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desiree930's reviews
1043 reviews
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I loved The Martian when I read it several years ago. While I didn’t enjoy this quite as much, there is still a lot to like here.
I like the premise and the way the flashbacks were integrated into the plot worked for me.
I loved Rocky and Ryland’s dynamic. It was obvious the author put a lot of thought into every aspect of Rocky’s race and planet.
I will say that I didn’t really care for Ryland as much as I loved the character of Mark Watney in The Martian. His brand of snark was right up my alley and Ryland felt a little too…old fashioned? I can’t really explain it. But at the end of the day I enjoyed his story and his personal arc.
I also thought that, for a book that reached nearly 500 pages, there were moments where we skipped ahead where I wanted more. I really enjoyed all of the ‘getting to know you’ moments between Rocky and Ryland, and honestly would’ve read an entire book about that. I also wish the flashback scenes had been a little more fleshed out. There was so little time with so many characters that it was difficult for me to really buy Ryland’s connection with his crew mates.
All in all, this was an engrossing and fascinating read, and I’m really glad I picked this one up.
I like the premise and the way the flashbacks were integrated into the plot worked for me.
I loved Rocky and Ryland’s dynamic. It was obvious the author put a lot of thought into every aspect of Rocky’s race and planet.
I will say that I didn’t really care for Ryland as much as I loved the character of Mark Watney in The Martian. His brand of snark was right up my alley and Ryland felt a little too…old fashioned? I can’t really explain it. But at the end of the day I enjoyed his story and his personal arc.
I also thought that, for a book that reached nearly 500 pages, there were moments where we skipped ahead where I wanted more. I really enjoyed all of the ‘getting to know you’ moments between Rocky and Ryland, and honestly would’ve read an entire book about that. I also wish the flashback scenes had been a little more fleshed out. There was so little time with so many characters that it was difficult for me to really buy Ryland’s connection with his crew mates.
All in all, this was an engrossing and fascinating read, and I’m really glad I picked this one up.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
September 19, 2021
It's been a minute since I read a romance that left me grinning from ear to ear. I loved this. I loved the banter between our characters, I love a fake-dating trope, and even though this was incredibly slow-burn as far as the progression of the relationship, I loved almost every second of it.
I love that Olive and Adam are scientists and that much of their flirtation and connection is tied to the fact that they are both intelligent people.
I also thought the author did a really nice job fleshing out the world and providing side characters that aren't just window dressing. They are actually involved in the story and have an impact on our main characters, both directly and indirectly. I feel like there are so many instances of romance novels introducing characters who are going to get their own book later on, so they don't get much development or even page time in the books where they are not the protagonist. This book didn't do that, which I appreciated.
There were a few moments where I wished that they could've just used their words and told each other the truth (hence the half star knocked off), but overall I just really enjoyed this story of two hot nerds falling in love.
If I had any other 'complaint' other than the moments of silly miscommunication, it would probably be that I was interested in hearing Adam's perspective, but that definitely wasn't a deal breaker for me.
All in all, I'm just so happy I picked this book as my Book of the Month for September, and can't wait to read this author's next book.
It's been a minute since I read a romance that left me grinning from ear to ear. I loved this. I loved the banter between our characters, I love a fake-dating trope, and even though this was incredibly slow-burn as far as the progression of the relationship, I loved almost every second of it.
I love that Olive and Adam are scientists and that much of their flirtation and connection is tied to the fact that they are both intelligent people.
I also thought the author did a really nice job fleshing out the world and providing side characters that aren't just window dressing. They are actually involved in the story and have an impact on our main characters, both directly and indirectly. I feel like there are so many instances of romance novels introducing characters who are going to get their own book later on, so they don't get much development or even page time in the books where they are not the protagonist. This book didn't do that, which I appreciated.
There were a few moments where I wished that they could've just used their words and told each other the truth (hence the half star knocked off), but overall I just really enjoyed this story of two hot nerds falling in love.
If I had any other 'complaint' other than the moments of silly miscommunication, it would probably be that I was interested in hearing Adam's perspective, but that definitely wasn't a deal breaker for me.
All in all, I'm just so happy I picked this book as my Book of the Month for September, and can't wait to read this author's next book.
Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
January 29, 2021
I started reading this in fall 2020. Then I stopped reading altogether for close to two months.
When I began this book, I tried to listen to it on audio. However, with the format of the book, I found the narration to be somewhat tedious. This book has several excerpts from fan fiction posts, emails, text chains, and movie scripts. The extra words that your eyes would just skip over when reading an email is all narrated, which ended up kind of taking me out of the story a bit. To be honest, I normally find things like excerpts to be momentum killers in and of themselves, but I did think this book did a nice job tying in themes from the fan fictions to what was going on in the main plot.
I mostly loved the characters. I did think there were a few things that were made more dramatic than they needed to be. For example, Marcus pretending to be a brainless himbo because he got flustered once in an interview and just decided to act that way forever was a little much. And it's never adequately explained why it was risky for him to just act like himself. Every celebrity has interviews they'd probably wish had gone differently. I would've understood if it stemmed from the fact that he is dyslexic, if maybe that caused him some level of anxiety or embarrassment, but he literally says that he doesn't care if people know that he's dyslexic. But somehow acting like he has half a brain could be detrimental to his career...just didn't quite buy it.
I love that April is a (mostly) confident plus-sized character. Of course, there are things that can be emotionally damaging, but she is very strong throughout the book and learns how to stand up for herself to the people she loves about their toxic attitudes regarding her physical appearance. There are a few moments where it takes her awhile, and I wish she would've used her words rather than close off and get passive aggressive, but as a fat person myself I know how hard it can be and there are so many moments in this book that rang true for me.
As far as the romance goes, I do think it happens very quickly. They go from zero to naked in about 3 dates. And if you prefer your sex scenes fade-to-black, this may not be the book for you, not only because the scenes between the main couple are pretty descriptive, but there are also many fan fiction excerpts describing various sex acts. I enjoyed it, for the most part, but I could definitely see some people skipping sections if they aren't comfortable.
One thing that I didn't care for but I'm sure other people loved was the somewhat meta nature of this book. Marcus in an actor on a big budget period show with a huge cast, with lots of violence, graphic sex, and political intrigue. This show is based on a series of very popular books, but the show went on after the point where the books end. The seasons that aren't adapting a book are generally looked down on as being inferior, and rumors are swirling that the final season completely butchers the characters and the story as a whole because the two showrunners are more concerned with their next project, a sci-fi called 'Spacefighters', than they are making sure that the show they are currently in charge of is handled properly. Sound familiar? I'll give you a hint...it rhymes with 'Shame of Crones'.
Seriously though, the GOT-like show being ruined in its final season is a little on the nose. Plus, later in the book the characters actually mention GOT and it just felt a little hokey to me.
I did love the script excerpts from Marcus' previous movies. Absolutely ridiculous in such a fun way. I would say it's unbelievable to think that any of these could actually be made in real life, but Sharknado is a thing, sooooooo...
It's obvious that the author is setting this up to be a series of books, and I will happily check out the next installment. This was fun, sexy, and exactly what I needed.
I started reading this in fall 2020. Then I stopped reading altogether for close to two months.
When I began this book, I tried to listen to it on audio. However, with the format of the book, I found the narration to be somewhat tedious. This book has several excerpts from fan fiction posts, emails, text chains, and movie scripts. The extra words that your eyes would just skip over when reading an email is all narrated, which ended up kind of taking me out of the story a bit. To be honest, I normally find things like excerpts to be momentum killers in and of themselves, but I did think this book did a nice job tying in themes from the fan fictions to what was going on in the main plot.
I mostly loved the characters. I did think there were a few things that were made more dramatic than they needed to be. For example, Marcus pretending to be a brainless himbo because he got flustered once in an interview and just decided to act that way forever was a little much. And it's never adequately explained why it was risky for him to just act like himself. Every celebrity has interviews they'd probably wish had gone differently. I would've understood if it stemmed from the fact that he is dyslexic, if maybe that caused him some level of anxiety or embarrassment, but he literally says that he doesn't care if people know that he's dyslexic. But somehow acting like he has half a brain could be detrimental to his career...just didn't quite buy it.
I love that April is a (mostly) confident plus-sized character. Of course, there are things that can be emotionally damaging, but she is very strong throughout the book and learns how to stand up for herself to the people she loves about their toxic attitudes regarding her physical appearance. There are a few moments where it takes her awhile, and I wish she would've used her words rather than close off and get passive aggressive, but as a fat person myself I know how hard it can be and there are so many moments in this book that rang true for me.
As far as the romance goes, I do think it happens very quickly. They go from zero to naked in about 3 dates. And if you prefer your sex scenes fade-to-black, this may not be the book for you, not only because the scenes between the main couple are pretty descriptive, but there are also many fan fiction excerpts describing various sex acts. I enjoyed it, for the most part, but I could definitely see some people skipping sections if they aren't comfortable.
One thing that I didn't care for but I'm sure other people loved was the somewhat meta nature of this book. Marcus in an actor on a big budget period show with a huge cast, with lots of violence, graphic sex, and political intrigue. This show is based on a series of very popular books, but the show went on after the point where the books end. The seasons that aren't adapting a book are generally looked down on as being inferior, and rumors are swirling that the final season completely butchers the characters and the story as a whole because the two showrunners are more concerned with their next project, a sci-fi called 'Spacefighters', than they are making sure that the show they are currently in charge of is handled properly. Sound familiar? I'll give you a hint...it rhymes with 'Shame of Crones'.
Seriously though, the GOT-like show being ruined in its final season is a little on the nose. Plus, later in the book the characters actually mention GOT and it just felt a little hokey to me.
I did love the script excerpts from Marcus' previous movies. Absolutely ridiculous in such a fun way. I would say it's unbelievable to think that any of these could actually be made in real life, but Sharknado is a thing, sooooooo...
It's obvious that the author is setting this up to be a series of books, and I will happily check out the next installment. This was fun, sexy, and exactly what I needed.
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
July 11, 2021
I put off reading this book for a long time because I heard from so many people that it is their least favorite Austen. I’m glad I read it because while I didn’t LOVE it, it still has many of the hallmarks of all Austen’s other work, including her witticisms when discussing society and human nature.
It probably is my least favorite Austen novel, but realistically something has to take that spot. It doesn’t mean I didn’t appreciate it.
That being said, if you are going into this hoping for a swoony, angsty romance…you might want to keep looking. I mean, there is angst, but it’s all one-sided. Up until the 95% mark our ‘hero’ is still pining over a woman who isn’t our heroine. Edmund never shows Fanny anything deeper than brotherly affection, and then in the last couple pages we’re told that he decides that maybe Fanny might be an okay wife for him after all. 😒
Edmund is absolutely the worst of Austen’s leading men. He’s judgmental, priggish, and stuffy. And even though Fanny is FAR from my favorite Austen heroine, she deserves better than Edmund.
All that said, I did enjoy the discussions of class and the whole section where Fanny goes back to visit her impoverished family after living at Mansfield Park for several years was probably my favorite part of the novel, just to see the juxtaposition of what her life could’ve been like and what it actually was.
I put off reading this book for a long time because I heard from so many people that it is their least favorite Austen. I’m glad I read it because while I didn’t LOVE it, it still has many of the hallmarks of all Austen’s other work, including her witticisms when discussing society and human nature.
It probably is my least favorite Austen novel, but realistically something has to take that spot. It doesn’t mean I didn’t appreciate it.
That being said, if you are going into this hoping for a swoony, angsty romance…you might want to keep looking. I mean, there is angst, but it’s all one-sided. Up until the 95% mark our ‘hero’ is still pining over a woman who isn’t our heroine. Edmund never shows Fanny anything deeper than brotherly affection, and then in the last couple pages we’re told that he decides that maybe Fanny might be an okay wife for him after all. 😒
Edmund is absolutely the worst of Austen’s leading men. He’s judgmental, priggish, and stuffy. And even though Fanny is FAR from my favorite Austen heroine, she deserves better than Edmund.
All that said, I did enjoy the discussions of class and the whole section where Fanny goes back to visit her impoverished family after living at Mansfield Park for several years was probably my favorite part of the novel, just to see the juxtaposition of what her life could’ve been like and what it actually was.
The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is probably my favorite book so far by this author. I enjoyed the premise and the first half kept me thoroughly engaged.
That said, in the second part there were some issues with pacing and my interest began to wane. I also felt like the ending was really rushed, especially when some of the middle of the book dragged for me.
There is a moment about halfway through the book that isn't really a twist, just a turn in the story, that really bothered me in the moment. 9/11 is used as a plot device to separate Carly from Joanna, and I'm just not here for it. I had a feeling early on that 9/11 was going to factor into the story somehow, since she was sent to New York in 2001...I was worried at first that one or the other of them were going to die, luckily that wasn't the case. I still don't LOVE using 9/11 like that, but it was more delicately handled than I feared it would be.
I got over it as we moved on with the story, but that was the point where I started losing interest. I just didn't feel as connected the second half, and there were so many things I wondered about that weren't exactly plot holes, but it bothered me that they weren't even brought up.
For example:
1. Why was there never a discussion of Hunter, Patty, and John Paul ever jumping forward to be with Carly and Joanna in 2001?
2. Why would Hunter not tell Patty about all of this when he told Carly, if he knew he was going to have to tell her at some point anyway? At least that way she would know that he hadn't tried to hurt Carly or something.
3. Why couldn't Joe or Patty go forward in time after all of this to 2001 and get in touch with Carly with new dates to jump back so she would never leave without Joanna? They don't have to go back close to September. It could be in the summer just like Carly, so there's no issues with 'disturbances' or whatever excuse they gave for why Carly was thrown 12 years further into the future than intended.
4. How on Earth can Hunter say with a straight face, 'No meddling' when his ass stayed in the past and got married and had a baby with someone?! Also he sent Carly to the future for a procedure that she never would've been able to get without his help, which is also meddling.
5. Were the other people who jumped five times just unlucky? Or did they all magically decide to stay where they landed on their own? Or were they stranded where they jumped the fifth time? Why wouldn't Hunter's mom have sent another traveler to the last known jumping time/place to see what is going on? Or if they jumped into the past, why wouldn't they have had a message delivered to her in the future, a la Back to the Future? Just to let them know that they didn't just disappear from existence.
6. Why wouldn't Carly try to get in touch with her sister in 2001 when she was going through so much turmoil? Yeah, I know, no meddling, but that argument has already crumpled. She needed someone to be there for her and her daughter, and she knew that Hunter was going to tell Patty about the situation.
7. Branching off of #6, why in the heck wouldn't 2001 Patty (or 2001 Carly, for that matter) come to New York knowing everything that was going to transpire? Give young Carly a heads up? It just doesn't make sense. Even if you're trying to abide by the rules, this was her child, who she was desperate to be a mother to. But she'd just chill at home in North Carolina during the summer of 2001 knowing that her younger self is all on her own and about to lose her child???? I just don't buy it.
Those were just a few that popped into my head while I was reading, I'm sure there's more.
Also, I wish I'd gotten more of Hunter's story.I was sure his first wife was going to weave into the story somehow, but nope. And his mom needing to go into hiding because people were getting 'too close' was brought up very vaguely several times, but at the end of the day it felt to me like a cheap way to cut off Carly from her so she'd have to go back to 1970 without Joanna.
I know there's a lot of complaining in this review, but I did actually find it quite an emotional read as a mother myself. There were definitely moments that ripped at my heartstrings and I found myself feeling a lot of empathy for our protagonist. I just wish the speculative element of this had been better fleshed out.
That said, in the second part there were some issues with pacing and my interest began to wane. I also felt like the ending was really rushed, especially when some of the middle of the book dragged for me.
There is a moment about halfway through the book that isn't really a twist, just a turn in the story, that really bothered me in the moment.
I got over it as we moved on with the story, but that was the point where I started losing interest. I just didn't feel as connected the second half, and there were so many things I wondered about that weren't exactly plot holes, but it bothered me that they weren't even brought up.
For example:
2. Why would Hunter not tell Patty about all of this when he told Carly, if he knew he was going to have to tell her at some point anyway? At least that way she would know that he hadn't tried to hurt Carly or something.
3. Why couldn't Joe or Patty go forward in time after all of this to 2001 and get in touch with Carly with new dates to jump back so she would never leave without Joanna? They don't have to go back close to September. It could be in the summer just like Carly, so there's no issues with 'disturbances' or whatever excuse they gave for why Carly was thrown 12 years further into the future than intended.
4. How on Earth can Hunter say with a straight face, 'No meddling' when his ass stayed in the past and got married and had a baby with someone?! Also he sent Carly to the future for a procedure that she never would've been able to get without his help, which is also meddling.
5. Were the other people who jumped five times just unlucky? Or did they all magically decide to stay where they landed on their own? Or were they stranded where they jumped the fifth time? Why wouldn't Hunter's mom have sent another traveler to the last known jumping time/place to see what is going on? Or if they jumped into the past, why wouldn't they have had a message delivered to her in the future, a la Back to the Future? Just to let them know that they didn't just disappear from existence.
6. Why wouldn't Carly try to get in touch with her sister in 2001 when she was going through so much turmoil? Yeah, I know, no meddling, but that argument has already crumpled. She needed someone to be there for her and her daughter, and she knew that Hunter was going to tell Patty about the situation.
7. Branching off of #6, why in the heck wouldn't 2001 Patty (or 2001 Carly, for that matter) come to New York knowing everything that was going to transpire? Give young Carly a heads up? It just doesn't make sense. Even if you're trying to abide by the rules, this was her child, who she was desperate to be a mother to. But she'd just chill at home in North Carolina during the summer of 2001 knowing that her younger self is all on her own and about to lose her child???? I just don't buy it.
Those were just a few that popped into my head while I was reading, I'm sure there's more.
Also, I wish I'd gotten more of Hunter's story.
I know there's a lot of complaining in this review, but I did actually find it quite an emotional read as a mother myself. There were definitely moments that ripped at my heartstrings and I found myself feeling a lot of empathy for our protagonist. I just wish the speculative element of this had been better fleshed out.
Content Warnings
A good portion of the story deals with a sick newborn, so if that's something that upsets you, just be on alert. Also there are mentions of war and death in war, but it's not super graphic that I recall.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I adore Brit Bennett's writing. This gives me similar vibes to books like Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane and Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. It's not a plot-heavy family saga. It's all about the characters and how the decisions they make affect everyone around them and how one decision, big or small, can change the course of a person's entire life. I love stories like that, and both this book and her debut, The Mothers, do it so well.
This is such a difficult book to talk about. There are some really intense themes running through this book that my review will not be able to adequately dissect, specifically colorism. I would highly encourage anyone interested in learning more to look at reviews from Black reviewers either on this site or in videos on YouTube that go more into depth and can speak more clearly on it. I'll just say, it is such a delicate subject and I think Brit Bennett navigated it beautifully, from my very limited perspective.
As far as the characters go, they are so authentically flawed. Even when they would make decisions I didn't understand or like, it never felt out of character for them.
I did only give this book 4 stars, and that's because I felt like the narrative lost a little steam towards the end, once we moved on to the next generation. That's actually something I notice a lot with books like this that chronicle multiple generations. I get very invested in the first generation, and we spend a good chunk of time with them, only to jump ahead several years and start focusing on an entirely new set of characters, but I always end up enjoying one over the other. I also felt like the scenes with Kennedy as an adult felt a little repetitive. Again, it all fit with her character, self-centered and vapid as she was, but I would've loved to have seen a little growth from her, especially once she learned about her family history, but I guess some people are just vapid narcissists, no matter what life throws at them.
I also felt like the book ended a little too abruptly. There were so many little threads still hanging. Not plot holes, but just so many things I wanted to know. That won't bother everyone. Some people love open-ended or vague endings, but I just wanted to see these characters have more of a wrap up.
I listened to this on audiobook as well as reading the physical copy, and I highly recommend the audiobook. The voice actor is amazing. She isn't just reading the lines and saying the dialogue. She gives real performances and differentiates each of the characters very well. I'm not sure if she also did The Mothers audiobook, but she was great regardless.
I will read anything Brit Bennett writes in the future. I just love the way she creates these interesting and flawed characters and tells their stories while also addressing important social topics.
Also, one of the main characters' names is Desiree, and I think that's the first time I've seen my name used in a book for a main character, so that was kind of fun. 😁
This is such a difficult book to talk about. There are some really intense themes running through this book that my review will not be able to adequately dissect, specifically colorism. I would highly encourage anyone interested in learning more to look at reviews from Black reviewers either on this site or in videos on YouTube that go more into depth and can speak more clearly on it. I'll just say, it is such a delicate subject and I think Brit Bennett navigated it beautifully, from my very limited perspective.
As far as the characters go, they are so authentically flawed. Even when they would make decisions I didn't understand or like, it never felt out of character for them.
I did only give this book 4 stars, and that's because I felt like the narrative lost a little steam towards the end, once we moved on to the next generation. That's actually something I notice a lot with books like this that chronicle multiple generations. I get very invested in the first generation, and we spend a good chunk of time with them, only to jump ahead several years and start focusing on an entirely new set of characters, but I always end up enjoying one over the other. I also felt like the scenes with Kennedy as an adult felt a little repetitive. Again, it all fit with her character, self-centered and vapid as she was, but I would've loved to have seen a little growth from her, especially once she learned about her family history, but I guess some people are just vapid narcissists, no matter what life throws at them.
