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tastytakoyaki's reviews
254 reviews
The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein
adventurous
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? No
2.5
Julia by Peter Straub
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.
DNF'd - at 50-ish %. I got bored, and didn't like any of the characters.
If Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. There were many references to other gothic works (The Haunting of Hill House and the Turn of the Screw most prominently), which I had fun making note of. The writing is fantastic, the story is tragic, and the romance was both beautiful and terrible. I loved the use of the case studies interspersed every few chapters- you know how things are going to end very early on, but you don't know how, or why, and in the end, was Roos really able to see spirits, or was she mentally ill and affected by her childhood trauma, as Dr. Montague concluded?
All in all this was a 5 star read for me. I was incredibly moved by this story and plan to recommend it to anyone who will listen. Truly a stunning work of gothic fiction and I wish I could read it again for the first time.
All in all this was a 5 star read for me. I was incredibly moved by this story and plan to recommend it to anyone who will listen. Truly a stunning work of gothic fiction and I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
An extremely entertaining romp with giant monsters and reverse lampshades. This book had me laughing out loud every other page with its hilarious dialogue. Many points were made about capitalism and society, which I very much enjoyed.
If you like giant monsters, interesting fictional biology and quippy smart people, you'll enjoy this one.
I'll be reading more of Scalzi's work for sure.
If you like giant monsters, interesting fictional biology and quippy smart people, you'll enjoy this one.
I'll be reading more of Scalzi's work for sure.
Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I had never read a Japanese novel before this one. The writing here is truly fantastic and a very in-depth examination of womanhood and motherhood.
I love how the main character will get lost in her thoughts and then examine them, how she finds imagery and meaning in small things.
I love the use of color in this story, the colors blue and white standing out the most.
There is challenging subject matter here, strong emotions (so much so that I needed to take a break for a few days), but the read is so worth it. I'm recommending this book to a ton of people.
Truly phenomenal.
I love how the main character will get lost in her thoughts and then examine them, how she finds imagery and meaning in small things.
I love the use of color in this story, the colors blue and white standing out the most.
There is challenging subject matter here, strong emotions (so much so that I needed to take a break for a few days), but the read is so worth it. I'm recommending this book to a ton of people.
Truly phenomenal.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Abandonment
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Easily the darkest book I've read by King. It didn't scare me as much as some of his other books, but I'm not a parent, so I'm sure certain events would have affected me more if I were.
The main theme here is death. Fear of it, defiance of it, acceptance of it, contemplation of the unknowns of it, and the trauma it leaves behind. Sometimes...dead is better.
If you are a parent and/or an animal lover this book will hurt. Even if you're neither of those things, this book will shock you. I'm glad I read it but I don't think this will be a repeat read for me due to the troubling content.
The writing was excellent, although I struggled with slow pacing at times. This was a great representation of what King is capable of when he really wants to scare the hell out of you.
4.5 stars, minus half a star for the slow pacing at points.
The main theme here is death. Fear of it, defiance of it, acceptance of it, contemplation of the unknowns of it, and the trauma it leaves behind. Sometimes...dead is better.
If you are a parent and/or an animal lover this book will hurt. Even if you're neither of those things, this book will shock you. I'm glad I read it but I don't think this will be a repeat read for me due to the troubling content.
The writing was excellent, although I struggled with slow pacing at times. This was a great representation of what King is capable of when he really wants to scare the hell out of you.
4.5 stars, minus half a star for the slow pacing at points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death
Moderate: Cultural appropriation
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
This book broke my heart. Whenever I thought I'd reached a respite, some glimmer of hope for freedom, it broke my heart again, right up to the end. This book is very challenging to get through at points, though the writing is beautiful and the characters are easy to love, mourn, and root for (and also to hate and despise for some).
I learned a lot about the different cultures and people in Afghanistan; how diverse the people there are, how many different languages are spoken throughout the region, and how free the women used to be. I did not expect some of the people to be described as having green eyes and blonde hair. I did not know that it wasn't always oppressive for women there, that there was a time when women were free to go to university, think and act for themselves, and wear what they wanted- until they weren't.
Fans of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" will likely enjoy this book due to similar themes, if "enjoy" is even the right word for either book. However, "The Handmaid's Tale" is a fictional story about a fictional scenario (though after the 2024 election it feels far too real). "A Thousand Splendid Suns", though also a fictional novel with fictional characters, describes events and conditions that real women went through and are still going through in many places today. It is sad, it is frightening, and it is closer to home than most US Americans realize.
I love that the author also included information at the back of the book for ways to donate and help refugees. When someone decries injustice and oppression, I love to see a call to action included.
5/5 stars for me. Take care of your emotions while reading. Bring tissues.
Fuck you, patriarchy.
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
I learned a lot about the different cultures and people in Afghanistan; how diverse the people there are, how many different languages are spoken throughout the region, and how free the women used to be. I did not expect some of the people to be described as having green eyes and blonde hair. I did not know that it wasn't always oppressive for women there, that there was a time when women were free to go to university, think and act for themselves, and wear what they wanted- until they weren't.
Fans of Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" will likely enjoy this book due to similar themes, if "enjoy" is even the right word for either book. However, "The Handmaid's Tale" is a fictional story about a fictional scenario (though after the 2024 election it feels far too real). "A Thousand Splendid Suns", though also a fictional novel with fictional characters, describes events and conditions that real women went through and are still going through in many places today. It is sad, it is frightening, and it is closer to home than most US Americans realize.
I love that the author also included information at the back of the book for ways to donate and help refugees. When someone decries injustice and oppression, I love to see a call to action included.
5/5 stars for me. Take care of your emotions while reading. Bring tissues.
Fuck you, patriarchy.
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
Managing and Other Lies by Willow Heath
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This collection of short stories had me squirming with discomfort, exclaiming out loud, and feeling intense empathy for some of the characters (and rage and disgust for some, too).
Over-all a very good read, and from my cisgendered perspective, a heartbreaking look at what many people might go through on the journey to becoming their authentic selves.
Over-all a very good read, and from my cisgendered perspective, a heartbreaking look at what many people might go through on the journey to becoming their authentic selves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse