elysephone_escapes's reviews
143 reviews
A Silent Voice, Vol. 2, by Yoshitoki Oima
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Okay.... This is only getting a quarter knocked off because of the little sister presenting as a boy made for some awkward situations that made me feel uncomfy but like... Why am I surprised 🙄Â
The rest though is obviously still absolutely banging.
The rest though is obviously still absolutely banging.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
A Silent Voice 1, by Yoshitoki Oima
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Finally got around to it. 💛
Just gonna let you know now that every episode is gonna be five stars, I'm biased and its just gonna be like that
Just gonna let you know now that every episode is gonna be five stars, I'm biased and its just gonna be like that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Ableism
Redemption arc at its finest and that's why I love it
Swing Time, by Zadie Smith
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is the book that made me actually see the value in the recent trend of creatively annotating books. Normally I save it only for the Kindle, my excuse being I'm too busy reading the book to annotate, but this one had some great lines and thought pieces in it that made be decide to go back and underline them. Undoubtedly Zadie Smith is a fantastic writer - and while not my entire personal cup of tea and I may not be picking up another or hers in the near future, I am glad to have found this one and read it. Lots to think about, can't wait to listen to the interviews saved to my YouTube playlist from Smith around this book to get more insight.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
It's Not About the Burqa: Muslim Women on Faith, Feminism, Sexuality and Race, by Mariam Khan
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Finally finished this audiobook, as well as gained a paperback of it completely by chance along the way, ready for me to go back and reread with a pencil in hand. Very glad I read, found some gems that could be applied to anyone regardless of religion, gender, race, beliefs etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Xenophobia, and Racism
Arabian Nights: A Selection, by Jack D. Zipes, Richard Francis Burton
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Trigger warnings: racism, misogyny and rape.Â
Half way through, this really became a "I'm reading this to say that I've read it" book. Really the only thing I'm giving it stars for is the inherent adventure and magic in the plots and the tales of mischief and enchantment, which to its credit it is very much as advertised. Some of the tales were fun in their plot line, but after about 200 pages of quite rigid and static writing of "Aladdin did this" and then "Julnar did that" it starts weighing heavy, although occasionally there are some very lovely lines and quotes.
The underlying tones of racism and misogyny that was sprinkled in throughout was a bit of a hurdle as well, although some were worse than others. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp felt like it went on forever and he wasn't even that charming of a protagonist.Â
My favourite by far was "Julnar the Mermaid and Her Son Badar Basim of Persia". I am curious to know who/where the original tales deprive from because we jumped all over the East from Egypt to Persia to China but apart from being explicitly said what country you were in, they all seemed to be described the same in ways that hardly felt logical but I guess could be explained.Â
Although to whoever wrote the blurb for this edition and cited 'Prince Behram and Princess Al-Datma' as "a charming early version of The Taming of the Shrew"... I just wanna talk. Tell me, - if I read that story right and I'm pretty sure I did - does rape come across as charming to you? That's definitely a trigger warning for this collection, if the racism and (albeit lesser obvious) misogyny isn't already giving you a red flag: there's a few implications of rape and such. Proceed as you see fit. Also that story was giving me more Atalanta vibes than Taming of the Shrew, but I see it.Â
And then the book just... Ends. I am to assume Scherezade just told tales every single night and survived? I guess.Â
Can see why someone donated this book to the university second hand book sale. I wouldn't particularly keep this either if I wasn't stubborn and like having books on my shelf.
Edit***
After reading some other reviews, I wonder if I am being too harsh and missing a few things. Maybe in the future I'll have to dive in again.Â
Half way through, this really became a "I'm reading this to say that I've read it" book. Really the only thing I'm giving it stars for is the inherent adventure and magic in the plots and the tales of mischief and enchantment, which to its credit it is very much as advertised. Some of the tales were fun in their plot line, but after about 200 pages of quite rigid and static writing of "Aladdin did this" and then "Julnar did that" it starts weighing heavy, although occasionally there are some very lovely lines and quotes.
The underlying tones of racism and misogyny that was sprinkled in throughout was a bit of a hurdle as well, although some were worse than others. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp felt like it went on forever and he wasn't even that charming of a protagonist.Â
My favourite by far was "Julnar the Mermaid and Her Son Badar Basim of Persia". I am curious to know who/where the original tales deprive from because we jumped all over the East from Egypt to Persia to China but apart from being explicitly said what country you were in, they all seemed to be described the same in ways that hardly felt logical but I guess could be explained.Â
Although to whoever wrote the blurb for this edition and cited 'Prince Behram and Princess Al-Datma' as "a charming early version of The Taming of the Shrew"... I just wanna talk. Tell me, - if I read that story right and I'm pretty sure I did - does rape come across as charming to you? That's definitely a trigger warning for this collection, if the racism and (albeit lesser obvious) misogyny isn't already giving you a red flag: there's a few implications of rape and such. Proceed as you see fit. Also that story was giving me more Atalanta vibes than Taming of the Shrew, but I see it.Â
And then the book just... Ends. I am to assume Scherezade just told tales every single night and survived? I guess.Â
Can see why someone donated this book to the university second hand book sale. I wouldn't particularly keep this either if I wasn't stubborn and like having books on my shelf.
Edit***
After reading some other reviews, I wonder if I am being too harsh and missing a few things. Maybe in the future I'll have to dive in again.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Rape, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Slavery
The Monogram Murders, by Sophie Hannah
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
The Hostile Hospital, by Lemony Snicket
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? No
4.75
I'm so happy I'm listening to the audiobooks because the epilogues are just ✨ mwah ✨ also hearing Lemony Snicket's voice AFTER getting deep into the lore is just ✨chilling ✨
This one was actually pretty terrifying. All the others have been quirky scary, but not made me actually really tense, but THIS ONE horrified me in a few different ways. LOVE IT.
I will automatically give any ASOUE book five stars because I adore reading this series and Snicket's creativity, but because this is Storygraph and I can add points, I have to acknowledge at least in one review that the "henchperson who looks like neither a man or a woman" has NOT aged well and I have to chip off some points there for retribution. Bit tone deaf to read in 2022.
This one was actually pretty terrifying. All the others have been quirky scary, but not made me actually really tense, but THIS ONE horrified me in a few different ways. LOVE IT.
I will automatically give any ASOUE book five stars because I adore reading this series and Snicket's creativity, but because this is Storygraph and I can add points, I have to acknowledge at least in one review that the "henchperson who looks like neither a man or a woman" has NOT aged well and I have to chip off some points there for retribution. Bit tone deaf to read in 2022.
Dorothy Must Die, by Danielle Paige
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.
According to my Libby I got 4 hours and 48 minutes in, out of 14 hours.
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I just couldn't get into it. On paper, I liked the concept and its imagination, but there was something stiff and cliched about it that didn't make me all that excited to keep picking it up again.Â
I also didn't really like the main character. She was a classic "my life sucks" angsty teen protagonist that starts to get on my nerves a bit now that my angsty teen years are over. She felt a bit like a cliché and she grumbled a lot. And despite having trust issues she still made dumb impulsive decisions?? (I'm thinking of the bit with the fruit - that bit didn't make sense to me). I think with a touch more compelling main girl I could have been more enthused by it, because the dark reimagining of Oz was really quite cool.Â
Maybe I'll return to it one day, it's been on my to-read list ever since I saw it in Waterstones as a teenager. I think if I had actually read it when I found it then, I might have enjoyed it much more.Â
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I just couldn't get into it. On paper, I liked the concept and its imagination, but there was something stiff and cliched about it that didn't make me all that excited to keep picking it up again.Â
I also didn't really like the main character. She was a classic "my life sucks" angsty teen protagonist that starts to get on my nerves a bit now that my angsty teen years are over. She felt a bit like a cliché and she grumbled a lot. And despite having trust issues she still made dumb impulsive decisions?? (I'm thinking of the bit with the fruit - that bit didn't make sense to me). I think with a touch more compelling main girl I could have been more enthused by it, because the dark reimagining of Oz was really quite cool.Â
Maybe I'll return to it one day, it's been on my to-read list ever since I saw it in Waterstones as a teenager. I think if I had actually read it when I found it then, I might have enjoyed it much more.Â
Magus of the Library, Vol. 2, by Mitsu Izumi
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
 Still one of my absolute favourite reads. The art is absolutely stunning, the story is simple but elegant and fantastical and the characters are so loveable. I would recommend this to absolutely everyone, but most especially manga lovers and Literature students. This is truly one for the book nerds.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
There is some slight Xenophobia in the second chapter of the book that gets addressed in-story, but it can catch you off guard for a second.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, by Dusti Bowling
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
 I picked this one up while browsing my Libby shelves and hardly expected to fall in love with it as much as I did!
The characters were all so charming, interesting, cute and fun to listen to and are definitely what made it a five-stars for me. The story was perfect amounts of real and mysterious and honestly what a perfect title.
I didn't think the ending "reveals" was the direction it was going to go, and I'm still not sure if I 100% liked it, but I didn't hate it! I actually had the most fun in about the early-middle, when Aven was making friends and they were just doing fun kids things.
It also speaks a lot on disability, of course, and explores a lot of conversations. I would love to know what disabled readers think of this books approach to these topics.
Hopefully I'll do a full review of this book - maybe even a journal entry! I'm really surprised at how much I loved it on just a whim choice!Â
The characters were all so charming, interesting, cute and fun to listen to and are definitely what made it a five-stars for me. The story was perfect amounts of real and mysterious and honestly what a perfect title.
I didn't think the ending "reveals" was the direction it was going to go, and I'm still not sure if I 100% liked it, but I didn't hate it! I actually had the most fun in about the early-middle, when Aven was making friends and they were just doing fun kids things.
It also speaks a lot on disability, of course, and explores a lot of conversations. I would love to know what disabled readers think of this books approach to these topics.
Hopefully I'll do a full review of this book - maybe even a journal entry! I'm really surprised at how much I loved it on just a whim choice!Â