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amsswim's reviews
234 reviews
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The author and book are such a product of their time and it shows. THis book was written in 1961, and has moments of laughable (in my opinion) sexism and homophobia. It reads always blatantly as the author speaking through, but then he goes on from that and frames out the most progressive, sex-positive, all-inclusive way of life that combats the hateful views he clearly has but manages to not see that at all past his own self-insertion into the story.
The actual plot of the book is fascinating, the world building is amazing, and it is generally light hearted. The switch up it does is strange but did not ruin it for me. And the part-dated-part-weirdly-progressive views, adds a spice of a technologically advanced society that still has the political views and strife of 1960s America.
I'd say this book was well written, but content/views just need to be taken with a grain of salt. I had a blast listening to this one on Libby, it feels more like a Coen Brothers movie some of the time. Not for everyone, but lets talk books if anyone else decides to read.
Graphic: Biphobia, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I have a weird relationship with multi-book series, regarding if the story of a book is self contained with individual books in the series. I tend to like every book to a have a fully contained plot which, without spoilers, this book does very well. Maybe I'll try #2, unsure as of now.
My main complaints would be around dialog, which felt silly sometimes, and side character development, which was really good some spots but lacking in other areas. Generally though it was a good read and has motivated me to actually read all the Brandon Sanderson books my partner has!
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture and Medical content
- 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
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual assault
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, and Colonisation
Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Police brutality, and Car accident
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I am a fan of mythological retellings, so this hit the spot for me. This did not live up to Circe in my eyes, but I cannot fault it on not being my favorite book lol. It did have a similar vibe to Circe though in my opinion. If you like mythological retellings and/or stories of women trying to survive and thrive, I recommend.
Moderate: Child death, Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
- 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
4.5
My favorite stories were: The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, Exhalation, The Lifecycle of Software Objects, and The Truth of Fact the Truth of Feeling.
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, and Car accident
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Cancer, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Abandonment
- 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? No
4.25
The audiobook on Libby was only 5 hours, so this was a great weekend/day ready. Highly recommend to everyone.
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
4.5
Would definitely recommend this, even to people who aren't familiar with her work, for a look into narcissistic abuse paired with the child star industry.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail