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2.5 stars -- And They Were Roommates bases its titular cliche for its attention-grabbing synopsis*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
2.5 stars -- And They Were Roommates bases its titular cliche for its attention-grabbing synopsis; coupled with the twist of the main character being a trans boy, the novel should be a romp. The execution, however, leaves more to be desired as I felt neither butterflies nor giddiness while reading. Instead of being absorbed in Charlie's predicament and immersed in the school setting, I felt detached and disconnected from the characters and story. A reason could be that we don't learn much about Charlie as a person especially pre-transition unless it's somehow related to Jasper and their past summer together. While the school setting is understandably intense yet unexpectedly welcoming, towards the end it reads like a bet to see whether Charlie will get to stay at St. Valentine's, while also coming across as quite juvenile. Although there are certainly good moments, I wouldn't say I liked reading this, but it's definitely an important one representation-wise and a lot of people will love it--especially for its trans rep in the current landscape/hellscape....more
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Sayaka Murata's Vanishing World offers a fascinating look into a possible future where sex is obs*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Sayaka Murata's Vanishing World offers a fascinating look into a possible future where sex is obsolete, romance and family take on new meanings, and pregnancy/the birth rate is--more than ever--everyone's business. I enjoyed the novel's fast pace, effective worldbuilding without info-dumping, and the themes and dilemmas raised, the latter of which are ever more relevant considering the climate of today's world. However, I think the execution could be more impactful by exploring more nuances and topics, as the book's scope is currently quite narrow and one-toned, shoehorning only certain aspects of childbirth, sex and love repeatedly without delving into more depth. Overall, this is an interesting book but no doubt not everyone will enjoy it....more
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Palaver is a rueful read that focuses on the main narrator Chris and his found family in Tokyo, a*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Palaver is a rueful read that focuses on the main narrator Chris and his found family in Tokyo, as well as his complex relationship with his blood family represented by his mother's unexpected visit. We learn more about the two characters throughout, with the novel having a dual POV and a mixed timeline of both the past and the present. The book has an uneven pacing and drags at times, however Washington's signature strength in rendering his characters real and complex are still clear here. I appreciate this book for its ruminating story and the interesting main setting of Japan. ...more
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3.5 stars - Spent Bullets chronicles the lives of Taiwanese intellectual elites in both their hom*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
3.5 stars - Spent Bullets chronicles the lives of Taiwanese intellectual elites in both their homeland and Silicon Valley, ultimately asking whether the seemingly endless pursuit of success is worth the brutal emotional, mental and physical tolls.
I think this theme is ever relevant and Tetsuya (still weird to call a Taiwanese author by their Japanese pen name) explores it quite deftly through the narrative, stylistic choices and structure. The latter is particularly compelling with the author's intentional obfuscation of who each chapter's narrator is. I also enjoyed the book's melancholic yet chaotic tone, and how unpredictable the story and characters can be through a single word or action.
Overall, this was an interesting read, though readers should be warned that its content features a whole host of trigger warnings....more
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The King's Messenger is a compelling novel with interesting storytelling through a dual POV, and *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
The King's Messenger is a compelling novel with interesting storytelling through a dual POV, and I found the historical setting that teems with political intrigue and mystery a nice change of pace from my recent reads, though really not too many things happen. The slowburn romance between Andrew and Phoebe is quite a treat, and I liked the latter's relationship with her father as well; it's not something seen as often in fiction, especially historical fiction. Even without the author's notes, one can tell that Kearsley did detailed research for the story. ...more
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I enjoyed Separate Rooms more than expected. Tondelli's deceptively rhythmic writing is given a w*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
I enjoyed Separate Rooms more than expected. Tondelli's deceptively rhythmic writing is given a worthy translation by Pleasance, where the atmosphere and rumination are retained. One of the novel's most interesting aspects, in my opinion, is how Leo's constant, seemingly adventurous moves within Europe and to America are juxtaposed with his muted inner reflection and struggles, achieving an almost impossible balance. Though there are periodic rambles and the first two parts flounder a little, everything culminates beautifully - albeit melancholically - in the titular third part, where Leo's musings ring surprisingly, deeply true, a feat quite amazing to me, to see my personal thoughts paralleled in a character written in the late 80s....more
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I Can't Even Think Straight is a well-meaning book, but I wish I liked it more. While the novel d*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
I Can't Even Think Straight is a well-meaning book, but I wish I liked it more. While the novel deals with challenging yet realistic themes such as coming out, racism, dating pressure and sexual assault, I think the story's juvenile tone hinders its execution and overall nuance.
And while I don't think it's a requisite for main characters to be likable, I'm not really a fan of Kai due to him having almost no character development throughout the story, a major example in my opinion being his constance reiteration that Matt "knows how to handle [him]" instead of him bettering himself in some way.
