My thoughts so far 👇🏻
📚The Final Strife by Saara el-Arifi📚
I’ll be honest, I struggle with books of this length because of my adhd. If it weren’t for the readathon, I probably wouldn’t be able to finish this book. That said though, I think the concepts are very cool so far. I appreciate how the author is handling drug use - how she portrays the link between awful living conditions and addiction, and how the ruling class looks down upon addicts. The narrative does leap around a lot between character povs, and since I’m listening to the audiobook it gets kind of disorienting since there isn’t anything to note the switches, but I’m still enjoying it anyway.
📚The Girl From the Well by Rin Chupeco📚
I have so far enjoyed everything I’ve read from this author. I love how they handle horror. However, this book does deal with the concept of mental illness (or “crazy” people) and I’m not sure it does this appropriately. One of the character’s mother is in an asylum-type place, and the descriptions of patients in this facility are very stereotypical and possibly insensitive. So I don’t love that. I do love the avenging of bad people though - two child murderers have already died gruesome deaths and I’m not even halfway done 🤭
📚Pet by Akweaki Emezi📚
I am LOVING this book so far. The main character, the magical realism, the way the author describes things - it’s all right up my alley. I am so excited for the direction the plot seems to be going, too. Addressing how fear of admitting that bad things exist in your system can blind you to corruption is such an important topic and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.
#transrightsreadathon #transbooks #lgbtqbooks #queerlit #thefinalstrife #rinchupeco #akwaekeemezi #booklemon8 #readersoflemon8 #readingupdate
In this reading journey, I explore three unique novels that tackle heavy themes and diverse narratives. In 'The Final Strife', Saara el-Arifi delves into societal issues tied to drug use and classism, showcasing a gripping world where addiction intertwines with personal struggle. The complex structure, jumping between characters' perspectives, adds depth, though it may prove challenging for some readers, especially those utilizing audiobooks. Rin Chupeco's 'The Girl From the Well' offers a darker narrative, intertwining horror with mental illness. While the portrayal of characters in psychiatric care raises concerns about stereotyping, the thrilling revenge on wrongdoers provides a captivating twist. Lastly, Akwaeke Emezi's 'Pet' shines a light on the magical realism genre, intertwining themes of denial and corruption. This narrative emphasizes the necessity of confronting uncomfortable truths, making it relevant and thought-provoking for readers longing for deeper discussions within fiction. Together, these novels contribute to conversations about mental health, societal constructs, and the importance of representation in literature.
(i'm prolly gonna get hate for this but ). trans rights do need to exist but unless you say "I'm a ______" then I'm calling you by what you look like