Jesse
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would after a friend recommended it. The story was gripping, but the fact that it's YA is very clear. The characters aren't well developed and there are some ridiculous plot points, but still a fun read.
3.5 stars, I'd say. It was much more thorough and meaningful than the movie. It was much smarter than I thought it was going to be too.
Had I reviewed this at 30%, I would have given it 5 stars. Being completely unaware of Circe and her mythology, it seemed as if it was sopping with potential. I was hoping for intense witchery and defiance of the gods. I got some of this.
Had I reviewed it at 60%, I would have given it 3 stars. I grew frustrated waiting for more action and adventure. Though I couldn't deny my enjoyment of Circe as a character and how well Miller conjured the story.
However, the ending pulled it together for me, landing at 4. All in all, a magically crafted story about love, healing, and defying the gods.
It's more engaging than you'd expect for a book attempting to lay out the broad spectrum that is neurodiversity. My intention of reading this was to gain some insight on my own behaviours, and I fulfilled that, but I'm also walking away with some tips and tools should I notice certain behaviours in others. I'd especially recommend this to new parents, as it outlines how to best support someone who is struggling in a world designed for the neurotypical.
Wohlleben takes the fascinating nature of trees and spins them into a modern fantasy, bursting with fact, theory, and mystery. A great read for tidbits on forestry and why we need to protect them - beyond our selfish exigencies.
I'd actually give this a 4.5. It was a deep exploration of the battle between Christianity, love, sexuality and the shame that encompasses it all. While I could certainly relate to some of it, it left me wanting more.
I'm a sucker for a post-apocalyptic story, but this fell fairly flat for me. The author has excellent prose, but the story just didn't captivate me. It felt disjointed and as if I couldn't connect to the characters very well (well, except Miranda, which is appropriate I suppose). Admittedly, I did watch the show before reading the book, so that could have skewed my feelings.
Realistically, I think this book is closer to a 4, but my gay agenda wants to push the rating up. It's the kind of book I really needed as a teen. It's spooky, it's weird, it's bold, but most importantly, it demonstrates through its unapologetically gay lens how queer people can confront, challenge, and rewrite the narratives that have historically boxed them in.
This was probably a 2, but I'm being generous as it's an indie author.
Do you like puns? Do you like terrible ones? Do you like terrible puns that are constant and digested by the character saying them? Then oh boy, I have the book for you!
The premise of the book is excellent, but the execution was incredibly poor. It needs a lot of editing and far more character development.
I would like to sue the author for attempted murder. I nearly died due to dehydration from all the tears.
What an important book, and so much more than I thought it was going to be. It was brilliant of the author to tell the story at all, but even more so to include himself as a character with utter earnestness.
“The truth about stories is that that's all we are.” King makes you feel as if you're in the room him, having an upbeat yet sorrowful conversation regarding Indian history.
Ironically, The Stand is more about the journey than the destination. It mirrors the everlasting political battles that seem hinged on the individual's interpretation of “freedom”, which is certainly relevant today. While I didn't connect well with any of the characters, I felt I was constantly thinking about them and their choices, even when not actively reading.
Adored this. First time reading anything involving a gay love story (a strange realization) and enjoyed the lack of stereotype or expectation. Bonus of learning a lot about Greek mythology! Highly recommend.