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theteaisaddictive's reviews
317 reviews
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I desperately wanted this book to be weirder than it was. It started out so strongly, with the relationship between Rika and Kajii getting more and more complex and twisted as they delved deeper into each other’s psyches and motivations — and then just as suddenly, it UNtwisted. And I was just barely halfway through the novel when that happened. The rest of the book, although interesting in its own right, wasn’t anything like what I thought it would be, based on the blurb and everything I’d read so far. The book is also far too long. I was longing for it to be over 150 pages from the end, and only my own stubbornness kept me going.
The strengths of the book are it’s food writing — I can’t overstate how detailed and lush all of the food Rika eats is, even the plain takeout bento boxes — and the enduring friendship between Rika and Reiko, both ups and downs. Theirs is the central relationship, far more than Rika and Kajii’s. Rika’s development by the end of the novel is well-earned, but it felt like it came out of a more wholesome, coming-of-age narrative than the dark and deliciously twisted crime drama I was expecting.
The strengths of the book are it’s food writing — I can’t overstate how detailed and lush all of the food Rika eats is, even the plain takeout bento boxes — and the enduring friendship between Rika and Reiko, both ups and downs. Theirs is the central relationship, far more than Rika and Kajii’s. Rika’s development by the end of the novel is well-earned, but it felt like it came out of a more wholesome, coming-of-age narrative than the dark and deliciously twisted crime drama I was expecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
The Nightmare Before Kissmas by Sara Raasch
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A fun, silly, festive read that I picked up almost entirely because my boyfriend is an enabler. Light, holiday-themed fluff with some truly baffling lines (“Mephistophelian simplicity” being the most egregious), and a Christmas movie marathon where they choose to watch the Christmas Prince trilogy, of all things.
(Also, it would completely wreck the tone of the book to address it, but it was very funny to see the author try her best to sidestep any and all questions of how the religious foundations of these Holidays affect their present-day practices. I’m just saying, there’s a concept in here of Santa’s quest to maximise Christmas as a metaphor for Christian hegemony. I’m not mad that this book isn’t that — romance novels can have depth and darkness, but this one certainly doesn’t — but it is very funny to read about the MMC wondering why they’re drawing up treaties between Christmas and Easter without bringing up the one really obvious commonality between the two holidays.)
(Also, it would completely wreck the tone of the book to address it, but it was very funny to see the author try her best to sidestep any and all questions of how the religious foundations of these Holidays affect their present-day practices. I’m just saying, there’s a concept in here of Santa’s quest to maximise Christmas as a metaphor for Christian hegemony. I’m not mad that this book isn’t that — romance novels can have depth and darkness, but this one certainly doesn’t — but it is very funny to read about the MMC wondering why they’re drawing up treaties between Christmas and Easter without bringing up the one really obvious commonality between the two holidays.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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
4.25
Haunting. What if you were living in a fascist state, and you were frightened beyond belief that they would come and take away everything you love, take YOU away for the very act of remembering it. But the man you love tells you that love is enough; the memory of it means it still exists, after all. But for you, it doesn’t exist. And it isn’t enough. Those last three paragraphs are still echoing in my brain.
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
All of this book was a delightful, seasonally appropriate gift to read, but the last 2 chapters elevated it and made it really special to me. It would’ve been too easy to make this like many other children’s books, but the twinge of bittersweetness at the end made the coming-of-age narrative feel all the more real.
The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
A twisty, engaging mystery with a killer twist that had me actually screaming at the pages. The ending felt a tad rushed, but the journey there was so good I can’t mind too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, although the abrupt writing made it difficult to care as much about the later generations as I did about Sunja and her mother in the beginning. Clearly done by design, with a great amount of care and research done, and yet the book shone so brightly in the pre- and brief post-war eras.
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Definitely my favourite of the series so far! Loved all the characters, although I am once again griping about the plot being deliberately hard to follow.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
A doorstopper of a book, but one which I loved almost all the way through. Upsides: Shadow being divinely unflappable, Undead Laura, the gods themselves, Mr Wednesday being the max, tricksy bastard that he is. Downsides: Gaiman Being Weird About Women, the only two major female gods being different strains of fertility goddess, and of course, the fact that THERE IS NO GODDAMN WAR. I get subverting expectations — in fact I was kind of expecting it — but COME ON! Honestly, I kind of feel like the best parts — or at least the parts which shone the most — were the interludes of Shadow’s time in Lakeside. It reminded me of the best of Gaiman’s short stories, down to the twist at the end.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
A short read, but absolutely incredible. It’s my first time reading Octavia Butler, and I can’t wait to read her other books as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Medical content, and Suicide attempt