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scruffie's reviews
111 reviews
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Read it as an audiobook, but I think I will re-read it on paper so that I can keep notes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
Babel by R.F. Kuang
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I think this is one my favorite books of all time. Also, I'm in love with Kuang's writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I do think that Vonnegut has some nice ideas in general, but reading a whole "novel" that has no real plot and is just Vonnegut's ramblings on what he thinks of this and that was a bit much. Felt more like a memoir, to be honest, and I realized that I don't really enjoy reading about the world from Vonnegut's point of view.
A lot of misogynistic comments, all over the place, and a touch of transphobia and ableism in several places. All this, combined with a serious lack of self-awareness made this a rather uncomfortable read for me.
This is the second Vonnegut book I've read (Breakfast of Champions being the first), and I don't think I'll be reading another.
A lot of misogynistic comments, all over the place, and a touch of transphobia and ableism in several places. All this, combined with a serious lack of self-awareness made this a rather uncomfortable read for me.
This is the second Vonnegut book I've read (Breakfast of Champions being the first), and I don't think I'll be reading another.
A Gathering: A Personal Anthology of Scottish Poems by Alexander McCall Smith
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Our tastes in poetry do not align much, but I still managed to find a few poems I liked in this collection.
Helpfully, the poems written in Gaelic come with translations, and the ones written in Scots come with small word/expression translation annotations. However, I could have used a couple more annotations in a few places.
Helpfully, the poems written in Gaelic come with translations, and the ones written in Scots come with small word/expression translation annotations. However, I could have used a couple more annotations in a few places.
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved the writing style. A couple of bits towards the end felt less edited but I'm definitely gonna be reading more Kuang
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
I'll get back to this at a later time.