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xangemtheelibrarian's reviews
985 reviews
I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life by Ed Yong
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Not gonna lie. I zoned out for quite a bit of this book. That being said, the parts I was paying attention to were really informative and easy to understand. I really enjoyed learning about microbiomes and how these tiny little communities affect not only our bodies, but the entire world around us.
Static: Season One by Vita Ayala, Nikolas Draper-Ivey
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-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
I missed Static Shock! I remember watching the animated series when I was kid. So when this came out, I didn't hesitate to purchase this graphic novel. It took me FAR too long to come back and read it though. I know the second volume is out now, and I can't wait to get my hands on that one too! I'm hooked.
There is a lot to unpack in Static's revamped story. I don't remember the animated series very well, so I can't make a good comparison between this and the tv show. But here, Static isn't just dealing with being othered by the powers he gained, he is also struggling with the othering of BIPOC people: the discrimination, outright racism, "damned if you do damned if you don't" circus act of being too Black or not Black enough. I'm glad for the attention on these issues in literature lately. I want to read more about them. I want to learn and to understand.
There is a lot to unpack in Static's revamped story. I don't remember the animated series very well, so I can't make a good comparison between this and the tv show. But here, Static isn't just dealing with being othered by the powers he gained, he is also struggling with the othering of BIPOC people: the discrimination, outright racism, "damned if you do damned if you don't" circus act of being too Black or not Black enough. I'm glad for the attention on these issues in literature lately. I want to read more about them. I want to learn and to understand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Sexism
Dear Medusa by Olivia A. Cole
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was a hard read. But well done. This is a story about all the ways women are made to feel small in our society and culture. This story is frank and unflinching. And it leaves me with mixed feelings, but overall I am glad I had read it.
49 Days by Agnes Lee
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This graphic novel is a duel journey: the first beings Kit's journey as she stays in Bardo for 49 days, and the second being the journey her friends and family take to heal from her passing.
Grief is never a fun thing to deal with, especially when you are robbed of someone you love. The hole they leave behind is impossible to fill, but you learn to live around it and honor the person you lost.
This graphic novel honors that process beautifully. I'm grateful this story has been shared with the world.
Grief is never a fun thing to deal with, especially when you are robbed of someone you love. The hole they leave behind is impossible to fill, but you learn to live around it and honor the person you lost.
This graphic novel honors that process beautifully. I'm grateful this story has been shared with the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Red by Annie Cardi
I wish this book had existed long ago, when I needed it. Reading this was a very personal experience for me and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to hug Tessa. I wanted to scream at that youth group full of teens who simply didn't know any better. To see the church culture and how they all "just want to help you" and the subtle way the author brings out how these Christians consider it a point of pride to be "the one that brought you back to the fold" caused a visceral reaction and served as a strong reminder as to why I left the church.
Now, even as I say that, Cardi does not condemn the who church community. Even more than this story being one of abortion, loneliness, rejection, and abuse, this is a redemption and a justice story. Tessa learns to speak out and stand up, her friends redeem themselves, and her grandparents make a grounded comeback as well. Not every thread in this story is tied up neatly. It's a messy story with a realistic and hopeful ending. And I think that's what I love about that. Below are some more quotes from the story that impacted me. I removed spoiler-y bits from them so it won't ruin major plot twists.
5.0
Someday I’ll be older and look back and this will all be a thing that happened to me. Choices I made. Paths I took. It won’t be all of me, and maybe it won’t be something other people will see when they look at me, but it will be something I carry with me. It’ll all be a part of the person I am and the person I’m becoming. There’s so much more ahead of me, and I don’t know what that will be yet, but I want to find out.
I wish this book had existed long ago, when I needed it. Reading this was a very personal experience for me and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to hug Tessa. I wanted to scream at that youth group full of teens who simply didn't know any better. To see the church culture and how they all "just want to help you" and the subtle way the author brings out how these Christians consider it a point of pride to be "the one that brought you back to the fold" caused a visceral reaction and served as a strong reminder as to why I left the church.
Now, even as I say that, Cardi does not condemn the who church community. Even more than this story being one of abortion, loneliness, rejection, and abuse, this is a redemption and a justice story. Tessa learns to speak out and stand up, her friends redeem themselves, and her grandparents make a grounded comeback as well. Not every thread in this story is tied up neatly. It's a messy story with a realistic and hopeful ending. And I think that's what I love about that. Below are some more quotes from the story that impacted me. I removed spoiler-y bits from them so it won't ruin major plot twists.
"You obviously want to have a relationship with God.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I would change what I did,” I say, and as I’m saying the words, I realize it’s true. I want to reconnect with the faith I had, to talk to God again and be a part of something larger than myself. And I don’t know if what I did was right or wrong, exactly. But that doesn’t mean I would go back and make a different decision. Even if my relationship [...] hadn’t been a secret, even if he’d been okay with everyone finding out, I still wouldn’t have been ready to have a baby, to carry it for nine months and then be a mother. Maybe one day, but not now, not even if things had been different...
A baby is not a choice, we had shouted [...] But a baby is not a punishment either.
He should have known better.
I’m starting to know better.
Except it didn’t work out that way. Everything changed. Everything needed to change, but not for the reasons I thought at the time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Abortion and Death of parent
In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a fever dream of a story. I found the tension between the real world and the mythological world mesmerizing. For most of the story, you are left wondering with Julia what is really happening or what is a dream.
There is a lovely focus on food here that I think could benefit from being highlighted in the blurb. Moreso than Dali's insistence she eat the pomegranate seeds. The food really is just as important as the garden and the mythology of Pluto and Proserpina.
As far as romantic tension goes, this is surprisingly clean. Sex happens, but it's never explicit. It felt rather tame and more focused on the emotions and desire than the physical actions. Which is also surprising to say, given that the Dali couple are living their best poly life over there! (Maybe I've read too much erotica haha.)
Overall, if you want to read a Hades x Persephone retelling, but with a nice little twist, lots of delicious sounding food, and a famously eccentric artist, this is the one.
There is a lovely focus on food here that I think could benefit from being highlighted in the blurb. Moreso than Dali's insistence she eat the pomegranate seeds. The food really is just as important as the garden and the mythology of Pluto and Proserpina.
As far as romantic tension goes, this is surprisingly clean. Sex happens, but it's never explicit. It felt rather tame and more focused on the emotions and desire than the physical actions. Which is also surprising to say, given that the Dali couple are living their best poly life over there! (Maybe I've read too much erotica haha.)
Overall, if you want to read a Hades x Persephone retelling, but with a nice little twist, lots of delicious sounding food, and a famously eccentric artist, this is the one.
Tentacles and Teeth by Rowan Merrick
emotional
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Yep. This is my shit. And this was also so surprisingly wholesome! I would have really liked to have seen more backstory from Katarina. Clearly she was raised to believe poly is wrong, but she only deals with the shame over her interests for maybe two seconds before it isn't mentioned again.
That's all I gotta say about this book. It really speaks for itself.
That's all I gotta say about this book. It really speaks for itself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Spider-Man Noir: Twilight in Babylon by Margaret Stohl
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This Spider-noir feels quite a bit different from the OG Spider-noir I just read, but still a really cool spider-man! I liked the art style in this graphic novel and the update to Spidey's wardrobe. Every time a character appeared that I recognized, I got so excited!
Jingle His Bells: An Ex-Boyfriends Brother, Christmas Romance (Club Red: Chicago) by Kaci Rose
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I got this as a blind date with a book purchase off the TokShop, so I went into this novella blind.
I mean. It wasn't horrible. It was pretty bland but a fast read. This plot shouldn't have been a novella, but would have benefitted from being fully fleshed out as a novel just because of the kind of conflict that comes from dating your ex's older brother after your ex brings his new fling home. The BDSM club scenes were also written in such a way that I felt like the author had a clear picture in their head of what was happening, but failed to communicate to the reader what was happening. It was all pretty vague, pretty rushed, pretty bland. I did appreciate how much emphasis this author put on consent and aftercare during the spicy scenes though.
I mean. It wasn't horrible. It was pretty bland but a fast read. This plot shouldn't have been a novella, but would have benefitted from being fully fleshed out as a novel just because of the kind of conflict that comes from dating your ex's older brother after your ex brings his new fling home. The BDSM club scenes were also written in such a way that I felt like the author had a clear picture in their head of what was happening, but failed to communicate to the reader what was happening. It was all pretty vague, pretty rushed, pretty bland. I did appreciate how much emphasis this author put on consent and aftercare during the spicy scenes though.
Spider-Man Noir: The Complete Collection by Bob McLeod, Carmine Di Giandomenico, David Hine, Paco Díaz, Roger Stern, Richard Isanove, Fabrice Sapolsky
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I don't read very many Marvel or DC comics. I find it intimidating to try and figure out where to jump in to understand the storyline, and there's so MUCH out there to read.
This was recommended by a friend, and hey I'm glad I actually listened to a rec for once! I thought that the ways Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and other familiar villains were portrayed in this Spidey universe. It was fun to read. But oof that eugenics arc gave so much ick 🤢
This was recommended by a friend, and hey I'm glad I actually listened to a rec for once! I thought that the ways Green Goblin, Doc Ock, and other familiar villains were portrayed in this Spidey universe. It was fun to read. But oof that eugenics arc gave so much ick 🤢