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funkyauntjules's reviews
49 reviews
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
damn.
Liarmouth by John Waters
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
this book didn't disappoint. it's so funny, so gross, so specific in what it is and what it gives you. i love a book where it's just insane thing followed by more insane thing- i'd say this is probably my fave book read this year. it just keeps. on. going. the tone is so clear, the world is perfect. i want this to become a movie so SO bad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Sarahland by Sam Cohen
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
it took me forever to read this not because it's bad but because i need to start reading other books while reading short story books to make them go by easier. these short stories are awesome and there were so many that i wished were full fledged stories on their own. my faves are as follows: sarahland, the first sarah, becoming trees, and absolutely absolutely dream palace (probably my top fave). these stories are fun, dangerous, sexy! the characters really do feel like real people. loved.
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
okay so i burned through this book but mostly because i was waiting for something insane to happen. foley had so many plot points she could've run with and didn't, so i found myself just waiting for a lot of the time. the story doesn't really pick up until about halfway through. there's little nugget hints here and there but the payoff in the reveals isn't as big as you'd like because she gets so lost in the exposition and flashbacks. shit literally doesn't hit the fan until the last 70 pages and by then you're like "oh yeah she did mention that". the final twist was a bit juicy- but expected. overall fine. but i'm not letting tiktok recommend me books anymore.
Pure Colour by Sheila Heti
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
okay so i went through a lot of ups and downs with this book. like initially i was burning through and absolutely eating up the metaphors and then i reached a point (leaf) where it lost me. but honestly towards the end i came back again. am i completely in love and obsessed with this book? absolutely not. but i will say there was a lot of beauty in the way heti talks about love and the individual experience, and how that can change a relationship. the last page was sweet and special. maybe i'll reread it in a year. maybe not.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Dreaming of You by Melissa Lozada-Oliva
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
this was just SO fucking good. it's so incredible how she was able to build the world, challenge it, and change it all while maintaining a dance between humor and all that is CREEPY. i absolutely burned through it. the epilogue and alternate endings specifically were such a treat. melissa has a GIFT i tell you a GIFT!!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Murder
Shit Cassandra Saw by Gwen E. Kirby
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
i love love LOVED how fucking cool these stories were!! how easy it was to fall into each world and love every bit. a few normal things that happen a lot, marcy breaks up with herself, and midwestern girl is tired are my absolute favorites. i litchrally couldn't get enough
Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
this book is JUST so good. carmen machado's writing is absolutely visceral, clear, and raw. it's unbelievable to read each story and see how she can capture each world so clearly. i will say the resident felt super dense and was hard to get through but my top favorites were (in no particular order- don't make me choose) inventory, the husband stitch, and difficult at parties. SO SO good
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
this is a book about a skinny, blonde, beautiful, inherently rich (but unemployed) white woman and don't you forget it. the protagonist is dry, edgy, and a little bit of a bitch- so mean to her friend!!! this is so much about how she wants to sleep that halfway through you're wondering what's actually happening plot wise and it doesn't start picking up until more than halfway through. also this book is literally about 9/11 and, i mean, it's mentioned earlier (chekhov gun) but like.....fuck.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction
Eh, it'll make a cool A24 movie, I guess.