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tilo's reviews
50 reviews
My Broken Language: A Memoir by Quiara Alegría Hudes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
I was invited to a small group discussion about this book as part of the 20th anniversary of "One Book, One Philadelphia".
[I was gifted the book but also bought the audiobook read by the author. The last 200 pages I listened to the audio version while reading simulteanously (allowing a faster read due to double speed as I was behind on pages to finish on time for the discussion). That was a fun experience and the audiobook is great.]
Being one of the few memoirs that I have read, this one made me curious about the genre. However, I do feel that a downside of this genre seems to be all the loose ends that were left by creating so many backstories to so many characters.
Nonetheless, this memoir is a refreshing insight on what issues Latinas face but focusing more on problems often overseen by white feminism such as poverty and lack of education. Interestingly enough, this book does not focus on issues caused directly by men but rather other challenges of a Latinx upbringing such as language, spirituality, and above all the question of whether one is being - in this case - "enough" Puerto Rican.
The style is beautiful and the discussion on language is fascinating. Some of the challenges of becoming an artist/writer described in this memoir comforted me in a way I was not expecting.
Again, the only but slight downside was the hinting to so many interesting sidestories that the format did not allow to be explored and the - to quote one of the members of my discussion group - "what feels like the need to include an American dream success story" which the story did not thrive upon considering all the other positive reflections on language, body, education, spirituality, and identity.
[I was gifted the book but also bought the audiobook read by the author. The last 200 pages I listened to the audio version while reading simulteanously (allowing a faster read due to double speed as I was behind on pages to finish on time for the discussion). That was a fun experience and the audiobook is great.]
Being one of the few memoirs that I have read, this one made me curious about the genre. However, I do feel that a downside of this genre seems to be all the loose ends that were left by creating so many backstories to so many characters.
Nonetheless, this memoir is a refreshing insight on what issues Latinas face but focusing more on problems often overseen by white feminism such as poverty and lack of education. Interestingly enough, this book does not focus on issues caused directly by men but rather other challenges of a Latinx upbringing such as language, spirituality, and above all the question of whether one is being - in this case - "enough" Puerto Rican.
The style is beautiful and the discussion on language is fascinating. Some of the challenges of becoming an artist/writer described in this memoir comforted me in a way I was not expecting.
Again, the only but slight downside was the hinting to so many interesting sidestories that the format did not allow to be explored and the - to quote one of the members of my discussion group - "what feels like the need to include an American dream success story" which the story did not thrive upon considering all the other positive reflections on language, body, education, spirituality, and identity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Racism, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Die Zeit der Verachtung by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Wie immer: Unglaublich gute Fantasy und die Story ist fesselnd.
Besonders spannend finde ich nach wie vor wie facettenreich die Charaktere sind, denn hier kommen so viele verschiedene Motive aufeinander, Gruppierungen mit unterschiedlichsten Interessen und trotzdem hat jeder mit jedem irgendwie zu tun, wodurch ein faszinierendes Netz gespannt wurde.
Besonders spannend finde ich nach wie vor wie facettenreich die Charaktere sind, denn hier kommen so viele verschiedene Motive aufeinander, Gruppierungen mit unterschiedlichsten Interessen und trotzdem hat jeder mit jedem irgendwie zu tun, wodurch ein faszinierendes Netz gespannt wurde.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Torture, and War
Minor: Ableism, Cursing, Slavery, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Das Erbe der Elfen by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Der erste Teil der Hauptreihe enttäuscht nicht! Mehrmals war ich emotional etwas aufgewühlt und einige Stellen haben mir das Herz erwärmt. Ich habe das Gefühl, dass Leser:innen, die sich mit der Welt noch nicht so gut auskennen, besonders am Anfang sehr überrumpelt von all den Namen und geschichtlichen Ereignissen fühlen könnten. Ansonsten bietet das Buch alles, was man von der Welt erwartet: Mysteriöse Geschehnisse, Abenteuer und einzigartige Charaktere mit komplexen und faszinierenden Hintergrundgeschichten.
Randnotiz: Positiv aber sehr überraschend fand ich die Art und Weise wie mit Ciris Menstruationsbeschwerden und später erste Fragen zum Sexualleben umgegangen wurde. Fand ich gute Aufklärung in einem Buch, von dem man es nicht zwingend erwartet.
