alisarae's reviews
1563 reviews

Fraternity by Andy Mientus

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Alright alright, I am on board with a more socially aware and gayer dark academia than what is typical. I think the author did a great job with this story, infusing it with some fantasy and gay cultural history, even though I would have preferred some of the plot choices to be different.
Little Big Bully by Heid E. Erdrich

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challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

The key for me to enjoy poetry, I think, is to hear the poet perform their own work.

Five stars, no notes.
A Trança by Laetitia Colombani

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Li este livro para o clube de leitura #leiamulheresSP, nossa escolha de novembro 2024. Eu sozinha não teria o lido pq não é meu vibe: a voz da autora é superficial e as histórias são melosas. 

Três hístorias em três paises diferentes contadas em 200 páginas com uma fonte grande, ou seja, 150 páginas na real/50 páginas por personagem. Eu ia dizer que não tem espaço pra mergulhar muito nas detalhes do ambiente e personalidade e sentimentos das personagens, mas já li contos mais curtos com personagens bem mais profundas. 

Tive a sensação que é uma fábula contada para crianças apesar de ser sobre três mulheres adultas. Considerando o livro desse jeito, não é meio ofensivo escrever um livro sobre empoderamento feminino, usando um tom narrativo que infantaliza as leitoras?

Ou, de forma mais generosa, parece o tratamento de um roteiro de filme, que -- shocker -- realmente virou. 

Nas artes visuais, a gente aprende escolher a melhor média para a mensagem: escultura de mármore sempre tem uma presença pesada e séria, por exemplo, ou aquarelas tem uma fluidez natural que acrílicos não tem. Quando um artista escolha uma média sem considerar as propriedades inerentes e as implicações culturais que essa média já traz consigo, o artista pode roubar a força da mensagem que está tentando passar, ou criar uma ironia não-intencional. Acho que é que aconteceu com este livro, infelizmente: a autora já imaginou um filme, mas tentou escrever um livro.
Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is like The Borrowers meets Lord of the Flies. Lovely illustrations, disturbing story.
Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-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

AAAHHH this book is soooo cute!! All of the chatacters are adorable and fluffy and colorful. I like how magic is part of the story but it is more like a hobby than a focus of the story. It's just there adding some interest and warmth to the narrative. I kinda want to abandon my other reading plans and just finish the whole series tbh.
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep

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informative reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

This book is split in two: the first half is the story of the crime and trial that Harper Lee tried to write. The second half is a biography of Lee. I think of you like true crime, you can read the first half and just skip the biography part in the second. They are totally separate.
That Can Be Arranged: A Muslim Love Story by Huda Fahmy

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Pretty cute!
Garotas mortas by Selva Almada

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings
What the Chinese Don't Eat by Xinran

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hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.0

This was not as interesting as Xinran's other books that I have read but it was still good. This one is a collection of her columns published in The Guardian in the early 2000s, so the material is pretty light and friendly for the breakfast table compared to The Good Women of China, say. She writes about cultural differences and expectation vs reality in the UK and China. She often mentions how quickly China is changing and the reverse culture shock she feels when she goes back for a visit -- imagine how much has changed in the 20 years since she wrote this!
Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
DNF @ 35%
I wasn't into the writing style -- too ghostwritery.