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alexandriaslibrary's reviews
245 reviews
20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Invisible Beasts by Sharona Muir
adventurous
slow-paced
A literary Spiderwick
Chronicles: a woman catalogs the invisible creatures she has the ability to see! Some of the stories are more anecdotal while others lean analytical
The Pearlkillers: Four Novellas by Rachel Ingalls
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My fav Rachel never misses <333
Retold Mexican American Folktales by Alex Cervantes, Esther De Michael Cervantes
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Is Mother Dead by Vigdis Hjorth
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
a vibes > plot novel about a 60 yr old artist who becomes obsessed w her estranged mother
Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
So charming! Loved so many moments, but felt like it would’ve shone a tad more w some more narrative pieces (Sea Animals was a standout for me <3)
No Edges: Swahili Stories by Lilian Mbaga, Lusajo Mwaikenda Israel, Katama G.C. Mkangi, Mwas Mahugu, Fadhy Mtanga, Clara Momanyi, Euphrase Kezilahabi, Fatma Shafii
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
The first short story collection translated from Swahili to English. Some of the stories are translated with a more natural flow than others.
Some of my favorites were “The Guest” which is about a young woman who invites over her lover to meet her family
“A Neighbor’s Pot” which is a fantastical story where a girl trips on a pot shard and ends up in a demonic realm
And “Attitudes” which is about a woman traveling on a bus of people who just don’t like her vibe (and she has some tummy issues!)
Overall, I recommend to get a glimpse into other cultures (the authors are mostly Kenyan or Tanzanian) and to see the ways that stories are told (More of a fable vibe, character heavy, etc)
Some of my favorites were “The Guest” which is about a young woman who invites over her lover to meet her family
“A Neighbor’s Pot” which is a fantastical story where a girl trips on a pot shard and ends up in a demonic realm
And “Attitudes” which is about a woman traveling on a bus of people who just don’t like her vibe (and she has some tummy issues!)
Overall, I recommend to get a glimpse into other cultures (the authors are mostly Kenyan or Tanzanian) and to see the ways that stories are told (More of a fable vibe, character heavy, etc)
A Tiny Upward Shove by Melissa Chadburn
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0