I also felt like the book ended a little too abruptly. There were so many little threads still hanging. Not plot holes, but just so many things I wanted to know. That won't bother everyone. Some people love open-ended or vague endings, but I just wanted to see these characters have more of a wrap up.
I listened to this on audiobook as well as reading the physical copy, and I highly recommend the audiobook. The voice actor is amazing. She isn't just reading the lines and saying the dialogue. She gives real performances and differentiates each of the characters very well. I'm not sure if she also did The Mothers audiobook, but she was great regardless.
I will read anything Brit Bennett writes in the future. I just love the way she creates these interesting and flawed characters and tells their stories while also addressing important social topics.
Also, one of the main characters' names is Desiree, and I think that's the first time I've seen my name used in a book for a main character, so that was kind of fun. 😁
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying and Physical abuse
Minor: Death
Marriage on Madison Avenue by Lauren Layne
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book was exactly what I needed after reading some books with heavier themes like grief and war. The couple was fine, if a little bland. This would be great for someone looking for a cute adult romance with fade-to-black sex scenes. I wish there was a little more steaminess between Audrey and Clark, but that's just me.
Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam
This is the second book I've read this week that was written in verse. I listened to the audiobook, which is a format I tend to enjoy when consuming books written this way. As far as the actual story goes, I found myself at turns heartbroken and outraged, because I know that while this book is a work of fiction, this is heavily inspired by one of the co-author's experiences. Even if it wasn't, I know that this type of thing happens to young Black people all of the time, and it's absolutely unacceptable that it is not only allowed by our 'justice' system, it is a primary function of that corrupt system. I won't say broken system, because it's doing exactly what it has been designed to do.
This is a very quick read (the audiobook is only about 4 hours long), but it contains very intense and important discussions within its pages. It is beautifully written and knowing that it includes words that Yusef Salaam wrote when he was wrongfully incarcerated was really powerful as well.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the second book I've read this week that was written in verse. I listened to the audiobook, which is a format I tend to enjoy when consuming books written this way. As far as the actual story goes, I found myself at turns heartbroken and outraged, because I know that while this book is a work of fiction, this is heavily inspired by one of the co-author's experiences. Even if it wasn't, I know that this type of thing happens to young Black people all of the time, and it's absolutely unacceptable that it is not only allowed by our 'justice' system, it is a primary function of that corrupt system. I won't say broken system, because it's doing exactly what it has been designed to do.
This is a very quick read (the audiobook is only about 4 hours long), but it contains very intense and important discussions within its pages. It is beautifully written and knowing that it includes words that Yusef Salaam wrote when he was wrongfully incarcerated was really powerful as well.
The Heiress: The Revelations of Anne de Bourgh by Molly Greeley
I love Pride and Prejudice. It's one of my favorite stories of all time. I want to love Pride & Prejudice retellings, but they don't always live up to my expectations. I went into this book, a story about the very minor character of Anne de Bourgh, with cautious optimism. Truthfully, it was that gorgeous cover that first drew my eye, even before realizing what the book was about. Can we just take a second and take it in? Wow.
I've always wondered about Anne de Bourgh. She has zero personality on the page of the source text, and no adaptations that I've seen/read have really tried to flesh out her character whatsoever. Why was she sickly? What are her feelings about her mother? Her cousin? Elizabeth Bennet? I was really intrigued to see what this author would do to expand upon the world of P&P and this character in particular, and for the most part I think she succeeded.
I thought the idea that Anne was 'sickly' because she was being overmedicated to the point of addiction was brilliant. It made complete sense in the context of her character in P&P, the way she was just silent in the background. It also made sense to me that her mother would choose something like laudanum as a remedy for her fussy baby. After all, how dare the child of Catherine de Bourgh be anything other that mild and obedient?
The first part of the book, almost to the 50% mark, covers her birth through the point where she decides to break away from her mother and her laudanum-infused haze. And I have to admit, I felt like it took a little too long to get to the point of the book where she actually takes control of her own life. I enjoyed it, but her life was very repetitive up to that point and it started to drag a bit for me. I think it's highly possible this was an intentional choice the author made to simulate for the reader the languid dragging nature of Anne's day-to-day life. I just wish it had been a touch shorter.
