Gabriela
The book delves deeply into Amy Lin's journey through grief following the loss of her husband. What sets it apart is how seamlessly she weaves together memories of their past, offering readers intimate glimpses into their shared life. These recollections not only paint a vivid picture of her husband but also allow readers to connect with their love story, intensifying the emotional impact of her grief. The book's structure, alternating between joyful reminiscences and heart-wrenching moments, often leaves the reader emotionally winded. Despite its brevity, each chapter resonates profoundly, necessitating pauses for emotional respite. Below are some of the poignant quotes that lingered with me.
“Some mornings, I forget. I wake up swamped with unease, with the sense that something dark is vanishing around the corner. For a second, I cannot catch the trailing tendrils, cannot pull the shadow into shape.”
“I cannot believe how much pain we are asked to bear when we are alive. How, even if there is a way, no one can show us how to live with it.”
3.5 - The writing in this novel is really well-done. It was a pleasant read, but I didn't find the plot particularly gripping. It's more of a cozy family drama, though not heavy on the drama. Lara, the main character, shares her past as an actress with her daughters, focusing on the summer she fell in love with someone who later became a famous actor. Reading this book was like taking a leisurely stroll through the park on a sunny day - enjoyable, but not super memorable.
Honestly, if I judged this book by its cover, I probably wouldn't have picked it up or had any clue what it was about. But I'm glad I got it as a gift because it was worth reading. Even looking at the cover now, it still doesn't seem to match the story, but somehow it captures the essence of reading the book.
This is a solid collection of short stories. Usually, short story collections have a low hit rate for me, but with the exception of one (Alcatraz) I liked all of these stories. The novella by the same title of this book was especially powerful, insightful, and interesting. I also want to highlight how much I loved Boys Go To Jupiter and Anything Could Disappear.
These are stories about the African American experience, about Black history, about white supremacy, and how about class, race, and gender affect the trajectory of one's life. It's topical and relevant. I recommend it!
4.5 - This was delightfully funny and cute. I loved these characters! Friends to lovers continues to be my favorite trope. And speaking of tropes, accidental pregnancy gets a bad rep, but this was wonderful. Pregnancy and pregnancy-related themes were front and center as topics and as a novel structure, so beware if this is a sensitive topic for you.
My cheeks hurt from smiling so much while reading this. The slow burn was just right and this book might have some of the best written intimate scenes. The writing in this book as a whole was actually quite good and the characters felt authentic. I have only heard wonderful things about this book so I can't say I was surprised, but it's still a great story to experience. I highly recommend it!
This book delves into the intricate dynamics of workplace relationships, shedding light on how individual lives shape attitudes, opportunities, and perceptions within a retail logistics department. While the narrative ambitiously attempts to offer glimpses into each character's life, the lack of depth prevents a strong emotional connection. Presented from a third-person perspective, the story provides a comprehensive overview of the department's inner workings, highlighting workforce inequalities and the significance of shared goals or adversaries in fostering camaraderie.
Although the setting is compelling, the absence of a central character leaves the plot feeling somewhat detached. The conflicts presented lack the necessary urgency to fully engage the reader, despite their potential significance to certain characters. Perhaps anchoring the story around a central protagonist, while still incorporating other key perspectives, could have heightened the stakes and increased reader investment.
While the narrative may resonate more strongly with those familiar with the retail industry, it still offers an insightful portrayal of workplace dynamics. Despite its shortcomings, the book remains an enjoyable read, albeit one that falls short of its full potential.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this audiobook.
3.5 (rounded up)
This murder mystery was a whirlwind of excitement! The storyline was engaging, and I loved how the different subplots wove seamlessly into the main mystery. However, there were moments when the plot and characters seemed a bit too ambitious, leaving me craving more depth and development. I understand there are more books in the works, so perhaps this is just setting the stage for future adventures. Despite this, the book had me on the edge of my seat, and the plot twist completely blindsided me! It was a thrilling ride, though I wished I could have connected more with the main character.
Big shoutout to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!
CAWPILE
Characters - 6
atmosphere - 7
writing - 6
plot - 8
intrigue - 9
logic - 7
enjoyment - 7
This book is like a warm hug on a breezy spring day. Opal and Pepper stole my heart with their authentic portrayal and relatable quirks. What struck me most was the refreshing neurodivergent representation woven seamlessly into the narrative. The candid conversations they shared about grief and trauma added layers of depth to the story.
While Opal and Pepper shone brightly, some of the side characters felt a bit flat, veering towards caricature rather than complexity, which occasionally tipped the scales towards cheesiness. Nonetheless, familiar tropes like grumpy-sunshine and forced proximity added to the charm.
Ellie Gossage deserves a round of applause for her stellar narration, breathing life into each character with a special flair. And can we take a moment to gush over that cover? It's an absolute stunner!
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to dive into this gem.
CAWPILE
Characters - 9
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 8
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 6
Enjoyment - 9
Heartbreaking and inspiring, this tale of the women who served in Vietnam as nurses provide some eye-opening accounts that help illustrate the horrors of the Vietnam war both in country and when veterans came back home. I had very little idea of the nitty gritty of the Vietnam war, much less of the women who served.
It's gritty, graphic, full of horrific scenes, but intertwined with lot of heart and hope. I didn't feel it glorified the war and didn't shy away from criticism of the American government or describing the injustices and horrific acts the Vietnamese people had to endure.
This wasn't an easy read. Please look up trigger warnings for this novel, but off the top of my head keep in mind there are graphic descriptions of injury, death, mentions of children dying, infidelity, miscarriage, addiction, PTSD, and suicide. Nonetheless, if you feel able to read this story, it will be worth it. It's beautifully written and shares important aspects of the history of this conflict.
4.5. This book takes its reader on a journey of reckoning with the violent past of the witch hunts and how it still shapes the persecution of women who dare to step out of line.
Chollet explores the expectation of women to marry, birth children, never to age, and to limit their knowledge and control of their bodies. Moreover, it discusses how society treats those who choose to follow a different path, how politics and religion continue to be forces to oppress and regulate women's lives and bodies.
I would say it provides an introduction to all of these topics, but it's by no means a comprehensive deep dive. However, I think this is a good thing, as it makes the text more accessible. It's intersectional as far as race and sexuality, but it's ultimately a Western exploration of these topics, with a heavy emphasis on European and American experiences.
I highly recommend it if you're at all interested in these topics.
“Turning the world upside down is no small undertaking. But there can be great joy -the joy of audacity, of insolence, of a vital affirmation, of defying faceless authority- in allowing our ideas and imaginations to follow the paths down which these witches' whisperings entice us.”
Let me start by saying I fully agree with everything shared in this book and would agree with making this required reading for all humans who want to or already engage in sex.
However, this is the kind of book that continues to prove that not all good articles need to become books. For such a short book, it often felt repetitive. Maybe I felt this way because I didn't need convincing; someone with a more hesitant opinion might benefit from looking at the same argument from 3 different perspectives.
It's a good & quick read. It presents its points clearly and in an accessible way. The main takeaway is: men should take responsibility for their ejaculations and the prevention of unplanned pregnancies said ejaculations cause. Agreed.
Edward Underhill has a great talent for writing characters that feel real, with dialogue that feels authentic. I liked this book a lot! To me, this is a novel about the stories we tell ourselves and how that can sometimes limit our ability to embrace new opportunities or to see the people around you in a new light. I can only imagine how alone young queer folk feel in small towns, so I hope this book provides hope that the world is bigger than the places they currently occupy. This is a very sweet, hopeful, and emotional story about trans and queer joy!
It look me a bit to read this, but it was worth it. I have always admired Justice Ginsburg, but reading her biography has added many more layers of respect. The audiobook enhanced my reading experience, as hearing her and her husband's speeches in addition to clips of various opera performances helped make this a richly textured biography.
My understanding of the court's procedures and her philosophies on said procedures were greatly expanded during my reading of this biography. Justice Ginsburg has made history being a champion of sex and race-based discrimination; what better read for Women's History Month?
I'm no literary scholar, but I still want to document my thoughts.
A weird story, but so effective. For the longest time, I kept getting from this story themes of mental illness and how othering that experience can feel and how it changes how people see you. Well, the consensus doesn't seem to be that those were the themes being explored, but I did want to mention it.A part of the story that had me quite shocked was how much emphasis Gregor put onto his work and going back to work, even in the face of such a shocking transformation. Work was giving him a sense of purpose, direction, and worth (for self-worth and worth in the eyes of his family).My takeaway is that the more isolated he became and the less like a human his family treated him, the further away his humanity felt. I also enjoyed how his death also allowed for a metamorphosis in its own right to occur to the family and its members.
This edition in particular has a wonderful introduction (although slightly spoilery!), a timeline of his life, some background information, and multiple critical essays about Kafka as an author and The Metamorphosis in itself.
Overall, it was a good time. It's short, but I loved reading it slowly, with pen and tabs in hand.
Equal parts delightful and existential. A wonderful read with stunning descriptions of scenery and exploration of philosophical themes relevant to us all. I underlined SO MUCH in this book. I now understand why it's such a beloved book. I have a feeling I'll come back to it often.
“You keep asking why your work is not enough, and I don't know how to answer that, because it is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it. You don't need to justify that, or earn it. You are allowed to just live.”
― Becky Chambers, A Psalm for the Wild-Built
‘You don't let go once. That's your first mistake. You say goodbye over a lifetime.”
Honestly, who needs therapy when you read books like this one? I'm finding it hard to rate this fully as a piece of literary work because it was so incredibly relevant that I don't know if I can focus too hard on its literary merits (I'll give it a go).
Dolly has such a good talent for writing things in a non-pretentious way while still providing insightful commentary on life and relationships. Writing from the perspective of the man who got broken up with felt fresh and inspired. I also think it really captured how it feels to go through a break up when there's not a specific major issue, but rather realizing that a relationship isn't what you need anymore.
I would be curious to hear wether or not men think it's an accurate portrayal of the men psyche after a breakup (if my ex is reading this, let me know what you think of this book!). To me, it felt authentic, it was emotional, and funny. I recommend it!
“So I decide. Standing in this dank alleyway I decide I'll settle for a sliver of the love I want, in the hope that one day soon, there will be space for it to become more.”
I enjoyed this book a lot, while simultaneously wanting to shake some sense into this woman for the whole book. This novel provides a look at how disheartening and soul-crushing entering into the workforce can be, while being unable to escape the necessity of it. However, the main experience this novel explores is falling in love with a married man and what being the mistress feels like. It was difficult to read sometimes because we are in her head, which meant we were in delulu town for a while. The writing was fantastic (I loved the unexpected breaking of the 4th wall). It was funny, heartwarming, irreverent, and tense. I will definitely be getting a physical copy of this book!
I thank NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book. I actually got it after the book has been released, so go get a copy if this sounds like it would be a good read for you.
3.5 (rounded up). Quite an entertaining book. This one is for the fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. It was fast paced & thrilling, which makes for a great page-turner. This definitely reads with that overly-dramatic tone I often associate with YA books, with our main character's inner monologue being especially guilty of being full of platitudes and cliché phrases. When I first started reading it, I rolled my eyes a few times. However, as the story went on, it managed to capture me. As long as you go into it knowing this is written in this particular way, you are likely going to enjoy this plot. I'm not sure I care enough to read the sequel, but maybe if I can find it through Libby.
This audiobook captivated me from start to finish. The writing was skillful, and I found myself deeply invested in the protagonist's journey. However, I must acknowledge the challenging themes of manipulation portrayed by the author, which added depth to the narrative.
While the final twist was somewhat anticipated, its execution was satisfying. I had hoped for a more substantial resolution, but the implied aftermath offered room for reflection.
Overall, the audiobook proved to be an engaging experience, enhanced by the excellent narration. I would recommend it to those interested in explorations of complex themes within the Latin American context (Mexican and Puerto Rican main characters), particularly readers who enjoyed works like “My Dark Vanessa.”
However, I feel compelled to issue a trigger warning for themes of grooming and abuses of power.
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 9
Writing - 9
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 10
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 8
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for this review.
2.5 - Got this as part of March's Prime First Reads.
Without a doubt, this story created a wonderful sense of whimsical atmosphere, all credit to the writing. In terms of plot and characters, the story felt like it went everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Maybe I'm simply not smart enough for this, but I felt like I was reading the accounts of someone trying to recount their dreams. You might find the unanswered mystery compelling, but I found it unsatisfying. I couldn't even begin to form a theory. Maybe it should've been longer. But hey, it was free and I enjoyed reading parts of it, even if I didn't end up liking it.
“I'm certain that there was something vibrating in the air, like a murmur, like the river of words we say without thinking when we make love. You know what I mean?”
3.5 - I liked this story, but it didn't connect with me on a deeper level. I found the ending predictable, which took away most of its impact.
Tia has a great talent for writing good love interests, portraying their chemistry, and describing compelling love scenes. However, many of the side characters felt one dimensional.
The magical realism elements were fine. I liked it more than I thought I would, but at the same time I was conflicted. I both wanted to know more about people with “the diagnosis” and was annoyed by the magical element.
I did enjoy reading it towards the end of February on a leap year. It felt right.
What a moving coming of age story exploring the complexities of love, family, gender, sexuality, internalized homophobia/transphpbia, and even choosing a life path! Our main character has one of the most significant character development arcs. It took me a while to get into it because of where our mc started, but once they started peeling their layers, it was so captivating and endearing.
A wonderful reflection on motherhood, the pressures women face to become one, and how to reconcile society's expectations with our desire not to participate in motherhood.
I especially loved the concept of a woman's existence as an end in itself, instead of a vessel through which other lives come through. A woman existing has intrinsic value, motherhood is just a choice that can be made by those who desire it.
4.5 - What a charming and emotional epistolary memoir. It captures perfectly how books can provide opportunities for reflection, information, and deep meaningful connections. These letters also give us a glimpse of life in the US and England post WW2, which I found fascinating. The generosity and kindness these people showed through their letters and parcels made me feel so proud to be human. Give this short book a read. It's delightful.