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ninetalevixen
Honestly, not much happens in this book beyond introducing a lot of characters and the idea of King Arthur's Round Table. It's very moralistic while itself espousing problematic sexist and racist and, to a lesser extent, classist norms — as always, I choose to acknowledge but not excuse the fact that this is an older book. The family tree was a [somewhat disturbing] highlight; the rest was pretty tedious.
(Read as part of [b:The Once and Future King|43545|The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4)|T.H. White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338741283l/43545._SY75_.jpg|1140206] collected edition, but shelved individually for review and reading challenge purposes.)
(Read as part of [b:The Once and Future King|43545|The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4)|T.H. White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1338741283l/43545._SY75_.jpg|1140206] collected edition, but shelved individually for review and reading challenge purposes.)
2.5 stars
I don't think I've ever actually read the original series, though I have seen the Judy Garland film many times and one of my childhood favorite books (but also recurring nightmare fodder) was a picture book edition in Chinese; I'm probably biased since both were introduced to me by my parents.
This was a quick, fairly simple/easy read; the messages and morality are clear-cut, and the narrative gratification is almost instant — or maybe there just isn't much in the way of suspense when I'm so familiar with the broad strokes, though that's unavoidable in this case. Not what I usually go for, but also not a surprise (or unjustifiable/uncalled for) given the target audience and era.
I don't think I've ever actually read the original series, though I have seen the Judy Garland film many times and one of my childhood favorite books (but also recurring nightmare fodder) was a picture book edition in Chinese; I'm probably biased since both were introduced to me by my parents.
This was a quick, fairly simple/easy read; the messages and morality are clear-cut, and the narrative gratification is almost instant — or maybe there just isn't much in the way of suspense when I'm so familiar with the broad strokes, though that's unavoidable in this case. Not what I usually go for, but also not a surprise (or unjustifiable/uncalled for) given the target audience and era.
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content warnings:
rep:
[review to come]
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CONVERSION: 10.4 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 5 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 5 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
Spoiler
racism, self-harm (scratching), implied suicide attempt, mention of PTSD, precanon parent death (cardiomyopathy), grief, mention of child abuse, implied sexual content, facetious suicidal ideation, ableismrep:
Spoiler
gay biracial Black American MC with anxiety and depression [Grace], WLW second-gen Japanese American love interest [Yuki], F/F main romance, Indian American major characters [Raj, Meera, Baba Vihaan], WLW Afro-Dominican major character [Ximena], bisexual major character with BPD [Agnes], implied polyam F/F/F relationship, Black secondary characters [Sharone, Colonel], queer Black secondary character [Dhorian], MLM trans Indigenous secondary character [Sani], diverse minor characters[review to come]
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CONVERSION: 10.4 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 5 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 5 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
I received an advance review copy from Text Publishing Company through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest. This review (and more) can also be found on my blog, Nine Tale Vixen
content warnings:
rep:
Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but I’m glad I gave The Gaps a chance. Hall does a great job with the premise, which is tricky since it centers on a girl’s abduction but is not about her: it’s about other girls, left behind and not sure whether they are — or will ever again feel — safe.
In a nutshell, Hall really does seem to understand (and fairly accurately depict) what it’s like to be a 21st century teenage girl, unfiltered and honest and unashamed. The two protagonists, Natalia and Chloe, have really distinct narrative voices and ways of thinking about the world and other people; I liked the structure of giving them each long sections before trading off (rather than strictly alternating chapters), helping the reader get to know them both. Though Natalia’s binary righteous attitude can admittedly be a bit much, you have to admire her wholeheartedness — and I was relieved that she didn’t turn out to be the archetypical Mean Girl But Not Really. On the other hand, Chloe is more traditionally likable, with her love of her little brother and her dog, just doing her best to figure out when to speak out and when to let things go.
Just as Chloe is a girl-next-door type of protagonist, there’s a bit of a story-next-door feel. Family and friendship are major themes, portrayed with wonderful nuance and complexity, and without annoying moralizing or implied take-home messages. The narrative grapples with social issues like classism, racism, sexism, and rape culture, and it clearly condemns bigotry without crossing the line into being preachy; similarly, the Asian (Australian) rep is more incidental than central, though it comes up in both big and little details, and there’s lots of casual/ background diversity as well.
The art aspect particularly impressed me, since it could so easily become a vehicle for cheesy figurative language and symbolism, moments written to be quoted, lengthy and tedious descriptions. Instead we get a much more pragmatic and relatable depiction of expectations vs. reality, the difficulty of translating abstract ideas into concrete depictions open to others’ interpretation and judgment.
Although there is an element of suspense underpinning the narrative, the focus is mostly introspective and interpersonal (far more character- than plot-driven). It can be as thought-provoking as you want it to be, or appreciated at face value. Overall this was a super engaging and evocative novel — one that I hope more people will pick up, because I think it will appeal to a broad audience.
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CONVERSION: 11.8 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 7 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 7 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 5 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
content warnings:
Spoiler
classism, racism, racial profiling, xenophobia, microaggressions, bullying, sexual harassment, catcalling, mentions of rape, (affectionate/joking) slut-shaming, mentions of/implied underage sex, underage drinking, mentions of drug use, mentions of eating disorders, grief, guiltrep:
Spoiler
biracial Singaporean-/Anglo-Australian MC [Chloe], Chinese-Australian major character [Yin], diverse secondary & minor characters (Chinese, WLW, hard-of-hearing, depression, and more)Honestly I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked this one up, but I’m glad I gave The Gaps a chance. Hall does a great job with the premise, which is tricky since it centers on a girl’s abduction but is not about her: it’s about other girls, left behind and not sure whether they are — or will ever again feel — safe.
In a nutshell, Hall really does seem to understand (and fairly accurately depict) what it’s like to be a 21st century teenage girl, unfiltered and honest and unashamed. The two protagonists, Natalia and Chloe, have really distinct narrative voices and ways of thinking about the world and other people; I liked the structure of giving them each long sections before trading off (rather than strictly alternating chapters), helping the reader get to know them both. Though Natalia’s binary righteous attitude can admittedly be a bit much, you have to admire her wholeheartedness — and I was relieved that she didn’t turn out to be the archetypical Mean Girl But Not Really. On the other hand, Chloe is more traditionally likable, with her love of her little brother and her dog, just doing her best to figure out when to speak out and when to let things go.
Just as Chloe is a girl-next-door type of protagonist, there’s a bit of a story-next-door feel. Family and friendship are major themes, portrayed with wonderful nuance and complexity, and without annoying moralizing or implied take-home messages. The narrative grapples with social issues like classism, racism, sexism, and rape culture, and it clearly condemns bigotry without crossing the line into being preachy; similarly, the Asian (Australian) rep is more incidental than central, though it comes up in both big and little details, and there’s lots of casual/ background diversity as well.
The art aspect particularly impressed me, since it could so easily become a vehicle for cheesy figurative language and symbolism, moments written to be quoted, lengthy and tedious descriptions. Instead we get a much more pragmatic and relatable depiction of expectations vs. reality, the difficulty of translating abstract ideas into concrete depictions open to others’ interpretation and judgment.
Although there is an element of suspense underpinning the narrative, the focus is mostly introspective and interpersonal (far more character- than plot-driven). It can be as thought-provoking as you want it to be, or appreciated at face value. Overall this was a super engaging and evocative novel — one that I hope more people will pick up, because I think it will appeal to a broad audience.
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CONVERSION: 11.8 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 7 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 7 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 5 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
I received an advance review copy from Rock the Boat through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
2.5 stars
content warnings:
rep:
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CONVERSION: 7.5/ 15 = 2.5 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 5 / 10
Setting: 6 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: N/A
2.5 stars
content warnings:
Spoiler
rep:
Spoiler
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CONVERSION: 7.5/ 15 = 2.5 stars
Prose: 4 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 4 / 10
Development / Flow: 5 / 10
Setting: 6 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 2 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: N/A
★ 3.5 stars ★
content warnings:
Okay fine this was really entertaining in the most disturbing way. I'm definitely not going to watch the movie anytime soon, but I'm always glad to increase my cultural literacy.
I was pleasantly surprised by the portrayal of the female lead and her dynamic with her roommate at Quantico, and the repeated protests that transsexual individuals [this is not the current preferred terminology, but it is the label used by the characters] are not predisposed to violent crime ... though it must be acknowledged that the bar is in hell, and there is still [period-typical] rampant ableism and queerphobia. Plus, of course, violence and gore/ horror and a lot of things that I generally do not like but knew to expect going into this one.
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CONVERSION: 9.2 / 15 = 3.5 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 6 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 6 / 10
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
content warnings:
Spoiler
murder, torture, body horror, gore, skinning, scalping, animal slaughter, classism, sexism, sexual harassment, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, fatphobiaOkay fine this was really entertaining in the most disturbing way. I'm definitely not going to watch the movie anytime soon, but I'm always glad to increase my cultural literacy.
I was pleasantly surprised by the portrayal of the female lead and her dynamic with her roommate at Quantico, and the repeated protests that transsexual individuals [this is not the current preferred terminology, but it is the label used by the characters] are not predisposed to violent crime ... though it must be acknowledged that the bar is in hell, and there is still [period-typical] rampant ableism and queerphobia. Plus, of course, violence and gore/ horror and a lot of things that I generally do not like but knew to expect going into this one.
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CONVERSION: 9.2 / 15 = 3.5 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 6 / 10
Emotional Impact: 6 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 6 / 10
Originality / Trope Execution: 3 / 5
★ 4.5 stars ★
content warnings:
rep:
[review to come]
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CONVERSION: 11.8 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 10 / 10
Emotional Impact: 9 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 6 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
content warnings:
Spoiler
non-graphic on-page description of rape, quid pro quo sexual harassment → assault from a teacher to a student, misogynistic language, victim blaming, sex shaming, biphobia, mentions of body shaming, mentions of racism, bullying, gender dysphoria, on-page panic attacks, internalized ableism, underage drinkingrep:
Spoiler
bisexual MC with anxiety [], nonbinary (genderqueer/ questioning) best friend & love interest [Charlie], Korean American love interest [Alex],[review to come]
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CONVERSION: 11.8 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 10 / 10
Emotional Impact: 9 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 6 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5