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akira_outofthegravity's reviews
175 reviews
How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Another easy enjoyable read. Even as a 20 y/o reading these is so good, and I’m reminded of why I love these books every time I read them. The endings and epilogues always make me tear up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Slavery and Injury/Injury detail
How to Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Great fun! An easy read that sets up nicely for the next story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Cannibalism and Fire/Fire injury
Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A really good murder mystery. As always it’s more focused on motive than the actual whodunnit. Which I really liked.
There was a really nice unravelling element to the story, like a snowball getting bigger and bigger until it reached the bottom of the mountain. Ayane is a really interesting character, and I liked her a lot. I also liked how Kusanagi was affected heavily by her and how that impeded his judgement but also aided the investigation.
Detective Galileo is, as always, a joy to read. A fascinating character that I have never disliked once.
While it’s not groundbreaking, it is a solid novel. Well written, well translated, well paced, and well plotted.
There was a really nice unravelling element to the story, like a snowball getting bigger and bigger until it reached the bottom of the mountain. Ayane is a really interesting character, and I liked her a lot. I also liked how Kusanagi was affected heavily by her and how that impeded his judgement but also aided the investigation.
Detective Galileo is, as always, a joy to read. A fascinating character that I have never disliked once.
While it’s not groundbreaking, it is a solid novel. Well written, well translated, well paced, and well plotted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, and Murder
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.5
I think the last few pages really makes the book. It’s about Keiko, a convenience store worker who is unable to fit into society, instead making the store her society and living her life by the way the store works.
The story is about her troubles with friends and family, and her attempts to be perceived as normal. Then her acceptance into her role as a convenience store worker.
It’s a really clever book, and very relatable. I felt that I related to what Keiko said about copying peoples speech patterns in order to be liked, as I do that myself. I really liked the ending and thought it was actually pretty inspirational.
I think Shiraha is also really interesting- while Keiko is unable to fit into society and thus rejects it, Shiraha rejects society in order to be lazy. He is just as bad as the people who judge Keiko, but views himself as a victim. Basically he’s an incel.
I liked it!
The story is about her troubles with friends and family, and her attempts to be perceived as normal. Then her acceptance into her role as a convenience store worker.
It’s a really clever book, and very relatable. I felt that I related to what Keiko said about copying peoples speech patterns in order to be liked, as I do that myself. I really liked the ending and thought it was actually pretty inspirational.
I think Shiraha is also really interesting- while Keiko is unable to fit into society and thus rejects it, Shiraha rejects society in order to be lazy. He is just as bad as the people who judge Keiko, but views himself as a victim. Basically he’s an incel.
I liked it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Ableism
Supper Club by Lara Williams
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is like dark academia with food.
Honestly the food metaphors are incredible, the subtlety of the food reflecting the story arc is really cool. I loved Roberta, I loved her journey. I loved the imagery and I loved analysing this book.
I wish we knew what she chose, but I think it’s fairly clear that she chooses Adnan. I also think Stevie is a total controlling bitch, but she has her moments.
I like the themes of nonconformity, of trying to be yourself. Overall this is a really easy read, and a really interesting one.
Honestly the food metaphors are incredible, the subtlety of the food reflecting the story arc is really cool. I loved Roberta, I loved her journey. I loved the imagery and I loved analysing this book.
I wish we knew what she chose, but I think it’s fairly clear that she chooses Adnan. I also think Stevie is a total controlling bitch, but she has her moments.
I like the themes of nonconformity, of trying to be yourself. Overall this is a really easy read, and a really interesting one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m very conflicted with this book.
On one hand, the story is well paced and well written (in parts). Area X is described well enough to keep me interested while also maintaining an air of mystery. The tower is suitably creepy, as are the incidents mentioned to have happened to the previous explorers.
But at the same time I don’t give a shit about anything that happens. I think it’s a problem with the Biologist. She’s so blah and wishy washy that I really don’t care about her, the same goes for the Surveyor. The Psychologist is the most interesting and yet she doesn’t share anything.
We have no answers at the end of the book, which left it feeling unfulfilling and disappointing. If we did get any answers they are hidden in bloated writing and hard to distinguish. The ending is pretty good, I liked the tragedy of it, the final line in particular is haunting. It’s just a shame that the rest didn’t live up to the hype. If the Biologist had any personality I think things may have been different.
I’m not interested in the sequels.
On one hand, the story is well paced and well written (in parts). Area X is described well enough to keep me interested while also maintaining an air of mystery. The tower is suitably creepy, as are the incidents mentioned to have happened to the previous explorers.
