Scan barcode
loquaciousleon's reviews
66 reviews
One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I enjoyed the story of this book more than I thought I would. I think the premise/lore is really interesting, and the story-telling was charming. It certainly had it's YA writing moments that took me out, though the plot would swiftly call me back in.
I will probably read the second book!!
I will probably read the second book!!
Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee
slow-paced
2.75
This book had a really interesting premise. Something was missing for me. I'm not entirely sure what it was. Maybe it was the way it was written, maybe I was simply not in the right place to read it.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A book that shaped me as a kid and entertained the same part of my soul as an adult.
I'm glad I found this book when I needed it, both then and now.
I'm glad I found this book when I needed it, both then and now.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
After being an avid first book hater because of really unhealthy things being depicted..and bias.
(NOT what other people have said about "you just gotta get through the world building". I hadn't found it slow, I found it dangerous.)
I was pleasantly surprised this book actually addressed these concerns. The dangerous aspects had actual substance and purpose, and were not shied away from for discussion. The relationship feels earned, healthy even.
Was it an easy, fun, sometimes camp read? Absolutely.
I liked it more than I thought I would, though not enough to immediately read the rest of the series without a break.
(NOT what other people have said about "you just gotta get through the world building". I hadn't found it slow, I found it dangerous.)
I was pleasantly surprised this book actually addressed these concerns. The dangerous aspects had actual substance and purpose, and were not shied away from for discussion. The relationship feels earned, healthy even.
Was it an easy, fun, sometimes camp read? Absolutely.
I liked it more than I thought I would, though not enough to immediately read the rest of the series without a break.
By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept by Paulo Coelho
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This will be a book I re-read if, God willing, I ever return to a state of being afraid to love.
The Troop by Nick Cutter
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Man..this book actually had me physically writhing with its descriptions. In that ""good" horror" disgruntlement. Not just once, but throughout the entire book.
PSA: a lot of animal cruelty and violence. Also a lot of body horror.
My favorite parts were the Carl Jung undertones that were woven through the book. (Who is name dropped near the very beginning)
My only critique: Sometimes..literally single words added in places turned the page and/or paragraph into something that made it feel less sophisticated than 90% of the book. Personally, I felt it turn in my mind from horror into "young adult intro horror".
Overall? This is a book I will recommend today and days in the future.
PSA: a lot of animal cruelty and violence. Also a lot of body horror.
My favorite parts were the Carl Jung undertones that were woven through the book. (Who is name dropped near the very beginning)
My only critique: Sometimes..literally single words added in places turned the page and/or paragraph into something that made it feel less sophisticated than 90% of the book. Personally, I felt it turn in my mind from horror into "young adult intro horror".
Overall? This is a book I will recommend today and days in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
dark
emotional
slow-paced
This truly would have been a 5 star book and possibly one of my top picks in general...because so much of it was brilliant.......And I can't even rate it because there were really disrespectful bits about the unhoused littered through the book...and some notes of what felt like covert racism, some possible queerphobia, and a "transvestite" comment that were just really suspicious choices.
Also, as someone in recovery, this book has a lot of Substance Use in it that is written very well. Though, it did give me cravings I haven't felt in a long time.
Peers, please be wary.
Also, as someone in recovery, this book has a lot of Substance Use in it that is written very well. Though, it did give me cravings I haven't felt in a long time.
Peers, please be wary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Ascension by Nicholas Binge
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a pretty okay book. I really liked certain qualities of it, and I felt some qualities were a little trite.
It also had text that was clearly the author talking to the reader through characters and story, which took me out of it.
All in all, not a stellar read, but not one I regret reading. I can see it being a much better read for other people.
It also had text that was clearly the author talking to the reader through characters and story, which took me out of it.
All in all, not a stellar read, but not one I regret reading. I can see it being a much better read for other people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
slow-paced
1.5
Here's what I do know:
1. If you like a slow pace, this might be wonderful for you.
I love embellishments, and truly, 95% felt pointless to me.
80% of them were objectifying. (See 2.)
I wish 80% felt like an exaggeration.
I keep a journal to write book quotes and there wasn't even a single one within the other 20% I felt a bit compelled by.
Most every piece of text and conversation kept circling around one itself.
If the 900 pages didn't make women literally feel like less than living people, maybe the slow-pace and lack of beautiful language wouldn't have taken a toll on my mental state.
2. So. so. much sexualization of women.
To the point I took photos to quote for this review later:
"What will be left of me besides these breasts?
"Tengo's [boy she met when they were kids...19 years ago. without contact since] memory will stay with me, of course. The touch of his hand will stay. My shuddering emotion will stay. The desire to be in his arms will stay."
This was around page 380.
The pages surrounding that were my breaking point. After almost 400 pages of women being written as no more than sex and sexualized people. Which says a lot to me.
INCLUDING a 17 year old.
Skimming through the rest of the book, it was easy to follow the story. Literally I could read a paragraph every other page for 100 pages, start reading again, and feel like I missed nothing.
300 pages later. All my predictions were right.
Which yes, may be personal, though, the predictions and reveals did not feel substantial for what they were, not solely because I had foreseen them.
I did enjoy Kafka on the Shore, and plan to read his latest novel.
I hope 1Q84 is an anomaly.
1. If you like a slow pace, this might be wonderful for you.
I love embellishments, and truly, 95% felt pointless to me.
80% of them were objectifying. (See 2.)
I wish 80% felt like an exaggeration.
I keep a journal to write book quotes and there wasn't even a single one within the other 20% I felt a bit compelled by.
Most every piece of text and conversation kept circling around one itself.
If the 900 pages didn't make women literally feel like less than living people, maybe the slow-pace and lack of beautiful language wouldn't have taken a toll on my mental state.
2. So. so. much sexualization of women.
To the point I took photos to quote for this review later:
"What will be left of me besides these breasts?
"Tengo's [boy she met when they were kids...19 years ago. without contact since] memory will stay with me, of course. The touch of his hand will stay. My shuddering emotion will stay. The desire to be in his arms will stay."
This was around page 380.
The pages surrounding that were my breaking point. After almost 400 pages of women being written as no more than sex and sexualized people. Which says a lot to me.
INCLUDING a 17 year old.
Skimming through the rest of the book, it was easy to follow the story. Literally I could read a paragraph every other page for 100 pages, start reading again, and feel like I missed nothing.
300 pages later. All my predictions were right.
Which yes, may be personal, though, the predictions and reveals did not feel substantial for what they were, not solely because I had foreseen them.
I did enjoy Kafka on the Shore, and plan to read his latest novel.
I hope 1Q84 is an anomaly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A 'Labyrinth'ian x 'The Thing' sci-fi novel revolving around nature and scientific mystery. With some 'Umbrella Corp' vibes laced in.
This is something you could binge in a single sitting/day because it's that good and the mystery keeps you going. As well as it being 195 pages.
As someone who doesn't typically like series: I want to read the next book.
This is something you could binge in a single sitting/day because it's that good and the mystery keeps you going. As well as it being 195 pages.
As someone who doesn't typically like series: I want to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Injury/Injury detail