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kyarabereading's reviews
58 reviews
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is definitely one of the darkest & most haunting books I have read thus far, & I didn’t know how I’d handle that originally, but it was definitely worth the read. The writing style, the characters, the stories in general - they really stick with you even long after you’ve read them. And the endings - whether you could see them coming or not - hit you like a punch in the gut. Each one is really heartbreaking & horrifying in its own way.
I will say I think some stories were better than others, but maybe if I gave it another read sometime in the future, I’ll change my mind about that lol I definitely had some immediate favorites & that made certain stories pale in comparison. But I feel like that’s usually the case with short story collections. Nonetheless, I thought it was a pretty good short story collection!
I will say I think some stories were better than others, but maybe if I gave it another read sometime in the future, I’ll change my mind about that lol I definitely had some immediate favorites & that made certain stories pale in comparison. But I feel like that’s usually the case with short story collections. Nonetheless, I thought it was a pretty good short story collection!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Torture, Excrement, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Every book I read from this series makes me more excited to read the next. I like how every book opens up the world of Percy Jackson little by little, and I love everything we got to learn about it through this book. It’s also been cool to see how these characters (and their friendships) develop from book to book. This is a very fun series to read, and I can’t wait to learn what happens next!
Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga by Sam Maggs, Gabi Nam, Rainbow Rowell
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
4.75
Fangirl is one of my favorite books of all time, so it was only a matter of time before I got around to reading the manga version of it. As someone who has read Fangirl countless of times, it was cool to see those familiar little moments from the novel as a manga. But it was even cooler to see the different things this format does that set it apart from the o.g book.
Considering I’ve read this book before, those little changes made it so I had something new to look forward to with every page I turned. Even though I knew the plot going into this one, it was still fun seeing the book come to life in a whole new way.
I can’t wait to read the other volumes!!
Considering I’ve read this book before, those little changes made it so I had something new to look forward to with every page I turned. Even though I knew the plot going into this one, it was still fun seeing the book come to life in a whole new way.
I can’t wait to read the other volumes!!
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.5
I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a quick yet impactful read. I think Cisneros’s writing style is beautiful and really works for what this book is trying to do. It really puts you in the shoes of a young Hispanic girl, helps you see the world through her eyes. I would definitely read this one again!
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story by George Orwell
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Animal Farm was published in 1945 as an allegorical novel about the Soviet Union & communism, but as I read it, it reminded me a lot more of the capitalistic greed we see today. Being overworked and underpaid, losing benefits (such as retirement), working hard just to make already rich CEOs richer - these are super familiar to me as a 20-something living in the U.S.
It was really interesting yet frustrating to read Animal Farm through that lens. As interesting as it was to see those comparisons, it was much more frustrating to come to terms with the fact that things have gotten so much worse over the years. It’s frustrating to see these same issues not be addressed throughout history because the powers that be will do just about anything for more money, more yachts, more everything.
I hope more people read novels like Animal Farm and truly learn from them. I hope it angers them as much as it angered me. And I hope in time, we can use that anger and frustration to do some good.
It was really interesting yet frustrating to read Animal Farm through that lens. As interesting as it was to see those comparisons, it was much more frustrating to come to terms with the fact that things have gotten so much worse over the years. It’s frustrating to see these same issues not be addressed throughout history because the powers that be will do just about anything for more money, more yachts, more everything.
I hope more people read novels like Animal Farm and truly learn from them. I hope it angers them as much as it angered me. And I hope in time, we can use that anger and frustration to do some good.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
4.0
I'm definitely not the target audience for this book, but it was a fun read nonetheless. This book feels almost cinematic, and I feel like it would do great as a film or series. Both animated and live-action would really suit it in my opinion.
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.25
I really enjoy how much you can tell Riordan pulls from Greek mythology in this book series, and it was especially obvious to me in The Sea of Monsters. From the sort of story tropes you see to the characters to the plot points - everything really brings Greek mythology to life for a new generation of readers.
I like that this book helped us get to learn more about this magical world that Percy is now a part of and that it slowly brought us closer to learning about the prophecy that will change Percy's life (and the world) forever. The plot is progressing very nicely, and I'm really excited to see what happens next.
This was a great read, but I will admit, it felt a little filler-y at times. It felt like the plot was moving a bit slow in the middle then had to be wrapped up very quickly at the end. I think this book could have used 100 more pages, so that Riordan could have the time to flesh out some of the storylines in the book and give more 'page time' to plot points that were the most interesting and important to the book series as a whole. In this case, I'm talking about Luke and his goal of bringing Kronos back to life (I know he's not really dead, but I don't know how else to say it lol).
