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sp1derfairy's reviews
144 reviews
Female Husbands: A Trans History by Jen Manion
2.5
I wasn't entirely immersed, but I enjoyed how informative this was. I didn't love the structure and I found in the audiobook format that I was thrown around a bit and had a difficult time keeping track of the era and location I was in. This book may be better suited for a physical read.
I did enjoy seeing how people of the past treated those who did not conform to gender roles and how hard people would try to fit people into boxes. I particularly loved seeing how ideas of what makes a man or a woman have changed over time. I love the fluidity of gender and how arbitrary it all is. One sequence stood out: a man is called a female husband by his newly wedded wife because he is poor and disabled and she wishes to cause a stir to divorce him. He wasn't AFAB, but his lack of characteristic "male" traits made him "female".
I love how this book emphasizes that the stories we have are not based upon the true feelings and words of its subjects, but rather the words and newspapers created after a female husband was outed. The reception and its variety was fascinating, and I particularly loved the part with the (https://static.cambridge.org/binary/version/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:binary:20210430062007869-0936:9781108652834:48380fig8_1.png?pub-status=live) National Police Gazette and Samuel Pollard. It's meant to be shocking, but Pollard just looks so sexy LMAO. Love how art and its interpretation changes over time. I found it especially interesting that in the hierarchy of power, a female wife had more leverage and power than she did in most other occasions. A fascinating exploration of power and gender.
The demographic is very limited in this study--ie poor and middle class UK/US white people--and I want to seek out more information. It's not really on the fault of the writer, more attributed to the racism of history, but disappointing nonetheless. Stories became very repetitive.
I did enjoy seeing how people of the past treated those who did not conform to gender roles and how hard people would try to fit people into boxes. I particularly loved seeing how ideas of what makes a man or a woman have changed over time. I love the fluidity of gender and how arbitrary it all is. One sequence stood out: a man is called a female husband by his newly wedded wife because he is poor and disabled and she wishes to cause a stir to divorce him. He wasn't AFAB, but his lack of characteristic "male" traits made him "female".
I love how this book emphasizes that the stories we have are not based upon the true feelings and words of its subjects, but rather the words and newspapers created after a female husband was outed. The reception and its variety was fascinating, and I particularly loved the part with the (https://static.cambridge.org/binary/version/id/urn:cambridge.org:id:binary:20210430062007869-0936:9781108652834:48380fig8_1.png?pub-status=live) National Police Gazette and Samuel Pollard. It's meant to be shocking, but Pollard just looks so sexy LMAO. Love how art and its interpretation changes over time. I found it especially interesting that in the hierarchy of power, a female wife had more leverage and power than she did in most other occasions. A fascinating exploration of power and gender.
The demographic is very limited in this study--ie poor and middle class UK/US white people--and I want to seek out more information. It's not really on the fault of the writer, more attributed to the racism of history, but disappointing nonetheless. Stories became very repetitive.
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice
3.5
The origins of vampires and Marius' story is fascinating, and I love how differently he interacts with the world than Armand does. I found his discussion of true curiosity about the world--as opposed to seeking answers to fulfil bias--really thought-provoking, and it's something I'm going to keep in mind as a standard to strive for.I really loved how vampires came to be as a demon yearning to feel and understand the human experience and out of a desire for humanity. It's so beautiful that it manifests in the literal consumption of human blood but also the complete isolation from humanity. It's such a beautiful take on vampires, and I am so thankful for Rice's contribution and complete rehaul of the vampire genre to make them so nuanced.
I loved the conflict between Gabrielle and Lestat and her desire to separate herself from the world which has brought her nothing but roles and structures she could not survive in. I loved her relationship with womanhood and how vampirism helped her. The relationship Lestat has with her and motherhood is..interesting. The return of Louis is really special, and I love the new banter between them. Writing these books helped them understand and process their feelings, and they meet again, tentative and hopeful to try again and be better vampires for each other. It's really sweet, they know each other like no other.I do prefer how the show interprets this reunion as it emphasizes that they are both still hurt and grieving, something I feel this book sacrifices for time. The whole end sequence feels a little rushed overall, despite how long it is. It becomes a bit cheesy at points.
The white supremacy and this idealisation of the West is so visible in the backstory Rice constructs with this love for Rome as the inheritors of Egyptian greatness and vampires such as Marius and Lestat--both white and blond--representing the greatest strengths of vampirism and the pinnacle of humanity. There's this orientalist emphasis on Rome as the pinnacle of reason and societies that aren't as hedonistic or absurd. Akasha and Enkil literally "bring civilization" to the Egyptians from the North. Marius is a product of his time, but I don't see Rice challenging this narrative overall, and instead it lays the foundation for the story. His bias about female vampires being inherently weaker and these white male vampires as the pinnacle of strength and wisdom is sometimes overwhelming. I'm interested to see what the show will do with it.
