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anitaconchita's reviews
133 reviews
The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
Maybe my least favorite of the Belles of London books, but that's not saying much since I loved them all. I think readers can see the solution that the characters have such a hard time reaching, that it becomes a little tedious, but you love the characters and you root for them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Gaslighting
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
So, so good. Funny and horrifying and brilliant. Takes a familiar story and adds so much depth of character, trauma, and affection for the characters (even the deplorable ones like Duke and King). The changes are meaningful and done with great care. I felt the start was a bit heavy handed when it came to introducing the theme of code switching and the power of language, but once the story got moving, it was captivating and I was willing to follow James and Huck anywhere. A little uneven, but overall such a great book.
In the end, it leaves me thinking about liberation and escape. Who do you leave behind? Who/what do you take with you? What are the risks you take for yourself? For others? What alternatives exist? What alternatives are we hoping for?
In the end, it leaves me thinking about liberation and escape. Who do you leave behind? Who/what do you take with you? What are the risks you take for yourself? For others? What alternatives exist? What alternatives are we hoping for?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
It's a book about chattel slavery and all that comes with it. Not as graphic as some books, but it stays with you.
Do You Remember Being Born? by Sean Michaels
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The writing is beautiful, but overall, this book didn't sit well with me as someone who has spent a lot of time thinking about the ethical implications of AI, the environmental impacts of the tools, and where art meets tech.
I'll start by noting that a judge in a first chapter contest I entered recommend I read this book, and I’m still not sure what to make of it. It’s a book dealing explicitly with the question of art in the age of AI, but also written partially with AI, and that’s where I’m torn. At first, I found the book charming, the main character cheeky and playful, l and the writing gorgeous. The writing throughout really is very clean and lovely (and it’s a good thing too, cause the main character is a poet!), but the MC is based on the very real poet Marianne Moore and much of the poetry in the book is written by an LLM trained on Moore’s poetry, which has me feeling all sorts of conflicts, and pondering questions of consent (not just IP), and how we treat historical figures in our stories. It's a very meta book in its themes, but ultimately, I wasn't a fan of how the MC was characterized.
I'll start by noting that a judge in a first chapter contest I entered recommend I read this book, and I’m still not sure what to make of it. It’s a book dealing explicitly with the question of art in the age of AI, but also written partially with AI, and that’s where I’m torn. At first, I found the book charming, the main character cheeky and playful, l and the writing gorgeous. The writing throughout really is very clean and lovely (and it’s a good thing too, cause the main character is a poet!), but the MC is based on the very real poet Marianne Moore and much of the poetry in the book is written by an LLM trained on Moore’s poetry, which has me feeling all sorts of conflicts, and pondering questions of consent (not just IP), and how we treat historical figures in our stories. It's a very meta book in its themes, but ultimately, I wasn't a fan of how the MC was characterized.
In particular, the book made me very uncomfortable, and quite mad, in its depictions of maternal negligence and selfishness for the sake of art. Especially because the real-life woman who the MC is based on did not have children, and there are many details that are taken straight from this woman's life. I’m still working through my reactions to it, but the final feelings I'm left with as a reader aren't pleasant. They're icky.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
There are scenes of child neglect (a small child being locked out of his mother's room/presence for hours at a time)
Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Just excellent. Stayed up too late, too many consecutive nights reading Margo’s travails, which were funny, engrossing, and thought provoking. Strong cast of characters, very fun and smart read. Felt like it got resolved a bit quickly, but, overall, an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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
Delightful! Such a lovely cozy read.
Princess Princess Ever After by K. O'Neill
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Xenophobia
Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall a fun satire, but the sales manual format got a bit exhausting for me, and there were so many point where I couldn’t stand Buck, the main character. I kind of hoped for more critique of capitalism and the ending was a bit of a let down for me. An engaging narrator and fast-paced read though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
IQ by Joe Ide
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
3.0
Very much a book that is meant to establish a setting and compelling main character for a longer series, and for me it worked. Isaiah and Dodson are compelling characters, and they become more so as the story goes on. The central mystery is meh, but it’s great for setting your our main characters. Dialogue is enjoyable and laugh-out-loud funny in many parts, and there were some brilliant descriptions. Enjoyed it overall, but beware major toxic masculinity and casual misogyny.