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catmech's reviews
30 reviews
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
Arrangements in Blue: Notes on Loving and Living Alone by Amy Key
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Most of the other books I've 5 starred have deeply resonated with a part of me, but I've never read a book where I felt like the author and I were on the exact same page on so many topics. So so many times reading this I thought, "My god I didn't think anyone else would have these exact same feelings!!" It's funny because the author and I are very different and have had wildly different experiences in life, but I also share such similar feelings about falling in love, romantic relationships, childrearing, etc. with her. It feels like looking into a mirror, but also like looking into my future. I cried lots while reading this book and I would really love to buy a copy and annotate it sometime!!
(BTW, if you are thinking about reading this book but don't know much about Joni Mitchell, this book will still be very enjoyable. I don't think I've listened to any Joni Mitchell songs but the way that Amy Key writes about how she feels towards Mitchell's work was more than enough to make me feel invested.)
(BTW, if you are thinking about reading this book but don't know much about Joni Mitchell, this book will still be very enjoyable. I don't think I've listened to any Joni Mitchell songs but the way that Amy Key writes about how she feels towards Mitchell's work was more than enough to make me feel invested.)
The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.
I gotta stop trying to read books that I am not interested in after I give them a fair chance, so this book is the first victim :( It's just too slow for my taste, and I'm just not interested in the politics/worldbuilding happening. Mostly I wanted to read this book so I could get context for Lake of Souls, but I also don't feel like reading this book anymore. Sorry!
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I shouldn't just write reviews for books I don't like, but I've got lots of criticisms in my brain right now, so I think I'll write them out here. I was expecting to like this book, at least in a surface-level way. Instead, I realized 100 pages in that I did not and would not like this book.
For a book that seems to want to focus on its characters, it really isn't good at showing you who they are. The book gives paragraphs of character descriptions, but doesn't really do a good job of showing you would they are or allowing the reader to relate to them. There was soo much telling and so little showing. Also, the word choice was not fun. I was reading a physical copy of this and could not be bothered to look up the SAT words sprinkled in every few pages.
The dialogue also wasn't great. None of the characters really had a distinctive voice, besides Dov and only because he cursed more than the other characters did. I also couldn't get over how the characters spoke exactly the same when they were 11 and when they were adults. Children don't talk like that???
There were several parts of the book where characters would be expressing their opinions about something political or societal and it just seemed like the author was using the characters as a mouthpiece. Absolutely did not love how the characters talked about cultural appropriation and the way that acknowledging trauma has become more socially acceptable. There was also a line about how most art could only be made by damaged people, which is an idea I absolutely resent. I think that is a popular idea about artists that leads artists to believe that their personal torment is good somehow and prevents them from seeking help. I hate it!!! I think that Diane in the TV show Bojack Horseman interacts with this idea in an interesting way (she stops taking her antidepressants, even though they have been helping her, because she can't write a memoir about her damage. This, surprise surprise, turns out to be a terrible idea!! She gets back on her meds and ends up writing a book that is more fun for her to write and more fun for others to read.) Also, I appreciate reading a book with Jewish characters, since I feel that I don't often see Jewish characters in books I read, but I did not love how pro-Israel they were. Especially for a book published so recently, it seems that the author should be more cognizant of how complicated of a situation it is? Esp since the author is half Jewish herself? The part where Sadie says she reads a book about the "creation of Israel" to bond with Dov was especially not great.
Also, it sucked so bad to read any scene with Dov in it. I don't think that Dov had any redeeming qualities about him. Even if he was the best game dev in the world, I don't think that makes up for his general attitude (rude), unprofessionalism, and lack of curiosity. It's hard for me to believe that someone like him who is so self-centered could create a work of art that could connect with so many people, but whatever. I guess Dead Seas was just a zombie shooter so maybe that's why? I think I reached my breaking point whenDov pushes BDSM on Sadie and there isn't any discussion about how consent from BOTH PARTIES is so so important for any scene. The way the scene where Sadie is handcuffed to the bed is written seems so much like a rape scene. Those scenes and the scene where Sam's mom is groped by the game show host made me very uncomfortable, and I wish that the sexual assault trigger had been higher on Storygraph's content warnings.
Also, the author may have been inspired and failed to give credit/plagiarized the idea for Sadie's Solution game from a board game, so that's cool too. Generally I did not get the sense that the author was someone who loved video games, though in the afterward, the author says that she is a lifelong gamer. The way that the characters talked did not remind me of the ways that I or the people I know who love games talk. I thought that all the comparisons of life to video games was pretty cheesy, and could even be a tonal whiplash, like whenSadie tells one of the other employees something about life being like a video game, so he shouldn't be so hard on himself on sort of being part of Marx's death?
