A GLORIOUS MEDITATION ON BLUE, and on the blues, and on the centrality of the color, the mood, and the music to all of African and diaspora life, but particularly to Black life in the US. Elegant, eloquent, erudite, yet profoundly direct. SOLID A
I'm having such a hard time articulating how I feel about this book. There was SO many good, solid parts about this story. The bare bones were excellent, and so was the writing. But it was also extremely disappointing for those same reasons - because it had so many wonderful things, I'm disappointed that I didn't love it more.
The whole storyline revolving around the aliens was extremely random, disjointed, and did not feel like it fit within the story about Katrina and Satomi. If they really wanted Satomi to have a relationship, Lan could've still been that as a human. Lan's family also provided a lot of plot convenience. It felt like the author had 50 ideas and messages she …
I'm having such a hard time articulating how I feel about this book. There was SO many good, solid parts about this story. The bare bones were excellent, and so was the writing. But it was also extremely disappointing for those same reasons - because it had so many wonderful things, I'm disappointed that I didn't love it more.
The whole storyline revolving around the aliens was extremely random, disjointed, and did not feel like it fit within the story about Katrina and Satomi. If they really wanted Satomi to have a relationship, Lan could've still been that as a human. Lan's family also provided a lot of plot convenience. It felt like the author had 50 ideas and messages she was trying to portray in under 400 pages, which left many of the side stories unfinished.
What I did really love was the family that Satomi, Katrina, and even Astrid found within each other. It was obvious that Katrina had been saved by Satomi, but it wasn't so obvious that Satomi had also been saved by Katrina. I also adored how the author uses music to explain things like gender, judgement, and life in general. The part that stuck out to me the most was when she explained how people live life in "sections", like sections of music, and when a section doesn't go how they expect it, things can go off the rails.
Please don't take the negative parts of my review as a reason not to read this book. While there are very realistic parts involving hateful things people say about trans people, and there are definitely parts I liked more than others, there is also trans joy and familial love and many good, amazing things to gain from reading this story.
AMBITIOUS VAMPIRE NOVEL combines a centuries-long vendetta, a Jewish family saga, and the humor and contemporary detail of a cozy romantasy. Well crafted and written, but not exactly my cup of tea; might be yours, though. SOLID B
I finished Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore for the #TransRightsReadathon. I loved it. I cried. I texted myself quotes. I had to pause and stare into the distance. I cried more. I texted friends. This was so good. I talk too much about Amanda in this video, Lore and Bastian are the real heart of the story, but I was really moved by the Amanda storyline and Lore being treated with care, naming injustice. Here's the video - https://videos.tiffanysostar.com/w/aiSST4Ed2McCsfdREWYaz3
A LINGUIST’S LOVE LETTER to language is a stunning combination of scientific depth, personal candor, and beautiful prose that ties speech (and sign) to everything essential to being human. Truly extraordinary. A MINUS
I stayed up past midnight finishing this lol, whoops
My review:
I first read The Hunger Games when I was in high school. That's been at least 15+ years ago, and I am so pleasantly surprised by how well this book has held up. I was daydreaming about getting back home and reading it while I was at work this week 😅
‼️ SPOILERS BELOW ‼️
This story is pretty brutal for something that is widely considered young adult, and I'm not complaining about the rating, I was just surprised that I didn't remember how gruesome some scenes were! Rue's death in particular really got me, and I'm sure part of that is because I have a kid of my own now.
I really loved Katniss so much too. I don't think I really appreciated how good …
🏹 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 🏹
⭐ 5 out of 5
I stayed up past midnight finishing this lol, whoops
My review:
I first read The Hunger Games when I was in high school. That's been at least 15+ years ago, and I am so pleasantly surprised by how well this book has held up. I was daydreaming about getting back home and reading it while I was at work this week 😅
‼️ SPOILERS BELOW ‼️
This story is pretty brutal for something that is widely considered young adult, and I'm not complaining about the rating, I was just surprised that I didn't remember how gruesome some scenes were! Rue's death in particular really got me, and I'm sure part of that is because I have a kid of my own now.
I really loved Katniss so much too. I don't think I really appreciated how good her character is when I was younger, but to me she came across as a perfect main character. She's talented and brave, but also flawed, angsty, and definitely has the attitude of a 16 year old, despite her circumstances. Some of her inner thoughts really made me laugh.
I'm stoked to reread this whole series and then get to the prequels!!
ENTERTAINING BIOGRAPHY OF PIONEERING stunt performer and silent film action star Helen Gibson combines solid research on the early days of Hollywood with a breezy, chatty tone. B PLUS
I've finished the first of my reads for the #TransRightsReadathon. I read Second Chances in New Port Stephen by TJ Alexander for trans masc rep. I really enjoyed it! This is a pretty short review and I could have said a bunch more, but that's okay. If I scripted these videos I would never actually post any of them, and they would all be way too long, sooooooo... it is what it is. https://videos.tiffanysostar.com/w/1diuAkjiD4wmCUKPnZbMDY
