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theresidentbookworm's reviews
1765 reviews
Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love by Elsie Chapman
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Hair: Styling Tips and Tricks for Girls by Jim Jordan
1.0
I think one of my aunts bought this book for me because I had absolutely no use for it. I still don't. For me, doing my hair is actually drying it with a blowdryer. Not for me!
To Sir, With Love by E.R. Braithwaite
4.0
This was one of my Salvation Army finds (five books for a dollar, can you believe that?), and I definitely didn't regret it. To Sir, With Love is like the older, British version of The Freedom Writers, a movie that I adore and a book I look forward to reading. Mr. Braithwaite really paints the picture of what the school he is teaching at and the students there are like. You learn about his troubles as an African American British citizen and realize that racism isn't exclusive to just this country. I was immediately grabbed in and brought along for the ride. I watched as Mr. Braithwaite taught his class how to respect him, respect each other, and eventually respect all people. The transformation of his students was touching, and I was really proud of all of them at the end. My favorite part in particular was when none of the students wanted to take flowers they had bought for a classmate's dad's funeral to the kid's house because he's colored, not black, colored, and Pamela volunteers. The end just made me cry. It was a very good memoir, and I really want to see the movie. My only complaint was that I think that his romance with another teacher was unnecessarily included. I just frankly wasn't interested. Otherwise, an excellent read that I would highly recommend.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
5.0
Purchased on my trip to Savannah, my first thought after reading it was that it all had to be true because no one could invent people this off the wall. I definitely threw away a lot of my stereotypes about the South. Must see the movie to compare. Awesome book!
Brave Girl Eating: A Family's Struggle with Anorexia by Harriet Brown
5.0
For some reason, I have an odd fascination with eating disorders. I love reading both fiction and nonfiction about them. This read, however, I discovered at random when I saw it in a bookstore with my friend. I didn't buy it then though. It was a couple months later when I picked this up. Reading it was such a huge eye-opener for me. I read about Kitty's anorexia and saw that there were people around me that needed help.
My heart goes out to Ms. Brown and her husband Jamie. Their will and determination to be apart of their daughter's treatment was probably what saved her. I fell in love with this family and felt every setback and triumph with them. I held a soft spot for Emma, who handled her family's difficult situation with maturity beyond her years. Kitty is a very lucky girl, and I pray that she is still alright.
I was also interested by the family-based treatment approach explained in this memoir. Before reading Brave Girl Eating, I had only heard of eating disorder patients being treated in inpatients facilities or at outpatient facilities with little to no parent involvement. Reading this was a breath of fresh air. I agree with Ms. Brown that this is a sensible way to treat anorexia. Brave Girl Eating also served as a great resource when I had to write a research paper for English last year. Five stars and highly recommended for anyone who has a family member with an eating disorder or just wants to learn more about this method of treatment.
My heart goes out to Ms. Brown and her husband Jamie. Their will and determination to be apart of their daughter's treatment was probably what saved her. I fell in love with this family and felt every setback and triumph with them. I held a soft spot for Emma, who handled her family's difficult situation with maturity beyond her years. Kitty is a very lucky girl, and I pray that she is still alright.
I was also interested by the family-based treatment approach explained in this memoir. Before reading Brave Girl Eating, I had only heard of eating disorder patients being treated in inpatients facilities or at outpatient facilities with little to no parent involvement. Reading this was a breath of fresh air. I agree with Ms. Brown that this is a sensible way to treat anorexia. Brave Girl Eating also served as a great resource when I had to write a research paper for English last year. Five stars and highly recommended for anyone who has a family member with an eating disorder or just wants to learn more about this method of treatment.
Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray
5.0
Where found: I got this at a Borders during their mega sale during closing. I loved that sale. I told my mom it felt like I was stealing the books the deals were so good, and she laughed.
Positive: I absolutely loved this memoir. Liz Murray's story was so sad and touching. I just wanted to cry for her. Hearing the conditions she lived in made me so grateful for what I had, and her story inspired me. I loved the colorful figures that defined her life, and I wished for a Sam to be my best friend. After reading this, Liz Murray became my role model.
Negative: I have nothing negative to say. Liz Murray rules! :)
Recommendation: Definitely buy it and read it over and over again. There are certain places in this where you will just want to read the same part over and over again. This is also one of those books you might want to have tissue handy while reading.
Positive: I absolutely loved this memoir. Liz Murray's story was so sad and touching. I just wanted to cry for her. Hearing the conditions she lived in made me so grateful for what I had, and her story inspired me. I loved the colorful figures that defined her life, and I wished for a Sam to be my best friend. After reading this, Liz Murray became my role model.
Negative: I have nothing negative to say. Liz Murray rules! :)
Recommendation: Definitely buy it and read it over and over again. There are certain places in this where you will just want to read the same part over and over again. This is also one of those books you might want to have tissue handy while reading.
Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
5.0
Where found: I picked this up on a whim in B&N.
Positive: I found this memoir both inspiring and well-written. Ms. Rhodes-Courter's narrative is tightly woven together and extremely detailed. From her move to Florida with her mother and brother to her adoption by the Courters, Ms. Rhodes-Courter is honest and real. Three Little Words makes you want to follow Ashley from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Negative: There weren't many things wrong with this memoir, but I did notice a few little things. 1). Since it was a memoir and only Ashley's side of the story is told, some her biological family members seemed one-dimensional. I wanted to know more about her mother and little sister. I also wanted to point out that, while Ms. Rhodes-Courter's story is sad, she also could've been much worse off. She was adopted by a loving family and given opportunities kids dream of having.
Recommendation: Definitely give this one a try, but buy it in paperback. Also remember to have some tissue handy, especially if you're overly sensitive like my mother, who balled her eyes out while reading this book.
Positive: I found this memoir both inspiring and well-written. Ms. Rhodes-Courter's narrative is tightly woven together and extremely detailed. From her move to Florida with her mother and brother to her adoption by the Courters, Ms. Rhodes-Courter is honest and real. Three Little Words makes you want to follow Ashley from the beginning to the end of the novel.
Negative: There weren't many things wrong with this memoir, but I did notice a few little things. 1). Since it was a memoir and only Ashley's side of the story is told, some her biological family members seemed one-dimensional. I wanted to know more about her mother and little sister. I also wanted to point out that, while Ms. Rhodes-Courter's story is sad, she also could've been much worse off. She was adopted by a loving family and given opportunities kids dream of having.
Recommendation: Definitely give this one a try, but buy it in paperback. Also remember to have some tissue handy, especially if you're overly sensitive like my mother, who balled her eyes out while reading this book.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
4.0
Instead of writing a review, I recommend reading this article from the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/magazine/how-jeannette-walls-spins-good-stories-out-of-bad-memories.html?pagewanted=all). I can't express my thoughts on this book without being angry or mean, and I feel like the reporter here offers interesting insight and perspective on Jeanette Walls and her mother. Enjoy!
I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure by Larry Smith, Rachel Fershleiser
4.0
Christmas money put to good use! I ordered about five books off of B&N, this one included, on Christmas Day and got them in the mail two days ago. There really isn't much to any of the Six-Word Memoir books. They're funny and kind of sad and insightful all at the same time. These are the kinds of books you'd read out loud in the car on a road trip. I like this edition best since I'm still a teenager and therefore this humor is funnier to me. Definitely a delightful way to spend a hour.