johntenner's reviews
15 reviews

The Book of Mother by Violaine Huisman

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

5.0

Cannot put into words how lovely this book is

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Pioneering the new genre of Utopian fiction that I so desperately crave

My Education by Susan Choi

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Very interesting plot, but was a bit draining with such challenging and scholarly prose. The narrator's voice sounds just like the haughty language used by the academics the main character was always talking shit about. It wasn't hard to read, but some parts really dragged on. Not sure why there had to be paragraphs just to explain that the main character's roommate is a stoner. I felt insecure in their relationship the whole time, which was maybe the goal. This novel was clearly a labor of love. Very much enjoyed the juxtaposition of how Martha and Regina approached motherhood. I also enjoyed the development of Martha as she grew older. I would have liked for Regina to have explored more of her queerness instead of only loving one woman intensely and then never being with one ever again.

Regina having sex with Nick after being dumped by Martha was sooooo annoying. Their relationship would have been so much more powerful if they just remained friends and colleagues, considering everyone was assuming that they fucked, and it would have been a slap in the face to that expectation. Also she was 21. And the ending of the book was wack as fuck IDGAF ABOUT DUTRA. Literally no one in the entire world saw that shit coming because like.... who cares? and it made no sense? Whatever. Was kinda mid. I recommend We Do What We Do In the Dark by Michelle Hart. Similar plot, executed much more efficiently. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Infidelity

We Are Totally Normal by Naomi Kanakia

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.5

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

It sure was a book! I had fun reading it. Wasn’t even that weird to me but maybe I’ve just lived a strange life, as well! Gross things happen but the detached and fantastical lens that the narrator puts on is so clearly a form of coping. Idk maybe I’m a Popinpobopian, too

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and Murder

When You Bleed to Death by Jeremy Bronaugh

dark sad fast-paced

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

2.75

This sure was a book. Gotta support local Alabama authors, though!

The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

Rose Quartz and Pearl from Steven Universe if they went to a chilly New England boarding school. It's an easy read overall. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Homophobia

Virginia is not a good person and grooms Laura into becoming a religious zealot. She isolates Laura from other students outside of their little circle. It isn't graphic, but their relationship is founded on manipulation.

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective relaxing 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 love you Nghi Vo

A Previous Life by Edmund White

challenging lighthearted reflective 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

1.0

Why did he write this? 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault