ulaclare's reviews
12 reviews

Flowers in the Attic: 40th Anniversary Edition by V.C. Andrews

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dark reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I adored adored adored this book. The haunting horror of watching these kids be trapped in the attic, slowly dying and hanging onto a small thread of hope their mother will love them again. It’s so heartbreaking. Chris and Cathy’s relationship really highlights sexual violence and how it is rationalized when you love your abuser, even if he is your brother. What is heart breaking is we see Cathy swallow her abuse as what is right and has to be done because she. Hold have stopped him, her words. 

Chris’s inscesrious desires for his mom graphing onto his sister is beyond disgusting. And his believe women have to take care of the family, blindly means when his mother fails his desires he turns to her. I was also so shocked at some of the sexual imagery being the imagery he has with his mom when he does things to Cathy. So so so creepy and hauntingly sad. 

What is worse is the beginning of the book and knowing where it is going shows that both Corrine and Christopher are grooming their children. Her father saying Cathy could keep it in her heart that she was daddy’s special favorite, was a huge red flag, especially when her mother clearly shows contempt for her daughter as she ages. 

Cory’s death being the only thing that made Chris move is so frustrating and furry inducing. That this boy wants to keep Cathy and Cindy in his control because he lacks control all elsewhere to me says that had he been given what he wanted, he would have let them rot in the attic. 
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Berserk, Vol. 2 by Kentaro Miura

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A Well Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy by Tia Levings

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challenging emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

4.25

A near perfect read once again it is the intensity that holds it back for me. So much pain and suffering, but worth reading about. 

Growing up fundie adjacent this stuff hit close to home and was just eye opening in other areas. I think it’s stunning a woman could be so open about her pain. Tia is also lovely to talk to I have had the privilege to speak to her. Such an inspiring woman 
Educated by Tara Westover

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challenging inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

This was almost a perfect read. Almost because some of the gore to the story was just a bit much for me. I kept waiting for the author to address Shawn’s abuse as well. 

But this story is so inspiring. I hope more read it and get inspired and I loved Tara’s ability to say things in so little words. The pain was between the breath of the words. It’s so stunning. 
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

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emotional mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I love Shirley Jackson’s shorter work The lottery. This one was a bit harder to read. But I think it is well worth it. I love the characters and just how strange they are. I love the house and how
Frightening it is. And I love how different it is compared to adaptations of it in the future (Netflix). It’s also very queer which I love WLW. So good. 
The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

I mostly sped read this for my course. It’s alright I find the time period hard to read but enjoy the history and beginnings of the gothic genre. 
Berserk, Vol. 1 by Kentaro Miura

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adventurous dark tense fast-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? Yes

2.75

I found the first volume to be lacking. I think because I see Beserk as such a dynamic story. Seeing Guts be just this meathead sword swinger is weird to experience. So this probably isn’t ever going to be my favorite. 
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-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

4.25

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

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adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-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

4.0

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