alouette's reviews
258 reviews

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
the level of vulgarity was just not for me, and the narration wasn't particularly interesting. i don't even know if my percentage read is correct, i just quit as soon as ames was lowkey racist. but i can see why the themes of transness and motherhood are important and i understand why it was written this way.
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AZADI: Fascism, Fiction & Freedom in the Time of the Virus by Arundhati Roy

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challenging informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

Essay collections like this aren't really my cup of tea, and I wasn't totally on board with understanding the references the author made to their other novels at various points. However, Roy is a indisputably talented speaker and writer, and they wove a very to-the-point and hard-hitting narrative to detail the realities of South Asia's political and cultural climate. It's certainly not a timeless book, but it's an important one.
The Black Veins by Ashia Monet

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adventurous funny tense 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

5.0

i need to read this a few more times because there was so much to love about it! the found family of main characters, of course, but also the magic, the politics, the action... and the characters, it bears repeating how amazing they were. even if the foundation of the book was the plot (though it was a bit shaky), the characters were the stunning highlight. not just how they played off of each other but how they were well-rounded, lovable, and had such dynamic personalities. i could read about their adventures for forever, and the representation that they brought made me ecstatic. this book is a masterclass in writing realistic teens, and proof that a writing style that is true to everyday linguistics and mannerisms is not bad just because it doesn't fit within traditional grammar rules. language is a changing medium, and writers that are able to properly use colloquial language deserve more credit for how immersive their stories become through that style.

also, going back to the representation- look how fascinating diverse characters are and the breadth of emotions and experiences an author can cover by incorporating diverse characters! how anyone can think that reducing diverse characters to quota-fillers will please the people most craving the representation is wacky to me. 
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

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adventurous emotional mysterious 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? Yes

4.5

i liked this book better than the first, maybe because Ronan is such a fascinating character, Adam was a little less frustrating, and we got more insight into Gainsey. it's still mostly centered on a vibe/aesthetic, in that i couldn't really tell you what the plot was, but i did enjoy it! 
Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman

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emotional hopeful relaxing 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

5.0

Heartstopper Volume 3 by Alice Oseman

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

5.0

Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.5

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

4.5

Displacement by Kiku Hughes

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challenging emotional informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

"A memory is too powerful a weapon."

a lovely, insightful story that I'm so happy was told. the intersectional nature of persecution, the ability of communities to come together, and the support we find in empathy- those were some of the parts I adored the most. it can be hard to reconcile a privileged life with what was and is being given up for one to get there, but the author showed beautifully why it's an important thing to do, and how it can make us better, more understanding people.
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

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adventurous mysterious relaxing 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? No

4.0

mostly vibes and not a lot of plot that actually made sense to me- a bit of a shut-your-brain-off type of book. which was nice, because that made it a quick read, and the characters were fun regardless. i liked the twists that it took and the friendships that the author clearly took care to build. it could get a bit boring, unfortunately, as it was setting up a lot of future books.