A Conflicted Review of Dead Collections
I need a break, you need a break, so here is our collective break. Let’s talk about a book, shall we?
Did I like this book? No! Would I recommend this book? Yes, I would. The book I am referring to is called “Dead Collection” by Isaac R. Fellman.
Now you may be asking yourself, why would someone who didn’t like it recommend it to me? Good, ask the questions! Even if technically I asked for it for you! To be honest, I don’t know; there was just something about it that felt important. Long answer! Patients, my love, I’m getting there! I promise.
A little about the book: it follows a character named Sol (I had to look it up; I’m a listener, not a “actual” reader… don’t hold it against me, or do! Free will queen). Who is a trans archivist and also a vampire, because why not! He is living in his office for safety (he’s a vampire! Sun bad!). His world is turned upside down when a human brings in their late wife’s things. The wife is a famous writer.. What did she write?? Sol comfort show. Goose bumps, right? Yeah, not for me either, but it is cute. I am legally obligated to tell everyone that it technically falls under the romance genre. If you are like me and don’t love the oversaturated love that is the entertainment industry, this will be up your alley. It is queer, check! It is weird, check! I didn’t stop reading it, okay? Good for you? Yeah! I am as confused by this book and my feelings around it as y’all may be!
Long answer: I’m not sure how to properly articulate why it seems important to read. Especially if you are under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. So, I, a cis-women who uses she and they pronouns because what is gender but also feels meh about me being born a woman, loved the way the author (I know your beautiful name author, but it is a hard name for me to see and would rather not have to see it over and over again) talked about gender identity. It made me think, it made me question, and it made me keep reading because my brain craved more of the thoughtfulness it brought.
My conclusion! Read it! I will not, and should not, be the poster child for this book, as I literally started by saying I didn’t like it. But if we are being honest, shouldn’t that make you read it more? If someone says they didn’t really vibe with it but still recommends it, it has to be good in some way. Did I write this whole thing to convince myself I do like this book? Maybe.. Didn’t work though!
In all seriousness, our community is being attacked in so many ways. Reading queer books by queer authors supports our community in a small yet impactful way, or at least I think so. I am not an author… yet!
