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anitaxlit's reviews
261 reviews
Casas vacías by Brenda Navarro
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Las protagonistas de Casas Vacías no pueden escapar de la maternidad. Una madre que perdió a su hijo y la mujer que se lo quitó. Viven la maternidad como dos pesadillas paralelas, y entre las dos comparten esta: la de darse cuenta que ser madre a veces es ser consumida, aislada y silenciada. Con voces muy distintas te acercan a ellas para contarte sus experiencias al oído y que las vivas de bien cerquita. Conforme avanza el libro, la narración de la primera mujer se dispersa y pierde fuerza, mientras que la segunda gana en energía frenética.
Cuando acabé de leer no estaba muy segura de si me había gustado, pero después de rumiarlo creo que ha sido una lectura importante. Hasta ahora nadie me había dicho tan claro: «Tener hijos es difícil, si tienes suerte, y puede ser horrible, si no la tienes». Ni la política ni la sociedad ni la biología dejan que me olvide de la maternidad, así que, al menos, quiero pensar en ella de la mano de mujeres extraordinarias como mis amigas o Brenda Navarro. Menuda novela debut se ha marcado.
Cuando acabé de leer no estaba muy segura de si me había gustado, pero después de rumiarlo creo que ha sido una lectura importante. Hasta ahora nadie me había dicho tan claro: «Tener hijos es difícil, si tienes suerte, y puede ser horrible, si no la tienes». Ni la política ni la sociedad ni la biología dejan que me olvide de la maternidad, así que, al menos, quiero pensar en ella de la mano de mujeres extraordinarias como mis amigas o Brenda Navarro. Menuda novela debut se ha marcado.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Kidnapping
Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
5.0
This was the perfect conclusion to the Simon Snow trilogy and I will miss these characters dearly <3
La caricia de la oscuridad by Scarlett St. Clair
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
La vegetariana by Han Kang
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Este libro me ha hecho pensar mucho en la infantilización de las mujeres, nuestra búsqueda de autonomía y la violencia patriarcal sistemática. También me ha hecho enfadarme con los hombres. Me pregunto qué pensamientos y sensaciones despertará en ellos la lectura de este libro.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made by Tom Bissell, Greg Sestero
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
The Disaster Artist surprised me. I was not super into the topic when I picked it up but I found it fascinating and funny. It's bewildering how everyone around Tommy became absorbed by his antics and how much he got away with. He is very charismatic but also knows to surround himself with pushovers. If I had been Greg this book wouldn't have gone past the first chapter.
As the story advanced, I started to find Greg's behavior annoying. He argues that he stayed close to Tommy out of loyalty, but to me it often read as if the friendship boosted his ego. He also enables all of Tommy's misogynistic, homophobic and abusive ways. Not once does Greg stand up to Tommy when he is being a horrible person to everyone else. I think he tries to paint his situation in a sympathetic light, but tbh I wasn't feeling it. It just made me whisper to myself "why men" quite often. I have to give it to Greg, if he's not as loyal as he thinks, he's patient af. How he put up with Tommy's constant episodes of envy, I do not know.
All in all I enjoyed listening to this story. I liked how it jumps between the start of Greg and Tommy's friendship and the filming of The Room (which I'm now dying to watch). And I must highlight the quality of the narration, kudos to Greg Sestero for that.
As the story advanced, I started to find Greg's behavior annoying. He argues that he stayed close to Tommy out of loyalty, but to me it often read as if the friendship boosted his ego. He also enables all of Tommy's misogynistic, homophobic and abusive ways. Not once does Greg stand up to Tommy when he is being a horrible person to everyone else. I think he tries to paint his situation in a sympathetic light, but tbh I wasn't feeling it. It just made me whisper to myself "why men" quite often. I have to give it to Greg, if he's not as loyal as he thinks, he's patient af. How he put up with Tommy's constant episodes of envy, I do not know.
All in all I enjoyed listening to this story. I liked how it jumps between the start of Greg and Tommy's friendship and the filming of The Room (which I'm now dying to watch). And I must highlight the quality of the narration, kudos to Greg Sestero for that.
Cometierra by Dolores Reyes
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Me vendieron Cometierra con la promesa de que sería una de mis mejores lecturas del 2021 y tenían razón. Qué sabias son las libreras.
Cometierra es un libro cortito y sorprendentemente ágil, que te atrapa enseguida hasta que, sin darte cuenta, llevas 50 páginas y tienes que parar porque tu avión ya está tocando tierra. La historia es desgarradora y sucia, te hace sacudir la cabeza y decir «joder» para tí misma. Retrata una sociedad y un espacio en los que la violencia lo impregna todo y la muerte no es una perspectiva lejana e incómoda sino concreta y constante. La muerte es compañera, sobre todo para Cometierra, que la ve y saborea.
Es también un libro hermoso sobre la resiliencia. Cometierra experimenta los horrores de otros con los cinco sentidos por la mañana y por la noche juega a la Play, sale a bailar, se emociona ante la perspectiva de comer lo que le gusta, hace regalos.
Los capítulos finales me parecieron más flojos que el resto del libro, pero no me han impedido disfrutar muchísimo esta novelita debut que sin duda anuncia a una autora de grandísimo talento.
Cometierra es un libro cortito y sorprendentemente ágil, que te atrapa enseguida hasta que, sin darte cuenta, llevas 50 páginas y tienes que parar porque tu avión ya está tocando tierra. La historia es desgarradora y sucia, te hace sacudir la cabeza y decir «joder» para tí misma. Retrata una sociedad y un espacio en los que la violencia lo impregna todo y la muerte no es una perspectiva lejana e incómoda sino concreta y constante. La muerte es compañera, sobre todo para Cometierra, que la ve y saborea.
Es también un libro hermoso sobre la resiliencia. Cometierra experimenta los horrores de otros con los cinco sentidos por la mañana y por la noche juega a la Play, sale a bailar, se emociona ante la perspectiva de comer lo que le gusta, hace regalos.
Los capítulos finales me parecieron más flojos que el resto del libro, pero no me han impedido disfrutar muchísimo esta novelita debut que sin duda anuncia a una autora de grandísimo talento.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol
We Are Legion by Dennis E. Taylor
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The premise was very promising but once Part Two started I quickly became disenchanted with this book. It was unoriginal and boring. Women speak like, 3 times tops. All the interesting topics it could've dealt with were brushed over lightly. There were good chances of doing something unique! Like, say, finding an alien species on the other side of the galaxy that <i>doesn't</i> adhere to human societal standards, hierarchies and historical development. I mean, they are <i>alien</i>. The whole point is that they are different to us! If I wanted to hear about creatures living in what basically counts as the Stone Age, I would've picked a different book! This disappointed me greatly, as you can probably tell.
Anyway. Kudos to the narrator though, I would've dropped this halfway if it hadn't been for him.
Anyway. Kudos to the narrator though, I would've dropped this halfway if it hadn't been for him.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Nope nope nope. No. No way. Bye.