![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Book & Other Opinions
Oct. 22nd, 2017 01:11 pm I've honestly been reading more than I have actually been writing. Honestly, I feel like I've read more in the first 3 months of grad school for fun than I have the rest of the year. Perhaps its because my new library system has really good selection? Whoever is in charge of acquisitions is doing a damn good job. But also, I'm living in a more liberal area than my previous libraries which may explain why I can get a hold of more queer sci-fi and fantasy easily. I literally have not needed to ask for something to be ordered. Its so wonderful. I use good reads to keep track of what I read, but also I thought it might help to make a post here with some comments so I can remember why I rated a book so. I don't like leaving reviews on goodreads because I always feel like I need to write something longer.
Books
The Stone Sky | N.K. Jemisin | 5/5
I enjoyed this conclusion to the Broken Earth. The world building was great and the prose wonderful. However, felt somewhat anticlimactic in some ways.
Provenance | Ann Leckie | 5/5
I've been waiting for this one for a year. It did not disappoint. It was very different from the Imperial Radch trilogy, but the world building was wonderful. Ingray and company are fun characters and I hope we see more of them. It was relatable in areas especially with struggling with expectations.
Hidden Figures | Margot Lee Shetterly | 5/5
I have not seen the film adaption of this book. It was highly informative and I really enjoyed the narrative. It was fascinating to see how all the factors came together. I'm glad these woman are getting more recognition instead of being forgotten.
Fresh Romance Vol. 1 | Various | 4/5
I love the art in this comic anthology. Most of the stories were self contained and fun. Although one was part of a serial.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic | Alison Bechdal | 5/5
I cried. I had listened to the musical. The comic had more detail and different structure. Very good.
Binti | Nnedi Okorafor | 5/5
Where do I begin with Binti? The worldbuilding was amazing. The aliens were suitably alien. The story was solid. It left me wanting more. Highly recommend.
Binti: Home | Nnedi Okorafor | 5/5
The sequel to Binti did not leave me disappointed. It was a wonderful look at families, friendship, and continues to build on the world Nnedi Okorafor started in Binti.
The Prey of Gods | Nicky Drayden | 3.5/5
This was a fun read. The romance between the two kids in the story was sweet and believable. I was sitting there like oh yep they are teenage boys. It was an over the top romp. There were things that made me uncomfortable in the story regarding the one character. However, I enjoyed it.
The Devourers | Indra Das | 3/5
This was honestly too much for me. The pacing was slow. The world was fascinating. But it managed to hit most of my squicks.
Will Do Magic for Small Change | Andrea Hairston | 2.5/5
I tried to read this, I really did. However, I think I've been spoiled by other authors who try to do similar stuff. It just felt like too much going on all at once.
Spinning | Tillie Walden | 3/5
Honestly this one hit to close to home for me. The art was ok in the graphic novel. It wasn't a fun time for me.
Red Threads of Fortune | JY Yang | 5/5
AAAAH I LOVED THIS BOOK?? The world building is so good. I love Rider. I love the raptors and nagas. Mokoya is great. Please read it.
Black Tides of Heaven | JY Yang | 5/5
This is the companion to Red Threads. It focused on Mokoya's twin brother, Akeha. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Red Threads but it was still wonderful. The pacing is slower but it goes more into depth with the world.
Podcasts
I listen to a ton of podcasts at work while I'm doing data entry or imaging. These are ones that I listened to in the past three months.
Alice isn't dead | 5/5
It didn't spook me since it was in an audio format. The story is enthralling and the imagery is visceral. Highly enjoyed.
Inkwyrm | 3.5/5
This is such a fun listen. It's like the perfect intersection of trashy and romcom. I wish the sound quality was better on the recordings. It got serious at the end of the first season which was a surprise. But the characters are delightful.
Sawbones | 4/5
Ok yeah I like the McElroy products. I started this one because it seemed interesting. It's funny and informative. but sometimes the topics are too much for me.
Ars Paradoxica | 5/5
I love this podcast so much. It's just the intersection of everything I like, conspiracy, science, character driven stories, time travel. Most of all, all the science gals are queer? That's a really big thing for me. I see myself in these characters as a queer woman in stem.
The Strange Case of Starship Iris | 4/5
I really enjoyed this space opera podcast. Its fun, whimiscal, but also serious at times. Sometimes the sound quality sucks :/. I really love the alien, Crej. They're great.
Under Pressure | 3/5
I honestly felt like this one meandered and didn't have a cohesive plot. It went all over the place. It was still a fun listen.
