skudiklier's Reviews (647)

Time Is a Mother

5.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

God this was incredible. Ocean Vuong is such an amazing poet and I'm so glad I get to read his work. I don't even know where to start--this collection is just so so good. I wrote down so many lines and notes. I read a library copy but I absolutely want to own this book so I can read it again any time.

Content Warnings

Go, Went, Gone

Jenny Erpenbeck

4.75

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was really moving, and one of those stories that's both depressing and infuriating while also in some ways heartwarming and hopeful. It's told in a very unique style, and the writing is beautiful. It's especially interesting to me that it's translated from German to English, given how much language is centered in it. I would definitely recommend this book.

Content Warnings

You Were Made to Be Mine

Julie Anne Long

4.75

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I haven't read the others in this series, but I have read many of Julie Anne Long's other books--specifically, her Pennyroyal Green series. This book absolutely works as a standalone, but given the context of her other books, I'm sure it references many of the earlier ones in the series, and I'm definitely intrigued enough that I'll be reading the first few to catch up.

This is also my first time reading one of her books in print, because all the others were audiobooks. I enjoyed it just as much, which was honestly a bit of a surprise to me.

My only critiques of this book would be things that are forgivable and an understandable part of a lot of romances; it's basically

love at first sight

, and some of the explanations of the characterizations were a bit on-the-nose. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book, as I do all of Long's period romances. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes the genre.

I also think she handled the sexual assault plot line well, and that it hopefully shouldn't be too triggering to anyone who's worried about it. It mostly deals with the aftermath of it, without having a very graphic scene.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Content Warnings

Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice

Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

4.75

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

I read the first half of this book really slowly--like, over the course of several months. The second half moved much more quickly for me, and I found it more engaging. But really overall I think this book is amazing and I would definitely recommend it. For people not in radical leftist spaces, the writing might be a bit of an adjustment, but I think this is a useful and important read for anyone, regardless of their background or relationship to disability. I'm glad I read it, and thankful for Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha's work to write it.

Content Warnings

Network Effect

Martha Wells

4.75

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I love this series! This one was interesting, being much longer and having different perspectives shown more. I really liked it.

Content Warnings

Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory

Martha Wells

4.75

medium-paced

Compulsory

Martha Wells

4.75

adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Content Warnings

Exit Strategy

Martha Wells

5.0

adventurous funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Content Warnings

Rogue Protocol

Martha Wells

4.75

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Loveable characters: Yes

This one was also very good but :(((

Content Warnings

Artificial Condition

Martha Wells

4.75

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I'm so into this series! I'm so glad my library has five of the audiobooks available because I'm sure I'm just gonna listen to these as quickly as I can. I really liked the new characters in this one and am interested to find out what happens next. Murderbot is very relatable as always.

Content Warnings

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