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quietluvr's reviews
25 reviews
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
damn this jawn was LONGGG. talk about a slog. super fun to pick at though. definitely changes your mind on what defines a 'cult'.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass
5.0
My mom was doing my hair when I first fell in love with what is, in my humble opinion, Wendy Mass' best novel. It has romance, semi-magical realism, and coming of age beauty. The relationships between characters are fulfilling and inspiring. A must read!
Augustown by Kei Miller
4.0
Lord, did I cry! Little Kaia reminded me so much of myself, and yet I could identify with his mother and Clarky and Ian and Gilzene. These characters are people with lives and hearts and so much hurt. I loved this book.
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca
3.0
I <3 epistolary format. At one point, I simply stopped looking at the dates bc the pacing was obviously going to be breakneck, whether it took place in the span of weeks or months or years.
Wish the twist related to Zoe being a man, considering her voice read as masculine. The way she expressed her sexuality felt more like a man enacting his fantasies than an insatiably (ostentatiously) horny lesbian. Which sucks, considering I believe the authour is enby themselves. This knowledge made the 'gay want baby but can't :(' trope even shittier. The trope itself is one of my least favourite in queer lit. When it's a lesbian couple it can often, especially in this context, read as misogynistic. For her to be family-oriented is one thing, but for her main desire to be maternal is utterly comical. A girl with mommy issues wants to be a mom but uh-oh, she's gay! The book starts in a queer forum, surely she could've found resources there?
But perhaps investment in these characters is the greatest draw for anyone getting into Eric's work: you get just enough info to become attached to the ideas they represent, regardless of their reprehensible actions. I don't care that Agnes dies, or about that stupid fucking tapeworm- but the tapeworm as a metaphor for unwanted pregnancy... that's kinda cool. We can do something with a parasitic pregnancy allegory, as well as the self-inflicted abortion. That was a slay-pussy-cunt move.
All in all, a 3.5 for me. Narrative and theme were dope. Characterization and pacing was meh.
Wish the twist related to Zoe being a man, considering her voice read as masculine. The way she expressed her sexuality felt more like a man enacting his fantasies than an insatiably (ostentatiously) horny lesbian. Which sucks, considering I believe the authour is enby themselves. This knowledge made the 'gay want baby but can't :(' trope even shittier. The trope itself is one of my least favourite in queer lit. When it's a lesbian couple it can often, especially in this context, read as misogynistic. For her to be family-oriented is one thing, but for her main desire to be maternal is utterly comical. A girl with mommy issues wants to be a mom but uh-oh, she's gay! The book starts in a queer forum, surely she could've found resources there?
But perhaps investment in these characters is the greatest draw for anyone getting into Eric's work: you get just enough info to become attached to the ideas they represent, regardless of their reprehensible actions. I don't care that Agnes dies, or about that stupid fucking tapeworm- but the tapeworm as a metaphor for unwanted pregnancy... that's kinda cool. We can do something with a parasitic pregnancy allegory, as well as the self-inflicted abortion. That was a slay-pussy-cunt move.
All in all, a 3.5 for me. Narrative and theme were dope. Characterization and pacing was meh.
The Empress's New Lingerie and Other Erotic Fairy Tales: Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups by Hillary Rollins
2.0
Creatively insane wine mom lemons. This is NOT erotica, it's like barely smut, but most definitely lewd. If you enjoyed Star Wars fanfiction in 2010, you're gonna love this!
Moon Knight by Bendis & Maleev: The Complete Collection by Brian Michael Bendis
2.0
I want men who can't write women round up and burnt at the stake. Marc has no game, not an ounce of it, actually, and yet he still seems to land on his feet. Huh. Theme was cool, but the ending was lackluster as a result. Love me some Spiderman and inner turmoil though! Internal conflict remains superior.