Within the Wires | 2/5
I tried. It just bored me. I think it's not the narrative style for me. I honestly just got so impatient with it.
Steal the Stars | 4/5
I really enjoy this one bc alien conspiracy. Its engrossing and I appreciate the characters. Fun story. Lots of twists.
Books
The Stone Sky | N.K. Jemisin | 5/5
I enjoyed this conclusion to the Broken Earth. The world building was great and the prose wonderful. However, felt somewhat anticlimactic in some ways.
Provenance | Ann Leckie | 5/5
I've been waiting for this one for a year. It did not disappoint. It was very different from the Imperial Radch trilogy, but the world building was wonderful. Ingray and company are fun characters and I hope we see more of them. It was relatable in areas especially with struggling with expectations.
Hidden Figures | Margot Lee Shetterly | 5/5
I have not seen the film adaption of this book. It was highly informative and I really enjoyed the narrative. It was fascinating to see how all the factors came together. I'm glad these woman are getting more recognition instead of being forgotten.
Fresh Romance Vol. 1 | Various | 4/5
I love the art in this comic anthology. Most of the stories were self contained and fun. Although one was part of a serial.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic | Alison Bechdal | 5/5
I cried. I had listened to the musical. The comic had more detail and different structure. Very good.
Binti | Nnedi Okorafor | 5/5
Where do I begin with Binti? The worldbuilding was amazing. The aliens were suitably alien. The story was solid. It left me wanting more. Highly recommend.
Binti: Home | Nnedi Okorafor | 5/5
The sequel to Binti did not leave me disappointed. It was a wonderful look at families, friendship, and continues to build on the world Nnedi Okorafor started in Binti.
The Prey of Gods | Nicky Drayden | 3.5/5
This was a fun read. The romance between the two kids in the story was sweet and believable. I was sitting there like oh yep they are teenage boys. It was an over the top romp. There were things that made me uncomfortable in the story regarding the one character. However, I enjoyed it.
The Devourers | Indra Das | 3/5
This was honestly too much for me. The pacing was slow. The world was fascinating. But it managed to hit most of my squicks.
Will Do Magic for Small Change | Andrea Hairston | 2.5/5
I tried to read this, I really did. However, I think I've been spoiled by other authors who try to do similar stuff. It just felt like too much going on all at once.
Spinning | Tillie Walden | 3/5
Honestly this one hit to close to home for me. The art was ok in the graphic novel. It wasn't a fun time for me.
Red Threads of Fortune | JY Yang | 5/5
AAAAH I LOVED THIS BOOK?? The world building is so good. I love Rider. I love the raptors and nagas. Mokoya is great. Please read it.
Black Tides of Heaven | JY Yang | 5/5
This is the companion to Red Threads. It focused on Mokoya's twin brother, Akeha. I didn't enjoy this one as much as Red Threads but it was still wonderful. The pacing is slower but it goes more into depth with the world.
Podcasts
I listen to a ton of podcasts at work while I'm doing data entry or imaging. These are ones that I listened to in the past three months.
Alice isn't dead | 5/5
It didn't spook me since it was in an audio format. The story is enthralling and the imagery is visceral. Highly enjoyed.
Inkwyrm | 3.5/5
This is such a fun listen. It's like the perfect intersection of trashy and romcom. I wish the sound quality was better on the recordings. It got serious at the end of the first season which was a surprise. But the characters are delightful.
Sawbones | 4/5
Ok yeah I like the McElroy products. I started this one because it seemed interesting. It's funny and informative. but sometimes the topics are too much for me.
Ars Paradoxica | 5/5
I love this podcast so much. It's just the intersection of everything I like, conspiracy, science, character driven stories, time travel. Most of all, all the science gals are queer? That's a really big thing for me. I see myself in these characters as a queer woman in stem.
The Strange Case of Starship Iris | 4/5
I really enjoyed this space opera podcast. Its fun, whimiscal, but also serious at times. Sometimes the sound quality sucks :/. I really love the alien, Crej. They're great.
Under Pressure | 3/5
I honestly felt like this one meandered and didn't have a cohesive plot. It went all over the place. It was still a fun listen.
Within the Wires | 2/5
I tried. It just bored me. I think it's not the narrative style for me. I honestly just got so impatient with it.
Steal the Stars | 4/5
I really enjoy this one bc alien conspiracy. Its engrossing and I appreciate the characters. Fun story. Lots of twists.
