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crusoe's reviews
178 reviews
The Umbrella Academy, Vol. 1: Apocalypse Suite by Gerard Way
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I had a good time reading this, first and foremost. The action was great, there's some gorgeous panels in here and the plot is wacky but fun. However, at least compared to the first seasons of the Netflix show, I find the characters quite unlikeable. This gives the comic an even darker tone than the series but it's just not as fun in my opinion.
Buskruit en kaneel by Dirk-Jan Arensman, Eli Brown
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
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
Buskruit en Kaneel is een aanrader voor ieder die houdt van een avontuurlijke piratenroman vol sluwe vijanden, kleurrijke karakters, listige plotten en kanonskogels.
Wedgewood's vertrouwen in zijn eigen gelijk en vooroodelen zelfs als de wereld niet zo zwart wit blijkt te zijn is uiterst frusterend aan het begin, net als Mabbot's geduld met hem. Maar zonder diepe dalen geen hoge pieken en zijn persoonlijke groei door het boek heen is fantastisch.
Wedgewood's vertrouwen in zijn eigen gelijk en vooroodelen zelfs als de wereld niet zo zwart wit blijkt te zijn is uiterst frusterend aan het begin, net als Mabbot's geduld met hem. Maar zonder diepe dalen geen hoge pieken en zijn persoonlijke groei door het boek heen is fantastisch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
1984 by George Orwell
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
1984 is not a fun book to read but it's an absolutely vital one to read that sets out what it would be like to live in a fascist society where everything -even thought- is controlled. Although it takes this concept to an extreme, it is certainly rooted in reality and in theory.
Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Leah on the offbeat isn't as well-written as Simon versus the homosapiens agenda. While Leah is realistically written, she isn't
as fun to read about because of how negative her worldview is. There could've been more depth to her internal conflicts as her change in the very last chapter feels unearned. It was an okay read and it was fun to revisit these characters.
as fun to read about because of how negative her worldview is. There could've been more depth to her internal conflicts as her change in the very last chapter feels unearned. It was an okay read and it was fun to revisit these characters.
Uprooted by Naomi Novik
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
Uprooted is fascinating for its eastern European influences and its world building was very vibrant in my opinion. I liked the main character well enough even though some of the supposedly most difficult magic came a tad too easily to her. It didn't feel earned at times but her stumbling through her mistakes partially made up for this. I did find the book slow at times and I had a hard time getting through it initially.
Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adore this story and I think I'll like the movie even more when I get to watching it. This is mostly because it suits everything (almost everything) I search for in a story more so than because it's without flaws.
You'll like this story if you like: short stories that do a phenomenal job at providing a character driven narrative with unique, well-rounded characters; breaking the mold in a strict academic setting; whimsical rolemodels; queer themes (it does not have explicitly queer characters though); an ending that fits thematically and will rip your heart out.
Unfortunately, the story does include some derogatory stuff towards native Americans. Women are also objectified (because apparently the theme of self-determination only extends to one of the sexes)... Don't pick up this book if this affects your reading experience.
You'll like this story if you like: short stories that do a phenomenal job at providing a character driven narrative with unique, well-rounded characters; breaking the mold in a strict academic setting; whimsical rolemodels; queer themes (it does not have explicitly queer characters though); an ending that fits thematically and will rip your heart out.
Unfortunately, the story does include some derogatory stuff towards native Americans. Women are also objectified (because apparently the theme of self-determination only extends to one of the sexes)... Don't pick up this book if this affects your reading experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Tsunami Girl by Julian Sedgwick, Chie Kusuwada
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tsunami girl is genuinely a really great book. In the beginning, the writing feels simple and its interjection with the Manga panels janky. However, once you get used to this it serves the story well.
Yuki's relationship with her grandpa is beautiful and her coming to terms with her trauma through her journey with taka is emotional but well-earned.
One thing I enjoyed is the way myth and folklore was used as a way to explain Yuki's and Taka's experience; it placed their trauma in a greater whole but there still remained a hesitance as to if what they experienced was real.
Yuki's relationship with her grandpa is beautiful and her coming to terms with her trauma through her journey with taka is emotional but well-earned.
One thing I enjoyed is the way myth and folklore was used as a way to explain Yuki's and Taka's experience; it placed their trauma in a greater whole but there still remained a hesitance as to if what they experienced was real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Racism, Car accident, and Alcohol
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Before listening to this story I only knew that the protagonist turns into some sort of bug. After listening, I now understand why it's a classic. In my view, this is a story about living with a chronic and debilitating disability. It is both incredibly haunting and poignant, and deserves to be reread nowadays.
The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you like the perks of being a Wallflower, you'll like this book. It follows a man dealing with the death of his younger brother and how his mental health deteriorates over time, leading to increasingly unhinged behaviour.
I think Filer does a very good job presenting the passage of time using different fonts to signify changes in location and medium. Because it is written from the perspective of the person going through it, I think the mental illnesses are portrayed in a very good way; how they are not 'solvable' but are able to be managed, how they blend with someone's personality because they are a part of him. It's very good.
I think Filer does a very good job presenting the passage of time using different fonts to signify changes in location and medium. Because it is written from the perspective of the person going through it, I think the mental illnesses are portrayed in a very good way; how they are not 'solvable' but are able to be managed, how they blend with someone's personality because they are a part of him. It's very good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm
A House Divided by Sulari Gentill
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Strangely enough, despite this being marketed as a murder mystery, the murder only serves as a driver for Rowland to investigate the new guardsmen. But, the focus of the story is much more on the colourful cast of characters and how their political alignment mirrors the wider political developments which is far more interesting.
I loved the dynamic and banter of Rowly's ragtag group of friends (Edna, Milton and Clyde) which genuinely had me laughing. Same for his relationship with his brother. I would read this story for the fascinating setting and the delightful characters, not the mystery.
Also, the original title 'a few right-thinking men' is much better than 'a house divided'.
I loved the dynamic and banter of Rowly's ragtag group of friends (Edna, Milton and Clyde) which genuinely had me laughing. Same for his relationship with his brother. I would read this story for the fascinating setting and the delightful characters, not the mystery.
Also, the original title 'a few right-thinking men' is much better than 'a house divided'.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War