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ck11's reviews
255 reviews
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
lighthearted
slow-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? No
2.0
Meh. Pretty juvenile writing, but it kinda fits with the cover. Nishat was childish, though I'm fond of her.
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.75
This book was catastrophically awful and honestly shame on the author for having written it.
What was the point of having two main characters with backgrounds so different. Honestly, what made the author think “hm, I should write about a guy who’s just nOt lIkE oTheR mUsLimS and who can’t get over his ex of ten years, and then I should write about an abuse victim who escapes from war and is abused all throughout the book, and yeah THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON THE GUY
Anvar reads like a full-fleshed character. Sure, like an idiotic, moronic and pedantic one, but a full-fleshed character nonetheless. Safwa/Azza/Zahra, though? She’s not. She’s just human-shaped suffering… oh, wait, no, she does want something for herself and that’s having sex with Anvar! How could I have missed that? I’m such a fool!
Genuinely. What. The. Fuck.
The fact that the book mainly focuses on Anvar’s internal monologue over Safwa/Azza/Zahra being amused is already a huge red flag, but the way that internal monologue is should be a crime. Anvar is supposed to be intelligent, isn’t he? Why couldn’t he think that the girl being abused would probably get beaten up if he snitched about her mission to escape abuse… to one of her abusers.
Also. Safwa/Azza/Zahra’ ending. Why does she have to be with a man. The book goes on and on about her late mother having had no personality and agency, so why then does Safwa/Azza/Zahra’s character and development solely hinge on her relationship with men? First her brother and father, then her Qais, then her father, then Anvar and lastly this Henry bloke? Please, I want to claw my eyes out.
In conclusion, I can’t speak of the Muslim part of the plot, because I’m not Muslim. However, the plot was a perfect piece of shit and Syed M. Masood is a very talented Male Author Writing A Woman. And that’s not a compliment.
Fuck this book, really.
In conclusion, I can’t speak of the Muslim part of the plot, because I’m not Muslim. However, the plot was a perfect piece of shit and Syed M. Masood is a very talented Male Author Writing A Woman. And that’s not a compliment.
Fuck this book, really.
If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Wtf kind of name is Beau
Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.
The writing style was a bore and it's not like the plot seemed exactly compelling so what was the point of continuing
Everyone's Thinking It by Aleema Omotoni
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.25
I have very mixed feelings about this one.
For once, I discovered who the bad guy was from the very beginning, so the mystery side of it wasn’t, well, mysterious. On the other hand, the plot had a potential that wasn’t exploited because the characters on which the core plot hinges were de-centred from the story.Sarah, Luc and Heather are the reason the plot could be a thing; their complicated relationship, Heather’s ugly personality, Luc’s general assholery and Sarah’s ill hero complex and generational pressure to be head girl are what makes this book interesting… but we only get to know them after roughly the 87% mark. And it just sucks. I’m not saying that Iyanu, Kitan, the Villars and Navin were uninteresting (not adding Oliver here since he was uninteresting), but they undeniably were just tangentially related to the main plot —by virtue of being collateral damage in the wider scheme of Sarah’s retaliation and whatnot— and only were important in relation to subplots (eg. Iyanu and her WeCreate article).
I don’t want to take away from the wealth of good the book does when it comes to shedding light on issues that plague black people, bi people and people whose identities relate to both blackness and bisexuality. My critique is in no way aimed towards that aspect of the book: it’s aimed towards the lacklustre, poorly-approached (and I’m going to say it: mediocre, since at the end of the day it boils down to rich brats’ high school drama) main plot.
I’ll finish this by saying I wish Omotomi would’ve been brave enough to make her characters messier and more in-the-thick of it all, since they actually ended looking like onlookers.With the privileged position she’s in in respect to Heather-Luc-Sarah, Kitan could’ve been a way better character, come on!
For once, I discovered who the bad guy was from the very beginning, so the mystery side of it wasn’t, well, mysterious. On the other hand, the plot had a potential that wasn’t exploited because the characters on which the core plot hinges were de-centred from the story.
I don’t want to take away from the wealth of good the book does when it comes to shedding light on issues that plague black people, bi people and people whose identities relate to both blackness and bisexuality. My critique is in no way aimed towards that aspect of the book: it’s aimed towards the lacklustre, poorly-approached (and I’m going to say it: mediocre, since at the end of the day it boils down to rich brats’ high school drama) main plot.
I’ll finish this by saying I wish Omotomi would’ve been brave enough to make her characters messier and more in-the-thick of it all, since they actually ended looking like onlookers.
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I'm sure the author's work as an academic historian is great but by god aren't his storytelling abilities awful
Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen
2.25
Ngl this kinda stares me, particularly chapter 7
Little Asshole by Walter Moers
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
2.75
Zum Erst war das Buch ein bisschen (tatsächlich, sehr) langweilig. Ich hasste den alten Sack und ich habe das kleines Arschloch einfach nicht komisch gefunden. Obwohl das Ende gut war.
Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The main character, Wil, was an absolute bore and the writing stolen was torture-like. However, the ending is sweet