mesy_mark's reviews
743 reviews

A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

This is a novel in verse about two trans teens in their last year of high school after growing up together and getting through the ups and downs of life.  With interest in the historical woman who dressed as a man in the Revolutionary War and kept doing so post-war sparks the two to write letters to each other when they are forced apart. 

I liked this book but had difficulty separating the two characters as two different characters since they seem to be too similar.  As in not a distinct voice for each of them.  And listening to this book through the audiobook, the narrators' voices are also to similar to clearly say ah yes this is Oliver or This is Erin.  

All and all in was cool for a book to acknowledge fellow queers of the past bu could use some improvements.
How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures by Sabrina Imbler

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lighthearted reflective

3.0

The Male Gazed by Manuel Betancourt

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reflective slow-paced

1.0

 What is this book? A criticism of objectifying men in media or personal men impacts me in media. And that is the issue. If one side was developed and explored there could be a chance to salvage this book. but instead, we hare left with descriptions not analysis of either a sociological exploration of men in media with a male gaze upon them or how it impacted and transformed the author. 
Flamer by Mike Curato

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 In this debut, graphic novel comes a coming of age as our MC comes to terms with his gay feelings at a summer camp in 1995. I enjoyed the tough story as if were to read. The use of slurs of both gay and Asian it is holding nothing back when it comes to the bullying the MC endures. With the theme of fire sparking throughout the pages, the only colored images. An awakening or rebirth of assortment is what I took from it. As for the artwork, the characters are easy to see apart ad well as the personalities of each character. This 300-odd-page book gets the feeling of being the odd one out and struggling to be such. 
Life skills for Adult Children by Janet G. Woititz

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informative fast-paced

3.0

This is a quicky of a book covering basic of communication skills that adult children may not have learned due to family dysfunction.  from small talk to harder ends of communication, like breaking a relationship.  It is not to detailed, more of highlighted points
Start Sketching & Drawing Now: Simple techniques for drawing landscapes, people and objects by Grant Fuller

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informative slow-paced

2.5

 An art instruction manual on how to start drawing. Techniques in lighting, stroke, and patient is needed and I picked up a few good tips and tricks. Easy to follow and with plenty of step by step guide images and explanations this is a good book for someone with some drawing skill wanting to expand their skill level. 
Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal by Samantha Dion Baker

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informative relaxing

3.0

 This book has many colorful examples of sketchbook pages of the everyday activities. A draw your day to get you rethinking items and events. Overall a God book for someone into color, pen, and watercolor. No instruction on techniques just a general guide of how to make your own sketch journal 
What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 This was a good book. A light-hearted book of interconnecting stories where each character meets the large librarian and her felting ways to get books that change them. It is cute and relaxing to go through this audiobook. I liked how it made me feel happy while reading and interested in each character. Each of them had a narrator for their passage. A downside of the book is the shock of a fat librarian. 
The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill

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mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

This was not a real fan of.  It is a story within a story.  We have a writer writing about Freddie. a writer who happens to be in the library when someone is murdered.  At eth same time she meets with three others, Cain,  Whits, and Marigold.  Their dynamics throughout the book are nothing to really write home about and the two pairs of insta love just seemed out of place. But the storyline did keep me entertained.  What really happened to me was the interlude with the author of Freddie's story line messaging a guy from Bosten who added nothing to the story.  He comments on each chapter she provides him but it is not like she and he ever meet up, ever takes his suggestion.  Maybe if there was something that connected those segments with the story within a story I could have been more down with it but instead, I am just left disappointed.
Cat + Gamer, Volume 1 by Wataru Nadatani

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lighthearted relaxing
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

 Cat Games

In this cute Manga have our heroine, an obsessive gamer, and her new cat. As she learns to take care of the cat like a character in her game halirity ensues.

I absolutely love the cat and the way it is drawn. The story idea is nice-what happens when a gamer gets a cat. It is a light hearted read that good for a non complex read.