Abandoned at 35%.
Queer, trans teen boy, Benji, lives in a post-apocalyptic world. I am just not the intended audience for this. I am glad the representation exists and that trans/queer stories are being told, however, I didn't care enough about the world in which Benji resides to even care if he saved the world or not (assuming that's what was supposed to happen). The book is filled with rage at the world, which I understand being filled with rage, but (perhaps a privileged opinion) I am past this rage in my own life. I am glad this book exists for the representation, but I feel like it is a book where the author threw together representation and rage and covered in with a thinly woven story plot.
I'm glad others got things out of it, but I did not.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Rounded up to 4 stars
An interesting look into some of the reasons for the anger that is expressed by many men–primarily those who are white. This book was written in 2013, so it's definitely an interesting look into the feelings that then inspired and successfully allowed for Donald Trump and the MAGA crowd to be such a large, influential, and loud part of American politics now. I got bored in some parts and I think the author repeated himself too often, but it was a good read.
Rating: 4.5/5
Rounded down to 4 stars
This book... is wonderful and is so needed. Could it have been a better representation of Indian culture and characters? Yes, completely. Were all the women in the show carbon copies of one another and forgettable? Yes (although that definitely seems to be the point).
Mental health awareness and representation was fantastic. The natural and awkward cuteness of both Charlie and Dev. I loved that their initial sexual interaction wasn't forced. It felt entirely natural and good. Everything started slow and there was fear and worry involved (one of my complaints of other MM romance books–oh, I've never done anything with guys before... first time, let me do every gay thing there is to do!)
Charlie and Dev are adorable. Charlie is adorable and I think he deserves the world. I'm so happy that Dev did leave and choose himself for a couple months. I just really enjoyed this one. I loved that a major theme was being seen for who you really are, being wanted and chosen, and being someone that always, always reaches out to the other person.
My only complaints: I am tired of every single guy in romance novels being absolutely chiseled and perfectly muscled. Sure, it's attractive, I get it. But there is so much toxicity in the gay community and in everyday life, that it just doesn't feel like I can see myself–a gay, average dude–in these characters. I want this. I want the adorable moments with someone. I wish I could find a book that I can see myself in. I did enjoy that Dev mentioned that he doesn't usually like muscle dudes, but still, I just wish that I didn't feel like I had to have muscles upon muscles just to find love. I know that's not what the author is saying, but it definitely feels that way a lot.
Additionally, I would have liked more description of the sex scenes. Cause those are always hot. :) .
Not as educational as I was hoping, however, still an interesting read about the author's food journey across the world
The Titan's Curse is really where the Percy Jackson series begins to take shape. All the major players are revealed for the overall storyline and the book is exciting. Percy is a little less juvenile as he is growing up. Enjoyable read always
Good, not great. Nothing new. I did enjoy the first 100-ish pages with the description and list of important emotions that will help one in life and in business.
Rating: 4 ⭐Summary:Childhood best friends–now ex-best-friends–are reconnected once popular jock, Milo Lionetti, loses rare Odyssey cards in a bet and needs Jasper's help to figure out a way to find replacements. Jasper and Milo have a complicated past with old wounds from high school bullying and abandonment. Now that they've had year apart to be able to grow and change, they realize that they still have things in common and come to find a new kind of love for each other.Review:Annabeth Albert's style (at least in [b:Conventionally Yours 49811667 Conventionally Yours (True Colors, #1) Annabeth Albert https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576001057l/49811667.SX50.jpg 71921779] and this book) feels juvenile and more of a YA book. This was fine, since it is cute and often cheesy, however, it does make for some confusing boundaries when it comes to the hot scenes. Albert choose to imply things a lot, while at the same time, giving more than enough details. It's this weird in between spot. I would have preferred if things were either described in detail or not at all. Other than that, the story is cute. Old wounds are healed and new love is found. I really like the cute love between Albert's characters. Yes, there is some adult scenes, however, it isn't the sole focus and the love between the characters is a highlight–with cute, innocent kisses and cuddles. Good book. I think I liked this one better than Conventionally Yours, since I like the Friends-to-Lovers trope more than Enemies-to-Lovers.
The third installment of the Michael Vey series was good. I enjoyed it. However, it wasn't my favorite. It was like they were in the middle of a problem and then they immediately found the solution to the problem and then the book was over. Still, it was good, just not the strongest out of the three so far.
A bit slow at times, but good overall. I enjoyed the false hope Orwell suggests, and then abruptly squashes into obliteration.
I never read this book in high school like I was assigned to do, but I believe reading it now as I am older, I understand it a lot better. I am left with a hopelessness that I don't think would have been there if I had read it as a kid.
In this imagined world, change and hope are useless. It is not possible to change the system. It will never change and will never be better, in the tradition sense of the word “better.”
Looking at our world, I often times feel this way. How do we change and get better against a huge, huge problem? I am but one person in this huge fight and don't even know what I can do to make things better...
Some great points. I really really enjoyed Ury's insights into online dating and dating apps. That was great. Other points either didn't apply to me or were things I had heard before. The book is written well and overall has many great points and insights, including attachment styles and dating styles.
Take aways:
1) Find friends to take photos of me
2) Go to events
3) Try dating apps but keep an open mind.
4) Get on the date and don't treat it like an interview
5) Ask the Post-Date Eight questions after the date
6) Emphasize the end of the date as a special moment to end on a good note
7) Present yourself and be people-focused
8) Expect good things to happen and if they don't, focus on the small, good wins along the way
I'm pretty sure this is the first fairy tale retelling book that I've read. I thought it was good. It really didn't excite me too much since it was The Beauty and The Beast until near the end. I enjoyed the differences with Beauty being a hunter and talking about whether or not she was the Hunter or the Hunted. Well done there. And also, the inclusion or internal dialogue of whether or not Beauty is a victim of Stockholm syndrome.
The book earned its third star from me near the very end, when it discussed the legend of the prince and the wolf. I loved the imagery and the parallels between Beauty and the Beast and that they both endlessly wanted more, which was the real curse and problem all along. I thought it was very well done and told the story in a new a refreshing way. Additionally, I enjoyed the magic and the fact that Beauty basically killed Beast in the middle.
QUOTES:“She wept because she did not know what she wanted, and because she wanted everything.”“There's no such thing as living happily ever after — there's only living. We make the choice to do it happily.”“I would give up a thousand happy endings just to go back with you to your valley, and live as we did. I'd give up every fairy tale I've ever known just to hear you say my name again.”“We thought too much. Because while hatred is a fire only man feels, he does not hate the beast that comes in the night. Mankind fears it, fights it, drives it off, but he does not hate it. No one hates the bear, the wolf. They don't hate the wind or the snow. They don't hate the death. They hate each other.”
I am definitely in the minority, it seems when it comes to the gay community. I initially enjoyed reading these stories, as they were quick and easy, however, very quickly, they become monotonous. I wasn't sure if each story was from the same narrator or different ones, and struggled to identify with the stories. Additionally, I couldn't tell for certain if the author was making a commentary on the unfulfilled nature of gay hookups. There definitely was an underlying message and commentary provided by the narrator on how these “boyfriends” weren't boyfriends at all and only cared about sex or drugs, but it wasn't strong enough to convince me that the author thought things could and should be better for the gay community.
I am all for sex and sex positivity. However, I seem to be in the minority of gay men that says that a relationship–a real actual relationship, not what was portrayed in the stories–is far superior to that of meaningless hookups (I am merely guessing since I haven't experienced a relationship yet, however I would like to meet someone). For this reason and for the fact that I didn't enjoy the stories after the first 50 pages, I rated this so low. Just not for me and how I see relationships and people.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Rounded up to 4 stars
Charlotte's web is an interesting look into friendships, the reality of life, death, and on some levels, could be taken as a comment on how we treat animals and in what things we see value (Wilbur was told he wouldn't be killed for food simply because he was special or clean). I don't know if that was E.B. White's intent, but it definitely could be analyzed in that regard.
It's a simple story. Girl gets pig, pig is lonely, meets an unlikely new friend, spider works to save pig's life by weaving a web, spider weaves egg sac and dies, and pig remembers his friend fondly while getting to know friend's children. It encapsulates a lot of topics for such a simple story.
Overall, not anything AMAZING in my mind, however, it has its strengths and is a classic story that continues to teach and highlight important topics for children and adults alike.
This book reminds me of Alexander Lloyd's Time Cat—although it has been a long time since I read the book, so someone correct me if I'm completely wrong.
The book tells the tale of 15 year old Zits, a Native American who is in foster care and has a difficult life. He doesn't feel loved or taken care of and is frequently in trouble with the law. He meets another teenager who gives him guns and tells him to go shoot up a bank. While Zits goes to do so, he has a magical moment wherein he “jumps” into the bodies of other people in other places throughout time. Through these experiences, he learns empathy, kindness, patience, and to see the world through other's eyes. He wonders if we aren't all, “at war” within ourselves about something and finds a changed attitude on his life, situation, and the people around him.
The book does a great job emphasizing the major point that author Sherman Alexie wants to hit. Self-love, acceptance, generational trauma, and empathy for others are all highlighted. I started this book hesitantly, however as it moved, I enjoyed it more. I think it teaches many important points, however, there are some parts that I didn't enjoy or thought may have come off differently than the author intended—or perhaps Alexie did intend these things. Women are one dimensional and regarded as sexual things, and while yes, the character is a 15 year old male, the question remains, is that the author attempting to tell the story through a 15 year old's point of view or is it Alexie's point of view on women? Additionally, I know many native American's have dealt with alcoholism and substance abuse. I know this book was written many years ago, but I wonder if that has changed. If “life on the rez as an Indian” has changed or if it is still a massive problem like Alexie insinuates. I don't want to read things and fall into stereotype.
That being said, the book was entertaining. Zits was a fun, humorous narrator and the magical realism in the story gave the messages power. I wish I could jump into others' bodies and experience life for a little bit as they experience it.
Rating:
2.5/5 stars
Rounded down to 2 stars
Summary:
After her sister's wedding ends in a horrible bout of food poisoning for almost everyone, Olive Torres goes on an all-expense paid honeymoon vacation. Too bad she has to spend it with Ethan, her now brother-in-law, who she hates. It doesn't take long into the 10-day dream vacation that things change between the two.
Review:
Just a quick read, nothing too special. The first part was much like The Proposal, but set in Hawaii. I enjoyed the banter between Olive and Ethan. Part two was weak and seemed super unrealistic. “You're fired because you lied during your own vacation before we employed you.” Just seems strange and really silly.
Cute, quick, funny banter. Little to no spice. Could have used some spice.
It's a good concept–think positively and put out good vibes and you will attract positivity and good vibes and success in life–however, the book was horribly formatted and was incredibly difficult to read. Plus the Law of Attraction seems overly simplistic. Positivity and affirmations help and may fuel good things and good energy in your life, but not everything works out like that and not everything bad is simply because you weren't putting the right vibes into the universe.
I needed (and still need) time to fully process this book. It is a simple tale, yet has so many layers and potential meanings. At its core, the story follows 300-something-year-old Anyanwu (meaning Sun). Anyanwu is everything feminine. Teacher, caretaker, birthing mother, healer. She has the ability to change and control every cell in her body. She is found by Doro, who is thousands of years older than Anyanwu, and cannot die. He is everything masculine. Leader, creator, warrior, killer, controller, dominant.
The story revolves around these two as their endless romance takes them from pre-colonial Africa to the Antebellum south. Doro loves and then drives Anyanwu away. Anyanwu loves Doro then despises him and runs. This endless dance resembles that of Yin and Yang, always separate, but the two need one another.
I can see how one could see how this book is just a tale of a toxic relationship–why, oh why, does Anyanwu continuously fall for Doro with him being so toxic–however, this book highlights so many topics.
Slavery and the slave trade: Highlights a tiny bit of what it would have been like on the slade ships and being taken from your kin. Being shouted at, hit, spit on, raped, tortured, etc. all by people you have never seen and don't understand their language. Your culture and your way of life completed disrespected and thrown away. Your community completely eviscerated in a moment's notice.
Masculinity and Feminity: What does it even mean to be masculine and to be feminine? In that sense, what does it even mean to be a man or to be a woman? Anyanwu and Doro can change their bodies and become men, women, those of different races, etc. Anyanwu can change her form at a moment's notice, even becoming different animals. Does Anyanwu having a male form make her any less of a woman? Is Doro's undeviating masculinity and Anyanwu's unwavering femininity healthy and always the best response?
Love Conquers All: Anyanwu loves deeply. Doro can't allow himself to love, as all will die and as has happened in the past, he may be the direct cause of that death. Anyanwu heals and loves Doro until he, himself, starts to love again. Although this is not a How-To guide to stay with those in our lives that are toxic, it does speak to the power of love and the ability to change the world through love.
Power and Differences of “Abilities”: The book also speaks to that of the differences between humans. Some in this book are strong people, however, they do not have powers like Anyanwu or Doro. Others have abilities, including the power to control wind, hear others' thoughts, and many others. The book focuses on the fact that most of those with power and abilities go bad and use their power incorrectly. Does power corrupt, and if so, does absolute power (like that of Doro) corrupt absolutely? What must one do to be like Isaac, Anyanwu's best husband and Doro's favorite son, who has power, looks, and is kind and incorruptible?
Along with Feminism (Anyanwu being a strong, complete woman who undermines Doro's patriarchal oppression), Racism, limitations of humanity, and ethics, this book is rich.
Honestly, it was hard for me to read at times. The text is filled with detail and is wonderful writing. However, there were many moments were this book forced me to look inward at my own relationships–or more aptly, the lack thereof. I empathized with Doro and Anyanwu, as they both were incredibly lonely. They needed and wanted people around them (and rather, each other), however because they were the only ones that would not die, they couldn't get what they wanted. As someone who has lived life wanting a relationship with a man and not being able to get that, I understood that and at times, this book pulled large, frustrating, painful emotions from me.
First thing, I do not love mysteries or thriller books. I just don't see the appeal. They're just not for me. I appreciate the suspense, but overall, it's not my favorite. The characters are dull, not much character development, and I don't care about the person who was killed, because I haven't spent any time with them. This works better in movies and tv shows for some reason... not exactly sure why, but in books, I just don't care about the core problem or mystery to solve.
I am sure this book was revolutionary and shocking when it first came out. It is creepy and Hannibal Lecter is a fantastic villain who is portrayed so wonderfully. However, I did not find this earth shattering or life changing. It's a fine book, not my vibe, but I wouldn't necessarily tell people to stay away from it.
Haven't ever seen the film. Just my perception of the book.
Enlightening and enjoyable.
Fantastic work on Asexuality and the Ace community. Enjoyed the new views that this book shared and its commentary on sexuality, compulsory sexuality, and the world.
“Liberated sexuality–that is, sexuality free from social shaming–can look like promiscuity or it can look like celibacy.” (p. 59)
“It seems that the message is ‘we have liberated our sexuality, therefore we must now celebrate it and have as much sex as we want,'” says Jo, an ace policy worker in Australia. “Except ‘as much sex as we want' is always lots of sex and not no sex, because then we are oppressed, or possibly repressed, and we're either not being our true authentic selves, or we haven't discovered this crucial side of ourselves that is our sexuality in relation to other people, or we haven't grown up properly or awakened yet.” (p. 54)
“Sexual attraction, then, is horniness toward or caused by a specific person [or gender]. It is the desire to be sexual with that partner–libido with a target. To use a food metaphor: a person can feel physiological hunger, which would be like the sex drive, without craving a specific dish, which would be more like sexual attraction. And just as people have different sex drives, they also experience different levels of sexual attraction.” (p. 21)
“If aces make a big deal out of being ace and demand to be recognized, if we have created groups of our own, it is because we want a place away from sexual pressure. If we fight for visibility and change, it is because we want that pressure to be lifted for others too.” (p. 45)
A very short read. I listened to the audio book, and definitely recommend hearing the author's own voice as they speak about this topic.
Martinez makes some great points about the connections between issues like climate change and race and oppression. This book makes me want to research the problems more and get more involved with activism. It seems so intimidating to me though, and I really don't know where to start. But I'm definitely intrigued and want to do something, especially as I get closer to being out of school and have the time and energy to devote to things.
A nice overview of the cultures and peoples that created the myths of the land. I enjoyed the cultural perspective and the brief description of the mythic tales themselves. Kenneth C. Davis does a great job writing about these tales and the cultures and times during which they were told.
Enjoyed finishing one book filled with recommendations of other books. While this is not a story of any kind and is actually just a list of book recommendations, Michiko Kakutani, now-retired literary critic for The New York Times, delivers a wonderful spread of books, old and new, that are especially pertinent in today's world to either read or be reread either for the magic of reading or to learn/create a better world for tomorrow. Kakutani delivers a succinct review of each book, each filled with beautiful language and interesting connections to both historical and contemporary events.
I love reading books about books and reading. Kakutani's prologue was a love letter to books and reading from a literary critic and is one that every one–reader and non-reader alike–should read to understand what reading is and why it is so beloved and important in our world.
Quotes:
“The pleasure of reading,' Virginia Woolf wrote, “is so great that one cannot doubt that without it the world would be a far different and far inferior place from what it is. Reading has changed the world and continues to change it.' In fact, she argued, the reason we have grown from apes to men and left our caves and dropped our bows and arrows and sat round the fire and talked, and given to the poor and helped the sick, the reason why we have made shelter and society out of the wastes of the desert and the tangle of the jungle is simply this: we have loved reading.”
“Today in our contentious and fragmented world, reading matters more than ever. For one thing, books offer the sort of in-depth experience that's increasingly rare in our distracted, ADD age. Be it the sense of magical immersion offered by a compelling novel or the deep meditative thinking triggered by a wise or provocative work of non-fiction. Books can open a startling window on history. They can give us an all-access pass to knowledge both old and new
Most of all, books can catalyze empathy. Something more and more precious in our increasingly polarized and tribal world. ‘Reading,' Gene Reeves once wrote, ‘makes immigrants of us all. It takes away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere.'“
[Reading] does what education and travel do. It exposes us to a multiplicity of voices and viewpoints. Literature, as the David Foster Wallace has pointed out, gives the reader, marooned in her own skull, imaginative access to other selves.”
Stars: 4.5/5
Rounded up to 5 stars
This book is... emotion. I felt so many emotions while reading this book. I identified a lot with Henry and his feeling of never feeling like enough.. I identified with Addie's feeling of wanting to be free and to live a live according to her desires.The plot is a bit slow at times, but this was a wonderful book!Quotes:“Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives--or to find strength in a very long one.”“Because time is cruel to all, and crueler still to artists. Because visions weakens, and voices wither, and talent fades.... Because happiness is brief, and history is lasting, and in the end... everyone wants to be remembered”“Stories are a way to preserve one's self. To be remembered. And to forget.”“But a life without art, without wonder, without beautiful things—she would go mad. She has gone mad.”“It is just a storm, he tells himself, but he is tired of looking for shelter. It is just a storm, but there is always another waiting in its wake.”“Listen to me. Life can feel very long sometimes, but in the end, it goes so fast. You better live a good life.”
It goes without saying that I am reviewing the book and how it is presented, not the content material or the historical events of which the book speaks.
This is a harrowing tale of loss, humanity, and hope in a time of incredible pain and devastation during the Holocaust. That cannot be denied. That being said, this book presents the story of 3 individuals in an interesting way. I actually really enjoyed the asynchronous way in which Holden begins their tales–taking time to fully discuss the happenings before each woman was asked if she were pregnant before moving to the next woman and backtracking all the way to begin the tale again. It gave me a sense of how each of their lives were and how separated they were before going into the camps. I loved the direct quotes from the women, however, it seemed to lose those quotes and a certain sense of individual story as the book continued. I appreciated that Holden gave so much information on the Holocaust overall, but it seemed to really lose the focus that the book seemed geared towards. I wanted to know more about the women and the babies, but it gave me general information on the different aspects of the Holocaust and the war. I enjoyed the book, but I think it could have been a much tighter, better paced reading experience.