Randnotiz: Positiv aber sehr überraschend fand ich die Art und Weise wie mit
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Body shaming, Cursing, Drug use, Infertility, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit
Das Schwert der Vorsehung by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Spannende Fantasy mit kreativen Geschichten und einer glaubwürdigen sowie etablierten Welt - das war nach dem ersten Buch zu erwarten. Besonders die letzten Geschichten im Buch waren auf schöne Weise emotional und ich freue mich sehr auf den ersten Teil der Hauptreihe.
Abzug in der Bewertung gibt es für die erste Geschichte, die ich absolut nicht ausstehen konnte und mehrmals überlegt hatte zu überspringen, bis ich nach einer längeren Lesepause mich mühevoll durch den Rest durchgekämpft habe. Anders als im ersten Buch und in den Geschichten dieses Buches wurden die weiblichen Charaktere in der erste Geschichte (Serrikanerinnen) unglaublich sexistisch durch den Erzähler beschrieben und nicht nur durch die Charaktere. Am schlimmsten war jedoch die durch den Erzähler nahezu verheerlichte Vergewaltigung von Yennefer , die an keiner stelle auch nur annähernd problematisiert wurde. Eine leichte Aufwertung des Abzug gab es für die überraschend klare Positionierung von Geralt und Calanthe zu dem "heiligen und unanfechtbaren" Recht einer Frau, entscheiden zu können, ob sie ein Neugeborenes weggeben möchte, was aus feministischer Sicht sehr gut thematisiert wurde, denn hier wurde auf den Frust des Kindes eingegangen, ohne das Verständnis auszulassen, das man einer Frau in einer solchen Situation gegenüberbringen sollte.
Abzug in der Bewertung gibt es für die erste Geschichte, die ich absolut nicht ausstehen konnte und mehrmals überlegt hatte zu überspringen, bis ich nach einer längeren Lesepause mich mühevoll durch den Rest durchgekämpft habe. Anders als im ersten Buch und in den Geschichten dieses Buches wurden die weiblichen Charaktere in der erste Geschichte (Serrikanerinnen) unglaublich sexistisch durch den Erzähler beschrieben und nicht nur durch die Charaktere. Am schlimmsten war jedoch die durch den Erzähler nahezu verheerlichte Vergewaltigung von
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Infertility, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
Historia de un caracol que descubrió la importancia de la lentitud by Luis Sepúlveda
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
El primer libro en español que terminé de leer. :-)
Es escrito de forma sencilla pero hermosa. También la historia abordó el tema de degradación del medioambiente en una manera sutil pues inequívoca.
Ahora quiero leer más de Luis Sepúlveda.
Das erste Buch, was ich auf Spanisch zu Ende gelesen habe. :-)
Es ist einfach aber schön geschrieben. Die Geschichte schneidet auch das Thema Umweltzerstörung an, jedoch auf subtile aber unmissverständliche Art.
Jetzt will ich mehr von Luis Sepúlveda lesen.
The first book in Spanish that I finished. :-)
The style is simple yet beautiful. The story also touches on the topic of environmental destruction in a subtle manner yet unmistakably so. Now I want to read more by Luis Sepúlveda.
Es escrito de forma sencilla pero hermosa. También la historia abordó el tema de degradación del medioambiente en una manera sutil pues inequívoca.
Ahora quiero leer más de Luis Sepúlveda.
Das erste Buch, was ich auf Spanisch zu Ende gelesen habe. :-)
Es ist einfach aber schön geschrieben. Die Geschichte schneidet auch das Thema Umweltzerstörung an, jedoch auf subtile aber unmissverständliche Art.
Jetzt will ich mehr von Luis Sepúlveda lesen.
The first book in Spanish that I finished. :-)
The style is simple yet beautiful. The story also touches on the topic of environmental destruction in a subtle manner yet unmistakably so. Now I want to read more by Luis Sepúlveda.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Bullying
We the Animals by Justin Torres
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The writing style is beautiful in a way that is almost haunting. However, unfortunately, the story tried to build up to something that never really came and what was presented in the last chapters came out of left field so that I feel like it did not do justice to the important topic. The last chapters, therefore, ignored all other points that were brought up just to start something else last minute.
The book was said to be about three brothers "tightly bound and fiercely loyal to one another" which made me want to read it. Yet, despite few instances, most of the book was about the brothers differences, them bullying each other, and their bound consisted of them living in the same toxic household while doing the bare minimum to support each other.
