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maggies's reviews
644 reviews
Hang the Moon by Alexandria Bellefleur
Did not finish book. Stopped at 59%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 59%.
I didn't love the first book in the series and this is more of the same - Annie's hangups are not justified enough for me to feel anything for her, Darcy's selfish, and Brendon's immature. I'll not try any more in this series.
The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
*Read as part of my challenge to (attempt to) read all 100 of NYT's best books of the 21st century*
I was a child on 9/11/01, so my memories are of a child, and this account is the most I've ever read on the events leading up to the attack. I appreciated Wright's attempt to humanize the major players, from Bin Laden and other members of Al-Qaeda to the American intelligence officers, but I did struggle to keep them all safe. The whole story reminded me of the idea that the intelligence team trying to prevent attacks like this have to get it right 100% of the time, but the attackers only have to get it right once. The intelligence failures were absurdly frustrating, considering how lucky the attackers had to be to carry out their plan. A difficult read, to say the least.
I was a child on 9/11/01, so my memories are of a child, and this account is the most I've ever read on the events leading up to the attack. I appreciated Wright's attempt to humanize the major players, from Bin Laden and other members of Al-Qaeda to the American intelligence officers, but I did struggle to keep them all safe. The whole story reminded me of the idea that the intelligence team trying to prevent attacks like this have to get it right 100% of the time, but the attackers only have to get it right once. The intelligence failures were absurdly frustrating, considering how lucky the attackers had to be to carry out their plan. A difficult read, to say the least.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.0
A super fun, campy, and goofy fantasy romance! I didn't have very high expectations, but they were easily met and exceeded, and I'm looking forward to reading book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Wrapped Up in You by Talia Hibbert
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Talia Hibbert is so great at writing perfect matches in romance books. This short novel is a perfect palate cleanser, where the slow-burn is obvious but all happens prior to the events of the story, and the story is not bogged down in unnecessary will-they-won't-they miscommunications. Just lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
The Stand-In by Lily Chu
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.0
Passable, but not particularly engaging. The middle section dragged on far too long, and Gracie just had a lot going on—between her mom, her job and predatory boss, learning how to be Wei Fangli, building a task management platform, and dealing with Sam, I was overwhelmed. Predictable throughout.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.0
An easy to understand primer on AI, focusing on the weird things that AI gets up to. A great place to start for anyone looking to grasp the uses and limitations of AI.
Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement by Peter Singer
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Certainly a very difficult read, but crucially important. 50 years since it was originally published, Animal Liberation still holds up as an argument against the human-caused suffering of animals. Singer's approach is rightfully harsh but equally measured, calling for sensible changes on an individual, national, and global level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Desserts for Stressed People by Letizia Lorini
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book is a walking, talking miscommunication trope, so reader beware. It was entertaining enough at the beginning, with a good setup, but as the story continued the plot holes gaped ever wider. Some of the banter was good, but at other times it felt stilted, and I was unimpressed by Shane 99% of the time. I'm also not super convinced by the portrayal of Heaven's OCD, but I'll have to think about that some more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Infertility and Pregnancy
A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
This is what I wanted Divine Rivals to be, and it was absolutely wonderful. Slower paced than I normally enjoy, but beautifully written and read. The hunt for the hala doesn't actually start until the last quarter of the book, but considering the hunt only lasts a day and the preparations take weeks, I'll forgive it. Allusions to real-world xenophobia and antisemitism were well done, and descriptions of the alchemy and religious myths were magical. The development of Margaret and Wes's relationship felt natural and lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Blood