As far as the second part of the story, it didn't suddenly become an action-packed romp just because Anne decided to assert her independence. This is still very much a character study with quiet moments of introspection taking center stage. I could see many people not enjoying this book if they went into it expecting a big plot or if they didn't like being in Anne's head.
The references to Pride & Prejudice are there, but are not central to the story. We see Darcy and Elizabeth a handful of times, and though they are ultimately involved in Anne's story, it's on the periphery and they are never front and center. It was interesting to see Darcy and especially Elizabeth through her eyes. They both felt very familiar and I think the author did a wonderful job at integrating them into the story just enough.
The ending of this book is beautiful and bittersweet. I don't want to say any more than that, but I absolutely loved the last chapter and think it wrapped up her story perfectly.
I know that this author has another book about Charlotte Collins, and I am really looking forward to reading that book as well.
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emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love Pride and Prejudice. It's one of my favorite stories of all time. I want to love Pride & Prejudice retellings, but they don't always live up to my expectations. I went into this book, a story about the very minor character of Anne de Bourgh, with cautious optimism. Truthfully, it was that gorgeous cover that first drew my eye, even before realizing what the book was about. Can we just take a second and take it in? Wow.
I've always wondered about Anne de Bourgh. She has zero personality on the page of the source text, and no adaptations that I've seen/read have really tried to flesh out her character whatsoever. Why was she sickly? What are her feelings about her mother? Her cousin? Elizabeth Bennet? I was really intrigued to see what this author would do to expand upon the world of P&P and this character in particular, and for the most part I think she succeeded.
I thought the idea that Anne was 'sickly' because she was being overmedicated to the point of addiction was brilliant. It made complete sense in the context of her character in P&P, the way she was just silent in the background. It also made sense to me that her mother would choose something like laudanum as a remedy for her fussy baby. After all, how dare the child of Catherine de Bourgh be anything other that mild and obedient?
The first part of the book, almost to the 50% mark, covers her birth through the point where she decides to break away from her mother and her laudanum-infused haze. And I have to admit, I felt like it took a little too long to get to the point of the book where she actually takes control of her own life. I enjoyed it, but her life was very repetitive up to that point and it started to drag a bit for me. I think it's highly possible this was an intentional choice the author made to simulate for the reader the languid dragging nature of Anne's day-to-day life. I just wish it had been a touch shorter.
As far as the second part of the story, it didn't suddenly become an action-packed romp just because Anne decided to assert her independence. This is still very much a character study with quiet moments of introspection taking center stage. I could see many people not enjoying this book if they went into it expecting a big plot or if they didn't like being in Anne's head.
The references to Pride & Prejudice are there, but are not central to the story. We see Darcy and Elizabeth a handful of times, and though they are ultimately involved in Anne's story, it's on the periphery and they are never front and center. It was interesting to see Darcy and especially Elizabeth through her eyes. They both felt very familiar and I think the author did a wonderful job at integrating them into the story just enough.
The ending of this book is beautiful and bittersweet. I don't want to say any more than that, but I absolutely loved the last chapter and think it wrapped up her story perfectly.
I know that this author has another book about Charlotte Collins, and I am really looking forward to reading that book as well.
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Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Audacity by Melanie Crowder
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
What a beautiful book. I'm so glad that I gave this a chance. I don't tend to pick up many books written in verse, and while I'm sure that I knew what this book was about at the time it was purchased, it's been sitting on my shelves for a couple of years now and picked it up on a whim today.
This is a difficult book to slot into a genre. It's fictional, but is also inspired by the life of a real person. It's historical fiction, but the format of being written in verse makes it more accessible, in my opinion, than some historical fiction. It's also a very quick read. This is technically 366 pages, but I read it in about 2 hours.
There were some really beautiful passages in this book, and I found myself really caring about Clara and her story.
If I had one thing I wish had been different, the book ends very suddenly. I wish we could've had a little more about the aftermath of the strikes, but overall I found myself very connected to the story.
This is a difficult book to slot into a genre. It's fictional, but is also inspired by the life of a real person. It's historical fiction, but the format of being written in verse makes it more accessible, in my opinion, than some historical fiction. It's also a very quick read. This is technically 366 pages, but I read it in about 2 hours.
There were some really beautiful passages in this book, and I found myself really caring about Clara and her story.
If I had one thing I wish had been different, the book ends very suddenly. I wish we could've had a little more about the aftermath of the strikes, but overall I found myself very connected to the story.