Rice's writing sometimes gets away from me as it lingers on the details and atmosphere, but some times it blows me away. I really enjoyed the sequences at the end where Lestat describes the rush of being on the stage and performing to the crowd; it is so erotic and hedonistic I felt as swept up in it as him. I loved when he drank from Akasha for the same reason.
I loved the conflict between Gabrielle and Lestat and her desire to separate herself from the world which has brought her nothing but roles and structures she could not survive in. I loved her relationship with womanhood and how vampirism helped her. The relationship Lestat has with her and motherhood is..interesting. The return of Louis is really special, and I love the new banter between them. Writing these books helped them understand and process their feelings, and they meet again, tentative and hopeful to try again and be better vampires for each other. It's really sweet, they know each other like no other.
The white supremacy and this idealisation of the West is so visible in the backstory Rice constructs with this love for Rome as the inheritors of Egyptian greatness and vampires such as Marius and Lestat--both white and blond--representing the greatest strengths of vampirism and the pinnacle of humanity. There's this orientalist emphasis on Rome as the pinnacle of reason and societies that aren't as hedonistic or absurd. Akasha and Enkil literally "bring civilization" to the Egyptians from the North. Marius is a product of his time, but I don't see Rice challenging this narrative overall, and instead it lays the foundation for the story. His bias about female vampires being inherently weaker and these white male vampires as the pinnacle of strength and wisdom is sometimes overwhelming. I'm interested to see what the show will do with it.
Rice's writing sometimes gets away from me as it lingers on the details and atmosphere, but some times it blows me away. I really enjoyed the sequences at the end where Lestat describes the rush of being on the stage and performing to the crowd; it is so erotic and hedonistic I felt as swept up in it as him. I loved when he drank from Akasha for the same reason.
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
4.5
I absolutely loved this one. It takes a leaf out of Interview with the Vampire's style and story, and it executes it in a new, intriguing light. I really enjoyed how the story was told and the use of second perspective to refer to their lover, abuser, and maker. I also love the choice to leave out his name. I wasn't expecting the vampires in this book to exist so solitarily and I was completely unsure if there were any more vampires beside them. Everything had been so controlled by his narrative that the main 3 had no idea; i love how his control trickles into every facet of the story, it makes the ending even more fulfilling.
I loved being able to chart Constanta's story, her maturation, and her grief with him. Being able to see inside of Constanta's head made me feel tied to her, and Gibson's prose is so compelling; I felt as swept up in the desire, romance, and pain as Constanta was. Her fear of breaking free from the gauntlet of love he kept her made for an incredibly interesting story, and the emphasis on abuse and manipulation existing as a twisted version of love appeals to me greatly and it makes me think of Silco and Jinx's relationship in Arcane. I found myself empathisizing with her inability to escape situations that brought her so much grief; she is very dear to me. Gibson executes the humanity of vampires in the same way that makes me love Anne Rice's vampires.
I loved being able to chart Constanta's story, her maturation, and her grief with him. Being able to see inside of Constanta's head made me feel tied to her, and Gibson's prose is so compelling; I felt as swept up in the desire, romance, and pain as Constanta was. Her fear of breaking free from the gauntlet of love he kept her made for an incredibly interesting story, and the emphasis on abuse and manipulation existing as a twisted version of love appeals to me greatly and it makes me think of Silco and Jinx's relationship in Arcane. I found myself empathisizing with her inability to escape situations that brought her so much grief; she is very dear to me. Gibson executes the humanity of vampires in the same way that makes me love Anne Rice's vampires.
X-Men: Days of Future Past by Chris Claremont
3.0
i really enjoyed issue #140 the most and x-men annual #4 and uncanny x-men #143 were also really enjoyable. i loved how 140 explored wolverines character and his anger and empathy. i really enjoy these characters and i liked reading this.
The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
i enjoyed this one and its story is very nicely put together and wrapped up. it feels like a smaller story within a bigger universe, and i’m curious about if the author has more to it. the characters were all very compelling and i particularly liked firuz and their imperfections. i loved the relationships in the book, and i think they were fleshed out well. i love the queernormative world as well i had never read something like that before.
Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 2 by Ryoko Kui
3.0
i love marcille sleepy girl. i love how greedy she and chilchuck are they’re adorable. the sillies.
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
3.25
this was fun! scarlet’s story was the most compelling for me and sometimes carly’s was lackluster but i don’t think the book would have been as effective without the two. i love scarlet and samina yuri i love my murder wives. they matched each others freak.