The descriptions didn't endear this to me. I do not like Sex and the City. I do not, despite being into lots of geeky things, like geek fiction. But tThe descriptions didn't endear this to me. I do not like Sex and the City. I do not, despite being into lots of geeky things, like geek fiction. But this? Is adorable. I loved all of the characters and wish they were real so we could hang out.Sometimes it feels a little issues-y, like the authors had to cram in every hot-button topic currently on Twitter, but to be honest I like a bit of that in my fiction, as that is what I discuss with my friends, so it made the characters seem more real. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series.
Merged review:
The descriptions didn't endear this to me. I do not like Sex and the City. I do not, despite being into lots of geeky things, like geek fiction. But this? Is adorable. I loved all of the characters and wish they were real so we could hang out.Sometimes it feels a little issues-y, like the authors had to cram in every hot-button topic currently on Twitter, but to be honest I like a bit of that in my fiction, as that is what I discuss with my friends, so it made the characters seem more real. I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series....more
The writing is quite dry and not particularly enjoyable to read, but this is still a vital book and should be taught in schools. A lot of the earlier The writing is quite dry and not particularly enjoyable to read, but this is still a vital book and should be taught in schools. A lot of the earlier chapters on incels and MRAs covered details I'm already familiar with (having seen/read analysis of that grim side-alley of the internet several times), but as the book progressed and got steadily darker, horrible new worlds opened up. It's the sort of book that should be read slowly, over a long period of time, rather than all at once, in case the reader gives up on all men entirely. It's very well researched and important, and if you can get past the dry and slightly awkward style it's a valuable read. ...more
"The mushrooms glowed brighter, and she thought perhaps later she might touch them, running her hands against the wall and settling her face against t"The mushrooms glowed brighter, and she thought perhaps later she might touch them, running her hands against the wall and settling her face against the softness of their flesh. It would be good to rest there, skin pressed tight against their slick bodies, and maybe they'd cover her, the lovely fungi, and cram into her mouth, into her nostrils and eye sockets until she could not breathe and they nestled in her belly and bloomed along her thighs."
This book is MOOD. It's atmosphere, texture, colour, smell. It's so vivid I feel like I lived in it. The title is so perfect – I didn't realise until I read this how ideal Mexico is for a gothic story. It's more than just seeing the usual gothic tropes overlaid on a non-European setting; Mexico's history and culture are vital to the narrative. Also I love that the evil at the heart of the story is patriarchy. I did find the characters a little flimsy, the story slow-paced and the prose a bit too plain for my taste, but there's enough atmosphere here to make up for it.
I'd be very surprised if this wasn't already being developed as a film – Guillermo del Toro being the obvious choice, though Darren Aronofsky would also be interesting. Or the people behind The Haunting of Hill House. Anyway, I hope it is a film because I want to watch it. This is the most atmospheric books I've read in months....more
I read this novel several years ago and I’ve also seen the TV adaptation, so I wanted to revisit the story. This graphic novel adaptation is a must-haI read this novel several years ago and I’ve also seen the TV adaptation, so I wanted to revisit the story. This graphic novel adaptation is a must-have: the artwork is beautiful and Atwood’s words are perfectly chosen. I was struck wordless several times while reading....more
Teenage girls who become violent, uncontrollable big cats when their periods come? YES PLEASE. I love this comic book series and can’t wait for the neTeenage girls who become violent, uncontrollable big cats when their periods come? YES PLEASE. I love this comic book series and can’t wait for the next one....more
Damn, I really thought I was going to love this. But I’m now halfway through and just can’t bear another 150 pages of it, so it’s a DNF. I thought it Damn, I really thought I was going to love this. But I’m now halfway through and just can’t bear another 150 pages of it, so it’s a DNF. I thought it was going to be along the lines of Maria Stoian’s ‘Take it as a Compliment’, which I loved. But it’s largely about the protagonist going about her dull morning routine while thinking about the various unpleasant heterosexual men she’s known. Which is... fine I guess? But not something I’m that into.
Basically the point of the book is that (heterosexual) women can choose to be desirable and visible, or undesirable and invisible. Which, again... fine I guess? But the missing phrase here is “TO HETEROSEXUAL MEN”. Desirable TO HETEROSEXUAL MEN or invisible TO HETEROSEXUAL MEN. There are examples in the book where the protagonist talks to or interacts with women but I guess they don’t count? Or the women only talk to her because they desire her? It’s unclear.
There’s also a fair amount of fatphobia, which wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if it was being engaged with and critiqued. But instead the protagonist mentions the worry about overeating because then she will “risk fatness and undesirability”, as if they’re the same thing. And yeah, if you’re going to unpack it and analyse it, fine. But it doesn’t feel right to just say fatphobic shit and then never examine it.
Generally the protagonist is difficult to spend time with because she comes across as very judgemental and pretentious, which again is fine if you’re going to examine that. Occasionally there’s a page like when she fucks over her good friend for a men under a massive picture that says FEMINIST - pages like that suggest some self-reflection or self-critique. But every other time, the judgement and snobbery goes unexamined.
I really wanted to like this, and I think it could have been a very good book with a little more thought and analysis. As it is, I’m going to re-read Take it as a Compliment instead. ...more
**spoiler alert** I love the idea of Westworld meets Disneyland (with a bit of sex robots mixed in), and this was a smart and interesting read. It doe**spoiler alert** I love the idea of Westworld meets Disneyland (with a bit of sex robots mixed in), and this was a smart and interesting read. It does end up falling into some YA cliches towards the end (a cute boy! let's overthrow the system together!), but there's still a lot of good stuff here....more
I loved this – one of the best 33 1/3 books I've read. It functions partly as a rebuttal of the 33 1/3 book on Celine Dion, which I enjoyed but also aI loved this – one of the best 33 1/3 books I've read. It functions partly as a rebuttal of the 33 1/3 book on Celine Dion, which I enjoyed but also acknowledge is a fine example of Straight White Male Bullshit. Read that one, then read this one.
I like many of Tori Amos's songs, though not this album particularly, and I wouldn't call myself a 'fan.' But even if you're not a fan of Tori Amos's music or public persona (even if you've never listened to her), there's a lot to take from this about women in the music industry, mental health, how we discuss fame and famous people, and who gets (and doesn't get) critical attention and acclaim – and why....more
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