2k1sofia's reviews
9 reviews

Someone Else's Shoes by Jojo Moyes

funny lighthearted tense fast-paced

fun and infuriating yet so lighthearted. played out like an iconic movie in my head. diverse characters, some plot-points not entirely believable but just believeable enough,

all topped with a sweet happy ending that i couldn't have appreciated more.

a good time. 

Waiting by Ha Jin

challenging dark funny tense fast-paced

5.0

a page turner, finished within two days  — tragic, to say the least. the bounds of time, circumstance, and being human display themselves so painfully, so honestly. insightful. political. understanding, but not complacent. a thoroughly enrapturing read. ha jin's writing is quick, meaningful. 

the characters are complex in their simplicity — i feel each character was fleshed out, defined by their surroundings, beyond the invidual. reminded me of how small a world i live in, so many factors out of my control — yet we all continue to live, somehow. we make it work — the stories of resentment and resilience melt together. 

i read reviews saying it's a "world to disappear into" (a bit orientalist?), but the more you "fall" into ha jin's world the more you fall into your own. the type of story to make you question not just the characters' decisions, but your own, too — what rules do i follow? what power do i have? what don't i have, and what do i want? what can i do, and what can't — and who said so?

the ending...... my god. striking. torturous. i don't love the main character, but love is a complicated thing as he learns for himself. would recommend for someone looking to feel anxious. 

Dust by Hugh Howey

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

finished this whole series. yes i cried, but my tears may have stemmed from having finished such a long journey, on top of being sad about the content (like finishing 'the office' and bawling despite disliking so many of the newer seasons). 

plotlines seemed rushed

so men marry young kids? that part just comes and goes. didn't get the significance, besides perhaps showcasing that the church and silo practices were sinister and just as bad as silo 1?

decisions at the end were rushed

like deciding to just blow up silo 1, seemed to be a dues ex machine (i learned that phrase seconds before writing this review)

, but because i read all 3 books within a span of a couple months, and felt very close to the characters, i was left an emotional wreck.

the writer has wit, sure, but i felt at times his choice of words were so corny. lots of wordplay—would definitely be jarring and interrupt any tension he aimed to build. very hetero as well, a large function of the silo

the lottery

required a man and a woman to want children together. can't recall any other form of relationships. alas! like arguably all dystopian novels, the series reflected timeless n current issues. climate change, classism, political polarization, "democracy," etc. what is truly true? to his credit the writer has a knack for weaving in universally binding human experiences into hardhitting prose.

overall, great. got me back into reading fiction and feeling excited about it.

from the bottom of my heart i wished for juliette to find some sort of romance, given her first heartbreak, but it felt realistic in its tradegy

would recommend to someone interested in investing long haul in a dystopian world. 

Wool by Hugh Howey

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

ate this UP! very hetero undertones ie. glorification of nuclear families and having kids, but i don't care because the world is vivid. wonderfully crafted. very detailed descriptions about technical dystopian things made perfect sense. 

confused by how

juliette and lukas got so close so fast,

and feel like some relationship building was rushed, but i personally still shed a tear and love the characters' fleshed out humanity. AUTHOR IS FUNNY, TOO. there is WIT! epilogue + author's notes are worth the read, too. insightful without the preachiness. <3

You're That Bitch & Other Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself by Bretman Rock

funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

honest and funny. 

Femme Dyke, and Other Works Pertaining to the Lesbian Experience Issue 1 by Stella Hobart

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen

informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

read twice now and is becoming a book i refer back on — provides fundamental knowledge in extremely simple and effective writing. read alongside an asian philosophies class, which helped greatly with my understanding. so much to learn from with each reread 

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Sexual content

Reeling by Lola Lafon

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

lafon's writing is unique, efficient, poetic — much of the painful themes of trauma and enduring, adjusting, love with its obstacles, silence and power, tradition, social structures, old n new, is made concise, tangible, real, with each character and their thoroughly crafted roles. each character is introduced with tact and purpose, and every storyline keeps the reader sharp and accountable — do you see how they, the small cog, still contribute to the mayhem? a splendid book, page-turner, a shimmery quilt held together by threads of guilt, forgiveness, and trauma. 

a haunting almost comforting read for those who resonate with the pages; a necessary read for those who don't and would like to expand their literary inventory with realities perhaps untouched within this specific context

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault