gabriellewrren's reviews
58 reviews

The White Album by Joan Didion

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

It’s a book that I will definitely read again. I liked some essays more than others, but it taught me so much. A classic for a reason. 

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

adventurous emotional funny 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

4.75

I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris by Glynnis MacNicol

adventurous lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.75

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

This was a beautiful read, yet it was a hard read. Each passage was so rich … it felt like I was riding waves. The poetics have swallowed me up! I will be thinking of the Sinclair’s for a long time to come.

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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? Yes

2.5

June ends up being a caricature more than a critique of white supremacy itself. With real white people co-opting racialization and benefitting from it, I didn't find the book funny, thrilling or enlightening. Also, way too many June’s are finding the book good for it to be doing any work of making us think about the implications of something like this. 

I would recommend Disorientation over this any day.

Constructing a Nervous System by Margo Jefferson

funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

To read a book that articulates so many thoughts and feelings that you have in excruciating, caring detail is a gift. A true masterpiece. 

Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood

funny lighthearted reflective 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

4.0

This is probably my favorite out of all of Hazelwood’s books! As a grad student, her books scratch an itch like no other. 

The List by Yomi Adegoke

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It took me awhile to finish this book. I kept picking it up and putting it down. I have been trying to decide if it is because of the subject matter or the writing. After finally finishing it, I think it was the subject matter. Adegoke weaves the complicated politics of the #MeToo movement and social media cancellation in an interesting way. These stories are often told from a white point of view and it was refreshing to bring a Black perspective — especially in a time with conversations are swirling about the likes of Diddy and Drake.

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I had a decent time reading this!

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

The book was fine. I found it deeply disturbing and it went on 100 pages too long. I was happy it was over when it was finished. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Murder