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ladygetslit's reviews
821 reviews
What's Mine and Yours by Naima Coster
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book isn’t really about the integration of a school in the early 2000s. It’s more about the messy nature of human beings, who are so often selfish, prejudiced, anxious, and ignorant.
I wanted to rate this higher, because the writing was good, and I appreciate what Naima Coster accomplished with this book. Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel connected to the characters. Everyone in this book is some kind of asshole, and even though I can understand why, it just kept me from really feeling for them. I think if the story had focused only on Noelle and Gee, I would’ve been able to settle in more. As it is, the story follows so many different people and I didn’t have the time to feel connected to their story enough to be invested in the outcomes.
I would still recommend this book, because I think it does a good job of exploring the experience of being biracial, of being on the outside of something looking in. It just didn’t pack the emotional punch I wanted it to.
I wanted to rate this higher, because the writing was good, and I appreciate what Naima Coster accomplished with this book. Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel connected to the characters. Everyone in this book is some kind of asshole, and even though I can understand why, it just kept me from really feeling for them. I think if the story had focused only on Noelle and Gee, I would’ve been able to settle in more. As it is, the story follows so many different people and I didn’t have the time to feel connected to their story enough to be invested in the outcomes.
I would still recommend this book, because I think it does a good job of exploring the experience of being biracial, of being on the outside of something looking in. It just didn’t pack the emotional punch I wanted it to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Infidelity, and Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Abortion, and Murder
Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I really want to give this book 5 stars. The story about a family torn apart by borders is truly worth reading, and it’s a very emotional book. There were some truly beautiful passages retelling Colombian myths and describing the various characters’ feelings about their mixed status. Still, I just felt like something was missing. Maybe I just didn’t connect due to the majority 3rd person narration, although I loved the few chapters in 1st person. This is a heartbreaking book, but there is also so much hope to it. The family never stops fighting for each other.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, and Colonisation
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s difficult to talk about this book. It sat on my shelf for a year before I finally picked it up, and I’m kicking myself I didn’t read it sooner.
This is a book about human beings: sad, messy, anxious, chaotic human beings who are trying to do the best they can. This is about how sometimes we never know our impact on each other, and how much we need each other.
The plot synopsis really doesn’t do this book justice. Because it’s not really about a bank robber/hostage situation, even though that’s what’s happening in the book. This story is about something deeper. All I can say is that it touched me. It touched the parts of me that I’d forgotten we’re still aching to be understood.
This is a book about human beings: sad, messy, anxious, chaotic human beings who are trying to do the best they can. This is about how sometimes we never know our impact on each other, and how much we need each other.
The plot synopsis really doesn’t do this book justice. Because it’s not really about a bank robber/hostage situation, even though that’s what’s happening in the book. This story is about something deeper. All I can say is that it touched me. It touched the parts of me that I’d forgotten we’re still aching to be understood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
Recommended for You by Laura Silverman
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 2: The Romantic Period through the Twentieth Century by M.H. Abrams
4.0
Again, haven't read the whole thing. This was for British Writers II, which I liked a bit better than I.
The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1: The Middle Ages through the Restoration & the Eighteenth Century by M.H. Abrams
3.0
Ok, so I haven't read all of it. I did purchase it for British Writers I.
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
4.0
The basic plot of The Unit is about a female writer who has become “dispensible,” which in this society means childless, un-married, and without a stable profession that provides usefulness to society. People become dispensible when they’re over 50 (or 60 for men), and then they enter a “unit” where they participate in experiments and slowly donate their body parts until the “final donation.” The basic premise is that you’re not “useful” to society unless you create a family, and although it makes sense, the people in the unit are wonderful people too! It makes you wonder, because I can see our society becoming this way at some point. That’s the purpose of a good dystopia, making you rethink the way you look at government. I think the reason I connected to this book so much is because most of the dispensible people are writers, artists, etc… the people who just don’t fit in with ordinary society. What will happen if the government decides that writers aren’t really “needed” in society anymore? It’s scary: this could be me. Man, I almost became conservative from reading this book… quite honestly, I don’t really want the government messing in my business, telling me whether or not I’m “useful” to society. I think every single person on this planet is useful to society in some way, by living up to their potential.
P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
2.0
I can honestly say that the movie was better than the book. I feel like the only reason Ahern got published was because she's the daughter of Ireland's prime minister and can come up with slightly original chick lit plots.