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rickjones's Reviews (1.66k)
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brutally and beautifully told, The Prophets portrays how love and identity endure and transcend even the most desecrated of places. While Isaiah and Samuel are the worthy leading couple of The Prophets, the novel heavily focuses on the unwanted strength the Black women of the story have been shouldered with, and how they uplift themselves and their families for generations. Each of Jones' characters are fully realized, complex people. He does not shy away from exploring their deepest angers and darkest secrets, pushing us to understand their actions even if we do not, or should not, forgive them. He writes with a style is so lyrical it's almost poetic, and instills wisdom and truth on every page. Throughout the book, Jones unflinchingly depicts the horror of slavery without reveling in it. He tells traumatic scenarios from multiple perspectives and many understandings, shadowing survivors in hope and their perpetrators with terror. This book is sure to become a modern classic, and I'd highly recommend it to others. However, please note the content warnings below.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Transphobia, Medical trauma, Lesbophobia, Alcohol
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Metamorphica weaves a gorgeous tapestry of Ovid's well-known tragic subjects, all while creatively and cleverly reimagining their stories. Mason's words are light and atmospheric, poetically depicting the beauty and the horror of these ancient myths. His style is consistent but his voice is not overbearing, as he allows each character to tell their own tale through first person perspective. The length and tone of each story varied, but I was immersed by them all, and look forward to reading more of Mason's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Incest, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I started this book because I was intrigued by its unique premise, I finished it overjoyed by its straightforward and effective approach to telling a story about attempted suicide. There are so many messages in this book that are essential for understanding the mindset behind suicidal impulses and how to recover from them. Too many messages to transcribe here, with all of them echoing truths I've found in my own life as a survivor of attempted suicide. I highly recommend that others read this book and to keep their mind open to how it describes the importance of tweaking your perspective in order to vastly alter your world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Vomit, Medical content, Stalking
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've had high hopes for Test since its announcement, but after reading I feel sorely disappointed. Firstly though, I should mention what worked for the book, which is the art. Hickman's drawings and Saxon's colors were the most effective storytellers throughout the narrative. Symbols, expressions, locations and colors portrayed Aleph's experiences and emotional state most distinctly, and clarified what was happening when the text had me feeling lost.
The words were what frustrated me reading this story. As the pages progressed I only got more irritated with Aleph's endless, directionless inner monologue. By the end I felt as if I had just read the same words repeated by Aleph with different synonyms throughout most of the story, leading to an ending that made little sense and answered none the questions I had at the start. The premise of this comic was interesting, and Aleph was a promising character, but the execution of their story left much to be desired and was too over-complicated for me to enjoy reading it.
The words were what frustrated me reading this story. As the pages progressed I only got more irritated with Aleph's endless, directionless inner monologue. By the end I felt as if I had just read the same words repeated by Aleph with different synonyms throughout most of the story, leading to an ending that made little sense and answered none the questions I had at the start. The premise of this comic was interesting, and Aleph was a promising character, but the execution of their story left much to be desired and was too over-complicated for me to enjoy reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Drug abuse, Car accident, Death of parent
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There There is unlike any book I've read before. Within it, Orange weaves together the lives of twelve Native characters from Oakland, setting up a searing finale we are left to dread from the first chapter. The novel is preluded by a nonfiction essay telling the true history and horror of colonization in the past, and followed by an interlude describing the modern weight of colonization, and the significance of powwows as a place of togetherness for Native people of all tribes. I've never seen a book set up this way before and think it was a wise choice, as the essays provided information I had not previously known, but was essential to understanding the world There There aimed to reflect.
Orange's skill and detail creating each of his characters is impressive to say the least. He writes from multiple perspectives and points in time, giving each person their own distinct voice and tone when telling their stories. The problems these characters are living through are interconnected but diverse, even among family members. Yet Orange never fails to get within the minds of these very different people, pressing the reader to understand them all, even those who we know will threaten the safety of the Powwow. He pulls no punches when describing tragedy, illness and grief, but still provides his characters with opportunity for hope and peace whenever possible. This is one of the most effectively written books I've ever read and I highly recommend it, but please note the content warnings below. Alcoholism especially was described with heavy detail, so if that's something you're susceptible to you may want to read with caution.
Orange's skill and detail creating each of his characters is impressive to say the least. He writes from multiple perspectives and points in time, giving each person their own distinct voice and tone when telling their stories. The problems these characters are living through are interconnected but diverse, even among family members. Yet Orange never fails to get within the minds of these very different people, pressing the reader to understand them all, even those who we know will threaten the safety of the Powwow. He pulls no punches when describing tragedy, illness and grief, but still provides his characters with opportunity for hope and peace whenever possible. This is one of the most effectively written books I've ever read and I highly recommend it, but please note the content warnings below. Alcoholism especially was described with heavy detail, so if that's something you're susceptible to you may want to read with caution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While I'm certain there are intellectual components to this novel that I missed, I really enjoyed reading it. The plot was weird, mysterious and varied enough to consistently hold my attention even though I never fully understood what was going on, which normally makes me feel agitated. The characters aren't the most compelling, but the worlds they inhabit are wholly original yet strangely nostalgic and lead the book along. Their experiences and thought processes within these worlds allow for musings on consciousness, fulfillment, and the weight of our minds, expanding into a odd story that relates to us all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent
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dark
funny
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mockingbird is not a recent book, but is still a relevant one which highlights the importance of working to understand one another. I was pleasantly surprised by how well Caitlin is characterized throughout it. She is a smart, talented and stubborn young girl who is determined to find closure for herself and her loved ones after her brother is killed in a school shooting. While her emotions and behaviors often seem bizarre to her guardians and peers, she always has a rational thinking process behind them. I appreciated that Caitlin's father and counselor realize that while attempting to teach Caitlin social skills they must also learn from her perspective. Empathy between autistic and allistic people goes both ways, which this story repeatedly depicts.
The writing is strongest while describing Caitlin's thought process and how she views the world. I felt that many of the transitions between chapters and the finale of the book were somewhat abrupt. However, this book is written to hold the attention of readers much younger than myself and to feel cathartic for them. I would still recommend it for middle grade and adult readers alike. Erskine effectively and sensitively tells a tragic story glimmering with hope through the eyes of a eleven-year-old, which is no small accomplishment.
The writing is strongest while describing Caitlin's thought process and how she views the world. I felt that many of the transitions between chapters and the finale of the book were somewhat abrupt. However, this book is written to hold the attention of readers much younger than myself and to feel cathartic for them. I would still recommend it for middle grade and adult readers alike. Erskine effectively and sensitively tells a tragic story glimmering with hope through the eyes of a eleven-year-old, which is no small accomplishment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Bullying, Death, Gun violence
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail