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man_duh's reviews
10 reviews
Either/Or by Elif Batuman
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
5.0
It’s rare I love a sequel as much as the first but I could live inside Selin’s thoughts forever…probably because they’re similar to my own.
Elif Bautman’s writing is best summarize by the ending. Finding ways to write and explain the mundane in ways that make it feel less so.
Elif Bautman’s writing is best summarize by the ending. Finding ways to write and explain the mundane in ways that make it feel less so.
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Despite having the twist spoiled I could not put this down. There’s something about the way Flynn writes truly detestable characters that you can’t help but be drawn to. As far as I will go down the thriller genre but the deeply unsettling and general queasiness I felt when reading can only be the mark of great writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Abandonment, and Alcohol
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jarring in a quiet way that puts to words the complicated mundane emotions of everyday life.
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
Post-Traumatic by Chantal V. Johnson
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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
5.0
Deeply darkly honest innermost thoughts of a woman who seems to have it all together on the surface but is crumbling apart.
Beautifully and often time embarrassingly raw in a way that makes you feel less alone in the terrible thoughts that may cross your mind. Vivian isn’t the villain nor is she someone to root for she is just a person. A fully flawed person who at times leans too far into the racial and sexual bias when at others leans too far back in allowing actual grace for herself. A look into how we would all be perceived if our lives were out in the open.
Personally connected to Vivian’s ptsd and hyper vigilance, use of fantasies to cope and frustration with others who “had it easier.” Even the constant body image inner monologues created a needed discomfort and put the reader in Vivian’s thoughts. Covers interesting and heavy topics so wonderfully and never makes it feel that the character’s opinions are the only/right choice.
Beautifully and often time embarrassingly raw in a way that makes you feel less alone in the terrible thoughts that may cross your mind. Vivian isn’t the villain nor is she someone to root for she is just a person. A fully flawed person who at times leans too far into the racial and sexual bias when at others leans too far back in allowing actual grace for herself. A look into how we would all be perceived if our lives were out in the open.
Personally connected to Vivian’s ptsd and hyper vigilance, use of fantasies to cope and frustration with others who “had it easier.” Even the constant body image inner monologues created a needed discomfort and put the reader in Vivian’s thoughts. Covers interesting and heavy topics so wonderfully and never makes it feel that the character’s opinions are the only/right choice.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Fun and immerse read. I liked the world created by the author but wish it could have delved more deeply into it rather than just touching the surface. That being said I thought themes of lonliness and isolation were intriguing as was the cast of female characters. There were a few times I laughed out loud and loved the detailed descriptions that made it so easy to fall into their world. 🧌🌷👻
Exalted by Anna Dorn
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Lighthearted occasionally fun read. Astrology is fun and this book takes lots of jabs to prove that that's all it really is. I usually love reading about flawed characters but Emily and Dawn leaned far too into cartoon villain characteristics to be taken as anything but. Cinnamon was the true star of the book.
Author left enough clues about the plot twist so the anticipation of the characters finding out was perfectly anxiety-inducing.
Enjoyable even through the Libra slander but a word of caution to avoid the Audiobook version at all costs!
Author left enough clues about the plot twist so the anticipation of the characters finding out was perfectly anxiety-inducing.
Enjoyable even through the Libra slander but a word of caution to avoid the Audiobook version at all costs!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Homophobia, Incest, and Lesbophobia
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Had a faint memory of watching the film years ago but nothing compares to Ishiguro’s words. The serene yet eerie air that surrounds the characters is perfectly embodied in every description.
Evokes true emotion of both hopefulness and hopelessness all at once.
Evokes true emotion of both hopefulness and hopelessness all at once.
Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Summarized perfectly in the foreword that describes Didion’s nonfiction reading like fiction. Each short story felt over too soon yet perfectly concluded.
Why I Write connects with those who have yet to even begin writing and her essay on college rejection brought me back to my own feelings during the admission process.
Why I Write connects with those who have yet to even begin writing and her essay on college rejection brought me back to my own feelings during the admission process.
A Book of Common Prayer by Joan Didion
emotional
reflective
slow-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
4.0
My long overdue introduction to Joan Didion didn't disappoint. From the first page, I felt swept up by the intricate sentences she weaves, carried off into the fictional country she had created. It was gems like "student of delusion" and "make conversation by day and avoid it in the dark" that kept me entranced with the slow pace of the first part of the book, but once let into the mysterious backstory of Charlotte I was absorbed. Brilliantly written to feel like you knew just enough about the characters as Grace, the narrator, did and ending with the perfect closing line to encapsulate that feeling.
Didion's style and repetition of phrases play out like the inner working of the mind, holding onto what the narrator wants to hold onto and contemplating the rest.
A great introduction the author's work.
Didion's style and repetition of phrases play out like the inner working of the mind, holding onto what the narrator wants to hold onto and contemplating the rest.
A great introduction the author's work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia and Antisemitism