CW: Anti-fat bias, fatphobia

I recently DNF’ed these two books for VERY different reasons.

Infinite country is beautifully written. Because of the short chapters I flew through half the book in one night. But I just haven’t had the energy to pick it up again. I think going back to hybrid so late in the year has fried my brain even further than I thought it could go. I’ll probably come back to it, but maybe I won’t. I just know right now given the subject matter I need to give this my all but I just don’t have the mental capacity. In other words INFINITE COUNTRY, it’s not you, it’s me.

But on the other hand I had to DNF THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA because of the anti-fat comments literally everywhere. I want to acknowledge it is because of @bookishbluebird I was able to catch it in the first place and I am so grateful to her. I tried to keep going thinking maybe it’ll stop but every time the MC mentions his intensely restrictive diet “or the tire around his middle” and how it makes it difficult for him to get around, it took me out of the story. It’s a pretty constant stream of tiny comments here and there. The last straw was when the kids were in the middle of the forest and talking about cannibals. One of the kids makes an offhand remark how they’re glad the MC is there because surely he’ll get eaten first because of his size. Cue eye roll and me slamming the book shut in frustration. It served no purpose to the characters development or plot and definitely contributes to anti-fat bias that is so pervasive in our culture. Listen. Before I probably would not have noticed it, but now that I know better I have to do better. This book was a huge disappointment. And honestly a lesson for me. I should’ve stopped it way earlier and I should’ve just listened to Hayle to begin with. Shoutout to the other bookstagrammers that helped me out with this one too. Also want to acknowledge I’m not trying to call anyone out but if this is on your TBR I hope you reflect, my DMs are open. and if it’s one you loved. We’ve all been there.

What book have you recently DNF’ed? Why did you choose not to continue? #bookstagram #libraryglaredontcare

Some bookish gifts and exchanges thanks to my spouse and bookish cuz. I have so many reflections to post but zero motivation. Not because of anything bad, break has been quite lovely and low stress. I hope you all are having the same experience. See any here you’ve read already? Let me know your thoughts!
(And why yes that is a novel written by Nicky Drayden about my favorite video game, Overwatch)

#bookstagram #booklover #ilovebooks #bookexchange #alwaysreading #losangelesreaders #readersofinstagram

“There are never any new stories, just old ones told again and again as the universe moves through its cycle of civilization and crumbles in despair. We are on the brink of chaos again, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.”

As I sit here trying to write a proper reflection of “The Burning God,” I find myself struggling to find the words, and nothing will stick in my brain. Having already read the first two, I thought I was prepared for the violence and the slaughter, but it turns out I wasn’t. It was an unsettling read and Kuang again gives us an unflinching look at war and what one person will do in the name of justice.

But whose justice? And who has the right to say their justice is even the one that will ultimately strike the balance and create harmony? And if that is what you seek, are you willing to go as far as your enemy, because inevitably they will push you to do so. The lines of what is right are blurred and it’s clear at least to all those around her, that our “hero,” Rin, has a hard time seeing straight. But she will blindly go forward because it is what she feels is right. I read an interview by Kuang where she states that this series is ultimately a “question of what could make a dictator like Mao [Zedong] commit the sort of atrocities that he did. What has to happen to you to turn into someone that could do those things? Some sociopathy yes, but that’s too easy. What experiences and ideologies would have to shape you?” (Publishers Weekly)

Kuang is not interested in neat ideologies wrapped in a bow, she demands the reader acknowledge that war is rife with nuance and ideological purity can be dangerous, no matter which way it swings. Ending this trilogy I have more questions than answers. I didn’t even touch on the colonization themes of this book in my reflection because I don’t want to ruin it and honestly I don’t know how to feel about it. I’m sure I’ll be wrestling those themes for a long time. But just go read this trilogy, you won’t regret it. And if you have read this. Feel free to DM me your thoughts. Lol.

CW: rape, graphic depictions of violence, child abuse, drug addiction