Nonetheless, I am loving this book series so far!
I like that this book helped us get to learn more about this magical world that Percy is now a part of and that it slowly brought us closer to learning about the prophecy that will change Percy's life (and the world) forever. The plot is progressing very nicely, and I'm really excited to see what happens next.
This was a great read, but I will admit, it felt a little filler-y at times. It felt like the plot was moving a bit slow in the middle then had to be wrapped up very quickly at the end. I think this book could have used 100 more pages, so that Riordan could have the time to flesh out some of the storylines in the book and give more 'page time' to plot points that were the most interesting and important to the book series as a whole.
Nonetheless, I am loving this book series so far!
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is a great short story. Super eerie and dark. Says a lot about the struggles women have faced. It's definitely a story to reflect on. I'll admit that where the story was headed felt very obvious and predictable from the start, but it worked for what the story is trying to achieve. Without saying too much, it didn't take away from how purposefully saddening that ending was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
At 22 years old, this is my first time ever reading the Percy Jackson series, and I am loving it so far. I wanted to read it ahead of the upcoming Disney+ series, and I am really looking forward to seeing this book series come to life on screen (again lol).
This is a very fun, adventurous book with loveable characters, interesting lore, and a plot that keeps you hooked. But even though it's a children's book series, at its core, it goes so much deeper than just fun adventures and cool powers. This is a book about neglectful parents, and how it feels to be the children of said parents. This is a book about community, and how finding the right one for you can be life-changing. This is a book about realizing that you are capable of so much more than the negative voices around you say you are. I hope that with the Disney+ series coming out, more kids can be inspired and moved by this series & its characters. And I hope more kids are willing to check out the books as well.
Can't wait to read the next one!
This is a very fun, adventurous book with loveable characters, interesting lore, and a plot that keeps you hooked. But even though it's a children's book series, at its core, it goes so much deeper than just fun adventures and cool powers. This is a book about neglectful parents, and how it feels to be the children of said parents. This is a book about community, and how finding the right one for you can be life-changing. This is a book about realizing that you are capable of so much more than the negative voices around you say you are. I hope that with the Disney+ series coming out, more kids can be inspired and moved by this series & its characters. And I hope more kids are willing to check out the books as well.
Can't wait to read the next one!
Monkey Bridge by Lan Cao
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
This is a beautifully written novel, and many times, I found myself in awe of Cao's writing. It is a beautiful thing to find an author that makes you wish you could write with their same level of creativity and cleverness, but of course, we can't all be Lan Cao. I will admit that sometimes chapters seemed to drag on a bit, and there were times when I would re-read the same passages and not quite understand what Cao was getting at. But nonetheless, I enjoyed the writing, and I think another re-read would help me further understand this novel.
I was glad to get to read a novel about the Vietnam War from the point of view of a Vietnamese refugee. Living in America, the novels and history books I learned from always focused on how the war affected America. I hope more teachers across America are willing to teach more books like Monkey Bridge, because this point of view is so important when discussing the atrocities of that war. This book was very informative and interesting. I genuinely feel like I learned a lot.
Outside of how informative this novel is, it is also very emotional and moving. At its core, it is not just about the history of Vietnam, but it is also a story about a teenage girl and her mother - the struggles within that relationship and the differences that pushed them apart. It is a story about what it feels like to be caught between two worlds because you're both disconnected from your culture but also treated as "other" in America. I'm not Vietnamese, so obviously I do not completely understand or identify with everything that happened in this book, but as a single mother's daughter and as someone who moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S., I saw myself in some parts of this book. I think other women/people of color could feel the same way.
I was glad to get to read a novel about the Vietnam War from the point of view of a Vietnamese refugee. Living in America, the novels and history books I learned from always focused on how the war affected America. I hope more teachers across America are willing to teach more books like Monkey Bridge, because this point of view is so important when discussing the atrocities of that war. This book was very informative and interesting. I genuinely feel like I learned a lot.
Outside of how informative this novel is, it is also very emotional and moving. At its core, it is not just about the history of Vietnam, but it is also a story about a teenage girl and her mother - the struggles within that relationship and the differences that pushed them apart. It is a story about what it feels like to be caught between two worlds because you're both disconnected from your culture but also treated as "other" in America. I'm not Vietnamese, so obviously I do not completely understand or identify with everything that happened in this book, but as a single mother's daughter and as someone who moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S., I saw myself in some parts of this book. I think other women/people of color could feel the same way.