a bit too underdeveloped for the amount of time that we spent in their presence with no plot, moving forward.
The premise was interesting enough. I love the idea of knowing how a story will end and then essentially working backwards. But that type of storytelling takes a very crafty author that knows how to hold a reader’s attention, even though the outcome is already determined. I don’t feel that this author was up to that task.
There were things I liked about the story. The device was fun and the investigation was uneven, but interesting although we didn’t learn a lot about our main character we did gain an understanding of her motivations and her strong belief injustice determined her actions.
The premise was interesting enough. I love the idea of knowing how a story will end and then essentially working backwards. But that type of storytelling takes a very crafty author that knows how to hold a reader’s attention, even though the outcome is already determined. I don’t feel that this author was up to that task.
There were things I liked about the story. The device was fun and the investigation was uneven, but interesting although we didn’t learn a lot about our main character we did gain an understanding of her motivations and her strong belief injustice determined her actions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual harassment
Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw by Eddie Ndopu
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
3.0
The title of this memoir suggest a subversive joyful memoirist. Unfortunately, that’s not what I found on the page.
This memoir largely covers The period of time from Eddie’s acceptance to Oxford and immediately after completing his term – less than two years.
What Eddie describes is the disruptive nature of ableism and how he must dedicate much of his energy to advocating for his care in a somewhat hostile environment. What’s missing is the joy and excitement and celebration of this success that the title suggests.
He mentions offhand that he was class president while at Oxford, but doesn’t share any of the successes In the role. He mentions a meeting with President Obama due to his humanitarian work but fails to explain what the nature of the humanitarian work is. Also, his friends seem to be extremely wealthy, intellectuals and artists. We don’t get a look at his charismatic side or his intellectual side. Do they like him because he tells good jokes? Or maybe his astute takes on politics? None of that is shared.
I don’t feel like I received any other facets of his personality, besides self advocacy. It made for monotonous read.
This memoir largely covers The period of time from Eddie’s acceptance to Oxford and immediately after completing his term – less than two years.
What Eddie describes is the disruptive nature of ableism and how he must dedicate much of his energy to advocating for his care in a somewhat hostile environment. What’s missing is the joy and excitement and celebration of this success that the title suggests.
He mentions offhand that he was class president while at Oxford, but doesn’t share any of the successes In the role. He mentions a meeting with President Obama due to his humanitarian work but fails to explain what the nature of the humanitarian work is. Also, his friends seem to be extremely wealthy, intellectuals and artists. We don’t get a look at his charismatic side or his intellectual side. Do they like him because he tells good jokes? Or maybe his astute takes on politics? None of that is shared.
I don’t feel like I received any other facets of his personality, besides self advocacy. It made for monotonous read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Medical trauma
Minor: Homophobia
The Ice Cream Girls by Dorothy Koomson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.25
Although Koomson generally writes thrillers, this has the pacing and character development of literary or contemporary fiction and the slow building unease of a suspense novel.
The character development is done in an interesting way. You meet these women as fully form, but in perfect adults and receive occasional flashbacks to the past. This allows us to see a full circle journey for each woman and gain a better understanding of their current motivations for actions that would otherwise seem Illogical
I think this is an interesting take on the revenge trope. These two women with a similar past creeping towards a collision course kept me interested. It’s a large book, but I was never bored.
Some of the suspense did resolve itself along before the end and I think that that will be a decision. The author made that will frustrate some. For me, I enjoyed the story enough to stick with it. That does mean that the last quarter of the book doesn’t hold much in the way of tension.
Ultimately, I like the character development and worldbuilding and interpersonal relationships described in the novel and would recommend it
The character development is done in an interesting way. You meet these women as fully form, but in perfect adults and receive occasional flashbacks to the past. This allows us to see a full circle journey for each woman and gain a better understanding of their current motivations for actions that would otherwise seem Illogical
I think this is an interesting take on the revenge trope. These two women with a similar past creeping towards a collision course kept me interested. It’s a large book, but I was never bored.
Some of the suspense did resolve itself along before the end and I think that that will be a decision. The author made that will frustrate some. For me, I enjoyed the story enough to stick with it. That does mean that the last quarter of the book doesn’t hold much in the way of tension.
Ultimately, I like the character development and worldbuilding and interpersonal relationships described in the novel and would recommend it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder
Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.0
Veil took her time meticulously creating each character on the page. Each person had a full backstory and a personality and experiences that may their actions understandable. Although much of the book is character development ultimately that serves the story well.
The supernatural portion of this story draws heavily on the sibling relationships, and the trauma that they experienced together and alone. I think this was an excellent foundation for the story. Discussing this aspect further would be a light spoiler, but I do think that this is unique enough to set this book apart from others using similar plot devices.
