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drekklin's reviews
168 reviews
Fencing with the King by Diana Abu-Jaber
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a wonderful novel. This had been on my TBR for quite some time and I’m so glad I finally got to it. I love how there are so many family members and each gets ample attention. History and legacy and love and belonging and the idea of “home” all covered gracefully and meaningfully.
Space Struck by Paige Lewis
funny
reflective
5.0
Paige Lewis is quite the poet. This has great levity and depth at the same time, hard to balance but they managed it wonderfully.
Six Girls Without Pants by Paisley Rekdal
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
5.0
Had a chance to hear Rekdal read on my college campus. She’s really good! This collection impressed me. Lots of poetry inspired by myth and visual art, plus lots of unique, personal approaches to writing about sex and sexuality.
Magdalene: Poems by Marie Howe
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
A great collection. Very cohesive. Read it in one sitting.
Hard Damage by Aria Aber
emotional
5.0
Loved her longer poem cycle and her willingness to “not look away”. Lovingly crafted and full of honesty, emotional and literal. Fuck the U.S. government
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
If Authority expanded on the mystery, intrigue, and horrifyingly unknowable nature of “Area X” that was built in the bullet-shot precision of Annihilation, then Acceptance took it to new height entirely. A damn good, sad novel. VanderMeer’s way with words is astounding. And in a book with so many characters and perspectives, each feels truly unique while the pulse of the story is one cohesive whole.
Trying to Surprise God by Peter Meinke
4.0
Interesting poems; some funny, others satirical, still more earnest. Glad I stumbled on it. He wrote about Warsaw so much I thought he was Polish himself at first.
Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin
dark
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Strange in a great way. Will be ruminating on it for some time. I like the method of having two characters narrate the story through a conversation, essentially. The whole thing felt like a dream, and more so a nightmare in parts.