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mateoj's reviews
432 reviews
A Curious History of Sex by Kate Lister
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
4.0
very entertaining and informative, and I appreciated the extensive use of primary sources. It was a welcome surprise to read the disclaimer in the introduction acknowledging the existence of trans people and the fact that primary sources almost always take a cisgendered view on sex and genitalia, but I do wish Lister had done more in her own use of language to try and correct that instead of just offering a disclaimer and going on to adhere to that cis-centric perspective. A few "people with vulvas" and "people with penises" would not have been unwelcome, but nonetheless I have to give her credit for even acknowledging the issue at all. The condemnation of FOSTA/SESTA and explicit support of sex workers was also a welcome surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Hangsaman by Shirley Jackson
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Shirley Jackson was a genius.
What's so great about Hangsaman isn't necessarily the plot (which I can admit is fairly minimal and not especially concrete) but the way Jackson so perfectly describes the thoughts and feelings Natalie has about her life and the events and people therein. There is almost a kind of meta-narrative happening, where Natalie's internal narration of her life nestles within Jackson's external narrative of Natalie.
What's so great about Hangsaman isn't necessarily the plot (which I can admit is fairly minimal and not especially concrete) but the way Jackson so perfectly describes the thoughts and feelings Natalie has about her life and the events and people therein. There is almost a kind of meta-narrative happening, where Natalie's internal narration of her life nestles within Jackson's external narrative of Natalie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Moderate: Rape
Portrait of an Unknown Lady by María Gainza
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.25
this was nothing. a nothing book. the only reason I finished it was because it was so short. there is very little semblance of plot, and what there is is so tediously written that it loses all intrigue. the writing is really just tedious in general, and 75% of the narration is just the narrator quoting other (real) people. that was a few days of my life I'll never get back.
Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout by Laura Jane Grace
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I think what I appreciate most about Laura Jane Grace- aside from her music- is the fact that she does not approach the topics of gender and transitioning from a position of trying to appeal to cis sensibilities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
The Maid by Nita Prose
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I am.... conflicted. On one hand, this is a nice, easy, pleasant read, and I found Molly to be a loveable and charming narrator, if frustrating at times. On the other hand, the conclusion felt very rushed, and the plot twist at the very end seemed like it was trying to go for a Roger Ackroyd type thing, but instead of being shocking and making me want to reread the book to look for foreshadowing, it felt like the entire plot was just retconned, and I felt sort of cheated. there is obviously parallels witth Molly helping her Gran die and Mrs. Black killing her abusive husband, but that could have been integrated into the meat of the book's plot and it would have made for a much more interesting and compelling story. All in all, not really a book I'm going to go around recommendimg, but good for a quick and engaging read that doesn;t take much out of you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Grief, and Murder
The Story Behind: The Extraordinary History Behind Ordinary Objects by Emily Prokop
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
a nice, light, entertaining read! were I capable of listening to podcasts, I probably would already be a fan of this one thanks to my love of microhistories, so I'm glad I don't have to feel left out.
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
I'm gnashing my teeth bouncing off the walls hollering screeching et cetera.
I hesitate to compare this to Murakami because I don't want to fall into the "Japanese authors is the same" trap, but fuck it. A Tale for the Time Being is what I wanted and did not get from Murakami: strange, metaphysical, and surreal without sacrificing coherency and humanity. All too often fiction like this forgeos the beating heart of the story in favor of being as mindfucky as possible, and one of my favorite things about A Tale for the Time Being is how it refuses to let go of the human feelings and needs at its core. The meta-narrative is extremely well done, and manages to make as much sense as it possibly can, without losing any of its surreality or weirdness. What a masterpiece.
I hesitate to compare this to Murakami because I don't want to fall into the "Japanese authors is the same" trap, but fuck it. A Tale for the Time Being is what I wanted and did not get from Murakami: strange, metaphysical, and surreal without sacrificing coherency and humanity. All too often fiction like this forgeos the beating heart of the story in favor of being as mindfucky as possible, and one of my favorite things about A Tale for the Time Being is how it refuses to let go of the human feelings and needs at its core. The meta-narrative is extremely well done, and manages to make as much sense as it possibly can, without losing any of its surreality or weirdness. What a masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Violence, Trafficking, and War
The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
yes I am crying about eels! you would cry about eels too if you read this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death of parent
Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction by Lisa Kröger, Melanie R. Anderson
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.75
my own reading list has grown exponentially, and I'm excited to continue to refer back to this book when in need of something new to read. I found it funny that many books and authors I really enjoy were profiled here, but so were a couple I truly dislike. such is the nature of the beast!