The suspenseful part kept me guessing, but the pacing for me was off. This book isn’t especially long, but it feels long at some point. I liked the interpersonal relationships and the strong voices of the characters. The part of me thinks that there is room to remove some of it and increase, the pace to something more medium than slow.
There are parts of this book that feel like a fever dream. This is the type of book that sometimes feels like a movie the writing was very descriptive and they were times when reality was very thin.
The supernatural portion of this story draws heavily on the sibling relationships, and the trauma that they experienced together and alone. I think this was an excellent foundation for the story. Discussing this aspect further would be a light spoiler, but I do think that this is unique enough to set this book apart from others using similar plot devices.
The suspenseful part kept me guessing, but the pacing for me was off. This book isn’t especially long, but it feels long at some point. I liked the interpersonal relationships and the strong voices of the characters. The part of me thinks that there is room to remove some of it and increase, the pace to something more medium than slow.
There are parts of this book that feel like a fever dream. This is the type of book that sometimes feels like a movie the writing was very descriptive and they were times when reality was very thin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Drug use, Police brutality
Colored Television by Danzy Senna
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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
The most compelling part of this novel is the creative process and how identity affects what’s produced. I would’ve enjoyed more of the book spent on research development and brainstorming sessions. I think that the authors inclusion of some of this was highly successful and added a bit of levity to a melancholy read.
What keeps this book from five star territory for me is the character development and pacing. This book takes more than 30% of its time to get to the problem that really kickstart the plot. Before that we get a lot of character development for what is a fairly shallow character, she wasn’t given enough depth or plot points that affected her personality deserving of that much time before our main plot started.
And in a story this grounded there was so much about her That was unbelievable. She making the mistakes of a much younger woman. She had far too much life experience to ignore calendar or betrayal, lifelong friend or lie in a way that she would certainly be found out. I felt the same way about her husband. They were perplexing.
What keeps this book from five star territory for me is the character development and pacing. This book takes more than 30% of its time to get to the problem that really kickstart the plot. Before that we get a lot of character development for what is a fairly shallow character, she wasn’t given enough depth or plot points that affected her personality deserving of that much time before our main plot started.
And in a story this grounded there was so much about her That was unbelievable. She making the mistakes of a much younger woman. She had far too much life experience to ignore calendar or betrayal, lifelong friend or lie in a way that she would certainly be found out. I felt the same way about her husband. They were perplexing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism
A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book read like a celebratory wake. The authors, unique form of storytelling – a mix of verse and prose– made this book feel less like a dry encyclopedia of black entertainment.
Although it was exciting and often times humorous, it’s obvious that it is painstakingly researched.Hanif added nuance to even the most celebrated and well-known entertainers. He he added historical context, and relevancy to entertainers that I’ve never heard of.
I found myself, pausing my read to listen to snippets of music mentioned or to watch a bit of YouTube performance. This book is an experience in itself.
This book is an excellent exploration of the labor and exhaustive nature of racism, but also of The act of resistance through Joy creativity and swagger.
Although it was exciting and often times humorous, it’s obvious that it is painstakingly researched.Hanif added nuance to even the most celebrated and well-known entertainers. He he added historical context, and relevancy to entertainers that I’ve never heard of.
I found myself, pausing my read to listen to snippets of music mentioned or to watch a bit of YouTube performance. This book is an experience in itself.
This book is an excellent exploration of the labor and exhaustive nature of racism, but also of The act of resistance through Joy creativity and swagger.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts
Woodworm by Layla Martínez
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.0
Atmospheric fast paced and mysterious. Martinez describes a setting that feels at least 100 years in the past, but this is set in the present.
It could be that that anachronistic feeling is due to the fact that our main characters are ruled by the past. Is it a curse or is it generational trauma? That answer is up to interpretation, but I loved the mystery and unreliable narrators for the story.
Although the pacing could have been tighter, the story and the play on the haunted House Trope was enjoyable.
It could be that that anachronistic feeling is due to the fact that our main characters are ruled by the past. Is it a curse or is it generational trauma? That answer is up to interpretation, but I loved the mystery and unreliable narrators for the story.
Although the pacing could have been tighter, the story and the play on the haunted House Trope was enjoyable.
Red Pill by Hari Kunzru
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.5
I didn’t expect such a compelling intense narrative from this short novel. Our main characters journey from a man who is anxious about his personal future to a man who is obsessed with the state of the Western world is interesting to observe. Is it paranoia if it’s true? In some ways this feels like a thriller, but it is so deeply grounded in reality, I could believe that this was somebody’s memoir
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Xenophobia