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savvylit's reviews
479 reviews
Popisho by Leone Ross
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Popisho is magical realism at its finest. This novel is sensual, laugh-out-loud funny, and completely spellbinding. I instantly fell in love with the setting and all of the people. Every single character was palpably complex in a deeply believable way. I was stunned when I realized that the story takes place over just one day because so much happened. And yet it never seemed like there was too much detail. Basically, Popisho was perfectly paced and populated.
I loved this book so much that I don't even know what to say anymore except a jumble of words and phrases! Popisho is luscious, lyrical, beautifully written, wholly unique, and contains a world that I already want to revisit. Highly, highly recommend to any and all fans of magical realism!
I loved this book so much that I don't even know what to say anymore except a jumble of words and phrases! Popisho is luscious, lyrical, beautifully written, wholly unique, and contains a world that I already want to revisit. Highly, highly recommend to any and all fans of magical realism!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Suicide
Minor: Child death, Misogyny, and Rape
Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
This novella is a queer Western adventure. Featuring an entirely non-male cast and set in the fascist near-future, Upright Women Wanted was a quick and delightful read. There's romance, shoot-outs, and radical librarians! What's not to like? My only qualm is that I wish this book had been longer and more fleshed out. The concept was incredible and I really wanted more of the setting and characters, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Violence, Lesbophobia, and War
Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi
Much like Emezi's other books I've read, Little Rot was incredibly riveting and populated by compelling characters. Right from the start, I was deeply invested in each person and their well-being. Emezi's ability to draw thrilling connections between all the disparate characters was an entertaining delight. Lastly, Little Rot is a deliciously queer novel that frequently blurs lines within the spectrum of human sexuality.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Much like Emezi's other books I've read, Little Rot was incredibly riveting and populated by compelling characters. Right from the start, I was deeply invested in each person and their well-being. Emezi's ability to draw thrilling connections between all the disparate characters was an entertaining delight. Lastly, Little Rot is a deliciously queer novel that frequently blurs lines within the spectrum of human sexuality.
That being said, this ended up being my least favorite Emezi novel! There were several characters that I thought were sorely underdeveloped; especially Aima. Aima is introduced to readers immediately... and then barely appears for the rest of the novel. I had been hoping for more nuance when it came to her character because of her unusual viewpoint as a born-again Christian coming to terms with her own sexuality and desire.
Despite all of the above, I am still a firm fan of Emezi and their distinctly beautiful writing and I can't wait to read their next work! Thank you @riverheadbooks for the advanced reader copy of Little Rot in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Find Little Rot in stores and on library shelves starting today!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Role Play by Clara Drummond
Role Play instantly inserts readers into the problematic stream-of-consciousness of Vivian. Vivian purports to be middle class but her experiences reveal that to be a lie: she lives in a lavish metropolitan apartment entirely paid for by her parents and collects priceless art. Vivian also curates her friends, seemingly choosing them for their diversity or entertainment value rather than any actual semblance of closeness. All of this is then framed by memories of a toxic childhood that she hasn't quite come to terms with - and perhaps never will.
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
3.5
Role Play instantly inserts readers into the problematic stream-of-consciousness of Vivian. Vivian purports to be middle class but her experiences reveal that to be a lie: she lives in a lavish metropolitan apartment entirely paid for by her parents and collects priceless art. Vivian also curates her friends, seemingly choosing them for their diversity or entertainment value rather than any actual semblance of closeness. All of this is then framed by memories of a toxic childhood that she hasn't quite come to terms with - and perhaps never will.
Overall, Role Play was quite an entertaining read! I appreciated Drummond's ability to wittily expose a very specific type of lonely and vapid socialite.
Thank you so much @fsgbooks for the finished copy of Role Play in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual violence, and Classism
Idlewild by James Frankie Thomas
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
After September 11th, Fay and Nell are drawn together by a mutual love of theater and an endless need to uncover homoerotic subtext. Fay is brash and abrasive; Nell is shy and earnest. Together they form a duo so strong that most of their peers are surprised when one of them exists without the other.
Idlewild, as a whole, is a queer coming-of-age tale steeped in early 2000s Internet culture. Nell and Fay consistently made me laugh out loud just as often as they broke my heart. Whether it was Nell pining for Fay, or Fay's gender dysphoria, the two protagonists were always painfully sincere and relatable.
Ultimately, I think this novel is for every former teenager who
- chose humor over honesty.
- had a crush on their best friend.
- was terrified of fully realizing their own identity.
- speculated over the sexuality of their classmates.
- was too friendly with their school's faculty.
- had an intense yet short-lived friendship that shaped their life.
Idlewild, as a whole, is a queer coming-of-age tale steeped in early 2000s Internet culture. Nell and Fay consistently made me laugh out loud just as often as they broke my heart. Whether it was Nell pining for Fay, or Fay's gender dysphoria, the two protagonists were always painfully sincere and relatable.
Ultimately, I think this novel is for every former teenager who
- chose humor over honesty.
- had a crush on their best friend.
- was terrified of fully realizing their own identity.
- speculated over the sexuality of their classmates.
- was too friendly with their school's faculty.
- had an intense yet short-lived friendship that shaped their life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Mouth: Stories by Puloma Ghosh
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Mouth is a delightfully surreal collection of stories. A young woman raises a werewolf boy. A coroner performs an autopsy on her ex-lover. A girl is sacrificed to a persimmon tree to save her community. A figure skater is in love with one of her teammates, who just may be undead. The women in these stories each experience monstrousness to varying degrees. And each character is fully realized -- despite the inevitably short nature of each story.
