thisgayreads's Reviews (566)

3 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI” by David Grann

“𝘞𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸.”

I found this to be a captivating and well-researched account of a series of murders that took place in the Osage Indian tribe in the 1920s. The book combines true crime and history, shedding light on the systematic exploitation and oppression of Native Americans by the US government and powerful oil companies.

Grann masterfully weaves together multiple storylines and characters to paint a vivid picture of the era, including the victims and their families, the investigators trying to solve the crimes, and the corrupt and racist officials involved. The book is both shocking and eye-opening, revealing a dark chapter in American history that is often overlooked.

This was an engaging read that left me with a greater understanding of the injustices faced by Native Americans and the importance of seeking justice for marginalized communities.

I read this one because it was a suggested read in my ALA reading journal.

4 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Far From You" by Tess Sharpe

“I'll choose you. No matter how hard it is. No matter what people say. Every time, I'll choose you. It's up to you to choose me back.”

A gripping and emotional young adult book that deals with love, loss, addiction, and murder. The story follows the life of Sophie, a teenage girl who is struggling with addiction and is haunted by the death of her best friend, Mina. Sophie is determined to find out the truth about Mina's death, which leads her on a dangerous path that puts her own life at risk.

Sharpe's writing captures the complexity of Sophie's emotions and the intense relationships she forms throughout the story. The book deals with sensitive topics such as drug abuse, mental illness, and homophobia, but handles them with care and compassion.

This was my March read for @mrd_reads #MrDReads2023 reading challenge.

5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"In the Dream House" by Carmen Maria Machado 

“We can’t stop living. Which means we have to live, which means we are alive, which means we are humans and we are human.”

This was a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking memoir that explores the author's experience of being in an abusive relationship with another woman. Through a series of short chapters that blend genres, such as memoir, literary criticism, and folklore, Machado examines the complexities of domestic abuse in same-sex relationships.

The book is structured around different types of abuse, such as gaslighting, physical violence, and emotional manipulation, and the author's struggle to come to terms with the reality of what was happening to her. Machado's writing is both poetic and raw, and she does an excellent job of conveying the fear, confusion, and isolation that often accompanies abuse.

Throughout the book, Machado also weaves in discussions of pop culture and literature, using these as a lens through which to examine societal attitudes towards abuse. 

This is a powerful and necessary work that sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of domestic violence.

5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"An American Marriage" by Tayari Jones

“Memory is a queer creature, an eccentric curator.”

This was a thought-provoking and emotionally charged story that explores the complexities of love, loyalty, and injustice in America. The story centers around newlyweds Celestial and Roy, whose lives are upended when Roy is falsely accused of a crime and sentenced to twelve years in prison.

Jones masterfully navigates the perspectives of each character, revealing the ripple effects of Roy's incarceration on not only him and Celestial, but also their families and community. The story delves deep into themes of race, class, and the criminal justice system, forcing you to confront uncomfortable truths about the harsh realities of being Black in America.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Jones infuses moments of humor and tenderness, making the characters and their relationships feel authentic and fully realized.

This was a suggested read in my ALA reading journal and I’m glad I read this one.

5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Something Wild & Wonderful" By Anita Kelly

I loved everything about this book! It was an enchanting story that takes readers on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery, adventure, and love.

The author does an excellent job of immersing readers into the setting and painting a rich and vibrant picture of life on the PTC.

Alexei and Ben’s story is so sweet and I cheered for them the entire book. The ending 🥹

This is a beautifully written and uplifting story that I highly recommend!

The book is out TODAY, grab a copy: https://amzn.to/3L3yyj2

This ARC was provided by @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

2 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Hell Followed With Us" by Andrew Joseph White

Unfortunately I don’t have much to say about this one. I should have DNF’d it…

The amount of religion and bible verses were way to overwhelming that it ruined this one for me. 

For me this book was Hilary Faye and I was Mary… If you know, you know. 

4.5 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"As You Walk On By" by Julian Winters

“Rule number one to accepting any dare: never agree to something you're not 99.5 percent positive you can complete.”

This was a heartwarming young adult novel that explores the complexities of family, friendship, and love.

Winters does an excellent job of weaving together themes of grief, love, and self-discovery in a way that feels both authentic and relatable. The characters are well-developed and nuanced, and the relationships between them feel genuine and complex. Winters also does a great job of exploring the experiences of queer and BIPOC characters, highlighting the intersections of their identities and the unique challenges they face.

3 / 5 ⭐️‘s

"Stinetinglers" by R.L. Stine

This was a collection of 10 short stories. They were pretty good but they were almost too short. They felt like samples of Goosebumps books.

I wanted to read this one because I have the ARC for Stinetinglers 2.

5 / 5 ⭐️‘s 

 

"The Minus-One Club" by Kekla Magoon 

 

I must say that this was an incredibly moving and thought-provoking read. The story follows a group of middle school students, all of whom have lost someone close to them, as they navigate grief and come together to form a club for others in the same situation. 

 

One of the things that struck me most about this book was how authentic and honest the portrayal of grief was. Magoon doesn't shy away from the difficult emotions and moments that come with losing someone, but she also shows the characters finding moments of joy and connection amidst their pain. I found myself really rooting for these kids as they worked through their grief and began to find a sense of community with each other. 

 

Another aspect of the book that I appreciated was the diversity of the characters. They come from different backgrounds and have different experiences with grief. Magoon does a great job of exploring the ways that race and culture can impact how we experience loss and grief, without ever feeling heavy-handed or preachy. 

 

I would highly recommend this one! 

 

This ARC was provided by @Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.