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imaginary_space's reviews
227 reviews
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It is extremely difficult for me to review this book because I quickly felt a very personal connection.
The constant need to perform to be liked. Not understanding what others want or expect of you, while they are already angry that you don't conform to their wishes. The constant feeling of being distant, somehow separated from the people around you by a wall you can neither define nor break down. Reactions from those around you ranging from pity to anger to rejection to exploitation. Wondering why you're in so much pain. ("how lucky I was, but I always felt like I was suffering in hell")
In short, feeling disqualified as a human being, not human enough, constantly trying to learn what "a human being" is supposed to be, failing, and losing the things that make you human.
That is why I felt so strongly: This is "Autism - The Book".
And it made me cry.
From an autistic perspective, here's what I appreciated about this book: The protagonist is a massive asshole. The book shows his behaviour and lets us into his thoughts, but it never makes excuses (although the protagonist does). He is the master of his own life decisions and his behaviour towards other people.
In a world where we as autistic people are often infantilised, our actions explained away or excused and our agency taken away, this is a breath of fresh air. By not taking sides, this book shows us that we are always all of these things: a reflection of our upbringing and environment, our mental disability AND the sum of our own choices.
The constant need to perform to be liked. Not understanding what others want or expect of you, while they are already angry that you don't conform to their wishes. The constant feeling of being distant, somehow separated from the people around you by a wall you can neither define nor break down. Reactions from those around you ranging from pity to anger to rejection to exploitation. Wondering why you're in so much pain. ("how lucky I was, but I always felt like I was suffering in hell")
In short, feeling disqualified as a human being, not human enough, constantly trying to learn what "a human being" is supposed to be, failing, and losing the things that make you human.
That is why I felt so strongly: This is "Autism - The Book".
And it made me cry.
From an autistic perspective, here's what I appreciated about this book: The protagonist is a massive asshole. The book shows his behaviour and lets us into his thoughts, but it never makes excuses (although the protagonist does). He is the master of his own life decisions and his behaviour towards other people.
In a world where we as autistic people are often infantilised, our actions explained away or excused and our agency taken away, this is a breath of fresh air. By not taking sides, this book shows us that we are always all of these things: a reflection of our upbringing and environment, our mental disability AND the sum of our own choices.
The incomprehensibility of society is the incomprehensibility of the individual.
[He] at heart did not treat me like a full human being. He could only consider me as the living corpse of a would-be suicide, a person dead to shame, an idiot ghost. His friendship had no other purpose but to utilize me in whichever way would most further his own pleasures. [...] it was entirely to be expected that [he] should take this view of me; that from long ago, even as a child, I seemed to lack the qualifications of a human being; and that, for all I knew, contempt, even from [him], might be entirely merited.
There are all kinds of unhappy people in this world. I suppose it would be no exaggeration to say that the world is composed entirely of unhappy people. But those people can fight their unhappiness with society fairly and squarely, and society for its part understands and sympathizes with such struggles. My unhappiness stemmed entirely from my own vices, and I had no way of fighting anybody.
The Path of Thorns by A.G. Slatter
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Like the gothic vibe, the magic elements and the take on the "haunted family" trope. The world-building and story were interesting, and the writing was at times atmospheric, at times too long-winded for my taste. I found myself speeding up the audiobook and checking out at times. So the whole book could have been shorter, and I think it wouldn't have taken away from the atmosphere and the vibe.
Bonus points for the feminist story and I enjoyed Asher as a morally grey protagonist, she has goals, takes action, helps those she likes and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty.
Which is why the ending irritated me so much.Why does Asher do a complete 180 and submits to her mother, when over the whole book, she was very self-aware about their relationship and her development away from it? I understand that this happens sometimes, but in the narrative it didn't make sense and felt forced. Also, why does she leave at the end? She could have had everything she wanted right there, WITH Eli and the children, and all the people standing in her way were gone. .
The book had interesting elements, but overall it didn't hold my attention too much and the characters, including the protagonist, fell flat in the end.
Bonus points for the feminist story and I enjoyed Asher as a morally grey protagonist, she has goals, takes action, helps those she likes and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty.
Which is why the ending irritated me so much.
The book had interesting elements, but overall it didn't hold my attention too much and the characters, including the protagonist, fell flat in the end.
Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
challenging
dark
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I liked it even more the second time around because I could appreciate the details a lot more.
Certain Dark Things is a fresh take on vampires in a neon-noir Mexico City, so there is a lot for me to like here: I love all the different folklore elements in the worldbuilding of the vampire species, especially the Mexican folklore, of course. The modern noir feel, which is very much supported by the character of Domingo (who is also quite the cinnamon roll) and the cop. Every character is flawed in some way, there are no heroes (although some try to be).