Mouth is perfect for lovers of queer horror, female-driven short stories, and the bizarre. And it just came out on Tuesday, so you can find it now wherever you source your books!
Thank you @astrahousebooks, @netgalley, & @pulomeow for the e-ARC of Mouth in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mouth is perfect for lovers of queer horror, female-driven short stories, and the bizarre. And it just came out on Tuesday, so you can find it now wherever you source your books!
Thank you @astrahousebooks, @netgalley, & @pulomeow for the e-ARC of Mouth in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, and Death of parent
Dream Drawings: Configurations of a Timeless Kind by N. Scott Momaday
inspiring
fast-paced
3.5
Dream Drawings is aptly named; each sketch in this collection features evocatively imaginative stories. Momaday draws upon indigenous folklore and nature-based imagery for each individual dream world. Though I found some poems to be more memorable than others, overall I enjoyed this collection quite a bit.
Ultimately, I always find it difficult to review poetry without quoting a poet directly. Thus, discover Momaday's talent in his own words:
"It is a serious thing, nothing.
The notion confounds the mind
As wind confounds the sea.
A woman fixes words to a miracle,
A man describes himself to God.
The syllables amount to something,
But they are nothing to speak of."
Ultimately, I always find it difficult to review poetry without quoting a poet directly. Thus, discover Momaday's talent in his own words:
"It is a serious thing, nothing.
The notion confounds the mind
As wind confounds the sea.
A woman fixes words to a miracle,
A man describes himself to God.
The syllables amount to something,
But they are nothing to speak of."
The Wall by Marlen Haushofer
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Translated from German, this introspective novel is a gripping tale of resilience in the face of unknown dystopian circumstances. The unnamed narrator is a middle-aged woman who adapts readily and impressively to self-sufficiency. She is fortunate to have the presence of several animals as companions: Lynx the hunting dog, Bella the milk cow, and a feisty semi-feral cat. The mutual reliance between the narrator and her animals was perhaps the most beautiful and relatable aspect of the novel.
The Wall could be perceived as a boring tale on a purely surface level. It's a diaristic narrative that includes a lot of realistic repetition; the main character's recap of chores completed comprises most of the novel. However, there's something deeply compelling in how The Wall is written. Haushofer skillfully weaves hints of international war, misogyny, and existentialism throughout the narrative.
All in all, many elements of this book felt like a combination of two of my past favorite reads: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (DYPOBD) by Olga Tokarczuk and I Who Have Never Known Men (IWHNKM) by Jacqueline Harpman. The first similarity is likely obvious - all three novels are translated works by European authors. But the similarities go deeper than that. The Wall's narrator reminded me quite a bit of Janina in DYPOBD, incredibly resilient, drily funny, and generally underestimated. Then, the themes of isolation and feminine strength in a dystopian setting were strongly reminiscent of IWHNKM. If you are also a fan of either - or both - novels, then you need to read The Wall.
The Wall could be perceived as a boring tale on a purely surface level. It's a diaristic narrative that includes a lot of realistic repetition; the main character's recap of chores completed comprises most of the novel. However, there's something deeply compelling in how The Wall is written. Haushofer skillfully weaves hints of international war, misogyny, and existentialism throughout the narrative.
All in all, many elements of this book felt like a combination of two of my past favorite reads: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (DYPOBD) by Olga Tokarczuk and I Who Have Never Known Men (IWHNKM) by Jacqueline Harpman. The first similarity is likely obvious - all three novels are translated works by European authors. But the similarities go deeper than that. The Wall's narrator reminded me quite a bit of Janina in DYPOBD, incredibly resilient, drily funny, and generally underestimated. Then, the themes of isolation and feminine strength in a dystopian setting were strongly reminiscent of IWHNKM. If you are also a fan of either - or both - novels, then you need to read The Wall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
Brutes by Dizz Tate
The collective perspective? Impeccable. The Central Florida setting as character? Humid and palpable. The mysteriousness and obsession? Realistic.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
The collective perspective? Impeccable. The Central Florida setting as character? Humid and palpable. The mysteriousness and obsession? Realistic.
Brutes is a delightful book that is thematically and structurally in conversation with Eugenides' The Virgin Suicides. Teen girls are the central obsession. Readers are only allowed to get to know said girls as far as what is witnessed directly by a group of younger kids in the neighborhood; in Brutes' case, the collective witnesses are also girls themselves.
The only reason this novel isn't five stars for me is that I felt like some of the mysterious elements of this story needed to be better developed. Just when something creepy would happen or begin to happen, there was a jump in scenery. I just wanted fewer loose threads by the time I finished Brutes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexism, and Sexual violence
The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race by Jesmyn Ward
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Published in 2016, The Fire This Time features a veritable who's who of talented modern Black writers. Contributors include Kiese Laymon, Claudia Rankine, Jesmyn Ward, Honoree Jeffers, Edwidge Danticat, Isabel Wilkerson, and more. Each piece in this collection is full of heartfelt recognition of Black American identity and calls to persist in the ongoing fight against racial injustices in the U.S. Overall, The Fire This Time is an excellent reflection on the ways that American society both has and hasn't changed since Baldwin wrote The Fire Next Time in the 1960s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Police brutality