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sims2machinima's reviews
55 reviews
Unsaid by Neil Abramson
not really sure how to feel about this book tbh... the whole thing was kind've meh? the book reads easily, but i didn't feel attached to any of the characters. i get that it's a book about death, but the ending is depressing for no reason imo. helena, as a narrator, felt horribly unsympathetic to me and goes through little character development; i feel like she never looked inwardly on herself and was thus a bit hypocritical at points. why does she love zoos???? i also didn't really like implication that Clifford, as a child with autism, has some sort of magical power? how does he know that a random woman's deceased husband went by the nickname Bennie and hated his cane? it doesn't really make sense to me and feels weird as a trope overall.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"'And on cool summer evenings we will sit among the trees and flowers and look for fairies in the moonlight.'"
not really sure how to feel about this book tbh... the whole thing was kind've meh? the book reads easily, but i didn't feel attached to any of the characters. i get that it's a book about death, but the ending is depressing for no reason imo. helena, as a narrator, felt horribly unsympathetic to me and goes through little character development; i feel like she never looked inwardly on herself and was thus a bit hypocritical at points. why does she love zoos???? i also didn't really like implication that Clifford, as a child with autism, has some sort of magical power? how does he know that a random woman's deceased husband went by the nickname Bennie and hated his cane? it doesn't really make sense to me and feels weird as a trope overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Death
Minor: Blood, Excrement, and Vomit
Pamela by Samuel Richardson
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
IM FREEEEEE!!!!!!!! WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY FUCKING LIFE
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, and Classism
it's also fucking boring
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
my eyes hurt
dark
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism and Stalking
Minor: Pedophilia and Vomit
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i read this for a class discussing animals in literature, and i think it helped me to appreciate this text in a way that i don't think i would've otherwise
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Classism
The History Of The Nun Or The Fair Vow Breaker by Aphra Behn
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Death
Minor: Misogyny
Oroonoko by Aphra Behn
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
sorry but wtf was this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Sexual violence and Murder
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i listened to an audiobook while reading, and the narrator kinda sounded like willem dafoe in nosferatu, which led me to imaging dr. moreau as willem dafoe for the entirety of the book... i am unfraid i will never be unable to unsee this (and tbf he would absolutely kill it)
no but seriously, this is definitely an interesting read. i had to read the book from a pro-vivisection/anti-vivisection perspective for a class presentation, and i think its commentary on human nature is very thought-provoking yet at the same time quite upsetting. at the end of the day, even when presented with something horrible happening, most of us will do nothing about it and instead focus on our own self-preservation.
(yes, i do realize h.g. wells supported vivisection in specific circumstances, but i felt it was hard to see the piece as pro-vivisection because of how difficult it is to sympathize with prendick, who only acts in ways that promote human superiority and hypocrisy; i do not think the intended humanism was successful)
no but seriously, this is definitely an interesting read. i had to read the book from a pro-vivisection/anti-vivisection perspective for a class presentation, and i think its commentary on human nature is very thought-provoking yet at the same time quite upsetting. at the end of the day, even when presented with something horrible happening, most of us will do nothing about it and instead focus on our own self-preservation.
(yes, i do realize h.g. wells supported vivisection in specific circumstances, but i felt it was hard to see the piece as pro-vivisection because of how difficult it is to sympathize with prendick, who only acts in ways that promote human superiority and hypocrisy; i do not think the intended humanism was successful)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Body horror
Moderate: Ableism, Death, Gore, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racial slurs and Suicidal thoughts
VIVISECTION AND ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION!
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 58%.
this book was just too boring i didn't want to pick it back up... maybe i'll go back to it eventually but i have too many books i am reading rn and i forgot this one existed
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
i ate this shit up!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault