shmole's reviews
146 reviews

challenging dark funny reflective fast-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

4.5

A favorite read from this year. A head-pounding, heart-achingly wonderful story of grief, belonging, and desire told from the POV of a young queer mountain lion. Bits of humor dotted throughout keep things light, but this story will move you. Likely, it will move you far, far away from LA.

Tales of Polynesia: Folktales from Hawai'i, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Samoa by Yiling Changues

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3.75

Gorgeously illustrated, and fascinating! I have always been a fan of folktales and myth, but I was unaware of a lot of these stories. My favorite bit involved a shaman character who is reviving a dead body, and is physically wrangling the spirit and mashing it back into the cadaver’s limbs. It certainly painted a vivid picture!

The Beast You Are: Stories by Paul Tremblay

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adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Not quite horror, not quite literary fantasy, not quite science fiction; all fun.

There are a few short vignettes, some spine-tingling monster madness, and an interesting long-form epic poem about the intertwined fates of a dog, a cat, a village, and a beast.

My favorite thing about this collection was the author's notes at the end. Tremblay lays out his headspace and inspiration for each story, which makes me appreciate them all the more.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

An emotional, funny, and fast-paced journey. Such odd characters throughout, but you will love them all the same. I laughed, cried, and cheered.

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

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

4.0

A book of vignettes about the shenanigans that a grandmother and her granddaughter get up to. Told from the start of summer to the end, this collection will smack you in the face with metaphorical intrigue about life and death, and the beauty of simple days. Loved it!

Catwings Books 1-4 by Ursula K. Le Guin

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adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced