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waytoomanybooks's reviews
140 reviews
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
2.0
This book is...not great. In the poem “Corona,” the author tells us she has chosen to be “as manic as possible” in order to fill up her book and get it published on her publisher’s timeliness, and it shows. The book is broken into three sections, but rather than have connective tissue binding the three sections together, the sections feel like three different books squished together. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a poetry connoisseur, but I found most of Raphel’s prose to be inscrutable. Such as when she writes, "My name is Chris. My name is Chrysler. My name is / Cristal. My name is Chrysalis." This collection feels like an Instagram “poet” found a publisher and editor who helped her polish her work to feel more legitimate than other writers of her caliber. I really wanted to like this book since dark academia is a very interesting craze, and it didn’t deliver on that front, nor did it deliver on being a thoughtful, cohesive, or impactful poetic narrative. There were a few gems that stood out to me, which contributed in my consideration of a star rating appropriate for this collection.
Minor: Confinement, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Blood, and Pandemic/Epidemic
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This novel is also for anyone looking for truly realistic historical fiction. It's like if a history textbook had characters in it. Though it may seem dry—and at times it could be—each character is truly unique and richly developed. You can tell that the author deeply cares about each and every one of them, whether their “good” or “bad.” None of them are one-note. Not even the children. You will more than likely become attached to at least one of them as you read along!
This novel is quite the sweeping epic, and it is entrenched in the author's belief that there is nothing more important and/or precious than human connection. I dinged a star because it’s often overwrought, and needing to constantly look up words interrupted my reading flow.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Deportation
- 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? Yes
3.0
However, I enjoyed the reflective wisdom of the main character and the history we get to experience along with him. It was fun to see notable historical figures pop into and out of his life, but I especially liked that the people who had the biggest impact on him were just regular people: his family, his friends, his coworkers, etc. The main thread that binds together, all the many arcs of Tom's story is love, and it was lovely to see him come to that conclusion.
My other quibble with the novel is that the story kind of just ends, and the miniature epilogue was a bit too cheesy/cliché for my taste.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
- 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
It's also worth noting that the run-on sentences can be tricky to follow. I did have to stop and reread sentences several times to make sure I understood what I was reading, but honestly, if you miss a sentence here or there, it doesn't really make a difference. (Did you see what I did there? 😉)
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting