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sara_m_martins's reviews
327 reviews
Fred: An Unbecoming Woman by Annie Krabbenschmidt
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
i have ever so many quotes from this book! right from the start to the end i found ever so many of them! i adored the writing AND the writing VOICE! this book was infused with humour throughout, being emotional when it needed to be.
"But to dismantle the closet is to call into question the structural integrity of the house in which that closet sits, not as an act of revenge but as an act of shared healing."
annie krabbenschmidt writes exquisitely about girlhood in this world, about sexuality (particularly lesbianism and comphet) and how that flows together and apart with gender and gender identity. she writes about the relationships around her, from the romantic ones, to friendships and her family, including the realization that maybe you and your mother could actually be best friends only if you weren't in that pre-destined relationship from the start.
this book is about her ✨journey✨ to find herself and along the way i saw echoes of my thoughts, over and over. but of course, in some way or another, all queer experience will reflect one another in some way. i'm deeply grateful to have come across this book when i did. i wish you all the same happiness!
this book is about her ✨journey✨ to find herself and along the way i saw echoes of my thoughts, over and over. but of course, in some way or another, all queer experience will reflect one another in some way. i'm deeply grateful to have come across this book when i did. i wish you all the same happiness!
"What straights don't realize is that queer people (and very cool people like Fred) make it possible for everyone to break the rules. They show us that happiness is worth the fear and the fight[...]".
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Great LGBTQ+ Speeches: Empowering Voices That Engage And Inspire by Tea Uglow
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Great LGBTQ+ Speeches compiles a series of speeches (sometimes interviews or dialogue, not speeches per say) throughout queer history. Together with a small introductory note on the orator (and context on the speech setting) a section of the speech is presented, along with a fun graphical presentation.
This is a good starting point reference book, due to its characteristics above. It lacks from having the full speeches, as when compared with Great Speeches on Gay Rights from Dover Thrift, but the introductory note makes up for it somewhat. Additionally, it does a great job in the span of speeches presented - from 1897 all the way through really recently in 2019.
This is a good starting point reference book, due to its characteristics above. It lacks from having the full speeches, as when compared with Great Speeches on Gay Rights from Dover Thrift, but the introductory note makes up for it somewhat. Additionally, it does a great job in the span of speeches presented - from 1897 all the way through really recently in 2019.
Bitch: On the Female of the Species by Lucy Cooke
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
TL;DR: An excellent piece of science communication, presenting research from the last 5 or so decades that deconstruct the sex-differences ideas inputed into science in Darwin's Victorian days, and that have long been unchallenged. With humour and heart, Cooke introduces us to the new discoveries that give us a broader state of possible existences for females (and males) in the natural world, as well as showing us that the binary is not supported by science and that homosexuality is present in many organisms.
this book is INCREDIBLE!!!
I cannot underline, bold, italicize how much I think everyone should read this book! am i biased as a biologist? yes! do i still think this is an incredible book? yes!
I've finished Bitch: On the Female of the Species about a month ago or so, and I while I was reading it and since then, I have thought about it often and discussed the knowledge i got from it several times with other people!
this isn't simply a biology book, but it shows the flaws of science has a discipline created by humans, and the genesis of which is necessarily biased as society is. but the truly astounding, incredible, hopeful part of it, which makes me fall in love with science and nature time and time again, is the knowledge that is presented along the way. it's the fact that's these scientists (most of them female themselves) went "hold up, let me check something" and uncover another marvel of the natural world, broadening our minds to the beautiful complexity of the world, instead of murking away in the same unproven (or already proven wrong but dismissed) old theories.
this book is both extremely interesting about thinking where our ideas of "sex differences" and "gender characteristics" (including gender identity and sexuality) come from and if they are really supported by science or not, but also it just is an extremely well-done piece of science communication and the knowledge of the natural world stands by itself as truly fascinating. Cooke informs us of all of this with this same wonder and with plenty of humour and heart along the way, keeping you hooked the whole book.
”My first reaction wasn’t, ‘I’ve made this great discovery,’ it was, 'I’ve really screwed up my lab work.'"
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing with an eARC for an honest review.
this book is INCREDIBLE!!!
I cannot underline, bold, italicize how much I think everyone should read this book! am i biased as a biologist? yes! do i still think this is an incredible book? yes!
I've finished Bitch: On the Female of the Species about a month ago or so, and I while I was reading it and since then, I have thought about it often and discussed the knowledge i got from it several times with other people!
this isn't simply a biology book, but it shows the flaws of science has a discipline created by humans, and the genesis of which is necessarily biased as society is. but the truly astounding, incredible, hopeful part of it, which makes me fall in love with science and nature time and time again, is the knowledge that is presented along the way. it's the fact that's these scientists (most of them female themselves) went "hold up, let me check something" and uncover another marvel of the natural world, broadening our minds to the beautiful complexity of the world, instead of murking away in the same unproven (or already proven wrong but dismissed) old theories.
this book is both extremely interesting about thinking where our ideas of "sex differences" and "gender characteristics" (including gender identity and sexuality) come from and if they are really supported by science or not, but also it just is an extremely well-done piece of science communication and the knowledge of the natural world stands by itself as truly fascinating. Cooke informs us of all of this with this same wonder and with plenty of humour and heart along the way, keeping you hooked the whole book.
”My first reaction wasn’t, ‘I’ve made this great discovery,’ it was, 'I’ve really screwed up my lab work.'"
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing with an eARC for an honest review.
Set in Stone by Stela Brinzeanu
2.75
The premise of this book is excellent: a retelling of a folktale from Moldova, set in the medieval era, centering women and a sapphic romance. However, underdevelopment plagued this book.
I would've appreciated id the original folktale was stated in the intro of the book, on the author's note.
I appreciate the themes brought forth during the story, many plot points touching on sexism and how it was/is propelled by religious zeal. However, the underdevelopment of many aspects, particularly the romance (the central plot) and the pacing, made it hard to keep me engaged during the first half of the book. The second half picked up my interest, and the ending was cute.
The most interesting character has to be Rozalia, the wise woman/healer of the village, and I would've loved to know even more about her. Generally, the characters could've been a bit more developed, which I think would've given a lot more gravitas to the events of the story. This goes for the romance too, where the characters were dramatically in love after two interactions with not much meat to them (I know there was a famine but come'on).
I don't have much to say on this book really. Good premise, lacked execution.
Pls see TW.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would've appreciated id the original folktale was stated in the intro of the book, on the author's note.
I appreciate the themes brought forth during the story, many plot points touching on sexism and how it was/is propelled by religious zeal. However, the underdevelopment of many aspects, particularly the romance (the central plot) and the pacing, made it hard to keep me engaged during the first half of the book. The second half picked up my interest, and the ending was cute.
The most interesting character has to be Rozalia, the wise woman/healer of the village, and I would've loved to know even more about her. Generally, the characters could've been a bit more developed, which I think would've given a lot more gravitas to the events of the story. This goes for the romance too, where the characters were dramatically in love after two interactions with not much meat to them (I know there was a famine but come'on).
I don't have much to say on this book really. Good premise, lacked execution.
Pls see TW.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Minor: Blood and Death of parent
Alphabet Soup by Michael Bach
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Is this book really informative? Yes
Will it greatly help people in higher up/manager roles be more inclusive of people in the LGBTQ+ community? Yes
Is it without flaws? No. And some of them are quite hurtful. :/
General review: This book is a great first stop for organizations looking to further Diversity & Inclusion in their spaces. It gives a lot of information on the LGBTQ+ community and some great tips and how-tos.
The humor, even if not for me, makes it an easier read and (not to be shady) I do think the people this book is marketed towards will appreciate it.
The problems:
Now, there's a few problems that I really think need to be highlighted. I think the issue, for points 1-3, is THE SOURCE of the information, aka the "online dictionary" from a cis het man - I wouldn't immediately consider this an issue, but if done by actual queer people this wouldn't have happened -, and the government source (not always super up-to-date).
1. for the MILLIONTH TIME: bisexuals are NOT trans exclusive! The definition has been "one or more genders" for so long and the community has been saying for YEARS that the "tends to be more specific to cisgender people" idea untrue, unfounded and extremely hurtful to bi people. bi people include trans peole in their sexual attraction and saying the opposite is both transphobic and biphobic. This was awful to read, especially in this type of book. I really considered dnf'ing for this alone. I really hope it gets fixed.
2. I think gay is an extremely umbrella term. And I think many queer women feel the same, as I have seen many gay women identify as... gay. I'm all for queer and the acronym, but saying no one but gay men use the term gay is... false.
3. This one is from a government source. On page 172 it is written as an example to put as gender identification answers "Man/ Trans/... Woman". I find this strange - A trans person will not exclude the other labels. I found it odd after the pages before explaining so much about HOW to deal with gender on forms.
4. One thing I thought was lacking was, ironically, the consideration of the queer people at the organization. Should we go to the seminars too? A small text line would be helpful, as I think that will be a doubt that will crop up.
5. The last thing that really irked me, much like #1, probably because I'm writing this after the Harry Styles' Variety interview debacle, was reading "Your advertising doesn't have to be overt (no one actually wants to see a picture of people kissing; there's a name for that:porn)." (Page 191). I'm sorry, and I know the Puriteens may come for me on this one, but seeing people kiss on an ad isn't porn, it isn't even soft porn; it's nowhere near porn unless the kiss is happening during sex (which as we all know has never been used as a marketing device btw. and not in a variety of PG-R classifications). This "joke" wasn't it.
Will it greatly help people in higher up/manager roles be more inclusive of people in the LGBTQ+ community? Yes
Is it without flaws? No. And some of them are quite hurtful. :/
General review: This book is a great first stop for organizations looking to further Diversity & Inclusion in their spaces. It gives a lot of information on the LGBTQ+ community and some great tips and how-tos.
The humor, even if not for me, makes it an easier read and (not to be shady) I do think the people this book is marketed towards will appreciate it.
The problems:
Now, there's a few problems that I really think need to be highlighted. I think the issue, for points 1-3, is THE SOURCE of the information, aka the "online dictionary" from a cis het man - I wouldn't immediately consider this an issue, but if done by actual queer people this wouldn't have happened -, and the government source (not always super up-to-date).
1. for the MILLIONTH TIME: bisexuals are NOT trans exclusive! The definition has been "one or more genders" for so long and the community has been saying for YEARS that the "tends to be more specific to cisgender people" idea untrue, unfounded and extremely hurtful to bi people. bi people include trans peole in their sexual attraction and saying the opposite is both transphobic and biphobic. This was awful to read, especially in this type of book. I really considered dnf'ing for this alone. I really hope it gets fixed.
2. I think gay is an extremely umbrella term. And I think many queer women feel the same, as I have seen many gay women identify as... gay. I'm all for queer and the acronym, but saying no one but gay men use the term gay is... false.
3. This one is from a government source. On page 172 it is written as an example to put as gender identification answers "Man/ Trans/... Woman". I find this strange - A trans person will not exclude the other labels. I found it odd after the pages before explaining so much about HOW to deal with gender on forms.
4. One thing I thought was lacking was, ironically, the consideration of the queer people at the organization. Should we go to the seminars too? A small text line would be helpful, as I think that will be a doubt that will crop up.
5. The last thing that really irked me, much like #1, probably because I'm writing this after the Harry Styles' Variety interview debacle, was reading "Your advertising doesn't have to be overt (no one actually wants to see a picture of people kissing; there's a name for that:porn)." (Page 191). I'm sorry, and I know the Puriteens may come for me on this one, but seeing people kiss on an ad isn't porn, it isn't even soft porn; it's nowhere near porn unless the kiss is happening during sex (which as we all know has never been used as a marketing device btw. and not in a variety of PG-R classifications). This "joke" wasn't it.
Patience & Esther: An Edwardian Romance by S.W. Searle
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Very reminiscent of Downton Abbey but with a modern twist (and more diversity) à la Bridgerton!
The "adorable sapphics" plotline i never got in Downton AND with more diversity
The "adorable sapphics" plotline i never got in Downton AND with more diversity
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
dark
funny
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Drug abuse, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Queer Body Power: Finding Your Body Positivity by Essie Dennis
The inclusion of interview excerpts is something that I have seen tried often, and seldom well-executed. Thankfully, it works really well here, adding while still keeping in the flow of the book.
I found the content itself, while not revolutionary, well-structured and I think this would be great for someone who needs a starting place or who feels they need a way to better get acquainted with the circle - it is sometimes hard to get all of these pieces of information if you're left to navigate the internet by yourself, and are not sure were to turn. I think it is also a good book to read generally as a queer person to see something you have experienced reflected and ponder about somethings you haven't considered before. I certainly found some pieces of information which lead me to reflect a bit on my experiences. Of course, non-queer people could also gain from further understanding what the experience in a queer body could be like.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Queer Body Power is a non-fiction on the Body Positivity movement, from an intersectional, queer perspective, and with a memoir-like feel to it. While part of the book focuses on body issues, I think it's main subject is how being queer affects how you feel and live in your body and its interaction with the outside world/society. So I would recommend this to queer people at large, to find a echo of what they may already feel, but not to someone who is, say, struggling with body dysmorphia.
"Queerness is so much more than a label that is supposedly required for dating. It is community, history, how you carry yourself in the world, fluidity, performance, identity, character, heart. Queerness is many things and all of those things at once."
The inclusion of interview excerpts is something that I have seen tried often, and seldom well-executed. Thankfully, it works really well here, adding while still keeping in the flow of the book.
I found the content itself, while not revolutionary, well-structured and I think this would be great for someone who needs a starting place or who feels they need a way to better get acquainted with the circle - it is sometimes hard to get all of these pieces of information if you're left to navigate the internet by yourself, and are not sure were to turn. I think it is also a good book to read generally as a queer person to see something you have experienced reflected and ponder about somethings you haven't considered before. I certainly found some pieces of information which lead me to reflect a bit on my experiences. Of course, non-queer people could also gain from further understanding what the experience in a queer body could be like.
Queer joy is why we are here. [...] We shouldn't have to spend our whole existence being told how hard it is to be queer; we deserve to embrace the wonderful things about it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. The opinions are my own and voluntarily given.
Content Warnings
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Misogyny, Transphobia, Acephobia/Arophobia, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White
While I think this story will ruffle many feathers (no pun intended), I adore that this type of representation is out there - and by representation I am not mentioning the #rep of the book (while that is very good), but the feeling it portrays. So much queer media we see is done to still be palatable to straight audiences. This is not your queer assimilationist story; this is not written to appease non-queer people. It takes a much more complex perspective to being queer, because it evokes a feeling that marginalized communities are not often allowed to express - anger. There is no place for the anger you build as a queer person in the world, no place for the ones who imagine tearing it all down, in common media. Wrath Month being July (after Pride Month in June) has been a joke in (at least some) queer circles online for years now, and the concept of queer stories having to be "clean" has been discussed for decades. This book brings these to the forefront of the public eye and it's so refreshing to see. I'm so glad this got published, but I'm also so confused how it did.
Because the thing is... with this type of anger. It's intrinsically connected to love. In a world that tries to beat the community you love down, your defense mechanism, in the face of hopelessness, ends up being anger. Anger started the Stonewall riots, and the riots happened from unjust, incessant prosecution to the self and to the found family that people had in those spaces. Is that romantic? 100%. We should have so much more love and so much less contention for one another. Trans people particularly know the pitfalls and the failures of others in the LGBTQ+ community.... But I also believe it. Enter the profound aspect of found family in this story. It is so well done and allows for, even in the dire circumstances they find themselves in, such a diverse cast of characters and representations (including some people in the community being assholes).
