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2.01k reviews by:
ninetalevixen
I received an advance review copy from Wednesday Books through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
In the spirit of transparency, I want to start with a disclaimer that I have seen Macbeth performed — one time, when I was in middle school — and have a SparkNotes-level familiarity with the plot/characters/etc., but I have not read it on my own nor would I recognize most quotes from it. (Except "Out, damned spot" and "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" ... that's this one, right? But I digress.)
But based on what I do remember, Capin preserves the spirit of The Scottish Play while adapting it through the lens of modern adolescence. The blame and motives and freewill are shifted from the original, which only makes things all the more interesting. Certain recognizable motifs and themes, such as, come through particularly clearly, a little heavy-handed for my taste but they are memorable and thus effective in their way.
The storyline is fairly engaging, even if it contains few surprises; however, the pacing felt a bit uneven. While may have been intentional since so much happens over a relatively short period of time, it was a little disorienting. I also wasn't totally convinced by the relationships — the individual characters are nuanced and believable, but their group dynamics and one-on-one interactions felt a bit more performative or tropey than organic.
All that said, as retellings go this is a fairly solid one. Capin strikes a good balance between homage and originality with captivating storytelling and a vivid cast.
content warnings:
rep:
-----------
CONVERSION: 10.6 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 8 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 4 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: N/A
In the spirit of transparency, I want to start with a disclaimer that I have seen Macbeth performed — one time, when I was in middle school — and have a SparkNotes-level familiarity with the plot/characters/etc., but I have not read it on my own nor would I recognize most quotes from it. (Except "Out, damned spot" and "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" ... that's this one, right? But I digress.)
But based on what I do remember, Capin preserves the spirit of The Scottish Play while adapting it through the lens of modern adolescence. The blame and motives and freewill are shifted from the original, which only makes things all the more interesting. Certain recognizable motifs and themes, such as
Spoiler
blood/red, power, guiltThe storyline is fairly engaging, even if it contains few surprises; however, the pacing felt a bit uneven. While may have been intentional since so much happens over a relatively short period of time, it was a little disorienting. I also wasn't totally convinced by the relationships — the individual characters are nuanced and believable, but their group dynamics and one-on-one interactions felt a bit more performative or tropey than organic.
All that said, as retellings go this is a fairly solid one. Capin strikes a good balance between homage and originality with captivating storytelling and a vivid cast.
content warnings:
Spoiler
flashbacks to rape, roofie, underage drinking & smoking & drug use, blood, infidelity, non-graphic self-harm (cutting wrists), slut-shaming, misogynistic languagerep:
Spoiler
Desi-American main character, Korean-American major character, trans major character, WLW major character-----------
CONVERSION: 10.6 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 8 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 7 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 6 / 10
Setting: 4 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: N/A
In Our Own Worlds #2: Four LGBTQ+ Tor.com Novellas
Lina Rather, Kai Ashante Wilson, Seanan McGuire, Katharine Duckett
1. [b:Miranda in Milan|39947822|Miranda in Milan|Katharine Duckett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537221661l/39947822._SY75_.jpg|61848099] | [my review]
2. [b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431438555l/25526296._SX50_.jpg|45313140] | [my review]
3. [b:Sisters of the Vast Black|44581558|Sisters of the Vast Black|Lina Rather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558536373l/44581558._SY75_.jpg|69197753] | [my review]
4. [b:The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps|25819519|The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps (The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, #1)|Kai Ashante Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438271049l/25819519._SY75_.jpg|45487118] | [my DNF review]
2. [b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431438555l/25526296._SX50_.jpg|45313140] | [my review]
3. [b:Sisters of the Vast Black|44581558|Sisters of the Vast Black|Lina Rather|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558536373l/44581558._SY75_.jpg|69197753] | [my review]
4. [b:The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps|25819519|The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps (The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, #1)|Kai Ashante Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438271049l/25819519._SY75_.jpg|45487118] | [my DNF review]
I started keeping a diary around 2nd grade, a catchall Writer’s Notebook in 3rd, a (preprinted) planner in 5th, and a BuJo in 11th. I don’t remember how I came across the system — probably studyblr, the Tumblr community dedicated to tips & aesthetics related to studying — but I’m now on my third BuJo and still loving this system. It’s my daily planner and brain dump space and creative outlet.
The big names in the BuJo community (some of whom are referenced and their spreads showcased in this book!) are great about referring people back to Ryder Carroll’s original system and website, so I had a rough idea of how the original system was designed. But there’s so much more to it than I realized, and this book does a great job explaining the why as much as the how, with thoughtful asides on mindfulness, deliberation, and prioritization.
This book is definitely a terrific starting point for beginners — who are, based on both social media and IRL comments, intimidated by all the artsy spreads on the Internet, never realizing that while the aesthetic has its merits, it was never the point — as well as a great reference for experienced BuJo users who want a refresher or a return to the basics.
[2020 ADDENDUM]
Still a great resource, though much heavier on the mindfulness and intentionality than the how-to. (Not inherently bad, but certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea.) A lot of anecdotes and commonly-cited studies, which can get a bit tedious to read through if your focus is on mechanics rather than philosophies of the BuJo system.
The big names in the BuJo community (some of whom are referenced and their spreads showcased in this book!) are great about referring people back to Ryder Carroll’s original system and website, so I had a rough idea of how the original system was designed. But there’s so much more to it than I realized, and this book does a great job explaining the why as much as the how, with thoughtful asides on mindfulness, deliberation, and prioritization.
This book is definitely a terrific starting point for beginners — who are, based on both social media and IRL comments, intimidated by all the artsy spreads on the Internet, never realizing that while the aesthetic has its merits, it was never the point — as well as a great reference for experienced BuJo users who want a refresher or a return to the basics.
[2020 ADDENDUM]
Still a great resource, though much heavier on the mindfulness and intentionality than the how-to. (Not inherently bad, but certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea.) A lot of anecdotes and commonly-cited studies, which can get a bit tedious to read through if your focus is on mechanics rather than philosophies of the BuJo system.
I'm very much a skeptic when it comes to pop science, but Breus was one of the guest speakers for the 2020 AT&T Summer Externship and I was pleasantly surprised to find his presentation quite engaging. Besides, even if these tips are wholly ineffective, there's no lasting harm in trying.
RTC.
RTC.
I picked this up for a quick, light, fun read — and that’s exactly what I got, with bonus lovely illustrations.
3.5 stars
Part of the problem is that I listened to the audiobook, which (through no fault of the author) often distances me from the narrative. I’ve read that audiobooks and print books activate the same parts of your brain, but for me the two are very different reading experiences.
Recommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious.
Part of the problem is that I listened to the audiobook, which (through no fault of the author) often distances me from the narrative. I’ve read that audiobooks and print books activate the same parts of your brain, but for me the two are very different reading experiences.
Recommended by Kal @ Reader Voracious.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway and received a galley from St. Martin's Press for review. This does not affect my rating or opinions.
I was so excited to get this ARC in the mail, because the story intrigued me since it's quite different from what I usually read, I've been meaning to pick up more translated works, and just look at that gorgeous cover. Really I had no idea what to expect from this book; I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped to.
My Chinese definitely isn't good enough to read the original, but I feel like there was a significant amount lost in translation. To be clear, I have the utmost respect for the art of translation and imagine that translating this book in particular was a challenge, considering the differences ranging from syntax to culture that had to be accounted for. That said, I'm puzzled by some of the translatorial choices made here, including translating and "flipping" some names and not others (ex: Guo Jing and Skyfury Guo, who are son and father and therefore share the last name "Guo"), the specific syntax of the poetry, and a few more little things that added up over the course of 400+ pages.
I also found the narrative structure slightly monotonous, a predictable cycle of battles (both of martial arts and, to some extent, of strategy) and training and travel. And this might just be a question of preference; I personally am not all that interested in fighting-focused anime (such as Dragon Ball and all its iterations) and martial arts movies, nor do I tend to favor books that emphasize action above all else. But I know plenty of people who like fighting anime and action-packed books, so I can see the objective appeal of this narrative.
This book took me quite a while to get through — partly because it was just long, but also partly because of the aspects I've mentioned above. As someone who typically gets through books fairly quickly, I was a little put off. But as I started to pick up on the nuances of the characters and the subtleties of the worldbuilding I found myself more and more engaged in the story and invested in the characters, so I don't regret the time I spent finishing this book. (I may even continue the series, we'll see.)
I was so excited to get this ARC in the mail, because the story intrigued me since it's quite different from what I usually read, I've been meaning to pick up more translated works, and just look at that gorgeous cover. Really I had no idea what to expect from this book; I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped to.
My Chinese definitely isn't good enough to read the original, but I feel like there was a significant amount lost in translation. To be clear, I have the utmost respect for the art of translation and imagine that translating this book in particular was a challenge, considering the differences ranging from syntax to culture that had to be accounted for. That said, I'm puzzled by some of the translatorial choices made here, including translating and "flipping" some names and not others (ex: Guo Jing and Skyfury Guo, who are son and father and therefore share the last name "Guo"), the specific syntax of the poetry, and a few more little things that added up over the course of 400+ pages.
I also found the narrative structure slightly monotonous, a predictable cycle of battles (both of martial arts and, to some extent, of strategy) and training and travel. And this might just be a question of preference; I personally am not all that interested in fighting-focused anime (such as Dragon Ball and all its iterations) and martial arts movies, nor do I tend to favor books that emphasize action above all else. But I know plenty of people who like fighting anime and action-packed books, so I can see the objective appeal of this narrative.
This book took me quite a while to get through — partly because it was just long, but also partly because of the aspects I've mentioned above. As someone who typically gets through books fairly quickly, I was a little put off. But as I started to pick up on the nuances of the characters and the subtleties of the worldbuilding I found myself more and more engaged in the story and invested in the characters, so I don't regret the time I spent finishing this book. (I may even continue the series, we'll see.)