cheuksin's reviews
99 reviews

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

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challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-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

1.0

80% exposition 10% plot 10% author with mummy issues and bizarre, morally devoid sexual fantasies
a world where
  • monogamy is frowned upon,
  • masterbation is everyday, 
Rumbling and hissing, eighty vibro-vacuum massage machines were simultaneously kneading and sucking the firm and sunburnt flesh of eighty superb female specimens. 
  • children play sex games, 
  • Everyone is addicted to emotion altering hallucinogens
  • Child abuse is normal
  • The is biological superiority compare to others
  • Beating women is funny
  • all women carry contraceptives everywhere,  seemingly with no expectation of men to do the same.

Very little actually happens in this book. If you like 1984 by George Orwell you might like this, but probably not because 1984 actually has a plot.
Chrysalis by Brendan Reichs

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

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dark emotional tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Feels Shakespearen.
Even  before he starts dying Ivan suffers from his own success. And his family suffers with him.
Ivan Ilych is very similar to levin Constantine demitrich in Anna Karenina.

In reality it was just what is usually seen in the houses of people of moderate means who want to appear rich, and therefore succeed only in resembling others like themselves: there are damasks, dark wood, plants, rugs, and dull and polished bronzes—all the things people of a certain class have in order to resemble other people of that class.


I read Anna Karenina and loved it but perhaps that was because it was so long that I had to become invested in the characters
It’s like Macbeth but with the feeling of immortality. Ngl I wouldn’t recommend this book

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How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie

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dark emotional funny tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The title is not at all misleading
It’s like a portrait of Dorian Grey but darker. Certainly a page turner nearer the end
People so often just want you to hold up a mirror for their own opinions.
I love Grace, I love her wit, I love how well read she is, I love her humour, her misandry is relatable, her disdain toward the elite masterful. However she is somewhat of a dislikable MC with no friends, critiquing others privilege with out recognising any of her own.  cognitive dissonance of white women.
Men often do that, spreading out their legs on the Tube as though they have an innate need to fill any space that isn’t filled
Chapter 16 was my favourite chapter, with Chapter 12 close second.
The ending
I find it so masterfully ironic that despite her rightfully criticising the patriarchy, a man her brother gets the final hurrah. He gets the final kill, he gets the inheritance, he gets the happy family. 


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10 Questions everyone should ask the pharmacist by V.A Boma

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informative

4.75

Many people aren’t very informed about the drugs that they’re prescribed and don’t know what questions to ask. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever been prescribed anything 

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Status Syndrome by Michael G. Marmot

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informative reflective medium-paced

2.25

Definitely now it’s kinda outdated, and I would recommend reading the Health Gap instead 
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

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funny lighthearted relaxing 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

Far from spicy. 2 sex scenes total, nothing to call home about. 
Rosie disappears for most of the book, and her only purpose seems to be as the main character of the sequel. 
Charo and Isabel were funny tho
Very fast paced 
<spoiler > cancer in the last 20 pages, really? </spoiler >

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What If It's Us by Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli

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lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75

The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus

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emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

I read this book because I wanted to read more queer books by black authors. 
If you like magical realism, astrology and spirituality this might be the book for you. However I personally don’t like those things.
the blurb made me think it was going to be revealed that she was pregnant, the cancer surprised me. I’m glad Mabel didn’t make some miraculous recovery as a result of Audre’s ‘healer’ ability or stones or green juice.

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