saturnalyx's reviews
39 reviews

The Folding Star by Alan Hollinghurst

emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad slow-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

3.5

Enigma Variations by André Aciman

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Close to the Knives: A Memoir of Disintegration by David Wojnarowicz

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Alcohol

A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

Much different from the film that was brilliantly directed by Tom Ford. This was a brilliantly written prose heavy book that focuses on one's relationship with not only death but relationships itself.

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Did not finish book. Stopped at 8%.

Will read it at a time where I resonate with it.

Find Me by André Aciman

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing fast-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

Better than the prequel. Brilliant exploration on the simplicity of love and its nuances. One of my favourite books of all time.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest

Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

A hard book to swallow because you basically grow up with the character through his potent adolescent year, and the trauma he faced can never be undone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Alcohol

Minor: Abortion

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

challenging funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

The book was just okay until she finally got into the other half of her year of rest and relaxation. And then you start to understand how much sleep and being awake is truly the same and death is what awaits us whether we experienced or didn't experience life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship

Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass by Lana Del Rey

reflective relaxing fast-paced

4.5

Lie with Me by Philippe Besson

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

A book that I read in one night that broke me into pieces which will take me all the nights of the rest of my life to put back together.