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trulybooked's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
anaum's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
belladonnashrike's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
For millennia, I have been evolving into this version of myself, this body. To know yours.
Because it was necessary.
I really loved this. it’s not poetry, but there’s a poetic nature to each and every page. and the illustrations are beautiful (I don’t have the precise page numbers as I read it on my phone, but the one at the 86% mark of the god with a necklace of skulls is my favorite).
the story of the gods and the story of the human protagonist mirror each other beautifully. I see parts of Shiva and Parvati (and Parvati’s other selves), but mostly Ganesha in the human protagonist.using the birth and actualization of Ganesha as a looking glass for a human navigating their queerness is so perfect.
this is also the second time within the past year that I’ve read a book that had these undertones of the main character, who I imagine resembles the author in some way, transitioning at some point in the future (beyond the narrative that the book currently holds). both times, I’ve looked up the author to find more of their work to find that they’ve transitioned themselves or are using a different set of pronouns than when the book was published. I think it’s beautiful how these parts of ourselves as human beings are often always here, even if we don’t notice them for awhile (or simply don’t have the language for them yet), but they always weave their way into our art.
I’d love to read a physical copy.
Because it was necessary.
I really loved this. it’s not poetry, but there’s a poetic nature to each and every page. and the illustrations are beautiful (I don’t have the precise page numbers as I read it on my phone, but the one at the 86% mark of the god with a necklace of skulls is my favorite).
the story of the gods and the story of the human protagonist mirror each other beautifully. I see parts of Shiva and Parvati (and Parvati’s other selves), but mostly Ganesha in the human protagonist.
this is also the second time within the past year that I’ve read a book that had these undertones of the main character, who I imagine resembles the author in some way, transitioning at some point in the future (beyond the narrative that the book currently holds). both times, I’ve looked up the author to find more of their work to find that they’ve transitioned themselves or are using a different set of pronouns than when the book was published. I think it’s beautiful how these parts of ourselves as human beings are often always here, even if we don’t notice them for awhile (or simply don’t have the language for them yet), but they always weave their way into our art.
I’d love to read a physical copy.
michaelion's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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
4.0
The edition I read was published pre the author coming out, and I think it's so interesting and beautiful how so many people, so many women have their first instance of self love being in connection to the other women they love. That's so sweet.
The art reminds me of the corporate art wave happening rn. Maybe she was the trendsetter! :o
The art reminds me of the corporate art wave happening rn. Maybe she was the trendsetter! :o
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, and Murder
cutlet's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
desireeslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
such a cute reimagination of Hindu mythology told through the lens of a queer man's identity journey. I listened to this as an audiobook and just learned that it is an illustrated novel? got to get my hands on that. But even without the illustrations I loved this so much!
such a cute reimagination of Hindu mythology told through the lens of a queer man's identity journey. I listened to this as an audiobook and just learned that it is an illustrated novel? got to get my hands on that. But even without the illustrations I loved this so much!
amaldae's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Biphobia and -erasure is so tiresome. Fatphobia is not much better. This whole book is an exercise in self-hatred and the main character's internalized white supremacist ideals. All intentional and fitting the setting, but I am tired. I'm sad I did not enjoy my two-day stay in Shraya's work.
ratgrrrl's review against another edition
5.0
This is an incredibly beautiful and important work that weaves the trauma of policing gender and sexuality, as well the struggle of growing up a POC in a majority white country, through a beautiful modern coming of age and significant relationships story with a retelling of Hindu mythology to create a work that is simultaneously vulnerable; delicate; and exquisite, and bombastic, mighty, and indomitable in its exploration and exclamation that our bodies, experiences, wants, needs; our selves are beautiful, and the constraints and castigation of society and the small-minded that make us monstrous.
I can't personally speak to the cultural or racial elements, but the Queer pain, trauma, liberation, and exultation hit me where I live! I'm non-binary trans femme bisexual panromantic lesbian who's disabled and fat who was denigrated and repressed nearly all my life and the bodily struggles and the heartbreak when Queer and Transphobia, and archaic binary thinking comes from within our own communities that echoes throughout this book truly struck a chord with me and my experiences.
I cannot recommend the audiobook read by the author more strongly for just how powerful differently inflected each of the repeated words and phrases that permeate the text like mantras are. It's really something else. The listing of house items alone nearly brought me to tears from the impact of the reading.
I am absolutely blown away and will absolutely seek out more from this author!
I can't personally speak to the cultural or racial elements, but the Queer pain, trauma, liberation, and exultation hit me where I live! I'm non-binary trans femme bisexual panromantic lesbian who's disabled and fat who was denigrated and repressed nearly all my life and the bodily struggles and the heartbreak when Queer and Transphobia, and archaic binary thinking comes from within our own communities that echoes throughout this book truly struck a chord with me and my experiences.
I cannot recommend the audiobook read by the author more strongly for just how powerful differently inflected each of the repeated words and phrases that permeate the text like mantras are. It's really something else. The listing of house items alone nearly brought me to tears from the impact of the reading.
I am absolutely blown away and will absolutely seek out more from this author!