You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
gifted by the publisher
In this intimate & unique collection of personal essays, Rozario details her experience growing up as a queer, brown, fat girl in Singapore. Blending memoirs with history, pop culture, horror films, and current events, DINNER beautifully explores the concept of monsters in various forms.
I loved Rozario's writing, which perfectly balances the private moments and searing commentaries. While the essays vary in length, I find each one profound & memorable, with no throwaways at all.
Here's a summary of each essay (because I loved all of them) and some of my favorite quotes.
• Salvation: complex mother-daughter relationships due to her mom's faith and Rozario's sexuality; a heartbreaking read reminiscent of MA AND ME (Putsata Reang)
• One Size Fits Small: growing up fat in a country with government control of everything, including one's body
• I Hope We Shine On: on mental illness, heredity depression, self-harm, and how family history repeats itself. "Are we all destined to become our parents? Do they persist in their unfinished business from beyond the grave? Is to live in resistance of my genetic inheritance still to live haunted by it?"
• Conflict Circle: Rozario's experiences attending an all-girls catholic secondary school made me nostalgic for my all-girls-high school days, still one of the best times of my life. "I cannot remember ever loving as unabashedly as I did when I was in secondary school. I can't think of another time in my life in which I offered of myself so freely."
• My Year of Magic: a year of battling depression and how an adventure with friends rekindled Rozario's hope. This essay reminds me of MARTYR! (Kaveh Akbar) and I teared up a little
In this intimate & unique collection of personal essays, Rozario details her experience growing up as a queer, brown, fat girl in Singapore. Blending memoirs with history, pop culture, horror films, and current events, DINNER beautifully explores the concept of monsters in various forms.
I loved Rozario's writing, which perfectly balances the private moments and searing commentaries. While the essays vary in length, I find each one profound & memorable, with no throwaways at all.
Here's a summary of each essay (because I loved all of them) and some of my favorite quotes.
• Salvation: complex mother-daughter relationships due to her mom's faith and Rozario's sexuality; a heartbreaking read reminiscent of MA AND ME (Putsata Reang)
• One Size Fits Small: growing up fat in a country with government control of everything, including one's body
• I Hope We Shine On: on mental illness, heredity depression, self-harm, and how family history repeats itself. "Are we all destined to become our parents? Do they persist in their unfinished business from beyond the grave? Is to live in resistance of my genetic inheritance still to live haunted by it?"
• Conflict Circle: Rozario's experiences attending an all-girls catholic secondary school made me nostalgic for my all-girls-high school days, still one of the best times of my life. "I cannot remember ever loving as unabashedly as I did when I was in secondary school. I can't think of another time in my life in which I offered of myself so freely."
• My Year of Magic: a year of battling depression and how an adventure with friends rekindled Rozario's hope. This essay reminds me of MARTYR! (Kaveh Akbar) and I teared up a little
gifted by the publisher
After hearing a bizarre short story, Khaled becomes obsessed with the power of words and moves from Libya to the UK for school. When a protest turns violent, Khaled finds himself in exile and, over the next decades, struggles to define his sense of self as the Arab Spring erupts.
Devastatingly beautiful yet cautiously hopeful, MF is a propulsive meditation on friendship & family. Apart from the writing that makes this a slow but compelling read, I loved Khaled's deep character development as his friendship deepens. I also resonated deeply with the unique lens of building a home and finding belonging apart from one's homeland.
Matar's prose evokes deep melancholy following Khaled's exile while dissecting the life-saving power of friendships & their evolution through the decades. It's impossible to put my love for this book into words, so I'll just say MF is my favorite read of the year (so far
After hearing a bizarre short story, Khaled becomes obsessed with the power of words and moves from Libya to the UK for school. When a protest turns violent, Khaled finds himself in exile and, over the next decades, struggles to define his sense of self as the Arab Spring erupts.
Devastatingly beautiful yet cautiously hopeful, MF is a propulsive meditation on friendship & family. Apart from the writing that makes this a slow but compelling read, I loved Khaled's deep character development as his friendship deepens. I also resonated deeply with the unique lens of building a home and finding belonging apart from one's homeland.
Matar's prose evokes deep melancholy following Khaled's exile while dissecting the life-saving power of friendships & their evolution through the decades. It's impossible to put my love for this book into words, so I'll just say MF is my favorite read of the year (so far
gifted by the publisher
Joy Okafor is overwhelmed trying to organize the perfect party for her mom, Mary's 70th birthday. But after finding her mom dead, the party devolves into chaos, and things quickly get out of hand when Joy's aunt declares a premonition promising the rise of Mary.
PRIDE AND JOY is a heartwarming and hilarious story about three generations of a Nigerian Canadian family grappling with a sudden death. Onomé cleverly balances out the serious topic with absurd plots and laugh-out-loud writing. The family's lack of boundaries and chaotic vibes remind me of THE FORTUNES OF JADED WOMEN (Carolyn Huynh).
Joy's relatable character is the highlight of the story, and I enjoyed following her journey from holding onto unprocessed grief & anger to allowing herself to feel all the emotions. I wish we saw more development of the side characters, especially when some subplots don't seem fully resolved by the end. But perhaps that's just life. We let go & we move on.
Joy Okafor is overwhelmed trying to organize the perfect party for her mom, Mary's 70th birthday. But after finding her mom dead, the party devolves into chaos, and things quickly get out of hand when Joy's aunt declares a premonition promising the rise of Mary.
PRIDE AND JOY is a heartwarming and hilarious story about three generations of a Nigerian Canadian family grappling with a sudden death. Onomé cleverly balances out the serious topic with absurd plots and laugh-out-loud writing. The family's lack of boundaries and chaotic vibes remind me of THE FORTUNES OF JADED WOMEN (Carolyn Huynh).
Joy's relatable character is the highlight of the story, and I enjoyed following her journey from holding onto unprocessed grief & anger to allowing herself to feel all the emotions. I wish we saw more development of the side characters, especially when some subplots don't seem fully resolved by the end. But perhaps that's just life. We let go & we move on.
Gifted by the publisher
Tensions run high in a future where the world is divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations. But when the realization comes that a powerful third party has been an influential presence on Earth for millennia, three rising scientists form an uneasy alliance to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life.
JUMPNAUTS is an inventive and entertaining read that seamlessly blends Chinese classic vibes (Hao's original words are 中式古典美學) and science fiction. When I think about Chinese classics, they often have a melancholic and romantic undertone that evokes deep contemplations—going in, I couldn't fathom how quantum entanglement and Daoism could coexist in a book.
Hao beautifully fuses Chinese philosophy, civilization, and physics into a page-turner. I was mindblown by Hao's originality in connecting blockchain to Ruism (儒家), Daoism (道家), and Mosim (墨家); I was also mesmerized by the character's conversations about implementing various ancient Chinese belief systems in how one designs technology.
Due to the frequent citations of these ancient texts, I read most of JUMPNAUTS in Mandarin and referenced Liu's translations & footnotes to compare. It's worth mentioning that Liu's translations stay true to the meanings while giving it a more modern feel, and I didn't quite get the "Chinese classic aesthetics" from the English translation.
Consider this phrase from Confucius, 明知不可為而為之, translated as "the belief that one should do what is right even if they know failure is certain." There's just something about Ancient Chinese that conveys so much with so little that maybe only Latin could do it justice—but nobody wants to read that
Tensions run high in a future where the world is divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations. But when the realization comes that a powerful third party has been an influential presence on Earth for millennia, three rising scientists form an uneasy alliance to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life.
JUMPNAUTS is an inventive and entertaining read that seamlessly blends Chinese classic vibes (Hao's original words are 中式古典美學) and science fiction. When I think about Chinese classics, they often have a melancholic and romantic undertone that evokes deep contemplations—going in, I couldn't fathom how quantum entanglement and Daoism could coexist in a book.
Hao beautifully fuses Chinese philosophy, civilization, and physics into a page-turner. I was mindblown by Hao's originality in connecting blockchain to Ruism (儒家), Daoism (道家), and Mosim (墨家); I was also mesmerized by the character's conversations about implementing various ancient Chinese belief systems in how one designs technology.
Due to the frequent citations of these ancient texts, I read most of JUMPNAUTS in Mandarin and referenced Liu's translations & footnotes to compare. It's worth mentioning that Liu's translations stay true to the meanings while giving it a more modern feel, and I didn't quite get the "Chinese classic aesthetics" from the English translation.
Consider this phrase from Confucius, 明知不可為而為之, translated as "the belief that one should do what is right even if they know failure is certain." There's just something about Ancient Chinese that conveys so much with so little that maybe only Latin could do it justice—but nobody wants to read that
gifted by the publisher
The youngest of 4 children raised by Dutch immigrants, Vellekoop struggles with his sexuality due to his family's faith. Even after he comes out in college and finds success in his career as an artist, Vellekoop continues to grapple with loneliness.
GLAD is an enthralling portrait encompassing coming-of-age, coming out, and adulthood as a gay man. I don't read nearly as many queer books, but while most end at coming out or focus on alienation in a heteronormative world, GLAD depicts Vellekoop's struggle to find love within his community.
I also appreciated the depiction of Vellekoop's depression and his extensive conversations with his therapist. From searching for the "right" therapist to the not-always-straight-paths of his visits, Vellekoop holds nothing back and emphasizes the life-saving effects of therapy. With vivid art and a hint of humor, GLAD is a heartfelt examination of one's sexuality, guilt, mental health, and family.
The youngest of 4 children raised by Dutch immigrants, Vellekoop struggles with his sexuality due to his family's faith. Even after he comes out in college and finds success in his career as an artist, Vellekoop continues to grapple with loneliness.
GLAD is an enthralling portrait encompassing coming-of-age, coming out, and adulthood as a gay man. I don't read nearly as many queer books, but while most end at coming out or focus on alienation in a heteronormative world, GLAD depicts Vellekoop's struggle to find love within his community.
I also appreciated the depiction of Vellekoop's depression and his extensive conversations with his therapist. From searching for the "right" therapist to the not-always-straight-paths of his visits, Vellekoop holds nothing back and emphasizes the life-saving effects of therapy. With vivid art and a hint of humor, GLAD is a heartfelt examination of one's sexuality, guilt, mental health, and family.
gifted by the publisher
Once a week for 3 years, Sattouf chats with his friend's daughter, Esther, and she tells him about her life, ranging from family to school and everything in between. Spanning Esther's life from age 9-12, NOTEBOOKS is a delightful look into the daily dramas of this outgoing girl.
While chronological, each page in NOTEBOOKS can be read as a standalone comic. I really appreciated the cute art style and how Sattouf uses colors. NOTEBOOKS is a rather text-heavy comic, sometimes with texts so small I have trouble reading (but my eyes are bad
Once a week for 3 years, Sattouf chats with his friend's daughter, Esther, and she tells him about her life, ranging from family to school and everything in between. Spanning Esther's life from age 9-12, NOTEBOOKS is a delightful look into the daily dramas of this outgoing girl.
While chronological, each page in NOTEBOOKS can be read as a standalone comic. I really appreciated the cute art style and how Sattouf uses colors. NOTEBOOKS is a rather text-heavy comic, sometimes with texts so small I have trouble reading (but my eyes are bad
When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, he decides to hide until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father. Thus begins the dangerous journey down the Mississippi River toward the elusive promise of the Free States.
JAMES isn't just another retelling or reimagining of Mark Twain's classic THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN; it's a bold and thought-provoking adaptation that skillfully flips the script on the familiar characters. In this novel, Everett shifts the narrative focus from Huck to James. While James is relegated to the background in Twain's original tale, he takes center stage in Everett's novel, allowing readers to delve into his compelling journey.
JAMES marks my third encounter with Everett's work, and maybe my favorite, competing closely with ERASURE. Despite its brevity, the novel packs a powerful punch, demonstrating Everett's mastery in crafting a narrative that is both concise and impactful and delivering a profound exploration of the Black American experience, particularly during the era of slavery.
One of the remarkable aspects of JAMES is its accessibility to readers unfamiliar with HUCK FINN. As someone who didn't read Twain's classic, I was engrossed in Everett's storytelling without feeling like I was missing out on essential context. This speaks to Everett's ability to create a standalone work that resonates independently while also offering a unique perspective to those familiar with the source material.
Everett's brilliance as a literary genius shines through in his ability to infuse fresh ideas into a setting that has been explored by many. JAMES becomes not just an homage to classics but a provocative play on them, challenging readers to reconsider the characters relegated to the background. JAMES prompts us to ask, "What did we miss?" in the original narratives and encourages a reevaluation of our understanding of these literary figures.
In essence, JAMES is a captivating ode to classics that is both nostalgic and groundbreaking. Everett's storytelling prowess elevates this adaptation, making it a must-read for those intrigued by inventive takes on timeless tales and a compelling exploration of the Black American experience.
JAMES isn't just another retelling or reimagining of Mark Twain's classic THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN; it's a bold and thought-provoking adaptation that skillfully flips the script on the familiar characters. In this novel, Everett shifts the narrative focus from Huck to James. While James is relegated to the background in Twain's original tale, he takes center stage in Everett's novel, allowing readers to delve into his compelling journey.
JAMES marks my third encounter with Everett's work, and maybe my favorite, competing closely with ERASURE. Despite its brevity, the novel packs a powerful punch, demonstrating Everett's mastery in crafting a narrative that is both concise and impactful and delivering a profound exploration of the Black American experience, particularly during the era of slavery.
One of the remarkable aspects of JAMES is its accessibility to readers unfamiliar with HUCK FINN. As someone who didn't read Twain's classic, I was engrossed in Everett's storytelling without feeling like I was missing out on essential context. This speaks to Everett's ability to create a standalone work that resonates independently while also offering a unique perspective to those familiar with the source material.
Everett's brilliance as a literary genius shines through in his ability to infuse fresh ideas into a setting that has been explored by many. JAMES becomes not just an homage to classics but a provocative play on them, challenging readers to reconsider the characters relegated to the background. JAMES prompts us to ask, "What did we miss?" in the original narratives and encourages a reevaluation of our understanding of these literary figures.
In essence, JAMES is a captivating ode to classics that is both nostalgic and groundbreaking. Everett's storytelling prowess elevates this adaptation, making it a must-read for those intrigued by inventive takes on timeless tales and a compelling exploration of the Black American experience.
