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le_lobey's reviews
348 reviews
Bloodchild and Other Stories by Octavia E. Butler
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
These characters are so deeply sympathetic. Compelling situations and human development/exploration. Feel like this would be a great entry to sci-fi for readers of more realistic fiction.
The first few stories were my favorites. The Evening and the Morning and the Night in particular hit very close to home.
The first few stories were my favorites. The Evening and the Morning and the Night in particular hit very close to home.
Into the Unbeing Volume 1 by Zac Thompson
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Immersive, gross, weird, organic goodness. Great atmosphere and really psychological. Loved how the art juxtaposes sweeping landscapes with really tight/distorted close ups of the characters. Really draws you into the strangeness of the setting and the experience/memories of the scientists who find themselves there.
Cold Moons by Magnús Sigurðsson
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
I was worried after the first part that I wasn't gonna rock with this. The extreme brevity of the poems was a strength when they were funny, but the more earnest pieces came off as fake deep — there just wasn't enough space to really explore the feeling or observations. The punning poems were particularly off-putting.
Part two really turned my reading experience around though, and was my favorite of the collection. The poems have the same potent density but have a lot more meat. I like how here humanity is more involved with the cycles of nature than opposed to them. Creativity and perception are also caught up in the same orbit.
Part three was also strong but didn't hit as hard for me. The content is darker, moodier. I liked how the images of the ocean and moon developed.
Part two really turned my reading experience around though, and was my favorite of the collection. The poems have the same potent density but have a lot more meat. I like how here humanity is more involved with the cycles of nature than opposed to them. Creativity and perception are also caught up in the same orbit.
Part three was also strong but didn't hit as hard for me. The content is darker, moodier. I liked how the images of the ocean and moon developed.
Human Acts by Han Kang
Historical memory, memorialization, redemption. Souls, flames, faces. Bodies. Violence, statehood, resistance, care, dignity.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Break open that moment and out of it will come massacre, torture, violent repression. It gets shoved aside, beaten to a pulp, swept away in the tide of brutality. But now, if we can only keep our eyes open, if we can all hold our gazes steady, until the bitter end...
Dong Ho, I need you to take my hand and guide me away from all this. Away to where the light shines through, to where the flowers bloom.
Historical memory, memorialization, redemption. Souls, flames, faces. Bodies. Violence, statehood, resistance, care, dignity.
Jhereg by Steven Brust
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This was so much fun! Witty repartee and great female characters. Refreshing to read sword/sorcery without any death cult vibes. Though it reads almost more like a detective novel. Literally a murder mystery!
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was .... Fine? The images were compelling, especially in part 2, but I never felt that I was moved by it. I didn't find the writing particularly beautiful either, nowhere close to the white book.
I realize that this might just be the point, but it felt odd to name the book after this character and follow her through this journey but never to learn more. We just see different kinds of violence inflicted on Yeong-Hye as people refuse to listen to her. Its like Kang is dangling the promise of understanding her and seeing her resolution in front of the pov characters/readers but they/we never get there.
If not, and I'm just missing something, I feel like now that I know where it's all headed I could probably glean more in a reread.
I realize that this might just be the point, but it felt odd to name the book after this character and follow her through this journey but never to learn more. We just see different kinds of violence inflicted on Yeong-Hye as people refuse to listen to her. Its like Kang is dangling the promise of understanding her and seeing her resolution in front of the pov characters/readers but they/we never get there.
If not, and I'm just missing something, I feel like now that I know where it's all headed I could probably glean more in a reread.
The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Excellent world building, but the pacing felt very off.
Hogg by Samuel R. Delany
challenging
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
There's no getting around how deeply upsetting Hogg can be; it's transgressive porno-horror. Turned my stomach on many occasions and I mostly had to take it one chapter at a time.
As unflinchingly graphic as Delany is with the many appetites of his characters, the relationships he crafts between them and their world are fascinating. Towards the end when the boy escapes the orbit of Hogg's crew it's unsettling to reflect on what kinds of violence merit police mobilization. Why are we so much more comfortable with graphic depictions of certain kinds of violence? How and why does the media and or censor its portrayals of reality, and what is distorted in this reflection? How different is this world from our own? There's so much more here about the overlap of pain, pleasure, morality, crime, and otherness.
It's insane that Delany was able to make this book as good as it is. Also as funny? Really not what you'd expect, but it's true. And the occasional moments of beauty were all the more heart crushing when held against the sensual treatment of the rest of the book. His skill is undeniable.
As unflinchingly graphic as Delany is with the many appetites of his characters, the relationships he crafts between them and their world are fascinating. Towards the end when the boy escapes the orbit of Hogg's crew it's unsettling to reflect on what kinds of violence merit police mobilization. Why are we so much more comfortable with graphic depictions of certain kinds of violence? How and why does the media and or censor its portrayals of reality, and what is distorted in this reflection? How different is this world from our own? There's so much more here about the overlap of pain, pleasure, morality, crime, and otherness.
It's insane that Delany was able to make this book as good as it is. Also as funny? Really not what you'd expect, but it's true. And the occasional moments of beauty were all the more heart crushing when held against the sensual treatment of the rest of the book. His skill is undeniable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Excrement, and Injury/Injury detail
The White Book by Han Kang
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Blue in Green by Anand R.K., Ram V
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5