joyfulfoodie's reviews
269 reviews
Wow, No Thank You., by Samantha Irby
funny
slow-paced
2.25
I did not really enjoy most of this book. There was a lot of eye rolling. The author is an anxious person and listening to her self deprecating rambles and whining about how much she hates parties really gets old. Especially tedious was the chapter “sure sex is great but” which featured that phrase a million times each followed by things she compared to sex that implied they were supposed to be better… but about half of which were neutral at best and many of those seemed downright unpleasant. By the end I was mostly finishing it because a) I was on a long road trip and it beat staticky radio and b) I wanted an “I” author for my reading challenge.
Also possible this isn’t my top genre… I also struggled to finish “I was told there would be cake” by Sloane Crosley.
Also possible this isn’t my top genre… I also struggled to finish “I was told there would be cake” by Sloane Crosley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Why did it take me so long to pick this one up?
Seriously. If you haven’t read Good Omens yet you are in for a real treat. Especially if you like absurdist tongue in cheek Hitchhiker style humor, passages good enough you want to read them out loud to anyone that happens to be in ear shot, and footnotes (so many witty footnotes. )
I arrived as a fan of Gaiman (who is deeply lovable and allows students writing reports about him to call him friend and address him as Neil in their writing, and defends sense all over the internet) and I depart a fan of Pratchett, though I suspect I was always destined to end up there.
Instant new favorite. 5 stars
Seriously. If you haven’t read Good Omens yet you are in for a real treat. Especially if you like absurdist tongue in cheek Hitchhiker style humor, passages good enough you want to read them out loud to anyone that happens to be in ear shot, and footnotes (so many witty footnotes. )
I arrived as a fan of Gaiman (who is deeply lovable and allows students writing reports about him to call him friend and address him as Neil in their writing, and defends sense all over the internet) and I depart a fan of Pratchett, though I suspect I was always destined to end up there.
Instant new favorite. 5 stars
XOXO, by Axie Oh
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
I’m currently on a Korean media consumption kick, and this was a sweet little read to nestle in amongst the rest. The characters are lovable, their growth enjoyable, and while some of the predictable plot points happen they managed not to happen quite the way I expected which was nice.
Project Hail Mary, by Andy Weir
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
I laughed out loud multiple times during this book. Like The Martian, the science is great, the characters likable, and the flow strong. Fast paced, engaging, simply delightful. There are lots of lines I wanted to read out loud to my husband (or quote to you here) but they are so much better enjoyed in the context so I restrained myself.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Sexism, Terminal illness, Vomit, Alcohol, Cancer, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Injury/injury detail, and Medical content
Firefly: Big Damn Hero, by James Lovegrove, Nancy Holder
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is not a new favorite of all time book. If I had to do full stars it would probably be four instead of five. But it takes you back and makes you feel like maybe there was just one more episode you forgot about. And that’s pretty gorram shiny.
Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Despite the depressing title, I started this book somehow believing it was going to be a bit more comedic. What I found instead was a poignant and difficult read, wringing emotion out but impossible to put aside. I have not had the misfortune of burying a parent yet, but this story is still incredibly relatable. I relived grief over the very recent death of my cat and the grandfather I was closest to, whose anniversary of his death recently passed. I’m not sure if I could have managed the book if my mother was sick or had already died. The very detailed descriptions of life for caregivers and the aftermath of loss was a lot to take.
I will likely be thinking about this one for awhile. Well written, moving.
I will likely be thinking about this one for awhile. Well written, moving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Abortion
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stevenson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
<strong>Life altering read</strong>
You may think you know the story from having seen the movie. You really really don’t.
The statistics alone make this a meaningful read. The insight into the shared trauma of black America is staggering.
Both a data driven book and a beautifully crafted narrative of lives lost and reclaimed from the very broken justice system, this is a book you feel deeply and will think about for a long time after putting it down.
You may think you know the story from having seen the movie. You really really don’t.
The statistics alone make this a meaningful read. The insight into the shared trauma of black America is staggering.
Both a data driven book and a beautifully crafted narrative of lives lost and reclaimed from the very broken justice system, this is a book you feel deeply and will think about for a long time after putting it down.
The Home Edit Life: The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything, by Clea Shearer, Joanna Teplin
fast-paced
2.75
<strong>Slight improvement over their first book, but pretty similar </strong>
This one dug a little deeper in the process than the first book did, but it still feels like a curated Instagram in book form. Lots of pretty pictures, not a lot of feeling empowered to do any of it on my own. Though Ido feel encouraged to spend about a thousand dollars at the container store on THE branded merch.
This one dug a little deeper in the process than the first book did, but it still feels like a curated Instagram in book form. Lots of pretty pictures, not a lot of feeling empowered to do any of it on my own. Though Ido feel encouraged to spend about a thousand dollars at the container store on THE branded merch.
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty, by G. Neri
challenging
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.25
This is a pretty fast read, in graphic novel form. That doesn’t make it easy. A very sad story about gang violence in Chicago’s southside in the early 1990’s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gun violence, Child abuse, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment
A Touch of Darkness, by Scarlett St. Clair
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I had several friends that had read this series and enjoyed it, and I love mythology, so it seemed like a good match.
I really enjoyed the way the gods are modernized and the twist given to their classic personalities.
The intimacy is written to be a little …. I don’t know it’s like an odd intersection between rather graphic and full of euphemisms (lots of “bundle of nerves” and “her core” instead of naming the anatomy. It works, but it isn’t the most sophisticated way to handle the scenes. Most of the novel felt like solid young adult fiction, but those scenes were a little more like fanfic. Fanfic is great, I’ve read plenty, it just has a certain audience. If you are used to different styles of romance novels that might not appeal.
I really enjoyed the way the gods are modernized and the twist given to their classic personalities.
The intimacy is written to be a little …. I don’t know it’s like an odd intersection between rather graphic and full of euphemisms (lots of “bundle of nerves” and “her core” instead of naming the anatomy. It works, but it isn’t the most sophisticated way to handle the scenes. Most of the novel felt like solid young adult fiction, but those scenes were a little more like fanfic. Fanfic is great, I’ve read plenty, it just has a certain audience. If you are used to different styles of romance novels that might not appeal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, and Kidnapping