Reviews and Comments

Rainer

rainer@bookwyrm.social

Joined 3 years, 8 months ago

Pronouns: he/him Reading is my escape. Books are my love language.

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Zaina Arafat: You Exist Too Much (2020, Dialogue Books)

A novel of self-discovery following a Palestinian-American girl as she navigates queerness, love addiction and …

An exploration of love addiction

This story gripped me in a way where I really cared about the main character and her well-being, but it was quite difficult at times because I internalized some of the stress and anxiety that were woven so deeply into her relational struggles.

In the end, a well-written story that explores some important topics and themes.

Bryan Washington: Family Meal (2023, Penguin Publishing Group)

Growing up, TJ was Cam's boy next door. When Cam needed a home, TJ's parents …

A great book for book club

I read this one for my book club and at first didn't particularly enjoy it, but the more I started thinking and talking about it the more that I started to appreciate the depth and the humanity of the characters.

Also, there's a trigger warning at the beginning of this book and its 100% necessary. It's not a lighthearted read, and the trigger warning is there for a reason.

R. F. Kuang: Babel (Hardcover, 2022, HarperCollins)

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

1828. Robin Swift, …

An Anticolonial Classic

I am having trouble finding words to describe this book. Great? Profound? Fantastically entertaining and terrifying? All of the above?

Do yourself a favor and read this book as soon as you can.

Glenn Boozan, Priscilla Witte: There Are Moms Way Worse Than You (2022, Workman Publishing Company, Incorporated)

A hilarious and reassuring gift for every mom: because we’re all doing the best we …

Important conversation starter

It's important to name and acknowledge that we often feel like shitty and subpar parents. Somehow though, this book kind of gave off the vibes of a person who tells their depressed friend "there are people who have it way worse than you". Not saying this book is as problematic as all that, but its a deep problem that requires some real emotional work, and not just a "stop being so dramatic" kind of thing.

Lily Chu: The Stand-In (2022, Sourcebooks, Incorporated)

Gracie Reed is doing just fine. Sure, she was fired by her overly "friendly" boss, …

It's fine

Content warning spoilers

Aminder Dhaliwal: Woman World (2018)

When a birth defect wipes out the planet’s entire population of men, Woman World rises …

Heartwarming

This graphic novel is amazing! After the last few pages, I got that feeling that you get after you finish a favorite TV show where you feel like you're going to really miss the characters.

Cole Pauls: Dakwäkãda Warriors (2019, Conundrum Press)

Growing up in Haines Junction, YT, artist Cole Pauls performed in a traditional song and …

Indigenous Anticolonial Sci-Fi

I love everything about this graphic novel. The concept of using the project as a tool for indigenous language preservation is what drew me in, but Cole Pauls is also such an incredibly talented illustrator.