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blackcatkai's reviews
991 reviews
Hypnagogia by Michael F Simpson
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
CW: body horror, depression, suicide, ableism, body shaming, mental illness, grief, blood, gore, violence
after my own very recent bout of severe depression that had me extremely unable to look in mirrors at all for a couple different reasons, this book resonated so much. i loved the surrealism, horror, & cosmic otherworldiness to the prose, setting, & story. it broke my heart in so many ways and was so so good. the ending had me crying and inadored the authors note.
will absolutely be reading more from Simpson in the future. just take care if you choose to give this one a try, yourself.
after my own very recent bout of severe depression that had me extremely unable to look in mirrors at all for a couple different reasons, this book resonated so much. i loved the surrealism, horror, & cosmic otherworldiness to the prose, setting, & story. it broke my heart in so many ways and was so so good. the ending had me crying and inadored the authors note.
will absolutely be reading more from Simpson in the future. just take care if you choose to give this one a try, yourself.
The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister's Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine by Lindsey Fitzharris
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
CW: medical content, blood, death (child, adult, animal), gore, graphic injuries & surgeries, cancer, terminal illness, misogyny, violence, domestic abuse, ableism, mentions of war, bodily fluids, bullying, all around gross stuff that comes with the Victorian age
this was fascinating and seriously entertaining. highly recommend if the subject matter intrigues you.
this was fascinating and seriously entertaining. highly recommend if the subject matter intrigues you.
Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism and Wrecked the Middle Class by Ian Haney López
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Oak Avenue by Brandi Reeds
medium-paced
4.0
cw: gaslighting, domestic abuse, violence
bits at the end felt more rushed than the rest of the story, but overall I liked this one.
bits at the end felt more rushed than the rest of the story, but overall I liked this one.
Miao Dao by Joyce Carol Oates
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
CW: blood, gore, death (child & adult), animal death (off-page, found after the fact), sexual harassment/assault of a minor, murder, bullying
puberty sucks, this one focusing on the too often true afab peoples experience with it. some of the real dangers that can come with that from the perspective of Mia & how she attempts to cope with & overcome it. I really liked this one.
puberty sucks, this one focusing on the too often true afab peoples experience with it. some of the real dangers that can come with that from the perspective of Mia & how she attempts to cope with & overcome it. I really liked this one.
The Tangled Woods by Emily Raboteau
tense
3.0
cw: body shaming/fatphobia, ableism, gun violence, death (children & adults), blood, gore, racism/colourism, abortion mentioned, infidelity, suicide
I like unlikable main characters. I wish we could stop with Harry Potter references in like, everything, omg. my anxiously adhd self really felt all the overwhelm & awfulness of the setting, but the story itself doesn't really feel like it fits with what the overall collection was going for. not terrible, would probably read something else from this author again, could've used a smidge bit more at the end.
I like unlikable main characters. I wish we could stop with Harry Potter references in like, everything, omg. my anxiously adhd self really felt all the overwhelm & awfulness of the setting, but the story itself doesn't really feel like it fits with what the overall collection was going for. not terrible, would probably read something else from this author again, could've used a smidge bit more at the end.
There's a Giant Trapdoor Spider Under Your Bed by Edgar Cantero
1.0
what, is the author a right wing 7 year old potterhead fanfic writer? jfc this was.... so so bad. at least it was short...
Hannah-Beast by Jennifer McMahon
4.0
CW: child death, fire, gaslighting, bullying, gaslighting, blood, murder, suicide, classism
The Remedy by Adam Haslett
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
cw: mental illness, gun violence, death, assisted suicide alluded to
the beginning wasn't terrible, writing was decent. then everything was just huge blocks of text, no paragraphs, run on sentences, and the most disappointing sudden ending. like come on.
the beginning wasn't terrible, writing was decent. then everything was just huge blocks of text, no paragraphs, run on sentences, and the most disappointing sudden ending. like come on.