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_naanhanaa_'s reviews
40 reviews
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
3.5
The book was good for the most part. I like Sally Roony's writing and her exploration of human relationships.
However, at times, especially during the letters between the main characters, it felt the author utilized those as a journal for their own direct thoughts. Sometimes, these made sense to the characters but at others, it arguably felt a little detached.
I also felt that the pregnancy reveal at the end came out of the left field. I understand that Simon and Eileen knew each other since childhood but I think that it was too fast and unnecessary. (Plus I just have unresolved trauma so take this critique with a grain of salt... maybe even a few).
The book also lost me a but towards the end.
Otherwise, love it. My fav characters are Alice and Simon. See myself in Alice for sure.
However, at times, especially during the letters between the main characters, it felt the author utilized those as a journal for their own direct thoughts. Sometimes, these made sense to the characters but at others, it arguably felt a little detached.
The book also lost me a but towards the end.
Otherwise, love it. My fav characters are Alice and Simon. See myself in Alice for sure.
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
"They dont have to prove themselves all the time to be loved. Because they always were.
This book is not a book that I initially thought I was going to get five stars but there is a reason that Coco Mellors took 7 years to write this book. Now I'll be honest, even though I gave it five stars doesn't mean that I thought it was perfect. Sometimes I did think that the stereotypical artist archetype was a little much for my taste and I definitely raised my eyebrow on some of the character focuses throughout this book that sometimes seemed a little deviated from the two main characters; however, the raw emotion and the thought that was put into these characters especially Cleo and Frank has kept me enthralled 100% of the time. I was absolutely captivated with every word because of how real and complex the relationships are with the characters in the book and how honest and raw and human they are. I love books that display complex Human Relationships as they exist in the real world. I saw people that I know that myself in different aspects of these characters and that allow me not only understand these characters better but the people in my life, including myself.
I also have much much love for Eleanor who is my favorite character in this book.
5.0
This book is not a book that I initially thought I was going to get five stars but there is a reason that Coco Mellors took 7 years to write this book. Now I'll be honest, even though I gave it five stars doesn't mean that I thought it was perfect. Sometimes I did think that the stereotypical artist archetype was a little much for my taste and I definitely raised my eyebrow on some of the character focuses throughout this book that sometimes seemed a little deviated from the two main characters; however, the raw emotion and the thought that was put into these characters especially Cleo and Frank has kept me enthralled 100% of the time. I was absolutely captivated with every word because of how real and complex the relationships are with the characters in the book and how honest and raw and human they are. I love books that display complex Human Relationships as they exist in the real world. I saw people that I know that myself in different aspects of these characters and that allow me not only understand these characters better but the people in my life, including myself.
I also have much much love for Eleanor who is my favorite character in this book.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
5.0
What the actual fuck.
1st time I was fully invested in the characters in a while.
Was lowkey scared of finishing the book.
Love. Love. Love.
1st time I was fully invested in the characters in a while.
Was lowkey scared of finishing the book.
Love. Love. Love.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
1.5
Book is obviously popular for good reason and I do like other works of the author but I honestly could not keep focus on this book.
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
medium-paced
4.25
The best way I can describe this book is probably one of the best intro college courses you'd reminisce on if you took a course on trauma in college. The way the author writes his chapters allows for the reader to comprehends the contents of the book. And of course, you might be a little confused on the science but at the end of the day you're going to understand what the author is trying to get you to understand. I do believe that the anecdotes are also necessary because oftentimes when we learn about trauma and mental health it's very much from a stoic and non-humanizing perspective and I feel that the author's personal experience with his patients adds a level of humanity to what we will read on further in that particular chapter. I think it also really enhances the ability to understand the content in the book. I feel that I've learned a lot about other people and of course myself throughout this book. I will say that this book can have the ability to potentially be triggering for some traumas but again, those aren't necessary to discuss in order to understand trauma because that's the whole point of the book. Towards the end, the book does feel a little repetitive and there was a point where I went from really intrigued to just kind of wanting to get the book over.
Other than that, the book is phenomenal.
Other than that, the book is phenomenal.
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou
5.0
I got this book as a reading assignment as an incoming freshman at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering and I was very skeptical when I received this book in the mail because I thought I was going to have to spend a week or a few weeks reading one of the most boring books I've ever encountered in my entire life. I knew about the Scandal related to theranos and Elizabeth Holmes but I was unaware of the full story because a lot of the coverage I saw of her on tiktok was calling her a girl boss. When I started reading this book however, I was quickly proven wrong that Not only was this book not boring but she was not a girl boss. She was very much a criminal and a horrible, greedy person. This book is not told like your regular nonfiction book. The pacing and the writing is very much Thriller. Even if you do know the case, I'd reckon that you'd still find this book very interesting and very informative especially at it is told by the journalist who ultimately uncovered what thernos was doing to the public. This book also got me out of a reading slump even though it took me a little while to finish it and it also acted as sort of an ethics class for me. I think with the lessons from this book, I will be able to go into the College of Engineering practicing a more ethical approach to my studies and will ultimately be my career in the future.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Wanted to read this book for a while. Every time the topic of reproductive rights comes up, this book is mentioned as a parallel of what is happening or a warning of what is/could come. For me, I saw similarities between how Gilead started and the recent/current political landscape of American Politics. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the looming potential of Project 2025, Atwood's book still serves as a warning of the potential dystopia that could be created.
The writing of the book is good, of course. No comments.
The storyline wasn't as "exciting" (wrong word choice) as I had hoped or expected based on what I've heard about the book and therefore it was hard to grasp my attention at times. That being said, I prefer this over some 'single-handed heroine story' that often comes in dystopian novels.
The writing of the book is good, of course. No comments.
The storyline wasn't as "exciting" (wrong word choice) as I had hoped or expected based on what I've heard about the book and therefore it was hard to grasp my attention at times. That being said, I prefer this over some 'single-handed heroine story' that often comes in dystopian novels.
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
I have no idea how to sum up my thoughts of this book. It was such a strange and unusual yet beautifully written exploration of grief and love. The thing I loved most about the book was how montastrilio and M were written. To me, I feel like I was experiencing the struggle between conforming to the human expectations and the Deep desire to be the creature that m was born, with the character. This also reminded me of the book Frankenstein and the things the creature experienced in the human world but also this felt like a different path of what Frankenstein could have been. Because M loved his parents and wasn't angry unlike the creature in frankenstein. There's a lot more I want to say about this book but I have so many feelings and emotions that I just can't put it all into words.
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
fast-paced
1.0
This book was a very forgettable experience for me. I don't think the book is actually as bad as I rated it however I did not enjoy it compared to the first one. I rated the first book in this duology five stars. This book is a lot different in the first book in the sense that this is more of a psychological horror. I also just was not invested in the story. I was waiting for this book to come out for a little bit and my expectations were not met. I really like the author's style of writing but it did not Translate well for my enjoyment in this book. I did think that the author explored an interesting idea and I don't think that my rating is a true Testament for the book because I do know people who have enjoyed it but compared to the first one it really was not what I expected it to be.