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kshertz's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I wasn’t super invested in this book or the characters. It has an excellent theme about the issues in media and artistry today. Systematic racism infecting all that we do every day is important to examine and this book does it well! I just needed more character building so I would root for them ❤️
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
kelly_e's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Title: The Subtweet
Author: Vivek Shraya
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: April 7, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Original • Quick • Realistic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Neela Devaki has built her career writing songs no one else is singing. When one of her songs if covered by internet artist RUK-MINI, becoming a viral sensation, the two musicians meet and a transformative friendship begins. Before long, the pressure that pit women versus one another begin. As RUK-MINI's star rises, Neela’s peers out, leading to jealousy and self-doubt. A single tweet, will change everything, and they find themselves at the center of an internet firestorm. The Subtweet explores themes of race and gender, but also friendship, music and internet culture.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I wasn't expecting to enjoy a book centering around social media, but what is blatantly obvious coming out of this one is that Vivek Shraya is supremely talented! The Subtweet gives the reader an inside glance into the politics and workings of the Canadian music industry, and
captures the intricoes of female friendship. I appreciated the focus on female artists, and the explorations of arts and culture in Canada, something I have rarely come across in a book. With Vivek's dynamic writing style, I really got to know the characters in such an intimate way, so much so that I felt like I was standing between them. Due to it being on the short side, I was impressed by how Vivek managed to do so. Using social media, and detailing its power - both good and bad - was unique, and incredibly timely.
So much of this book was done right, but I really struggled with the structure. For me, long sections make for a less than enjoyable reading experience overall, and the same can be true here. At times this design made it seem disjointed.
Overall, a strong showing from an author on the rise, it definitely prompted me to reflect on my own privilege as a white cis woman in Canada.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers wanting a quick read
• music fans
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"For me to rediscover my independence, I had to slow down and tune into my body again."
"I wish we could go back to that moment. The discovering each other phase. The addictive self-revelation through another's eyes phase."
Author: Vivek Shraya
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3.5
Pub Date: April 7, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Original • Quick • Realistic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Neela Devaki has built her career writing songs no one else is singing. When one of her songs if covered by internet artist RUK-MINI, becoming a viral sensation, the two musicians meet and a transformative friendship begins. Before long, the pressure that pit women versus one another begin. As RUK-MINI's star rises, Neela’s peers out, leading to jealousy and self-doubt. A single tweet, will change everything, and they find themselves at the center of an internet firestorm. The Subtweet explores themes of race and gender, but also friendship, music and internet culture.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I wasn't expecting to enjoy a book centering around social media, but what is blatantly obvious coming out of this one is that Vivek Shraya is supremely talented! The Subtweet gives the reader an inside glance into the politics and workings of the Canadian music industry, and
captures the intricoes of female friendship. I appreciated the focus on female artists, and the explorations of arts and culture in Canada, something I have rarely come across in a book. With Vivek's dynamic writing style, I really got to know the characters in such an intimate way, so much so that I felt like I was standing between them. Due to it being on the short side, I was impressed by how Vivek managed to do so. Using social media, and detailing its power - both good and bad - was unique, and incredibly timely.
So much of this book was done right, but I really struggled with the structure. For me, long sections make for a less than enjoyable reading experience overall, and the same can be true here. At times this design made it seem disjointed.
Overall, a strong showing from an author on the rise, it definitely prompted me to reflect on my own privilege as a white cis woman in Canada.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers wanting a quick read
• music fans
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"For me to rediscover my independence, I had to slow down and tune into my body again."
"I wish we could go back to that moment. The discovering each other phase. The addictive self-revelation through another's eyes phase."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
so. good!!! the subtweet is a biting, incisive story on ownership and culture. ive never smirked so much reading a book; its social commentary and portrayal of the systemic, structural problem through the personal lens are at once both realistic and irreverent - dealing w/ yts is indeed exhausting.
this is not a perfect book, but it does its own thing rly well. my main issue lies w/ rukmini, whom i feel a lot of things related to her gets glossed over or goes unaddressed by the end of the novel. i feel like she's a lil too far up her own a55 to consider others' feelings, though absolutely no one in this story is perfect (but who is?). for example, why doesnt she show any public support for selfhood? she obsesses over listening to it early and even subtweets abt it, yet is absolutely silent when her friend's album drops. or when she takes ages to reply to neela's texts. the main problem isnt even abt miscommunication but lack of communication here. the ending's also a lil too abrupt imo.
still, this is a book refreshingly filled w/ complex brown characters; exploration of the internet maelstrom and our social media-obsessed age; and an interesting inside look into the music industry (and its many duplicitous, eyebrow-raising practices). i rly enjoy this book and will be checking out vivek shraya's back catalogue for sure.
this is not a perfect book, but it does its own thing rly well. my main issue lies w/ rukmini, whom i feel a lot of things related to her gets glossed over or goes unaddressed by the end of the novel. i feel like she's a lil too far up her own a55 to consider others' feelings, though absolutely no one in this story is perfect (but who is?). for example, why doesnt she show any public support for selfhood? she obsesses over listening to it early and even subtweets abt it, yet is absolutely silent when her friend's album drops. or when she takes ages to reply to neela's texts. the main problem isnt even abt miscommunication but lack of communication here. the ending's also a lil too abrupt imo.
still, this is a book refreshingly filled w/ complex brown characters; exploration of the internet maelstrom and our social media-obsessed age; and an interesting inside look into the music industry (and its many duplicitous, eyebrow-raising practices). i rly enjoy this book and will be checking out vivek shraya's back catalogue for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
Minor: Death