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extravagantly's reviews
99 reviews
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
as the book kept going, i kept rooting for the characters, for their happy endings. i wanted them to make it home safe and reunite with their loved ones. but every time, they are met with suffering. ripped away from family, from heirlooms
this isn’t a book to feel happy while reading, i mean the synopsis enough should tell you that. still i searched for hope, for a light. some of the characters might’ve achieved peace, but none escaped being marred with injustice
at the end, i was waiting for one full circle moment, something which i wont spoil here. it would be one moment to right the wrong of what happened in the first generation. a little nugget of good at the end of suffering, but it never came
this isn’t a book of righting wrongs. this is a book of strength. of finding a reason to keep living. millions of people will never reunite with their history, will never get to go home. and despite that, people dance, people sing. people look towards the stars and swim in the ocean. living, truly loving life, is the biggest act of defiance towards a world who seeks nothing more than to destroy
this isn’t a book to feel happy while reading, i mean the synopsis enough should tell you that. still i searched for hope, for a light. some of the characters might’ve achieved peace, but none escaped being marred with injustice
at the end, i was waiting for one full circle moment, something which i wont spoil here. it would be one moment to right the wrong of what happened in the first generation. a little nugget of good at the end of suffering, but it never came
this isn’t a book of righting wrongs. this is a book of strength. of finding a reason to keep living. millions of people will never reunite with their history, will never get to go home. and despite that, people dance, people sing. people look towards the stars and swim in the ocean. living, truly loving life, is the biggest act of defiance towards a world who seeks nothing more than to destroy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault
Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
with every book of hers i read, i become more and more convinced murata is also on the spectrum
Where Europe Begins by Yōko Tawada
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
DNFed ~40%
the first story knocked the wind out of me. very absurd and well written, had me thinking a lot about the meanings etc
second story didn’t interest me at all i skipped
third story is when i realized that i didn’t have to keep myself reading this. i’m sure it’s literary great just not for me
definitely check out if you’re looking for a unique story, though! which is why i picked it up initially, unfortunately did not know what i was getting myself into
the first story knocked the wind out of me. very absurd and well written, had me thinking a lot about the meanings etc
second story didn’t interest me at all i skipped
third story is when i realized that i didn’t have to keep myself reading this. i’m sure it’s literary great just not for me
definitely check out if you’re looking for a unique story, though! which is why i picked it up initially, unfortunately did not know what i was getting myself into
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
i don’t really know how to rate autobiographies because it feels like i’m rating someone’s lived experience. that being said this book was quite good especially because i audiobooked it with angelou’s narration
it was touching, reflective, and gave a window into a life i never could have known otherwise. i have no experience with angelou besides learning about her in school and probably reading a poem or two at some point. i hope to read more of her books and learn more of her activism going forward
it was touching, reflective, and gave a window into a life i never could have known otherwise. i have no experience with angelou besides learning about her in school and probably reading a poem or two at some point. i hope to read more of her books and learn more of her activism going forward
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
i think i’m going to leave this unrated until i reread it in the future. i came in thinking it was going to be something completely different, and my autistic brain kept trying to cram my expectations into this book. i was taking all the allegories at face value and it wasn’t until 75% of the way through that i went “oh” and started comprehending what it was actually trying to say
i liked some of the quotes, especially the one about needing caterpillars to see butterflies. i know that if i ever make it to the sahara one day, i will certainly look up at the stars and hear the 500 million little bells tinkling with laughter. and i think that’s the best thing one can take away from it
i liked some of the quotes, especially the one about needing caterpillars to see butterflies. i know that if i ever make it to the sahara one day, i will certainly look up at the stars and hear the 500 million little bells tinkling with laughter. and i think that’s the best thing one can take away from it
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i picked up this book simply because it was set down the road of where i live (thanks to goodreads 1 book from each state list), and i did no further research into it. this rating is completely my fault because i failed to check the genre before reading. i’ve never read a book with any psychological or thrilling elements, so when murderous entities sprung up it took me much by surprise—the kind of surprise you don’t want when reading a book
i gave it 3 stars cus there isn’t anything particularly wrong with it, a good exercise in suspension of disbelief if anything. it’s just not for me. i can see why someone would like, though
i gave it 3 stars cus there isn’t anything particularly wrong with it, a good exercise in suspension of disbelief if anything. it’s just not for me. i can see why someone would like, though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Unnatural Magic by C.M. Waggoner
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
enjoyable and quaint
i had already read the second book, thinking it was a standalone, so reading this one almost 2 years later felt like reading the prologue to book two’s adventures
i love this authors writing style, it feels so whimsical and it has me pulled into the world. i like how there’s no exposition, you just have to figure out the world yourself. what i wouldn’t give for a map, though. oh and id love to see an actual parameter written out
i dont necessarily agree with some of the characters philosophy’s or my revolutionary brother, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment
i hope the author makes another edition in this world !
i had already read the second book, thinking it was a standalone, so reading this one almost 2 years later felt like reading the prologue to book two’s adventures
i love this authors writing style, it feels so whimsical and it has me pulled into the world. i like how there’s no exposition, you just have to figure out the world yourself. what i wouldn’t give for a map, though. oh and id love to see an actual parameter written out
i dont necessarily agree with some of the characters philosophy’s or my revolutionary brother, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment
i hope the author makes another edition in this world !
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
was very entertaining to read and i love reading about a delusional/morally bad main character. i prefer my satire to be less heavy handed though, which is why i took off some stars, but the sheer entertainment value brought it back up. listened on my 14 hour plane ride lol
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual assault
The Goal of Japanese Expansion by Tatsuo Kawai
challenging
informative
slow-paced
i really don’t know how to rate this book. on one hand, it was an incredibly fascinating read. seeing japan’s point of view before WWII/their view on imperialism was eye-opening. as someone who’s moved to japan it puts into perspective even modern politics
that being said, i don’t want to rate the book which justified the exploitation of asia, comfort women, unit 731, etc 5 stars
if you’re interested in history, or reading a new perspective oft not taught in western school, definitely give it a read. its short, so not much time is lost
that being said, i don’t want to rate the book which justified the exploitation of asia, comfort women, unit 731, etc 5 stars
if you’re interested in history, or reading a new perspective oft not taught in western school, definitely give it a read. its short, so not much time is lost
Suicide Forest by Kristine Haruna Lee
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
EDIT: apparently this is my 300th book? word
i don’t really know how to describe my thoughts to be honest. it’s provocative and unique, that’s for sure.
that being said, tho, i did not get the point of the play until i read the author’s notes at the end. there was a lot going on and it wasn’t really connected until the end. and as a personal preference i don’t really like meta-moments in plays.
i think the merit of this play would be in the discussion that comes from it, not necessarily the actually acts themselves. and since i sit here in a tokyo library with no one to talk to, i can only base my review on how much i enjoyed reading it
in a couple years ill try rereading it with the intended message in mind
i don’t really know how to describe my thoughts to be honest. it’s provocative and unique, that’s for sure.
that being said, tho, i did not get the point of the play until i read the author’s notes at the end. there was a lot going on and it wasn’t really connected until the end. and as a personal preference i don’t really like meta-moments in plays.
i think the merit of this play would be in the discussion that comes from it, not necessarily the actually acts themselves. and since i sit here in a tokyo library with no one to talk to, i can only base my review on how much i enjoyed reading it
in a couple years ill try rereading it with the intended message in mind
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual violence