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noble_xoxo's reviews
65 reviews
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
no way it ends with 9/11 bro
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
4.0
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Crave by Tracy Wolff
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
A beautiful mix of hunger games and handmaid’s tale vibes.
Bunny by Mona Awad
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Wow, bunny really is a wild ride. Lost me for a minute in the hatred of everything pink and girly, but won me back so so hard.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A beautiful historical imagining of the lives and struggles of women experiencing “hysteria” at the dawn of research into neurological conditions. The Madwomen of Paris also reflects on women’s stories and place in society in a time where the perspective was almost always male.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, and Toxic relationship
Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
To say you understand this book is to not have read it. The author has done both a lovely and torturous thing in that everything is constantly something else. There is a story of magic gingerbread, and a story of social woes. There is a story of family, and of being alone. There is subtext abound and simultaneously seemingly none at all. It’s intensely challenging and can be a bit tiresome at points so give it the benefit of the doubt on getting through it.
In addition, I believe there are important “animal farm-esq” qualities to the writing. Are the dolls literal or are they the questions the author wishes us to ask, or both? Is it a story of mothers and daughters or do the mothers stand for something else entirely…? Perhaps societal expectations put upon us are reflected? Is Gretel a physical girl, a reflection of youth, the narrator’s own inner voice? These are questions you simply will not get the answer to fully. A wonderful and excruciating thing.
Be prepared to invest time in this book, be prepared to annotate and process and get confused. Good luck!
In addition, I believe there are important “animal farm-esq” qualities to the writing. Are the dolls literal or are they the questions the author wishes us to ask, or both? Is it a story of mothers and daughters or do the mothers stand for something else entirely…? Perhaps societal expectations put upon us are reflected? Is Gretel a physical girl, a reflection of youth, the narrator’s own inner voice? These are questions you simply will not get the answer to fully. A wonderful and excruciating thing.
Be prepared to invest time in this book, be prepared to annotate and process and get confused. Good luck!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abortion
The Witch's Kind by Louisa Morgan
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
Beautiful story, feels more like science fiction than Morgan’s other works. Not nearly as “witchy” as one would have expected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Miscarriage
Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Vomit