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michaelapr's reviews
74 reviews
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
This was definitely an enjoyable read. It has an interesting premise: What happens to children who went into different worlds, like Narnia, but then came back? How do they readjust to the "real world"? Is that even possible? The author does a good job of answering these questions through a variety of likeable, and unlikeable, characters. In some ways I wish that this story had been more fleshed out so that we could have gotten to know the worlds and characters more. But I still enjoyed it overall and found its ending pretty satisfying.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 2 by Kōhei Horikoshi
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? It's complicated
4.75
Preacher, Volume 2: Until the End of the World by Garth Ennis
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Maybe not as good as the first one but still a solid good time, particularly in the beginning and the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Drug abuse
Minor: Sexual assault
Beloved by Toni Morrison
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
Beloved is one of those books that everyone seems to say you have to read at some point in your life. I was supposed to read it in college but didn't manage it. So this is my first ever read of it and probably my last.
Beloved is not meant to be enjoyed in the traditional sense. I think going into reading this book or reviewing it in terms of entertainment or enjoyment is misguided. Toni Morrison wrote this book to show the effects of slavery and the need to grapple with this history because if we do not it will continue to harm us all. Morrison shows this not only through her characters but her language. Like most postmodern authors, Morrison's writing is layered, often not going in a linear fashion, switching perspectives at will, and an indirect approach to telling parts of character's stories - replacing direct storytelling for poetry. This is not everyone's cup of tea - and that's okay. But Morrison does these things on purpose, she isn't just writing for the sake of writing or putting words willy nilly on paper, every word is purposefully set and even if certain details are unclear to me the bigger picture still makes sense - and it's a hard picture to look at.
This is why I say that Morrison did not mean for Beloved to be entertaining or enjoyable in a traditional sense. Instead she wants you to think and ponder and analyze the story, to take something from it. This could be the need to grapple with the past or the past will continue to haunt and torture - as seen through Beloved but also Sethe and Paul D. It could also be the need to build a community as seen through both Baby Suggs and Denver but in different directions. There are many take aways from this book - but pure enjoyment isn't one of them.
So I read this book and got something out of it. Probably more than my exhausted college self would have to be honest. And for that, for the hopeful ending, the writing, and the impact this work has had on the literary world this book gets a 4 out of 5 stars from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A great story with beautiful illustrations.
No Peeking at Presents by Alastair Heim
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
I liked the illustrations of this one a lot, possibly more than the text lol
Santa's Gotta Go! by Derrick Barnes
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Preacher, Volume 1: Gone to Texas by Garth Ennis
fast-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
4.0
I don't know what it is about mature, violent late 90s comics but they seem to grab me and finds a place in my heart almost immediately. Preacher is one of those comics that most people would assume I wouldn't like - it's violent, it has some body horror, and it has foul language, among other things. But I honestly didn't care about any of that - the story had me hooked almost immediately. I loved Jesse, I was invested in his relationship with Tulip (what a ridiculous name), and Cassidy made me crack up. Then there's the art, which really added to the story and I can't wait to draw some of it.
I can't recommend this one to most people. But man, I sure enjoyed the ride.
I can't recommend this one to most people. But man, I sure enjoyed the ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual content
Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
An emotional graphic novel with a rich text and moving artwork. This story is at, its heart, a hopeful one that still feels emotionally true as it grapples with grief and depression in a world of wishes that demand to be thought over. I really enjoyed this one!
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0