nookandcrannyseattle's reviews
185 reviews

After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz

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challenging informative reflective slow-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

3.0

Oh dear....I SO wanted to love this. I get the concept, and I dare say it accomplished what the author hoped. But it just doesn't work for me. I like fragmented novels, but it either needs to be fragments of a story OR fragments of a character. If it's fragments of many people's stories, I just can't find much to care about. Maybe she wanted me to care about feminism? But I already do. That's why I read the book. Gotta give me a little more. I've been looking forward to reading this for so long and got my expectations so high...kinda bummed about it, tbh.
Civilizations by Laurent Binet

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

4.25

I was absolutely tickled by this! Was it still a largely Eurocentric retelling of history that changes little other than the names of the major players? Totally. Was it nevertheless hilarious to imagine Emperor Atahualpa reading Machiavelli, kidnapping Charles V, writing a baffled treatise dismantling the Spanish Inquisition, and converting Henry VIII to worship Inti? 💯💯💯
Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj

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emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

It says something about what I've been reading lately that this felt so refreshing, but it really really was. Beautiful writing, great characters. My only complaint is that only one character gets heavily featured in more than one story and he is the least interesting of the lot. I want know more about Samira! Or, like, literally anyone else besides dude bro cop Marcus.
The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I don't even know what to say. The prose was serviceable, but just......why? What was the point? Why did I read to the end?
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.5

I really slept on this one! Aside from the archaic conflation of gender and sexuality, it feels like it could have been written yesterday. Gorgeous.
Penguin Lost by Andrey Kurkov

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dark funny informative mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

3.75

Not as strong as the first book, but I still had a GREAT time!
Dancing at the Rascal Fair by Ivan Doig

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-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? Yes

4.5

This was my first Ivan Doig. What a beautiful writer! Looking forward to reading more
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.25

Stephen Graham Jones is a master of style. I thought the "big bad" of My Heart is a Chainsaw was more compelling, but otherwise this might be my favorite of his books yet!
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

The author puts into eloquent words so many things I felt during those years that I could never figure out quite how to articulate. The title is apropos, too. It deeply feels like a tragedy and it doesn't even get to address the subsequent soul crushing decade.
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.75