jainabee's reviews
490 reviews

After Dark by Haruki Murakami

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Murakami messing with my mind again. A mystery that isn't a mystery. No clues to unravel, no startling conclusions. He'll bring the reader to a moment that seems momentous, and then slyly let it be mundane. And just to be absolutely clear about that, he'll address what you might think he's getting at and tell you point blank that's not what it is. Or you'll think you see a big plot twist and he'll say, nope, it's really what it appears to be. Somehow he fills this stark series of short chapters with lush cinematic details, complete with a playlist of tunes playing in the background of each scene. Or intense silence.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Trafficking, Abandonment, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief, Stalking, and Violence

Minor: Cancer, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Xenophobia

Miss Major Speaks: The Life and Times of a Black Trans Revolutionary by Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Miss Major has been every there and done every that and is still ticking and kicking ass. First hand lived experience of the last 60 years of queer history told with joyful shamelessness and tender affection. Here's a book that deserves to be on every high school history curriculum reading list.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Violence, Police brutality, Racism, Sexual content, and Transphobia

Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Classism, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Torture

Minor: Medical content and Fire/Fire injury

omx, the content warnings are just TILIFI (read the book to learn what that means). Miss Major has survived all of this and more and still the overall tone of the book is positive and hopeful.

Owls Do Cry by Janet Frame

dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.0

Not an easy or light read, yet strangely beautiful and even darkly hilarious in places. The final twist—knowing that the characters were very fictionalized versions of her family— seemed like a vicious cackle to all that had ever tormented the author. It feels like an exorcism and a victory dance!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Classism, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Chronic illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Bullying, Alcohol, Confinement, and Dementia

Minor: Terminal illness and Death of parent

Inspired by Janet Frame's family and her experiences in mental institutions. Not factual, but very accurate emotionally.

The Midnight Lie by Marie Rutkoski

adventurous emotional mysterious sad fast-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

4.75

I got this in the Banned Books Box subscription and was curious to read something totally new to me. Had a hard time putting it down and now am hungry for more! The story twists and turns in ways that startled me and I gave up trying to predict anything about the characters. How refreshing! And lovely writing. A pleasure to read and I'm so glad there's more!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Classism, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Drug use, Slavery, and Blood

Moderate: Police brutality, Child death, Grief, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War

Considering all of the challenging content in the book, it is all handled in a way that I could tolerate (I am somewhat squeamish) and I did not feel personally triggered. I have no problem with putting a book down if the violence is too graphic or gory for my tastes or if the cruelty and abuse goes beyond a brief explicit detail.

Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

I've read and reread this, gaining a deeper appreciation for the kindness and vulnerability with which Maia shares eir personal experiences, and eir respect and appreciation for the people, places and things that supported em along the way.

The Little Guide to Getting Tied Up: Tips for Rope Bondage Bottoms by Evie Vane

informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

A much needed POV —and quite enjoyable! Written with deep understanding from plenty of personal experience and prioritizing informed consent and excellent negotiation skills.

The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person by Frederick Joseph

challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

This book is excellent. The best gift I've received in ages. A gift in the sense that the author is quite generous in what he offers here. I got it in the Banned Books Box subscription. A friend of mine saw me reading it and said, "Why would that be banned?" Well, because it talks honestly —and from lived experience— about racism—and the many ways that denying that racism exists continues to perpetuate racism and white supremacy. I hope that I may appreciate this gift by taking what I've learned and applying it in my life. Thank you!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Racism, Xenophobia, Bullying, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Self harm, Police brutality, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Slavery

Of course these content warnings are directly related to the topic of the book, and is entirely appropriate in this context. The publishers list it as "for ages 12 and up." I wish I had read this when I was 12.

The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik

adventurous emotional inspiring tense 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? No

5.0

I enjoyed this dazzling dive into a San Francisco of 100 years ago. The timeless beauty of The City comes alive through the dramas experienced by a fictionalized yet thoroughly convincing Dorothea Lange. Richly detailed and lively storytelling rekindles my passion for this fabled fogtown, and curious to seek out the dwindling relics of the times when artists, poets, and assorted oddballs could afford to live the Bohemian lifestyle.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Child abuse, Racism, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Deportation, Trafficking, and Alcohol

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Fire/Fire injury, War, Confinement, Blood, Police brutality, Violence, Ableism, Pedophilia, and Domestic abuse

The Invisible Painting: My Memoir of Leonora Carrington by Gabriel Weisz Carrington

emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

A biography as unique and marvelous as Leonora herself.

Thieves by Lucie Bryon

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0