There's almost no plot as well, the book seemingly being amalgamation of vignettes of Kai with his mom at the weekend markets, time at school especially the lunch table, moments in his bedroom, and hanging out with Obi and friends/acquaintances. The novel has potential, however Atta has yet to grasp it....more
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Paper Doll is a fun yet wise memoir about Dylan Mulvaney's both pre- and post-transition. I think*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Paper Doll is a fun yet wise memoir about Dylan Mulvaney's both pre- and post-transition. I think she's had a very unique comeup, what with the age of social media, becoming famous during the pandemic and being a trans celeb and all, which makes for an interesting book. However, I wish there were more a little more substance, instead of a huge portion of it basically recapping her TikTok clips. ...more
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Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a good book overall, though I wish I enjoyed it more as a result*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a good book overall, though I wish I enjoyed it more as a result of my few caveats with it.
In a speculative history where Britain still reigns over India until the 60s, Patel reimagines the struggle for independence, competing methods and approaches towards that goal, while also including real forms of repression by the British on local populations.
While I appreciate the good intention behind the novel, however, I personally could not connect to the characters and instead feel detached from many of them despite the myriad of traumatic events and emotional moments that happen throughout. Rhe book also reads as surprisingly juvenile for its subject matter, while also being quite narrow in its scope of examination on various issues....more
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The Ashfire King is a worthy installment to the Sandsea trilogy, with as much adventure as its pr*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
The Ashfire King is a worthy installment to the Sandsea trilogy, with as much adventure as its predecessor, more expansive worldbuilding and exploring, as well as great characters - both old and new.
The novel is tense, leaving the reader afraid of the inevitable catchup by and confrontation with the antagonists, but the constant scattering and games of cat-and-mouse can be a little tiring after several loops. We learn more about the Sandsea, however, and the worldbuilding and magics are quite a delight. My favorite thing about the novel, though, is the characters' growth and development, and the many humane moments throughout the book, which truly demonstrate the heart at the core of the story.
I look forward to the last book, and it's going to be a difficult wait....more
this is a fast, lighthearted read thats often laugh-out-loud hilarious, tho the plot is ofc ludicrous and certain elements mindbogglingly unrealistic,this is a fast, lighthearted read thats often laugh-out-loud hilarious, tho the plot is ofc ludicrous and certain elements mindbogglingly unrealistic, a prime example being sharlot knowing nothing abt indonesia and blaming it on her mum, as if the internet and books dont exist. i wanted to like this more but upon further reflection, i dont even like either of the main characters; sharlot's just neutral + self-sabotaging, while george's a doormat. the climax and ending are also a lil too corny and abrupt for me. a lot of ppl would unsurprisingly love this, but the execution leaves me wanting a bit more despite enjoying this...more
2.5 stars - ghost season is not a bad book by any means; in fact it's good from a storytelling and technical POV, however i cant fully say that i enjo2.5 stars - ghost season is not a bad book by any means; in fact it's good from a storytelling and technical POV, however i cant fully say that i enjoyed the book, hence the <3 stars.
the sudanese setting of both the metropoliton khartoum and rural saraaya w/ its vulnerable yet strategic position for strife are eye-opening. the characters are realistic w/ depth, and it's good to see how they develop thru the book. abbas also depicts the local life and tension w/ detail -- sometimes too much detail that it drags the story, resulting in uneven pacing. imo the novel would be even better has a balance been struck between setting details and story; currently the latter comes too late, tho the climax's def compelling.
the last one third of the novel's the best part from my pov, w/ a lot of development and action, as well as that dramatic, melancholic ending. it's a bit of a waste that the book's remaining portion doesnt quite measure up, taking too much time and focusing on too many details at the cost of the actual story....more
3.5 stars - a place called no homeland is a solid collection of poetry, and - as always - sublimely, tenderly written by kai cheng thom. the poems del3.5 stars - a place called no homeland is a solid collection of poetry, and - as always - sublimely, tenderly written by kai cheng thom. the poems delve into trans identity, diasporic cultural ties, relation to whiteness, self-love, some so aching while others insightful and technically impressive....more
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While One Hundred Days is certainly good from a technical standpoint, I cannot say that I enjoyed*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
While One Hundred Days is certainly good from a technical standpoint, I cannot say that I enjoyed or liked it, as this is perhaps one of the most emotionally exhausting books I have ever read.
Mar's emotional manipulation and warped reasoning were endless and relentless throughout the book, making it a bleak, exhausting read despite the complex characters, Pung's adept character study of Karuna, and the depiction of how adults and people with power almost always let young people and those seeking help down. The small, all-too-brief moments of joy or light and the constant barrage of frustrating development and plot loops make the resolution too little and too late for me, though realistic.
There will definitely be people who enjoy or relate to this novel and find it maybe even an essential read, but the book is just not for me....more
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1.5 stars - Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this graphic novel. While Hypericum attem*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
1.5 stars - Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this graphic novel. While Hypericum attempts to frame its narrative and explore its themes through the two interconnecting storylines of the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and an early 2000s upcoming exhibition of the aforementioned tomb in Berlin, in my opinion the effect lands quite flat as the overall story seems to exist in a vacuum, bereft of any other connections or real examination of both the before and after of the events and characters.
I was not moved or affected by the story as I did not feel connected to any of the characters, even the main ones such as Teresa or Ruben. I did not learn much about them as characters, and thus did not care what happened to them. The main so-called romance of the two characters - rather than romantic - comes off as puzzling and befuddingly spontaneous. What do those two see in one another? Why should I care about their relationship when even Teresa herself acknowledges that she knows nothing about Ruben? Throughout the book, the couple viscillates between making love and breaking off, but it is not even ezplained how they get back together in the end. I also thought Fior's approach to Teresa a bit weird and at least mildly objectifying.
The art, however, is pleasant especially when it comes to the scenes in Egypt and Berlin's metropolitan architecture, and I admire how Fior is able to paint the novel wholly in watercolor especially in so much detail. Overall, this graphic novel is great visually but not so much story-wise....more
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A short, fast-paced read, A Magical Girl Retires is ostensibly lighthearted yet surprisingly thou*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
A short, fast-paced read, A Magical Girl Retires is ostensibly lighthearted yet surprisingly thoughtful with hidden depth and dark themes. The main character's plight should be relatable to countless young people with her economic woes in a seemingly hopeless world.
Park is very clever in her use of the machinations behind magical girls and their magic that subtly, succinctly reflect the harsh reality faced by girls and women, which is especially relevant for her feminist-hating and incels-coddling native South Korea. The novel's underlying dark themes are threaded with some humor and sparkles, and I like how the most alarming disaster is concluded to be climate change, not some aliens, criminals or monsters.
While the book's current short iteration works alright, I think Park could have expanded the story even more. A longer length would certainly make the characters, wolrd and themes more fully fleshed out, as well as reducing the currently almost dizzying and frenetic pace of the novel. Hur's translation, as always, is great and I also like the illustrations by Kim, though I do find it quite ironic that no woman prominently contributes to the English version....more
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Selamlik centers around the life of a gay Syrian man called Furat and his life both before and af*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Selamlik centers around the life of a gay Syrian man called Furat and his life both before and after the Syrian civil war, living in Syrian cities such as Aleppo and Damascus, as well as seeking refuge in Sweden.
It is quite an intense book, both in its homoeroticism and war brutality. The writing about Furat's fear, guilt, desire and pleasure that are vivid and compelling, while evocative even in its non-grauitous, factual retelling of the violence and brutality of the war. Another thing I really appreciate is Alesmael's depiction of modern Syria that sheds light on daily life before the conflict, and especially the lives of gay men in the cities, which are surprisingly culturally rooted yet quite liberal, defying any preconceptions.
Although I wish the ending was less abrupt, it was fitting nevertheless. I recommend this novel for those who don't shy away from sexual and war content, and there is much to learn from it....more
light in gaza offers a relevatory look into gaza, its history, present, future and inhabitants, both from inside the area and those in the diaspora. ilight in gaza offers a relevatory look into gaza, its history, present, future and inhabitants, both from inside the area and those in the diaspora. i esp appreciate how the authors of the various essays included in the book each focus on a different aspect of the occupation and resistance, examining the past and present with their implications, as well as imagining a better future.
while im not at all knowledgable abt certain topics explored - such AI and architecture - they are nevertheless enlightening and offer a truly unique, fresh perspective. i also particularly enjoy learning abt the deep bond between palestinians and their land thru peasantry, and the importance of humanitarianism that instead focuses on liberation and return. this is def a collection to be read and learned from, straight from palestinians themselves....more
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Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. Where the Wind Calls Home focuses on Ali as he reflects*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. Where the Wind Calls Home focuses on Ali as he reflects on his life in the Syrian countryside while hanging between life and death.
While Yazbek's novel subtly and at times lyrically deals with themes of nature, community, identity, family and loss amid the backdrop of Syria's war and corruption, the prose and story as a whole comes off as endlessly rambling, needlessly detailed and overly obfuscated to me.
The novel would have been more impactful had it been more concise; with the current version, it took me nearly 4 months to muddle through such a slim book. The foundation for a good read was there, but in my opinion the execution hampered its potential....more
3.75 stars - like this afternoon forever is a compelling, memorable novel and character study of its 2 protagonists and their relationship thru adoles3.75 stars - like this afternoon forever is a compelling, memorable novel and character study of its 2 protagonists and their relationship thru adolescence and priesthood, set against the backdrop of the colombian civil war and its dark underbelly. lucas and ignacio couldnt be more different yet they find joy and solace in one another, though their relationship is not w/o its challenges, esp those brought abt by the latter.
i find the seminarian education and priesthood undertaken by the main characters to be informational, revelatory and even surprising by the open-secret nature of gay priests, inner politics and business side of things. lucas and ignacio's respective rumination on faith, religion, community and their own purposes are also thought-provoking, as well as helpful to fleshing out the characters into multidimentional ones w/ depth.
manrique demonstrates masterful storytelling thru this book, and tho the end result might be a lil uneven at points, it's nonetheless a melancholic yet moving one that will stay w/ me for a long time to come....more
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