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#Buzzwordathon
review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ The description implies it's a love story, but it's really not. This book takes place during the decline/assimilation of Jewish culture in Kaifeng, China in the 1800s & the tensions that result. The afterword about the historical context is helpful. There's a common theme throughout of sadness vs happiness that I found thoughtful. The midpoint takes a wild turn that I didn't think fit with the tone of what came before or after. #buzzwordathon

14 likes1 comment
review
hissingpotatoes
Foxes in Love: Volume 1 | Toivo Kaartinen
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Pickpick

4/5⭐ Really fun, cute, relatable, and heartfelt. Perfect for fans of Catana Comics and Sarah Andersen. #Buzzwordathon

review
hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ As a romance story, it felt over before it even began, as did the plotline of the birthday party. The text needed a proofreader.

However, the daily realities of the characters living in the intersection of their identities felt very real, genuine, and down-to-earth with nuance and experiences I, at least, haven't seen much in fiction.

#buzzwordathon #52bookclub24 chapter headings have dates

22 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

2.5/5⭐ I liked the historical & magical worldbuilding & the Bishop house.

However, the romantic relationship was basically Twilight for adults. Matthew's alpha maleness & mindless possessiveness dominated the story & expected subservience at every turn. His rages were so unhealthy & worrisome, as were the ridiculous number of important secrets he & Diana kept from one another.

I have no desire to continue reading the series. #buzzwordathon

EclecticBookLover I had similar feelings. The romance is so awful. 6mo
Larkken Samesies on everything for me too! *shudder* 6mo
19 likes2 comments
review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

3/5⭐ The vagina monologues and the author have done great things for bringing awareness to the issue of violence against AFAB people and for empowering people to talk about the things the patriarchy has decided shouldn't be discussed. However, the monologues reduce women's identities to vaginas and are trans-exclusive. They're an important but narrow-scoped part of feminist history. #buzzwordathon

review
hissingpotatoes
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Mehso-so

2.5/5⭐ Eh, it was just okay. The themes of history in the margins and self-actualization could have been interesting, but they were hammered to death with telling over showing. The constant switches between POVs/timelines made it difficult to stay grounded. The ending was muddled and vague in a way the book hadn't led to. The audiobook narrators were very good. #buzzwordathon

18 likes1 stack add
review
hissingpotatoes
The Shadow of the Wind | Carlos Ruiz Zafon
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Bailedbailed

1/5⭐ The two women in the first 10% of the book only exist in relation to their desirability to men, including the main character's obsession with a woman a decade older than him (he starts out at 10 years old). It makes a point out of the woman making sure not to be alone in the same room as him. It's weird and icky along with the general grittiness that authors employ to make themselves seem edgy. I'm not interested. #buzzwordathon