Scan barcode
jaina8851's reviews
532 reviews
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 6 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Dave Cockrum, Brent Anderson
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Uncanny X-Men Masterworks Vol. 5 by Chris Claremont
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
4.75
This just keeps getting better and better. The finale of the Dark Phoenix arc is as incredible as I was told it would be. I really appreciated the recap issue, since I hadn't read any of the stories about the OG X-Men. And I'm really enjoying the introduction of Kitty Pryde, excited to see where her story takes her.
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 3 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne
adventurous
fast-paced
4.5
It's really fun to see how the dynamics and relationships of the characters are evolving as they become more of a team, and the breakneck pace of the trouble that they are getting into kept me turning pages as fast as I could. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Nimona by ND Stevenson
adventurous
funny
fast-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? Yes
4.75
This was excellent! I didn't know anything about this story going into it and was surprised and delighted by the fact that it was a monster girl story. The characters and world were so well developed and the art was gorgeous. Really great!
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Absolutely adored this book and getting to listen to Robin Wall Kimmerer read it was an absolute delight. Her use of language is so beautiful and inspiring, I know I'll listen to this again and again.
Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World by Michael Pollan
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Kind of meh. For once, I really wasn't interested in hearing Michael Pollan's over-embellished experience of a thing and really just wanted to hear about the science. Less "is this what ADHD feels like?!" and more caffeinated bees. There were a couple of interesting tidbits in here, and as someone who can't consume coffee at all due to some weird combo of synesthesia or a potential allergy, I really wish I could somehow go and consume the fruit of the coffee plant like he did to see if it is a compound in coffee itself that makes my mouth feel like it is filled with sand, or something that changes during the brewing process.
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 2 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Tony DeZúñiga, Bill Mantlo, Dave Cockrum, Terry Austin, Bob Brown
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
4.25
Continuing on with my "I've never read or seen any X-Men content before, ever" read of this series. I found this volume much more confusing than the previous one because it felt like it was throwing in a lot more outer space and other characters with barely any context, but it was still a fun ride. Cool to see Magneto on page for the first time, that's a name I've definitely heard before but had no idea who he was. Excited to read more!
Aednan: An Epic by Linnea Axelsson
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This story is haunting and sad, but I wish I had read it with my eyes. It was hard to keep track of who each section was about and what time it was happening, because the section header would be read and then we'd move on and I'd feel adrift. I think I'd like to revisit this book at some point and read it as a print version.
Woolgathering by Patti Smith
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
A bit hit or miss for me. The parts that felt very grounded in the reality of her childhood were lovely, but the parts in the middle were a bit confusing. With poetry books, I normally try to read them in small bites to process them, but with this book, I wish I had read it all in one sitting because taking breaks made me lose track of what was happening.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.25
This book took me a while to get into, and it's the rare case where I think that the audiobook outshines the print version and adds a lot to the experience of reading. I thought the way the facts about the US prison industrial complex were blended in with the story was powerful and showcased just how thin the line is between the reality of the story and our own. I also really liked the way all of the different characters and story lines wove together by the end. That said though, I found myself feeling strangely detached from the characters themselves. During a lot of the more private/emotional moments between Thurwar and members of her chain, I found myself a little disengaged and wanting to hear more about the various subplots and minor characters. It was a weird experience because I don't think I was supposed to feel that way? In any case, this book feels incredibly important and does a good job of showing the brutality of our actual society.