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isaacreads's reviews
68 reviews
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
1.0
I found this book thoroughly underwhelming. I couldn't relate to Page as a character at all, and I feel like she could have been replaced by a cardboard cutout with the same powers and the book wouldn't change at all except for being much much shorter. The world building was extraordinarily broad, but not deep or complex enough, I study architecture, and while the descriptions of areas was vivid enough to make me visualize it, I really struggled to visualize the scale of the different rephs areas, and where they are in relation to each other, which is a problem I have never had with books before. There are too many nicknames for too many things that you just can't keep track of. It definitely feels like a book trying to set a series up, it doesn't feel like there is a self contained plot within this book. I feel like this is largely due to the false start in London, where alot of time is spent creating that world, then you get to oxford and then you start the novel all over again, with a new set of world building happening.
As for the pacing its simultaneously too fast and too slow, to much time is spent explaining what harlies, bone-grubbers- and mime lords are, and far to little exploring why the system their trying to over throw. It feels like it should have been a trilogy within itself rather than the start of a entire series.
This book chooses to tell rather than show the inequality that exists in the society. The romance that blooms between the main character and the love interest feels utterly forced, I saw it coming from a mile away, and considering the lack of slow careful development, and the way the plot kind of forced them together, im sad to say that that romance is NOT it.
As for the pacing its simultaneously too fast and too slow, to much time is spent explaining what harlies, bone-grubbers- and mime lords are, and far to little exploring why the system their trying to over throw. It feels like it should have been a trilogy within itself rather than the start of a entire series.
This book chooses to tell rather than show the inequality that exists in the society. The romance that blooms between the main character and the love interest feels utterly forced, I saw it coming from a mile away, and considering the lack of slow careful development, and the way the plot kind of forced them together, im sad to say that that romance is NOT it.
The Trouble with Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life by Michael Warner
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
it was a good primer to queer theroy, but jesus did it repeat itself
Black Coral by Andrew Mayne
3.0
I am morally conflicted about reading this book. On one hand, fuck cops, and not in a fake white liberal way, in a empathetic way, where I am truely angry and deeply saddened by police brutality. On the other hand, supernatural thrillers scare me too much, and I am in the mood to be SPOOKED, like heart pounding page gripping spooked, and I have always had a deep love for crime thrillers. I donated the books amount to a therapy fund for black woman to counteract the unwilling support I’m showing for the police institution
The book doesn’t address the black lives matter movement in any capacity. If the publishers are reading this review, I highly suggest having a page in the front of the book listing charity’s to donate to, or donating a part of the books profits to the cause. These problems don’t go away simply because you look away.
The only way in which this book comes marginally close to dealing with the black lives matter movement is through the portrayal of how the main character, Sloan McPherson, learns to see suspects as human. There is a heavy emphasis on the underlying humanity of the suspects, which Sloan learns to recognize throughout the book.
Characters 2/5
Sloan McPherson is a mixed bag. She is written by a man, and although it is clear that he researched life as a woman, there is one big area in which it absolutely misses the mark. She is “not like other girls”, I mean she straight up says “i was more into spear fishing than Saterdays at galleria mall”. The other area in which his depiction of womanhood fell short is his depiction of Sloan as a woman in a male dominated industry. There is one incident of sexism, and it is handled very poorly, when she talks to her superior later, he calls her response a tantrum, and she then agrees with him.
Despite the fact that he very much missed these major marks, there are other areas in which I felt he did very well. Yes, she fulfills the “not like other girls ” trope through her rejection of femininity, but it was amazing to see is how her masculinity affected areas of her character that are normally held sacred by writers. So often masculine woman in media melt into soft, conventional, feminine woman through the love of a man, and motherhood, however in Black Coral, the ways that she engages with her boyfriend and daughter is distinctly masculine.
Pacing 4/5
This book grabbed my attention between its alligator teeth and refused to let it go. I mean, seriously, in my note pad of things to mention in this review I wrote the following “GRIPPING AND CLEAR TENSE MOMENTS” “THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME” “AAAAAA ITS SO FUCKING GRIPPING I CAN’T”. You never wonder about stake in a action scene. The odds, and dangers are incredibly clear and so terrifying that my heart would like overtime pay for how quickly it had to beat. Despite having such amazing moments of action, I found the balance between action and more investigative, slower paced parts of the book to be perfect, it gave you enough pay off at the right time.
My only complaint in terms of pacing is that the suspense was disrupted by info dumps, especially ones that allude to the first book, some of the references where well integrated, others felt like being smacked in the face with a clump of seaweed while you were napping on a gently rocking boat
Immersion 5/5
This isn’t normally I category consider when I review books, but immersion is essential in a scary book, and honestly? He could not have done a better job submerging me into this crime ridden Miami. Despite never having been to Miami, or really been involved in marine life at all, I could feel the cold sliminess of the mucky waters, I could taste the salt in the air, and feel the grimyness of the trailer park settle into my skin.
Writing Style 3/5
He has a very strong personal voice that really comes through in this novel, its dry, sarcastic, and fast paced. It worked incredibly well for the action and investigative scenes, often adding to the sense of bewilderment and fear. However, I found with the more emotional, person orientated, conversations the writing style detracted from the emotions. It felt quite jarring to hear the dialogue between a mother and her daughter be written with the same tone of voice that a dead body is described in.
I personally really enjoyed this book, it was the perfect book to curl up with while there was a thunderstorm outside and a plethora of dogs on my bed.
3+4+5+2/4= 3.5 stars,
The book doesn’t address the black lives matter movement in any capacity. If the publishers are reading this review, I highly suggest having a page in the front of the book listing charity’s to donate to, or donating a part of the books profits to the cause. These problems don’t go away simply because you look away.
The only way in which this book comes marginally close to dealing with the black lives matter movement is through the portrayal of how the main character, Sloan McPherson, learns to see suspects as human. There is a heavy emphasis on the underlying humanity of the suspects, which Sloan learns to recognize throughout the book.
Characters 2/5
Sloan McPherson is a mixed bag. She is written by a man, and although it is clear that he researched life as a woman, there is one big area in which it absolutely misses the mark. She is “not like other girls”, I mean she straight up says “i was more into spear fishing than Saterdays at galleria mall”. The other area in which his depiction of womanhood fell short is his depiction of Sloan as a woman in a male dominated industry. There is one incident of sexism, and it is handled very poorly, when she talks to her superior later, he calls her response a tantrum, and she then agrees with him.
Despite the fact that he very much missed these major marks, there are other areas in which I felt he did very well. Yes, she fulfills the “not like other girls ” trope through her rejection of femininity, but it was amazing to see is how her masculinity affected areas of her character that are normally held sacred by writers. So often masculine woman in media melt into soft, conventional, feminine woman through the love of a man, and motherhood, however in Black Coral, the ways that she engages with her boyfriend and daughter is distinctly masculine.
Pacing 4/5
This book grabbed my attention between its alligator teeth and refused to let it go. I mean, seriously, in my note pad of things to mention in this review I wrote the following “GRIPPING AND CLEAR TENSE MOMENTS” “THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME” “AAAAAA ITS SO FUCKING GRIPPING I CAN’T”. You never wonder about stake in a action scene. The odds, and dangers are incredibly clear and so terrifying that my heart would like overtime pay for how quickly it had to beat. Despite having such amazing moments of action, I found the balance between action and more investigative, slower paced parts of the book to be perfect, it gave you enough pay off at the right time.
My only complaint in terms of pacing is that the suspense was disrupted by info dumps, especially ones that allude to the first book, some of the references where well integrated, others felt like being smacked in the face with a clump of seaweed while you were napping on a gently rocking boat
Immersion 5/5
This isn’t normally I category consider when I review books, but immersion is essential in a scary book, and honestly? He could not have done a better job submerging me into this crime ridden Miami. Despite never having been to Miami, or really been involved in marine life at all, I could feel the cold sliminess of the mucky waters, I could taste the salt in the air, and feel the grimyness of the trailer park settle into my skin.
Writing Style 3/5
He has a very strong personal voice that really comes through in this novel, its dry, sarcastic, and fast paced. It worked incredibly well for the action and investigative scenes, often adding to the sense of bewilderment and fear. However, I found with the more emotional, person orientated, conversations the writing style detracted from the emotions. It felt quite jarring to hear the dialogue between a mother and her daughter be written with the same tone of voice that a dead body is described in.
I personally really enjoyed this book, it was the perfect book to curl up with while there was a thunderstorm outside and a plethora of dogs on my bed.
3+4+5+2/4= 3.5 stars,
The Golem and the Djinni by Helene Wecker
5.0
This amazing book has honestly changed the way I think about life, our natures, and gender.
The author has crafted a book that shows amazing insight into what it means to be human, and to struggle with our purpose through a marvelous story about the romance between Chava and the Djini. It explored what autonomy means to different people, and how different genders interact with it.
The world building it self was absolutely phenomenal, I never lost track of what character was narrating because the way that they described environments was individual to them.
The author has crafted a book that shows amazing insight into what it means to be human, and to struggle with our purpose through a marvelous story about the romance between Chava and the Djini. It explored what autonomy means to different people, and how different genders interact with it.
The world building it self was absolutely phenomenal, I never lost track of what character was narrating because the way that they described environments was individual to them.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
5.0
i have processed, and wow, definetly a top of all time book for me, check out my review on my book blog
Nevada by Imogen Binnie
3.0
so accurate it made my dissociate, was a bit long at times, enjoyed the writing style, i honestly can't really remember it because of the dissociation
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
4.0
Absolutely loved it, but I feel like Achilles's descent into madness was a bit abrupt and could have been explored more.