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semi's reviews
62 reviews
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Inmate by Freida McFadden
and if i knocked on brooke’s (the mc) skull, there would be an echo. not a single thought in that head of hers and not a single sense of self preservation.what makes it worse is that she would literally put her child in harms way for no good reason. like she’s under the impression that her ex killed her years ago and upon their first reunion she’s so willing to push it to the side because she finds him hot…i beg please stand up. and to just let him walk away with your son in the woods unsupervised?? she needs to get her act tgt. and despite literally every single person in her life (especially people she’s known right out the womb) telling her that her ex is an odd character whose done bad stuff, she is still surprised that he’s an odd character whose done bad stuff…
i also found the romance between both the guys to be so heavy-handed and the dialogue to be so forced. they all had the chemistry of wet fish on cardboard.
then all the major plot points were a bit too convenient that it took me out the story. like i understand we got a plot to keep, but the hoops and bounds the author went through to make unconvincing plot twists was so…
but since i want to end this on a positive note—josh. the only character that kept me sane.but then the epilogue happened, which can be a hit or miss for ya. personally i found it fun if i didn’t think too hard about it
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
if i EVER have to read the words “i lope you” again…im gonna give the author a reason to incarcerate me. this book was so absurd in the worst ways possible to the point that it was giving lifetime movie production.
and if i knocked on brooke’s (the mc) skull, there would be an echo. not a single thought in that head of hers and not a single sense of self preservation.
i also found the romance between both the guys to be so heavy-handed and the dialogue to be so forced. they all had the chemistry of wet fish on cardboard.
then all the major plot points were a bit too convenient that it took me out the story. like i understand we got a plot to keep, but the hoops and bounds the author went through to make unconvincing plot twists was so…
but since i want to end this on a positive note—josh. the only character that kept me sane.
The Ghosts of Thorwald Place by Helen Power
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I actually found this to be a unique take on a ghost story (but keep in mind i don’t typically read books with ghost elements) and it initially reminded me of season 1 of american horror story.
this is definitely feels like a slower paced mystery because the main mystery takes a backseat as you beginner progressing through the different storylines of the side characters. i will say, i didn’t love the mc and since everything is narrated through her, sometimes id be frustrated with her commentary—but what can ya do? overall a chill, haunting read
this is definitely feels like a slower paced mystery because the main mystery takes a backseat as you beginner progressing through the different storylines of the side characters. i will say, i didn’t love the mc and since everything is narrated through her, sometimes id be frustrated with her commentary—but what can ya do? overall a chill, haunting read
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Even if you don’t like purple, flowery prose, you should still give this a try (after checking trigger warnings ofc). The purple prose really works for this historical, gothic atmosphere. This book is unapologetically intimate and, imo, makes it pretty obv that this is a depiction of a toxic relationship with some complexity between power dynamics in their relationship.
I also loved the detail of Constanta never writing his name—“You did not let me keep my name, so I will strip you of yours.”
my biggest gripe was that the climax was anticlimactic. i think i was expecting something more raw and emotional, but it kinda felt meh.
I also loved the detail of Constanta never writing his name—“You did not let me keep my name, so I will strip you of yours.”
my biggest gripe was that the climax was anticlimactic. i think i was expecting something more raw and emotional, but it kinda felt meh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Death
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
this was an unsettling body horror that attempts to comment on patriarchal influence on capitalism and ironies of the self care industry. i feel like this book had a strong mix of things i like and don’t like:
firstly check the content warnings. there’s a lot going on, and it gets way worse before it gets better.
this is personal but i actually enjoy borderline purple prose. if that’s not your thing then this may not be for you. this book manages to ramble on about minute details (which i liked tbh) while also being heavy handed with its messages. especially at the end, subtlety goes out the door.
the pacing was also off imo. it starts good then gets a little slow in the middle and rushes through so much content in the last 20%. i didn’t mind the ending, but i wished it was more stretched out then just trying to quickly wrap it up with explicit takeaways from the author.
i loved the concept of this book, but it definitely feels more like a conversation starter on these interesting topics rather than a full commentary, deep-dive.
firstly check the content warnings. there’s a lot going on, and it gets way worse before it gets better.
this is personal but i actually enjoy borderline purple prose. if that’s not your thing then this may not be for you. this book manages to ramble on about minute details (which i liked tbh) while also being heavy handed with its messages. especially at the end, subtlety goes out the door.
the pacing was also off imo. it starts good then gets a little slow in the middle and rushes through so much content in the last 20%. i didn’t mind the ending, but i wished it was more stretched out then just trying to quickly wrap it up with explicit takeaways from the author.
i loved the concept of this book, but it definitely feels more like a conversation starter on these interesting topics rather than a full commentary, deep-dive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Classism
Minor: Infertility, Cannibalism, and Car accident
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tiffany jackson you have done it again…
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this is not a quick, cute read like at all. please read the trigger warnings before picking this up.
this was a painful kaleidoscope of self-loathing, complicated sister dynamics, eating disorders, being Korean-American, immigrant parents, grief, family bonds, and coming to terms with oneself. the characters are not likable, but that didn’t ruin my reading experience tbh but i can see why it would deter people away from the book. you also gotta stick with the details. what may feel like random side comments connect at the end to create a more hopeful, tender conclusion to this novel.
this was a painful kaleidoscope of self-loathing, complicated sister dynamics, eating disorders, being Korean-American, immigrant parents, grief, family bonds, and coming to terms with oneself. the characters are not likable, but that didn’t ruin my reading experience tbh but i can see why it would deter people away from the book. you also gotta stick with the details. what may feel like random side comments connect at the end to create a more hopeful, tender conclusion to this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Infertility, Racism, and Abandonment
Minor: Body shaming
Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
lighthearted
reflective
2.0
tldr: yap central
if stream on consciousness writing is not your problem thing, skip out on this one. if you think this book is going to be a who-done-it mystery, it’s not. it’s just philosophical rambling. even you like philosophical-stream of consciousness writing, personally, it rarely felt effective or helped progress the story. it felt like missed potential in the way he tackled death, meta philosophy, and the love for literature.
if stream on consciousness writing is not your problem thing, skip out on this one. if you think this book is going to be a who-done-it mystery, it’s not. it’s just philosophical rambling. even you like philosophical-stream of consciousness writing, personally, it rarely felt effective or helped progress the story. it felt like missed potential in the way he tackled death, meta philosophy, and the love for literature.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
you gotta trust the process with this one and allow yourself to be confused in the beginning. it was a fun atmospheric read and i enjoyed the slow world building as piranesi was discovering his identity and crack an unraveling mystery
Tomie by Junji Ito
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
⚠️this is all pretty much spoilers so read with caution⚠️
my main critique of this book was that it often felt repetitive with barley anything to add onto what has already been established in the first 100 pages. but if you like this kind of continuous short story style then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
my main critique of this book was that it often felt repetitive with barley anything to add onto what has already been established in the first 100 pages. but if you like this kind of continuous short story style then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
my interpretation of tomie was the depiction of femicide, especially, male violence towards women, misogyny, and commentary on the patriarchy. through their obsession men will find any reason to take out their anger on women (she’s too beautiful, i want her to myself, i can’t have her, etc). and it’s really upsetting because tomie #0 was just a kid who wanted to be loved, but became a horrific victim to that by the hands of a man instead. and no one stood up for her.through her regenerations, she’ll continue to perpetuate the same manipulative, abusive cycle.
and honestly, i found it refreshing that she was selfish, toxic, unapologetic, and verbally aggressive. i feel like some media try to portray the “perfect victim” where they’re timid, quiet, ashamed of themselves, and always wallow in their own misery. but no matter what they do, they’re gonna get blamed regardless. it’s inevitable. but no matter how many times she’s killed off, she survives. because there will always be victims, yet society is set on silencing them—in this case tomie. she was let down by a teacher, someone meant to guide and protect her. and note how diverse her killers are, confirming that anyone has the ability to be her next abuser.
also i find the ending a bit bittersweet. think about how some men will only reduce women down to their body as a tool for gratification rather than as a living being. in the last chapter she essentially fades into nothing, freeing her of the shackle of her body and men’s entitlement towards it.