mybooksarebetterthanyours's reviews
125 reviews

Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Horrendous and daunting. A very memorable read who has left me with sadness and lack of hope for humankind. The writing is incredibly captivating.
This Arab Is Queer: An Anthology by LGBTQ+ Arab Writers by Elias Jahshan

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

This book was needed. 

It was such an interesting, informative and engaging read! Not at all a book I would usually come across but so glad I picked it up. Beautiful nonfiction but reads like a work of fiction/narrative. 

Only downside is that in some of the short stories it felt that certain paragraphs were used as a way to self promo other works. Which I didn’t necessarily appreciate as they took me away from the book.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

2.0

This book should have been half the as long. It became tedious as a substantial part of it was made up of characters having conversations that didn’t go anywhere. A lot of time is spent with exposition and then the most significant parts are rushed through. Predictable and reminiscent of Riverdale. 
I guess YA is just not for me anymore.
Nimona by ND Stevenson

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adventurous lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I’ll start by saying that I don’t think I’m the right audience for this book.

I was lured in by the idea of an lgbt+ medieval/fantasy graphic novel. Although the art is lovely, I found said representation to not be as robust as I hoped. The writing and plot seemed to want to do a lot but lacked depth.

A light, easy read but not much more.
I Will Greet the Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-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? No

3.75

It was a very quick read, I appreciate that it didn’t drag out. It feels more like a collection of snippets which was nice. It was lacking something for me that i can’t pinpoint. I enjoyed it but wanted more.
Time Is a Mother by Ocean Vuong

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

My first poetry book. Can’t say my brain fully computes the language of poetry but it certainly appreciated this book and what it accomplished.
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

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dark emotional reflective relaxing 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? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The prose is phenomenal. Some wonderful moments that capture human psyche and society beautifully.  

Not a full five because there are some some characters which feel a bit too reduced to theory sexual orientation and gender. David is an infuriating main character and I hoped he would get over himself.
Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Again, exacly what you’d expect of these books - wholesomeness and sweetness. Are these revolutionary works of art? Probably not, but they warm my heart and that’s what matters.
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

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challenging dark inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I was convinced this book was going to get a 3. It’s difficult to get into and to understand what’s going on. I also wish there was more context on the Sri Lankan conflicts. However, the final chapters were tense  and poetic and made me enjoy it  more.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

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

5.0

This book is superb. Love the way it’s written and how each chapter feels so distinct but yet part of a whole. Incredibly engaging.