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magicalghoul's reviews
94 reviews
Yo, Tituba, bruja negra de Salem by Maryse Condé
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Hay pasajes que me he encontrado releyendo sólo para maravillarse con ellos de nuevo.
En este momento lo que realmente se queda conmigo y que me encantó es lo fuertemente meta e intertextual es su narrativa, lo que la convierte en una novela de ficción histórica con ojos en el futuro (o el presente, pues Tituba está hablando con nosotras). Esto es hecho aún más evidente por el propio conocimiento de Tituba de que su nombre sólo es una nota al pie de los registros históricos de los juicios de Salem además del cameo de feminista blanca de Hester Prynne.
Notable como Condé se basó y jugó tanto con los cuentos orales antillanos como con la historia del Caribe para tejer un trasfondo para la historia de Tituba, y luego la transformación de la propia Tituba en una historia oral.
Toca releer una vez haya digerido propiamente la experiencia.
En este momento lo que realmente se queda conmigo y que me encantó es lo fuertemente meta e intertextual es su narrativa, lo que la convierte en una novela de ficción histórica con ojos en el futuro (o el presente, pues Tituba está hablando con nosotras). Esto es hecho aún más evidente por el propio conocimiento de Tituba de que su nombre sólo es una nota al pie de los registros históricos de los juicios de Salem además del cameo de feminista blanca de Hester Prynne.
Notable como Condé se basó y jugó tanto con los cuentos orales antillanos como con la historia del Caribe para tejer un trasfondo para la historia de Tituba, y luego la transformación de la propia Tituba en una historia oral.
Toca releer una vez haya digerido propiamente la experiencia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, and Religious bigotry
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
I just finished it and I'm a Disaster but wow. Kacen Callender's writing is so good— not only in its descriptions and vivid imagery or its characters but also in its plotting, the parallels it draws within the same narrative, the way it barrels into its themes, the level of emotionality in it.
It was gripping, reading it was a joy, i was intrigued, hooked, and i was pretty happy with the payoff and resolution (something that happens very rarely to me, so I'm glad it didn't fall flat in that aspect).
Definitely recommend, it left me bawling and feeling very tender.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Once I start screaming, I can’t stop. I scream so hard my throat feels raw and my heart pounds. I’m screaming with joy. I’m screaming with pain. I’m screaming with the awe that I’m here, that we’re all here, and that we’re here because of the people before us, the people who couldn’t be here, and I’m screaming for myself, too.”
I just finished it and I'm a Disaster but wow. Kacen Callender's writing is so good— not only in its descriptions and vivid imagery or its characters but also in its plotting, the parallels it draws within the same narrative, the way it barrels into its themes, the level of emotionality in it.
It was gripping, reading it was a joy, i was intrigued, hooked, and i was pretty happy with the payoff and resolution (something that happens very rarely to me, so I'm glad it didn't fall flat in that aspect).
Definitely recommend, it left me bawling and feeling very tender.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Battle of Brothers: William and Harry–The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult by Robert Lacey
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I don't usually read this type of royal-watcher books but this one really eased me into it. I liked the historical tidbits.
Kill the Boy Band by Goldy Moldavsky
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
First off: Mind the discussion of slut-shaming tw. I'm not putting it in spoiler tags because it's somehow central to the plot and could be highly upsetting. Please take care.
Now, about the book: Enjoyed the concept and the writing style but the rampant fatphobia and the smidge of racism really ruined it for me— just because it's satire or dark humor doesn't mean you get a free pass to punch down.
The outdated (even for 2016) teen slang sometimes took me out as well, but on a second thought I'm glad it went for a known evil (tumblr fandom slang) over a recent one (stolen aave in stan circles).
It was entertaining at least, even if I found myself wishing it had pushed for more at times. Solid three star book.
Now, about the book: Enjoyed the concept and the writing style but the rampant fatphobia and the smidge of racism really ruined it for me— just because it's satire or dark humor doesn't mean you get a free pass to punch down.
The outdated (even for 2016) teen slang sometimes took me out as well, but on a second thought I'm glad it went for a known evil (tumblr fandom slang) over a recent one (stolen aave in stan circles).
It was entertaining at least, even if I found myself wishing it had pushed for more at times. Solid three star book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Grief
A character tells another about a situation where she was humiliated and slut shamed.
Ship It by Britta Lundin
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
I spent an entire day reading it and I'll concede that although there's something deep deep down in here about how fandom spaces can be of such help in the search of identity for lgbt folks… it gets trampled down in the entire mess that is the book in its entirety.
I'm not going through everything wrong with Ship It in detail though (fetishization of mlm disguised as fandom activism, discussion of rpf and incest fic as Casual Fandom Things, glorification of toxic fandom behavior, "pan lesbian", brushing off of fandom racism…) because then I'd be here All Day so just suffice to say:
This one should have stayed in wattpad, love ❤️
I'm not going through everything wrong with Ship It in detail though (fetishization of mlm disguised as fandom activism, discussion of rpf and incest fic as Casual Fandom Things, glorification of toxic fandom behavior, "pan lesbian", brushing off of fandom racism…) because then I'd be here All Day so just suffice to say:
This one should have stayed in wattpad, love ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Eating disorder and Incest
The main character is forcedly outed
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Aside from that, wonderful read. I'll carry these characters with me for a long time.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Ok, so.
What I liked: Wonderful characters, all the love, detail and care put into depicting the latinx diaspora and their traditions, how it built into that for the brujx lore and worldbuilding, THE YEARNING OF IT ALL, and… have I said the characters?
It being an own voices book it's not like I was expecting walking latinx stereotypes, but the fact it went above and beyond in Julian's characterization as a brown boy that everyone reads as a hopeless troublemaker because of his neurodiversity (he has adhd, I can see) was something I especially loved.
It being an own voices book it's not like I was expecting walking latinx stereotypes, but the fact it went above and beyond in Julian's characterization as a brown boy that everyone reads as a hopeless troublemaker because of his neurodiversity (he has adhd, I can see) was something I especially loved.
What I didn't like: Ever since the first clues were dropped I was Really hoping it wasn't going to do what it eventually did— I'm not a fan of outliers being represented as extremists that go through methods considered less ethical to even the ground with those that were born into their abilities/status while the system that's ostracized them in the first place is not put in question. I know the book criticizes the transphobia and gender roles in the brujx community and I'm content with what it did in that regard, but the fact that the question of the treatment of magicless folks born into the brujx community (which is was what caused the main conflict in the first place) was left pretty much only addressed in a couple of lines leaves much to be desired. Yadriel has magic and he's eventually recognized by his family. It seems like we shouldn't care about the other marginalized members of the community.
Aside from that, wonderful read. I'll carry these characters with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Blood
Minor: Bullying
Mentions of past gang violence.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Just going from the summary and the themes I knew right away this book was a likely candidate to become a new favorite if it did right and you know what, I'm so glad it all came together BEAUTIFULLY and didn't disappoint. The gorgeous prose, the imagery, the use of time travelling, the yearning of it all... My only complaint is that I was left wanting more and would've liked a more closed ending but hey, that's not enough for me to deduct points because I had a blast reading this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Body horror and Genocide
I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Despite its many good moments and solid writing, that reveal at the end still felt like something out of a r/nosleep story.
White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well, that sure was a disquieting read.
I'm very in love with the way it used the concept of genii loci sucking up and then reflecting the racism of a previous owner and That being the horror, as well as the way it integrated the theme in the narrative.
I would recommend it for the excellent creepy imagery and stylization, wouldn't recommend it if you're not fond of non-endings and loose plots with more flair than anything.
I'm very in love with the way it used the concept of genii loci sucking up and then reflecting the racism of a previous owner and That being the horror, as well as the way it integrated the theme in the narrative.
I would recommend it for the excellent creepy imagery and stylization, wouldn't recommend it if you're not fond of non-endings and loose plots with more flair than anything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Incest
Lots of talk about weight/losing weight/unhealthy eating habits in general and xenophobia. Mention of institutionalization as well.