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bashsbooks's reviews
207 reviews
The Ethical Slut, Third Edition: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Other Freedoms in Sex and Love by Dossie Easton, Janet W. Hardy
challenging
informative
slow-paced
3.75
This book has some solid relationship advice for all kinds of relationships - not just polyamorous ones, but monogamous and even platonic ones. Being clear in communication, figuring out what you want, and setting boundaries are fundamental to interpersonal skills. The takes on what constitutes sex are a bit unorthodox, but interesting. However, the major problem I have with this book is that it focuses so much on the positive sides of being nonmonogamous that it comes across dismissive and hand-wavy to potential issues. And this problem is pervasive, cropping up in pretty much every chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Carnal Knowledge: Sex Education You Didn't Get in School by Zoë Ligon, Elizabeth Renstrom
informative
fast-paced
4.0
This is a quick and inclusive sex ed 101 book - and as it professes on the cover, it does cover more than any of the sex ed classes I got in school did. The photographs were beautiful and relevant; honestly, they were my favorite part of the book. I do wish there was more depth, though. The author pelts the reader with all sorts of concepts that may be new to them, across the sex spectrum, and doesn't go into much detail.
The Maddie Diaries: A Memoir by Maddie Ziegler
lighthearted
fast-paced
1.0
I would not call this a memoir as much as I would call it a teen self-help book with a dash of bragging and kissing up to Sia. I respect Ziegler's desire to stick to the positive side and avoid drama, but having zero conflict does not make for an interesting book.
A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G. Summers
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Found the writing style a little too pretentious to weed through.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
Circe by Madeline Miller
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Introspective and nuanced, Circe doesn't shy away from uncomfortable questions about family, womanhood, gender, and isolation. My only gripe is with her ultimate fate - to me, it seems a simple and neat solution to such complex and messy character growth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death and Blood
Kink by R.O. Kwon, Garth Greenwell
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
A wide range of short stories from some of the most well-known contemporary authors. Due to the nature of being a collection, some of these stories were better than others, but they all did give me a lot to think about regarding relationships, sexuality, and human connectivity. My favorite story from the collection was "The Lost Performance of the High Priestest of the Temple of Horrors" by Carmen Maria Machado.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism