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readingrainbill's reviews
474 reviews
And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.
I can't. It's so poorly written that even as an audiobook at 1.5 speed I just want it to be over. It makes no sense and I've read a few spoiler reviews at this point and thank God I DNFd.
Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.5
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Let Me Out by Emmett Nahil, George Williams
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I feel like I'm doing a disservice to this graphic novel by reviewing it before reading the next volume (it's not out at the time of me writing this since I'm reading an ARC). I say that because I feel like I, the reader, just didn't get enough time with the characters because I didn't care. We're supposed to side with them because they're marginalized LGBTQ+ youth who get treated terribly by almost everyone. And because I'm not a monster, I did sympathize, but that wasn't enough to make me care about anyone.
Without any spoilers there's one scene when two of the characters are working and a third is just hanging out and their supervisor gives them crap about it. True, this supervisor may be far from an ally and maybe even antagonistic towards them, but dude (or the gender free equivalent), you have two friends working at a customer service job and you're just hanging out.
So it's the 70's and this small Christian town is scared because people have been murdered, supposedly by a cult, so they focus on the group of LGBTQ+ punks. On the surface this is a great idea but there's such a big scope to the story that in the 120ish page graphic novel, there wasn't enough to sink my teeth into.
Also there's a trans youth who gets misgendered and deadnamed by his parents and it's never mentioned within their friend group. The friends use he/him, which is great because it's what he wants, but I'd have liked a little more dialogue about his parents and also a better explanation about what caused the event at the very beginning.
There's a great idea here and I get the feeling that I'd really like this once it's complete and I can read it from beginning to end. But as it is, I'd just wait.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Without any spoilers there's one scene when two of the characters are working and a third is just hanging out and their supervisor gives them crap about it. True, this supervisor may be far from an ally and maybe even antagonistic towards them, but dude (or the gender free equivalent), you have two friends working at a customer service job and you're just hanging out.
So it's the 70's and this small Christian town is scared because people have been murdered, supposedly by a cult, so they focus on the group of LGBTQ+ punks. On the surface this is a great idea but there's such a big scope to the story that in the 120ish page graphic novel, there wasn't enough to sink my teeth into.
Also there's a trans youth who gets misgendered and deadnamed by his parents and it's never mentioned within their friend group. The friends use he/him, which is great because it's what he wants, but I'd have liked a little more dialogue about his parents and also a better explanation about what caused the event at the very beginning.
There's a great idea here and I get the feeling that I'd really like this once it's complete and I can read it from beginning to end. But as it is, I'd just wait.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, Gore, and Hate crime
Moderate: Homophobia, Bullying, Cursing, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Deadnaming
My Heart in Braille by Joris Chamblain, Anne-Lise Nalin
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
4.5
4.5 stars
A beautiful graphic novel. I just wish it was longer. My Heart in Braille is a great story with stunning art that I think had more potential. Though I really liked it and like the characters I think there was a bit more room to dive more into each person.
But that being said I still thoroughly enjoyed myself and will probably read this again. I may even buy it.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
A beautiful graphic novel. I just wish it was longer. My Heart in Braille is a great story with stunning art that I think had more potential. Though I really liked it and like the characters I think there was a bit more room to dive more into each person.
But that being said I still thoroughly enjoyed myself and will probably read this again. I may even buy it.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
The Beautiful Poetry of Donald Trump by Rob Sears
dark
sad
2.5
I see what Rob Sears was trying to do but this book just made me angry and sad. He really said these things. Some truly awful things. Cutting it and putting back together as "poetry" is a good idea but monster behind the words ruined the enjoyment.
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I want to read the book all these 5 star reviewers read. Because it surely wasn't Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
Sadie was the worst and Sam was a close 2nd. Marx, Zoe, Ant, and Simon keep this boring sludge from being a 1 star book.
Though I love Marx the chapter from his point of view wasn't needed and that same story should have been told from Sam and Sadie's point of view.
But seriously Sadie is the worst. While I understand what the author was trying to do, it doesn't work. Ever issue between her and Sam was her fault and while Sam sucked too, Sadie was just a bit worse.
Sadie was the worst and Sam was a close 2nd. Marx, Zoe, Ant, and Simon keep this boring sludge from being a 1 star book.
Though I love Marx the chapter from his point of view wasn't needed and that same story should have been told from Sam and Sadie's point of view.
But seriously Sadie is the worst. While I understand what the author was trying to do, it doesn't work. Ever issue between her and Sam was her fault and while Sam sucked too, Sadie was just a bit worse.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can't believe such a readable book won the Pulitzer prize. But it did and it deserved it. Less is a fun ride from start to finish.