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izzyvb023's reviews
74 reviews
Appalachian Elegy: Poetry and Place by bell hooks
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
bell hooks herself describes the book perfectly in her introduction: “Dirge-like at times, the poems repeat sorrow sounds, connecting the pain of a historical Kentucky landscape ravaged by war and all human conditions that are like war.”
‘Appalachian Elegy’ was a beautiful meditation on the spiritual and natural elements that linger over Appalachia and give it its unique character and sense of place. I much prefer hooks’ prose to her poetry, but I still really enjoyed this short collection of poems. To anyone who wants to read ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ I would highly recommend reading this book instead.
‘Appalachian Elegy’ was a beautiful meditation on the spiritual and natural elements that linger over Appalachia and give it its unique character and sense of place. I much prefer hooks’ prose to her poetry, but I still really enjoyed this short collection of poems. To anyone who wants to read ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ I would highly recommend reading this book instead.
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I think more people need to be worried about prions diseases.
I liked this book well enough. It was paced pretty slowly, but the reveal was good. The narrator was unreliable and oftentimes even unlikeable, but I still wanted her to succeed.
There was also some very thoughtful commentary about translation, colonialism, and feminism. I was especially interested in the way the author described the act of translation and compared it to prayer.
The ‘meta’ bit at the end was good. It definitely achieved its goal and had me questioning the author and her lived experiences.
Overall, it was a good mild horror read. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for any of the following:
- dark academia
- plot twists
- mild body horror
- unreliable narrator
- meta
- translation/linguistics/language learning
I liked this book well enough. It was paced pretty slowly, but the reveal was good. The narrator was unreliable and oftentimes even unlikeable, but I still wanted her to succeed.
There was also some very thoughtful commentary about translation, colonialism, and feminism. I was especially interested in the way the author described the act of translation and compared it to prayer.
The ‘meta’ bit at the end was good. It definitely achieved its goal and had me questioning the author and her lived experiences.
Overall, it was a good mild horror read. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for any of the following:
- dark academia
- plot twists
- mild body horror
- unreliable narrator
- meta
- translation/linguistics/language learning
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
The Bacchae by Euripides
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
great read for any girls who like to dance, drink wine, participate in terrifying rituals, cross dress, and hunt the upholders of the patriarchy.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
5.0
What a beautifully candid book this was. I started it yesterday and couldn’t put it down until i finished. Jennette has a way of storytelling that makes it seem almost fictional, but when you remember it’s all real, your heart breaks into a million pieces.