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issyd23's reviews
141 reviews
3.0
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
3.0
I can see why he was a successful politician; he comes across as charismatic, practical, matter of fact, industrious.
A funny excerpt from the book where heās explaining how anyone can achieve a goal by breaking down and organising every hour in your day:
āBut what about time for rest and relaxation?
*Chuckles*
first of all rest is for babies and relaxation is for retired peopleā¦
ā¦But fine if you want relaxation take half of the remaining time for your little napā
Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
āYou like jazz?ā š
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
4.0
Oh how I love David Sedaris! Specifically waited until I was living in indo so I could get the full foreigner experience of the Normandy essays.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
2.0
Graphic: Bullying and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Although references to Sunda culture are technically correct - it feels forced and unnatural (like someone has visited West Java for a week and then googled a bunch of stuff).
Contrastingly my reading experience (in Aus) of Beauty is a Wound by Eka Kurniawan (set in Indo, same time period but written by an Indo) was much better and immersive!
Also the audiobook narration made 0 sense: why get a British woman who cannot pronounce any of the Indo or Sunda words to narrate this story? (Plus itās an Aussie book!) 0 stars for the audiobook.
I really donāt know who this book is for: as someone who understands the language and culture I found the writing inauthentic, stilted and without soul but those who arenāt familiar with the language/culture will find the writing alienating and difficult to follow as there are countless cultural references and terms.
Maaf Mirandi but it's giving June Hayward from Yellowface š¤·āāļø
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, War, and Classism