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
*going around like a town crier* ANGRY GAYS!! THIS ONE IS FOR THE ANDRY GAYS!! WRATH MONTH IS NOW A BOOK!!
Hell Followed With Us is simply *chef's kiss*. It's a new favourite & I hope this is the next hit in YA, when it cames out in June!
This book follows Benji (a gay trans 16yo boy), as he flees the dystopian-creating genocide-by-bioweapon christian extremist cult, and ends up being rescued by the queer teens of the resistance. But Benji has a secret, and it can either bring the end of times or stop them. [very Good Omens of them, I just realized - Crowley&Aziraphale would love these kids].
The book touches on found family, religion (and religious trauma) and queer anger; with racial, sexuality, gender identity and various religion affiliations represented, as well as several disabilities, including autism. #OwnVoices for autism, and sexuality (gay) /gender identity (trans).
It is super fast-paced, I read this in three sittings. I enjoyed the writing and the world-building, and that cover is just stunning! I ended up pre-ordering my physical copy before finishing my ARC and can't wait to have it in my hands!
Hell Followed With Us is simply *chef's kiss*. It's a new favourite & I hope this is the next hit in YA, when it cames out in June!
This book follows Benji (a gay trans 16yo boy), as he flees the dystopian-creating genocide-by-bioweapon christian extremist cult, and ends up being rescued by the queer teens of the resistance. But Benji has a secret, and it can either bring the end of times or stop them. [very Good Omens of them, I just realized - Crowley&Aziraphale would love these kids].
The book touches on found family, religion (and religious trauma) and queer anger; with racial, sexuality, gender identity and various religion affiliations represented, as well as several disabilities, including autism. #OwnVoices for autism, and sexuality (gay) /gender identity (trans).
It is super fast-paced, I read this in three sittings. I enjoyed the writing and the world-building, and that cover is just stunning! I ended up pre-ordering my physical copy before finishing my ARC and can't wait to have it in my hands!
"oh sorry if we are being unfair unfortunately u guys murdered all the nice gays & now there's just us: the assholes." - https://twitter.com/meakoopa/status/742234804654092288
"the queers who were nice/patient/gentle all got shot or bullied to death all that's left r me & the other pissed-off cockroach motherfuckers" - https://twitter.com/meakoopa/status/742238554093281280
While I think this story will ruffle many feathers (no pun intended), I adore that this type of representation is out there - and by representation I am not mentioning the #rep of the book (while that is very good), but the feeling it portrays. So much queer media we see is done to still be palatable to straight audiences. This is not your queer assimilationist story; this is not written to appease non-queer people. It takes a much more complex perspective to being queer, because it evokes a feeling that marginalized communities are not often allowed to express - anger. There is no place for the anger you build as a queer person in the world, no place for the ones who imagine tearing it all down, in common media. Wrath Month being July (after Pride Month in June) has been a joke in (at least some) queer circles online for years now, and the concept of queer stories having to be "clean" has been discussed for decades. This book brings these to the forefront of the public eye and it's so refreshing to see. I'm so glad this got published, but I'm also so confused how it did.
There's some king of awful, enduring myth: that after the end of the world, people will turn on one another. That people will become hateful and selfish. That's just not true. It's never been true.
Because the thing is... with this type of anger. It's intrinsically connected to love. In a world that tries to beat the community you love down, your defense mechanism, in the face of hopelessness, ends up being anger. Anger started the Stonewall riots, and the riots happened from unjust, incessant prosecution to the self and to the found family that people had in those spaces. Is that romantic? 100%. We should have so much more love and so much less contention for one another. Trans people particularly know the pitfalls and the failures of others in the LGBTQ+ community.... But I also believe it. Enter the profound aspect of found family in this story. It is so well done and allows for, even in the dire circumstances they find themselves in, such a diverse cast of characters and representations (including some people in the community being assholes).
We are alive, we are alive, holy shit, we are alive.
I was weary when I realized there was plague end-of-the-world thing going on, but seeing the masks playing a role in the story was actually kind of fun. The fantastical element was really fun to read, even if quite gore-y.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Suicide attempt