miajakobsen's reviews
110 reviews

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Such a fun book! Great characters and written in such a descriptive manner.

Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan
Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

Was only reading certain chapters for class. Will finish another time.

Bunny by Mona Awad

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.75

On first read - a relatively easy read with an interesting basis. Despite confusion around the plot, Awad's writing was very good - especially in the middle section when Samantha gets drawn into the cult (the narrative switch from "I" to "We" was extremely effective). Plot-wise, I understood what Awad was trying to do, but

Spoiler

the actual creation of humans out of bunnies/animals gore

confused me. After reading a variety of people's interpretations of the book, it makes a lot more sense and I have a deeper appreciation for this novel.
 
I overall like Awad's plot concept and now that I have a better idea of what actually happened, I need to reread to see how I feel about her execution of it. I really want to rate this book higher because I think Bunny is unique and well-written, and I enjoyed reading it, but the Bunnies/Darlings concept could've been a little less convoluted. This book requires focus and intensive reading for those who want to understand it on the first try, especially for people (like me) who don't read this genre very often.

I found this Reddit conversation about the book fascinating and helpful! I would recommend checking it out, especially if you're still trying to figure out what happened in the novel! 

Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

"Even though my brain was a mess, what kept my soul whole was the warmth of the hands holding mine on both sides."

Almond tells the story of Yunjae, a boy who can't feel things. Yunjae's alexithymia is written quite well - he learns to be silent (in part, as a tribute to his mother), but eventually finds solace in the written text and newfound friends (such as Gon, a boy who feels too much). The ending feels a bit rushed, but it was still a very compelling and heartwarming novel about life and the love we feel for one another. Once I picked the book up, I couldn't put it down. The translation is also done quite well, but I'm sure that it is even better in the original Korean.

Everything I Know about Love: A Memoir by Dolly Alderton

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

4.0

I typically don’t enjoy modern books with a casual tone so I started this book pretty skeptical, but I ended up really enjoying it! Alderton’s stories picked up about halfway through for me, and by the end, I was so engaged with the text. I loved the way the book interspersed recipes and other emails between chapters - it was a brilliant creative choice that highlighted Dolly’s humour perfectly. The "Dear friends…" chapter was really good and the chapter on Florence was particularly touching (yes, I cried). The book ends on a lovely note highlighting that while Alderton has not been the most romantically successful, she knows a lot about love because of her friendships with women (cue that Hozier x Anne with an E edit).

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

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

This book is so so powerful and inspiring. Miss Major is an exceptionally compelling speaker and we have so much to learn from her. This book is written in an interview format (conducted by Toshio Meronek) and details Miss Major’s lived experience and how we can achieve collective liberation against The Powers That Be (i.e., corporations, governments, and all those who work to preserve the status quo). Miss Major Speaks is warm, intimate, and most importantly, a calling to action and a calling to love and support your community. Without community, why do we keep going and who do we do it all for?

The Magus by John Fowles

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.25

Fowles has concocted an extremely compelling book that, despite the repetitive middle section, is beautifully written and executed. I am still grappling with the book because it has such a fascinating psychological and almost peculiar premise, but wow. Nicholas Urfe’s journey and spiral on the mysterious Greek island of Phraxos is exciting and keeps you on your toes.

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

2.5

Alone with You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

medium-paced

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

4.0

This book is a love story about two deeply flawed individuals (Regan and Aldo) who meet and start a passionate and obsessive relationship. However, the novel doesn’t feel like a romance because Blake focuses on the vulnerability and complexities of people in love. The dual narrative (with the occasional interjection from third-party narrators) serves this well, as we get insight into both the main characters. I love character-driven work and complicated grey characters so this book was right up my alley. I think I need to read it again to fully grasp the text, but it is an interesting book that deserves your full attention.

Home of Her Heart by Tara Goldstein

emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Home of Her Heart is an extremely captivating and heartfelt novel that will take you on an emotional journey. Luisa's journey of self-discovery is relatable and emotionally resonant, and Nana Lottie's letters are powerful. The novel is elevated by the depth and thoughtfulness of Tara Goldstein's research - weaving Luisa and Nana Lottie's respective experiences together proves to be an astute method of exploring intergenerational storytelling and connection. The novel carefully tackles the nuances of one’s identities and the challenges that come along with belonging to multiple cultures and communities. It is unafraid to directly confront the bad whilst still approaching intense subjects like state violence and transnational adoption with compassion. I think it’d be a great introduction to these topics for preteens! The resilience of each character is highlighted: ensuring they are not passive and that it does not read like so-called ‘trauma porn.’ Home of Her Heart is a must read!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Genocide and Violence