SMG seamlessly blends vampire horror, worldbuilding, folklore, noir, the effects of colonialism and drug wars, weaving a story that is both fantastical and distinctly Mexican, just like her other books.
Domingo was a great character to balance out Atl and I enjoyed reading about their dynamic. I also enjoyed all the side characters and how each relationship was tainted and in most cases ruined by the noir world around them.
On the emotional side, the writing was distant, which is something I have also experienced with SMG's other books. I couldn't get emotionally invested in the characters, which is sad, but in this book, there were so many other elements for me to enjoy, so it wasn't that big of a deal while reading it.
Certain Dark Things is a fresh take on vampires in a neon-noir Mexico City, so there is a lot for me to like here: I love all the different folklore elements in the worldbuilding of the vampire species, especially the Mexican folklore, of course. The modern noir feel, which is very much supported by the character of Domingo (who is also quite the cinnamon roll) and the cop. Every character is flawed in some way, there are no heroes (although some try to be).
SMG seamlessly blends vampire horror, worldbuilding, folklore, noir, the effects of colonialism and drug wars, weaving a story that is both fantastical and distinctly Mexican, just like her other books.
Domingo was a great character to balance out Atl and I enjoyed reading about their dynamic. I also enjoyed all the side characters and how each relationship was tainted and in most cases ruined by the noir world around them.
On the emotional side, the writing was distant, which is something I have also experienced with SMG's other books. I couldn't get emotionally invested in the characters, which is sad, but in this book, there were so many other elements for me to enjoy, so it wasn't that big of a deal while reading it.
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was ... nice? I liked the setting of 'Victorian whodunnit ghost mystery'. The two main ladies were likeable and their chapters were mostly interesting. The London Séance Society as an organisation was a good idea.
It took 2 hours for the story to really get going for me.
I didn't like that the man's POV chapters were mostly there to tell the backstory.
I definitely didn't like how we spent so much time in his head and he never oncethought about how he was present at Evie's death or all the things that happened around that time or even all the things he lied about. This made his chapters even more of a plot device to tell the story in a linear way and even less like the POV of a real person.
It took 2 hours for the story to really get going for me.
I didn't like that the man's POV chapters were mostly there to tell the backstory.
I definitely didn't like how we spent so much time in his head and he never once
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This is a very powerful work of art.
Art Spiegelman tells his father's story with care, honesty and attention to detail. And in doing so, he tells his own story about his process. He simply tells us what Vlad tells him and what happens in his present, he doesn't judge, even when he shows us his relationship with his father or his own struggles to write his father's story. He always forces us to think for ourselves, he never gives us an easy explanation for anything - because there are no easy explanations.
That really impressed me. It brings every element of his story to life and makes it so much more powerful.
Something that frightened me in the beginning was seeing all the little ways that people kept finding to tell themselves that they're safe, that it's not so bad, etc. I can certainly see parallels with today.
The first time I had to put the book down and take a breath was whenTosha kills the children. So bloody heartbreaking. To be in that situation, with three little children, not even your own, and to have to make that choice...
I had to think about Magda Goebbels poisoning her children in the Führerbunker because they were 'too good for this world', because she wanted to punish the world after Hitler by denying it her children. The f*cking audacity of that woman. And compared to Tosha's heartbreaking situation.
Art Spiegelman tells his father's story with care, honesty and attention to detail. And in doing so, he tells his own story about his process. He simply tells us what Vlad tells him and what happens in his present, he doesn't judge, even when he shows us his relationship with his father or his own struggles to write his father's story. He always forces us to think for ourselves, he never gives us an easy explanation for anything - because there are no easy explanations.
That really impressed me. It brings every element of his story to life and makes it so much more powerful.
Something that frightened me in the beginning was seeing all the little ways that people kept finding to tell themselves that they're safe, that it's not so bad, etc. I can certainly see parallels with today.
The first time I had to put the book down and take a breath was when
I had to think about Magda Goebbels poisoning her children in the Führerbunker because they were 'too good for this world', because she wanted to punish the world after Hitler by denying it her children. The f*cking audacity of that woman. And compared to Tosha's heartbreaking situation.
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
challenging
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Being a teenage goth in the 90s and 2000s, of course I read the shit out of it in those years. The last time I read it was probably in the late 2000s/early 2010s.
Therefore, I cannot re-read this book without my opinion being massively influenced by nostalgia. I admit that I would probably rate it lower if I were reading it for the first time now. Also, it has a very specific edgy-romantic vibe that is specific to gothic literature of that era (late 70s to 80s), which is kind of dated now, but do I care? No, not at all. I grew up with it, AND the early World Wide Web. I am lost forever anyway.
It started a bit slow and boring this time, and picked up about halfway through, which is when I remembered why I loved this book so much.
Much like Lestat is for us, this book is my problematic favourite. I love it and yet I agree with every 1 star review.
Therefore, I cannot re-read this book without my opinion being massively influenced by nostalgia. I admit that I would probably rate it lower if I were reading it for the first time now. Also, it has a very specific edgy-romantic vibe that is specific to gothic literature of that era (late 70s to 80s), which is kind of dated now, but do I care? No, not at all. I grew up with it, AND the early World Wide Web. I am lost forever anyway.
It started a bit slow and boring this time, and picked up about halfway through, which is when I remembered why I loved this book so much.
Much like Lestat is for us, this book is my problematic favourite. I love it and yet I agree with every 1 star review.
Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence by Kristen R. Ghodsee
informative
inspiring
4.5
First of all, this book was much more than I expected from a book about life in communist countries by a US author. All the more so because the author clearly stated in her introduction that it was written for a US audience. So I was quite prepared not to be the target audience and not to rate this book any lower because I appreciate when authors manage expectations so clearly and not everything has to be for everyone.
That said, this book is well researched, as the author is an expert in her field, with years of study and personal experience. The content is much less tendentious than the title might suggest, but I would not call the title misleading, and I hope this will encourage more people to pick up the book. Ghodsee looks at each subject she touches on from different angles, criticising state socialism where criticism is due and not blind to the problems of the real socialism of the past. What she proposes is a future that combines the best of both worlds.
I would have liked more depth in some chapters, but this is an introductory work aimed at a non-academic audience. Further reading is recommended and a list of books is provided.
Topics and chapters I found particularly interesting/informative:
That said, this book is well researched, as the author is an expert in her field, with years of study and personal experience. The content is much less tendentious than the title might suggest, but I would not call the title misleading, and I hope this will encourage more people to pick up the book. Ghodsee looks at each subject she touches on from different angles, criticising state socialism where criticism is due and not blind to the problems of the real socialism of the past. What she proposes is a future that combines the best of both worlds.
I would have liked more depth in some chapters, but this is an introductory work aimed at a non-academic audience. Further reading is recommended and a list of books is provided.
Topics and chapters I found particularly interesting/informative:
- How even state-mandated socialism, with its official basis of equality, was still influenced and shaped by patriarchy - in the home and at the state level.
- The constant emphasis on sexual economics in a capitalist, patriarchal society where marriage is itself a capitalist exchange. I am in a heterosexual relationship, and this has helped me to reflect on why we both have virtually no interest in getting married, apart from making arrangements in case of illness, injury or death - there is no exchange of free labour for financial stability/housing in my relationship, and therefore no need for us to sign a mutual contract.
- The life and work of (and the patriarchal backlash against) Alexandra Kollontai.
- How so many of the freedoms, rights and social protections for women won during the Cold War came about because the West didn't want to appear less progressive than the Eastern bloc.
I will definitely be reading more of Ghodsee's work.
The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 2: Dallas by Gerard Way, Gabriel Bá
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was very much a wild ride, entertaining, more fun than the first one. Weird and hilarious and dark.
Hide by Kiersten White
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Like the setting, like the premise, like the writing, like the characters, BUT... Holy Infodump Batman!
I'm so sorry, because otherwise this book would have been great, but I really didn't like the way it was done. It's as if the characters were protagonists in a Call of Cthulhu RPG game, and succeeded in their Find Hidden, Research and Convince dice rolls. I think I understand what the author was trying to do, which was to establish a richer backstory for what was happening in the book, and I appreciate that. But the way it was handled, as a storytelling device, seemed uninspired and a little lazy. For me personally, the diaries would have fit better as an appendix, and not every detail needed to be explained within the story itself.
I'm so sorry, because otherwise this book would have been great, but I really didn't like the way it was done. It's as if the characters were protagonists in a Call of Cthulhu RPG game, and succeeded in their Find Hidden, Research and Convince dice rolls. I think I understand what the author was trying to do, which was to establish a richer backstory for what was happening in the book, and I appreciate that. But the way it was handled, as a storytelling device, seemed uninspired and a little lazy. For me personally, the diaries would have fit better as an appendix, and not every detail needed to be explained within the story itself.
What Shall It Profit? by Poul Anderson
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0