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gvstyris's reviews
86 reviews
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I was surprised that this memoir is much more focused on the consequences of extremist religion than the trauma of growing up on YouTube, but thought it was an incredibly important read nonetheless.
I was absolutely taken aback by the physical relationship between Ruby and Jodie though, wow. You really never know what’s going on behind closed doors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
It’s honestly pretty funny how aptly this book would’ve slotted into the syllabus for my FRS. Glad I finally finished it, but can’t help being a little disappointed by the rushed ending. Still curious to give “Never Let Me Go” a read soon.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
There was something very special, but it wasn’t inside Josie. It was inside those who loved her.
It’s honestly pretty funny how aptly this book would’ve slotted into the syllabus for my FRS. Glad I finally finished it, but can’t help being a little disappointed by the rushed ending. Still curious to give “Never Let Me Go” a read soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Medical content
Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Divergent by Veronica Roth
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
what a classic, the chokehold this had on me as a 9 nine year old should be studied
Pages for You by Sylvia Brownrigg
A rare instance of me drastically changing my mind about something. Just goes to show how important external life circumstances are to your enjoyment of certain media.
This isn’t the sapphic coming-of-age novel I expected when I first read it, and is instead a poignant exploration of youth and loneliness. Grateful to have reread this when I did, for sure.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
We could have travelled enough for me if we had just stayed in your room.
A rare instance of me drastically changing my mind about something. Just goes to show how important external life circumstances are to your enjoyment of certain media.
This isn’t the sapphic coming-of-age novel I expected when I first read it, and is instead a poignant exploration of youth and loneliness. Grateful to have reread this when I did, for sure.
Amazona by Canizales
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
I have quite a complicated relationship with Sally Rooney, but was pleasantly surprised by how much this one struck a cord with me…particularly Ivan’s musings and the fundamental tensions Peter grapples with. I’m also halfway in love with Sylvia myself, man.
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Gradually these situations arise, she can see that now, just one step after another, and by the time a few weeks or months have passed, your life is no longer recognizable. You are lying to almost everyone you know. You have come to care too passionately, too fully and completely, for an unsuitable person. You can no longer visualize your own future: not only five years from now, but five months, even five weeks. Everything is in disarray. All this for one person, for the relation that exists between you.
I have quite a complicated relationship with Sally Rooney, but was pleasantly surprised by how much this one struck a cord with me…particularly Ivan’s musings and the fundamental tensions Peter grapples with. I’m also halfway in love with Sylvia myself, man.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
This honestly reminded me more of a journal than a memoir? I will say that I loved the mother-daughter relationship focus, though.