Alysses
This is a book I'll have to re-read and annotate and break down. I lived and breathed some events in the book and my knowledge of that experience and those written by the author as factual, don't jive.
It was not once but a few times, I felt that I needed to push back. I listened to the audiobook via my library but won the book in a giveaway.
3.5
I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this one. It wasn't a complicated read or anything of that nature. I believe I have issues with the execution a bit.
Men have the ability to get pregnant. Based on context alone, men and women can get pregnant interchangeably. (?) There's an attempt at social commentary on the implications and assumptions made on those men who choose to give birth to the babies. There's commentary on how women feel that male pregnancy will lead to rights and programs birthing people should have received to begin with. There's even commentary on how women can be just as callus or insensitive as men have been pegged to be when their partner is suddenly pregnant and neither is happy about it.
The manga begins with the Main characters pregnancy and later branches out focusing on individuals that have come in contact with him at one point. It's a six degrees of separations type of thing.
Although I could understand the threads that were being weaved, I felt they were clunky. I don't know how else to explain it. The transitions were not the smoothest and some of the stories needed to be fleshed out a bit more. Especially the last married couple.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read and ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The premise of the book is an interesting one. We quickly find out that a meteor caused all individuals to become gay. One person remained heterosexual. An astronaut who was in space at the time. We slowly realize that although heterosexuality was literally existant the day prior, those that were once heterosexual quickly began to chastise and ridicule the one person that was still heterosexual. It is now taboo to be anything but gay.
There are a lot of hidden messages in this duology. Positive for sure. The ending is open ended so to speak and some revelations created more questions than answers.
My biggest gripe with the duology is how slow it felt at times and how easily I got distracted because of it.
This was an interesting read. Three generations of women. Three relationship dynamics between grandmother, mom and child. It speaks to generational trauma and how we pick and choose which behaviors to break away from and which ones we stick with knowing they are wrong.
The art concept/execution worked really well. Each lady has their own color on page and in life. There are time jumps or rather going between the past and present. An attempt was made to explain why these people are the way they are. It was sad. I wish them all well.
Netgalley and Publisher: Thank you for the opportunity to read an arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is NOT like Sign of Affection.
This is a story where a friendship between Saki and Kanon blossoms after a few misunderstandings occur and Saki decides to not give up. Kanon suffers from hearing loss and we learn that she has learned to cope with it by alienating people around her. Saki wants to understand her and her struggles and she does just that.
This manga took my by surprise. It had many great moments. I especially like the explanation of the series title which I will be using from now on because it's great. The ending was incredibly sweet. I will continue with this series.
It has a very different vibe from Sign of Affection. Sign of Affection is smooth and incredibly emotional. The connection between the main characters in that series is palpable from the very beginning. Both characters are very likable.
It takes a while to warm up to Kanon and she can be a bit rude at times. Saki is really kind and thoughtful. I hope she doesn't get hurt.
Thank you to Netgalley and Publishers for providing a copy to review in exchange of an honest review.
One of the strangest memoirs I've read to date.
It literally read as if it was a script or a role Kerry had played. She has outed her family but barely outs herself. Let's not mention her husband. Seriously, don't mention him. Not a thing is mentioned other than they were dating, they decided to get married, they had a child together. No details whatsoever. I'm not saying that we are owed those details only that the flow of this book was strange.
Just very strange.
I promised a bookish friend I would read this book if it ever came out in audiobook. Alas it did and I did. It is absolutely most definitely too long. Nope nope nope. No reason for it to be this long. Just no. Practice self control.
The main lead was a little annoying at times.
I'm happy for them. Viva love!
That's it.
The end.
This book was so incredibly hyped up. It made the rounds last year. I refused to read it without an audiobook.
As I mentioned... this made the rounds with the BookTube girlies and not ONCE did they mention the main characters were Black. I had to do a double take when I started reading this book.
I'm not going to get into it... I'm tired. Legit tired.
One... As a non BIPOC author in the year 2021, 2022, 2023 and beyond, you should know not to use descriptors such as wild and crazy when describing natural curly or kinky hair. It's rooted in racism. Stop using the excuse that your character spoke to you like this in your head. Go get it checked and check your character and let them know that is racist. If your character has self hatred, then they need to deal with it and not project that hatred onto a child. Which she did. Us wild haired girls have to stick together. UGH!
Second... stop writing about Chicago. Chicago being dangerous this and dangerous that. It's lame. Point blank period.
I went on to book two. I just pretended the characters were not Black and I enjoyed the book better.