A lot of interesting plotlines were hinted at, none of them explored. Those hints hooked me and made me want to finish it. I wanted to learn more about the characters, although they felt stereotypical, so I feel like a longer version of this book that took the time to explore the individual paths of the brothers (especially the oldest whom I expected to play a bigger role with the constant hints at his ideals and plans) would have really used the potential of this story. Alternatively, considering the powerful writing style, I feel like this could have been written in poems, catching the essence and rawness while only allowing glimpses that do not ask for further exploration.
The book was said to be about three brothers "tightly bound and fiercely loyal to one another" which made me want to read it. Yet, despite few instances, most of the book was about the brothers differences, them bullying each other, and their bound consisted of them living in the same toxic household while doing the bare minimum to support each other.
A lot of interesting plotlines were hinted at, none of them explored. Those hints hooked me and made me want to finish it. I wanted to learn more about the characters, although they felt stereotypical, so I feel like a longer version of this book that took the time to explore the individual paths of the brothers (especially the oldest whom I expected to play a bigger role with the constant hints at his ideals and plans) would have really used the potential of this story. Alternatively, considering the powerful writing style, I feel like this could have been written in poems, catching the essence and rawness while only allowing glimpses that do not ask for further exploration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Outing
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Autumn by Ali Smith
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 3%.
I love the writing style but expected a different one. Will definitely get back to it but right now it is not what I feel like reading.
Der letzte Wunsch by Andrzej Sapkowski
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Bisher kannte ich die Welt nur durch die Videospiele und durch die Netflixserie. Letztere hatte mich dann überzeugt, die Buchreihe zu lesen und der erste Band ist sehr vielversprechend. Ich habe genau das bekommen, was ich erwartet habe: Interessantes Fantasysetting, mehr Hintergründe zur Welt und den Charakteren, vor allem aber sehr gut geschriebene Abenteuergeschichten. Am meisten beeindruckt war ich von den wahnsinnig gut geschriebenen Kampfszenen, die mich sehr inspiriert haben, da mir solche beim Schreiben meiner Geschichten schwer fallen und ich hier hilfreiche Strukturen erkennen konnte.
Wenn die weiblichen Charaktere in den Geschichten nicht stark dargestellt wären und vor allem keine eigene Ambitionen hätten, die nicht zwingend auf Männern gebaut wären, hätte mich der doch sehr präsente Sexismus der männlichen Charaktere gestört. Letztendlich wirkt es aber für mich eher so, als ob die Gesellschaft in dieser Saga eher auf Frauen herabschaut, auch wenn der Autor diese Ansichten nicht in seinen weiblichen Charakteren in die Tat umsetzt.
Wenn die weiblichen Charaktere in den Geschichten nicht stark dargestellt wären und vor allem keine eigene Ambitionen hätten, die nicht zwingend auf Männern gebaut wären, hätte mich der doch sehr präsente Sexismus der männlichen Charaktere gestört. Letztendlich wirkt es aber für mich eher so, als ob die Gesellschaft in dieser Saga eher auf Frauen herabschaut, auch wenn der Autor diese Ansichten nicht in seinen weiblichen Charakteren in die Tat umsetzt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Rape, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Drug use, and Sexual harassment
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
(I listened to the audiobook version.)
There wery many observations, ideas, and suggestions in this book that I found helpful for my own mindset, even when they might not have been completely new to me. It is important to note that this book does require you to be familiar with feminism, otherwise it is not as accessible. This is due to the fact that Kendall directs her words mainly to white mainstream feminists. I think anyone who considers themself a feminist should look into the ideas of this work and reflect upon them.
There wery many observations, ideas, and suggestions in this book that I found helpful for my own mindset, even when they might not have been completely new to me. It is important to note that this book does require you to be familiar with feminism, otherwise it is not as accessible. This is due to the fact that Kendall directs her words mainly to white mainstream feminists. I think anyone who considers themself a feminist should look into the ideas of this work and reflect upon them.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
This was my very first crime story that I finished. On the first evening, I read 70 pages in one sitting which is not usual for me. It was intriguing, mysterious and entertaining all the way through. Only thing that bothered me a little were the very present gender stereotypes of that time (also in the way it was narrated) but ultimately, it did not keep me from enjoying the mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, and Grief
Minor: Sexism