I felt compelled to finish this book because I was recommended it by my friends' parents and was even lent a copy of the book. The book also read pretty easy. However, I really did not enjoy it. I'm glad I didn't spend any money to read this book!
Good things I like about this book, to be fair: There were good bits of writing here and there? Sometimes there would be nice profound thoughts about love or grief that I liked. I also liked the part where Sadie was talking about how we build versions of people in our brain, and when they aren't a part of our lives anymore, that version of them fades away. I also appreciate the themes being consistent throughout the book. I think there was a lot of research done into the locations of the books and the development of video games.
For a book that seems to want to focus on its characters, it really isn't good at showing you who they are. The book gives paragraphs of character descriptions, but doesn't really do a good job of showing you would they are or allowing the reader to relate to them. There was soo much telling and so little showing. Also, the word choice was not fun. I was reading a physical copy of this and could not be bothered to look up the SAT words sprinkled in every few pages.
The dialogue also wasn't great. None of the characters really had a distinctive voice, besides Dov and only because he cursed more than the other characters did. I also couldn't get over how the characters spoke exactly the same when they were 11 and when they were adults. Children don't talk like that???
There were several parts of the book where characters would be expressing their opinions about something political or societal and it just seemed like the author was using the characters as a mouthpiece. Absolutely did not love how the characters talked about cultural appropriation and the way that acknowledging trauma has become more socially acceptable. There was also a line about how most art could only be made by damaged people, which is an idea I absolutely resent. I think that is a popular idea about artists that leads artists to believe that their personal torment is good somehow and prevents them from seeking help. I hate it!!! I think that Diane in the TV show Bojack Horseman interacts with this idea in an interesting way (she stops taking her antidepressants, even though they have been helping her, because she can't write a memoir about her damage. This, surprise surprise, turns out to be a terrible idea!! She gets back on her meds and ends up writing a book that is more fun for her to write and more fun for others to read.) Also, I appreciate reading a book with Jewish characters, since I feel that I don't often see Jewish characters in books I read, but I did not love how pro-Israel they were. Especially for a book published so recently, it seems that the author should be more cognizant of how complicated of a situation it is? Esp since the author is half Jewish herself? The part where Sadie says she reads a book about the "creation of Israel" to bond with Dov was especially not great.
Also, it sucked so bad to read any scene with Dov in it. I don't think that Dov had any redeeming qualities about him. Even if he was the best game dev in the world, I don't think that makes up for his general attitude (rude), unprofessionalism, and lack of curiosity. It's hard for me to believe that someone like him who is so self-centered could create a work of art that could connect with so many people, but whatever. I guess Dead Seas was just a zombie shooter so maybe that's why? I think I reached my breaking point when
Also, the author may have been inspired and failed to give credit/plagiarized the idea for Sadie's Solution game from a board game, so that's cool too. Generally I did not get the sense that the author was someone who loved video games, though in the afterward, the author says that she is a lifelong gamer. The way that the characters talked did not remind me of the ways that I or the people I know who love games talk. I thought that all the comparisons of life to video games was pretty cheesy, and could even be a tonal whiplash, like when
I felt compelled to finish this book because I was recommended it by my friends' parents and was even lent a copy of the book. The book also read pretty easy. However, I really did not enjoy it. I'm glad I didn't spend any money to read this book!
Good things I like about this book, to be fair: There were good bits of writing here and there? Sometimes there would be nice profound thoughts about love or grief that I liked. I also liked the part where Sadie was talking about how we build versions of people in our brain, and when they aren't a part of our lives anymore, that version of them fades away. I also appreciate the themes being consistent throughout the book. I think there was a lot of research done into the locations of the books and the development of video games.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Ok, so I started writing my review for this book and it ended up becoming more than 1,000 words (and counting because I am still not finished. My god) of me talking about how I personally connected with the book and deconstructing themes.
So I am going to spare this book's review section of that monstrosity and instead post it on my neocities website! Hooray...
Anyways, TLDR this book felt like it was written for me. It dealt with themes of grief, immigration, colonization, and love in complex ways. I loved it a lot and went a little crazy from it!!! I had a few issues with the pacing and unnecessary complexity of the word choice, but the core of the book is so dear to me.
Loved it. Must-read for those who love reading about the Franklin expedition.
So I am going to spare this book's review section of that monstrosity and instead post it on my neocities website! Hooray...
Anyways, TLDR this book felt like it was written for me. It dealt with themes of grief, immigration, colonization, and love in complex ways. I loved it a lot and went a little crazy from it!!! I had a few issues with the pacing and unnecessary complexity of the word choice, but the core of the book is so dear to me.
Loved it. Must-read for those who love reading about the Franklin expedition.
The Unraveling by Benjamin Rosenbaum
GAHHH!!!!
My experience reading this book was actually much smoother than I thought it would be. The pronouns weren't too much of an issue, and I was a big fan of how the book drip-fed world building piece by piece, in a way that wasn't overwhelming but left just enough mystery to compel me to read on. The way Rosenbaum wrote Fift's emotions, and especially how ze felt towards Shria, was just. Gah. I can't describe it. Tender?????
This book is great for those who love character-driven books. The plot is a bit all over the place. Also, if I had to criticize something, Fift had so many parents and I could not keep track of them. But it was okay. This book is so good. Thank you to Ann Leckie for recommending it on her Tumblr. Everyone go read Translation State too. (It matches thematically with this book!)
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Ever since I read this last summer I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. My brain keeps leading me back to thinking about all the gender shenanigans and coming-of-ageness that happens and how much I love it. Also, every so often I am reminded of these lines:
But we have existed so long, you and I, accumulating so many layers of memory and interpretation... what do I know, really, of who we once were? All I have left is myth. And surely you've now drifted even farther. What might you have become, Siob, in all these centuries since we last met? Even if I found you again, would you know me? Could we still decipher each other?
GAHHH!!!!
My experience reading this book was actually much smoother than I thought it would be. The pronouns weren't too much of an issue, and I was a big fan of how the book drip-fed world building piece by piece, in a way that wasn't overwhelming but left just enough mystery to compel me to read on. The way Rosenbaum wrote Fift's emotions, and especially how ze felt towards Shria, was just. Gah. I can't describe it. Tender?????
This book is great for those who love character-driven books. The plot is a bit all over the place. Also, if I had to criticize something, Fift had so many parents and I could not keep track of them. But it was okay. This book is so good. Thank you to Ann Leckie for recommending it on her Tumblr. Everyone go read Translation State too. (It matches thematically with this book!)
Translation State by Ann Leckie
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I think about Reet every time I am at work and wish I were instead watching Doctor Who with a cold cup of chocolate milk. Reet my beloved we are so similar (it's the autistic parallels). This book was so good I will never stop thinking about it!!!!!!
Ok I am back because I had a bad day and I want to talk about this book that I loved so much. I had to wait a little bit before 5 starring it because I didn't want the immediate post-book high to influence my review but I have been thinking about this book So Much and I loved it so much when I read it. So into the 5 star tier it goes :~)
Reasons I love this book so dearly:
1. Starts with a funeral scene!!!!!! From the very first page I was so excited to read on. And Enae <333333 wahhhh I was rooting for hir the whole way <3333333
2. Again, Reet my absolute beloved. This may be showing my hand a bit but he was immediately boosted into my top-tier characters when he was actively having a conversation with someone and all he was thinking of was "God I wish I were at home, watching my favorite TV show, and eating dumplings." I have had that exact thought process SO MANY TIMES!!!! I have a designated mind room that I like to imagine I am in when I am in situations that I desperately do not want to be in. Reet I am shaking your hand SO HARD!!!! Also, you know, the whole feeling out of place, thoughts of vivisection, and complicated feelings about family. Man. It was like Ann Leckie looked right into my brain and made a character/book out of it. Also, giant, massive, transgender parallels. Just, so much gender parallels, everywhere. My god.
3. REET AND QVEN QPR!!!!!!!!! NOT REALLY BUT LET ME HAVE THIS!!!!!!!!!
4. Qven "eat things you really aren't supposed to" LastName (I forgot if e has a last name) How many times have I been so incredibly into a piece of media that I have dreamed of eating its physical form (CD, book, DVD, cassette tape, etc etc). Again, Ann Leckie brain look write book I read book it is such a mirror. This review is getting less comprehensible as it goes on.
5. THE POWER OF BUREAUCRACY!!!! As someone who mayyy go into government in the future and has also been very very interested in government, this was super great to see. More scifi lawyers please!!! I need this.
6. Super glad I read the Imperial Radch trilogy before reading this book, though a reread right before would have been the best thing to do. I wanted to join in on the excitement of favorite characters returning but I forgot almost everyone but Breq and Seivarden :( But there was a little mention of Breq!!!!! I was very excited about that. No babygirl Seivarden though :(
7. BODY HORROR I ALMOST FORGOT. I was NOT expecting the intense body horror but I was SUCH A FAN!!!!!!!!!! God I lovedddddd all the body melting and melding and gore. It made me feel a little sick but I loved it so much. My god the next time I need some serious body horror I am going to give this book a reread.
8. Made me so happy that Enae was middle-aged <33333 I am not old by any means but I am very aware of how quickly I am getting there and so I have been wishing to read more books with older characters. I like 20-something year old characters now, but I am sure that when I get a little older it will be a little sad to only read about characters who are much younger than I am. It's already weird reading YA books where the main characters are 16-18. Very strange.
Anyways, I will be recommending this book to everyone, all my friends, strangers on the street, new classmates, etc etc. I won't stop bothering people about this book until everyone reads it and tells me that they loved it. Everyone go borrow this book at your local library/buy a copy/ask me to borrow my copy (when I get a copy!!!! It's going to happen some time. I'm going to be in a bookstore ((dangerous)), have a little extra spending money, not enough self-control, and maybe have an enabler friend by my side, and it's going to happen. I know it.). Read this book.
Ok I am back because I had a bad day and I want to talk about this book that I loved so much. I had to wait a little bit before 5 starring it because I didn't want the immediate post-book high to influence my review but I have been thinking about this book So Much and I loved it so much when I read it. So into the 5 star tier it goes :~)
Reasons I love this book so dearly:
2. Again, Reet my absolute beloved. This may be showing my hand a bit but he was immediately boosted into my top-tier characters when he was actively having a conversation with someone and all he was thinking of was "God I wish I were at home, watching my favorite TV show, and eating dumplings." I have had that exact thought process SO MANY TIMES!!!! I have a designated mind room that I like to imagine I am in when I am in situations that I desperately do not want to be in. Reet I am shaking your hand SO HARD!!!! Also, you know, the whole feeling out of place, thoughts of vivisection, and complicated feelings about family. Man. It was like Ann Leckie looked right into my brain and made a character/book out of it. Also, giant, massive, transgender parallels. Just, so much gender parallels, everywhere. My god.
3. REET AND QVEN QPR!!!!!!!!! NOT REALLY BUT LET ME HAVE THIS!!!!!!!!!
4. Qven "eat things you really aren't supposed to" LastName (I forgot if e has a last name) How many times have I been so incredibly into a piece of media that I have dreamed of eating its physical form (CD, book, DVD, cassette tape, etc etc). Again, Ann Leckie brain look write book I read book it is such a mirror. This review is getting less comprehensible as it goes on.
5. THE POWER OF BUREAUCRACY!!!! As someone who mayyy go into government in the future and has also been very very interested in government, this was super great to see. More scifi lawyers please!!! I need this.
6. Super glad I read the Imperial Radch trilogy before reading this book, though a reread right before would have been the best thing to do. I wanted to join in on the excitement of favorite characters returning but I forgot almost everyone but Breq and Seivarden :( But there was a little mention of Breq!!!!! I was very excited about that. No babygirl Seivarden though :(
7. BODY HORROR I ALMOST FORGOT. I was NOT expecting the intense body horror but I was SUCH A FAN!!!!!!!!!! God I lovedddddd all the body melting and melding and gore. It made me feel a little sick but I loved it so much. My god the next time I need some serious body horror I am going to give this book a reread.
8. Made me so happy that Enae was middle-aged <33333 I am not old by any means but I am very aware of how quickly I am getting there and so I have been wishing to read more books with older characters. I like 20-something year old characters now, but I am sure that when I get a little older it will be a little sad to only read about characters who are much younger than I am. It's already weird reading YA books where the main characters are 16-18. Very strange.
Anyways, I will be recommending this book to everyone, all my friends, strangers on the street, new classmates, etc etc. I won't stop bothering people about this book until everyone reads it and tells me that they loved it. Everyone go borrow this book at your local library/buy a copy/ask me to borrow my copy (when I get a copy!!!! It's going to happen some time. I'm going to be in a bookstore ((dangerous)), have a little extra spending money, not enough self-control, and maybe have an enabler friend by my side, and it's going to happen. I know it.). Read this book.