But at the same time I don’t give a shit about anything that happens. I think it’s a problem with the Biologist. She’s so blah and wishy washy that I really don’t care about her, the same goes for the Surveyor. The Psychologist is the most interesting and yet she doesn’t share anything.
We have no answers at the end of the book, which left it feeling unfulfilling and disappointing. If we did get any answers they are hidden in bloated writing and hard to distinguish. The ending is pretty good, I liked the tragedy of it, the final line in particular is haunting. It’s just a shame that the rest didn’t live up to the hype. If the Biologist had any personality I think things may have been different.
I’m not interested in the sequels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Make it past the first and second story and you will reach gold. A beautiful anthology discussing trauma, revenge, love, greed, guilt, with a mix of sci-fi and horror to really emphasise the themes.
I really loved the stories, I loved that despite everything it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There were some happy endings within it all.
My top three stories have to be:
1. Cursed Bunny
2. Home Sweet Home
3. Snare
But to be honest I loved all of them bar the first two.
I really loved the stories, I loved that despite everything it wasn’t all doom and gloom. There were some happy endings within it all.
My top three stories have to be:
1. Cursed Bunny
2. Home Sweet Home
3. Snare
But to be honest I loved all of them bar the first two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Blood, Grief, Car accident, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Incest, Mental illness, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
Fish Swimming in Dappled Sunlight by Riku Onda
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a beautiful exercise in grief and remorse. It’s not so much a murder mystery, as it is an introspection into the lives of Hiro and Aki. Much like the Aosawa Murders. It’s about love and guilt and letting go of the past.
Honestly it’s really beautiful. I loved the scenery, and the writing is filled with such melancholy that it aches. Onda has some insane talent.
It’s probably going to be a book either you love or you hate.
Honestly it’s really beautiful. I loved the scenery, and the writing is filled with such melancholy that it aches. Onda has some insane talent.
It’s probably going to be a book either you love or you hate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide
Moderate: Incest and Violence
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I’ve been really into zombies lately, and I found that there’s usually a formula for these types of stories.
Unlikely middle class straight cis white guy becomes hero, does thing, saves world. End film. Roll credits.
This is nothing like that- which is what makes it so good. It is set in short bursts, with the “author” interviewing people who all were around when World War Z was happening. This ranges from suburban moms to illegal organ harvesters, those who were there at the beginning and the end. The soldiers, the general. The good and the evil. Those who purposefully sent people to die, those who purposefully made a false cure, those who- in the beginning- their government tried to cover up what they found.
It is fascinating and brings up points like economics, how would people survive, what an armed response would be like, the lasting damages to the planet, feral people, feral animals, people who were so convinced they were zombies that they’d actually bite people. It mentions the traitors, the loyalists, the heroes and the villains and manages to paint an entire story of a 10 year war in just over 300 pages. And for that I think this book is spectacular. But most of all it’s hopeful. The war ends, and people are allowed to move on. I think the horror in this book comes more from the human side of the war, but nevertheless this is a fantastic read and a must for any zombie lover- such as myself.
Unlikely middle class straight cis white guy becomes hero, does thing, saves world. End film. Roll credits.
This is nothing like that- which is what makes it so good. It is set in short bursts, with the “author” interviewing people who all were around when World War Z was happening. This ranges from suburban moms to illegal organ harvesters, those who were there at the beginning and the end. The soldiers, the general. The good and the evil. Those who purposefully sent people to die, those who purposefully made a false cure, those who- in the beginning- their government tried to cover up what they found.
It is fascinating and brings up points like economics, how would people survive, what an armed response would be like, the lasting damages to the planet, feral people, feral animals, people who were so convinced they were zombies that they’d actually bite people. It mentions the traitors, the loyalists, the heroes and the villains and manages to paint an entire story of a 10 year war in just over 300 pages. And for that I think this book is spectacular. But most of all it’s hopeful. The war ends, and people are allowed to move on. I think the horror in this book comes more from the human side of the war, but nevertheless this is a fantastic read and a must for any zombie lover- such as myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail
I Married My Best Friend to Shut My Parents Up by Kodama Naoko
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not bad! It’s a lighthearted story about two friends who marry for convenience, and then realise that they should remain married.
Not perfect, Hana is annoying sometimes but I really liked the main character Morimoto.
Not perfect, Hana is annoying sometimes but I really liked the main character Morimoto.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content