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eliya's reviews
102 reviews
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.5
Wowie. What a rollercoaster. The book was hard to get into at first, was a little groaning at the farm wife // small town stereotypes but by half way through I think it set a believable scene. I am a little skeptical about some of the events / facts that felt purely coincidental, not entirely believable. I almost DNFd because of how “perfectly” things were falling into place and how the dementia scenes with her uncle seemed to be the same thing over and over again.
I definitely suspended my disbelief in order to have fun with the book and I did wind up enjoying it.
Pleasantly surprised about the gayness!! :D Shame that one of them always fucking dies tho lmao. Really was on the edge of my seat with all of the plot twists hahaha it gave me a glimpse into what it might be like to be a journalist or a detective like constantly changing your focus/suspect. No good people to be found lmao. Epilogue was a roller coaster. I fully had sympathy for Billy and then very much didn’t. It was really fascinating and believable the conclusions his mind came to. Best part of the book I think.
Ultimately, chilling, sad, and I’m glad I read it.
I definitely suspended my disbelief in order to have fun with the book and I did wind up enjoying it.
Ultimately, chilling, sad, and I’m glad I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Dementia, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, and Physical abuse
Minor: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
my own fault - the audiobook skipped around a lot so i tried to start it over - i just need to revisit this one in like a month.
La tortuga Tilly (Tilly the Turtle) by Jackie Heckt
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
read to help with my spanish, does a great job of introducing new words in context. thanks tilly hehe
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
4.75⭐️ bc I feel guilty putting anything else reading a memoir, honestly.
What stuck out to me the most while reading this was her talk about age regression and how that influences how she expresses her freedom now and even how she reflects on her past and how she writes about it. It also had me thinking a lot about humanity as a whole and good vs bad natured people. I don’t want to go into more detail. Definitely cried. God. Love u Britney ❤️🩹
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.75
“…maybe that’s because of the power of your thoughts. Whatever you think you are, you become…”
“…People seemed to experience my body like it was public property. Something they could complete, control, criticize, or use as a weapon.”
4.75⭐️ bc I feel guilty putting anything else reading a memoir, honestly.
What stuck out to me the most while reading this was her talk about age regression and how that influences how she expresses her freedom now and even how she reflects on her past and how she writes about it. It also had me thinking a lot about humanity as a whole and good vs bad natured people. I don’t want to go into more detail. Definitely cried. God. Love u Britney ❤️🩹
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Abandonment
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The world simply is… It is enough to exist in the world and marvel at it.
Cozily nihilistic read. I took my time with this one. I’m so glad I did.
- I loved reading a book that almost completely gets rid of gender. It felt so much more light and safe to read about Dex and Mosscap.
- The world building is so beautiful. I tried to sit back and absorb the stunningly described scenes that Becky Chambers paints. I would love to see this adapted into a cozy Miyazaki film (maybe that’s only because I’ve been into that lately lol).
- I was immediately charmed by both Dex and Mosscap when they were both introduced.
- The last chapter floored me. It was so beautiful. I cried, I took notes, I underlined.
- I find interesting and perplexing the matter-of-fact ever-presence of the Gods existing at the same time as the nihilistic undertones. Will think on this more.
My complaints:
- The way the gods are portrayed, they just kind of are and we, the observer, are supposed to just respect them without much thought / backstory and I wish there was a little more relationship-building with the Gods.
- I was exhausted even at the introduction of the annoying side character trope and even more exhausted of the “let’s be rude to the obviously annoying side character” follow up. I recognize that Dex not liking Mosscap at first makes the “let’s go together” payoff so special, it just seemed cruel to me and made me really unsympathetic to Dex’s situation. TBH this turned me off so much, I struggled to keep reading. I’m glad I did, though.
Cozily nihilistic read. I took my time with this one. I’m so glad I did.
- I loved reading a book that almost completely gets rid of gender. It felt so much more light and safe to read about Dex and Mosscap.
- The world building is so beautiful. I tried to sit back and absorb the stunningly described scenes that Becky Chambers paints. I would love to see this adapted into a cozy Miyazaki film (maybe that’s only because I’ve been into that lately lol).
- I was immediately charmed by both Dex and Mosscap when they were both introduced.
- The last chapter floored me. It was so beautiful. I cried, I took notes, I underlined.
- I find interesting and perplexing the matter-of-fact ever-presence of the Gods existing at the same time as the nihilistic undertones. Will think on this more.
My complaints:
- The way the gods are portrayed, they just kind of are and we, the observer, are supposed to just respect them without much thought / backstory and I wish there was a little more relationship-building with the Gods.
-
The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
So puzzled. I need a minute to think. Review later lol.
I just cannot believe this ending. I don’t know what the point was. All that talk for just letting his friend get by?? Is it commentary on people who talk a big game and then just do. nothing at the end of the day?? Am i supposed to be angry bc of all the stuff that wasn’t done and that’s supposed to light a fire in my pants to help people who are suffering 😭 Well it DID <\spoiler>
The Master And Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.
DNF at 30%
Loved the unforgiving fever dream of it all and I decided I need to save it for a time where I can actually pay attention more to it.
I listened to the audiobook (incredible vocal performance) and if I got distracted for a second the scene changed whiiiiiildly enough where I couldn’t even remember where I had missed. I don’t think my reading skills match this book yet lol. Planning to pick back up when life is a little less crazy.
Loved the unforgiving fever dream of it all and I decided I need to save it for a time where I can actually pay attention more to it.
I listened to the audiobook (incredible vocal performance) and if I got distracted for a second the scene changed whiiiiiildly enough where I couldn’t even remember where I had missed. I don’t think my reading skills match this book yet lol. Planning to pick back up when life is a little less crazy.
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Struggling with where to put this rating ~ 2.75 - 3.5??
This book was rreeeally tedious and boring for the first 70% with some really beautiful lines and perspectives on grief peppered in that i am glad i read this book for.
Too many chunks of just regurgitating facts about the ocean with not enough reason for the facts, just that they were fun
Miri DOES say that it IS hard to make a person see how much you love someone, especially hard to make them love that person themself. I really wanted to be invested, and I shed a few tears, but I was taken out by the mundanity of it all. Too much detail placed on the wrong things. I don’t need to know exactly what was playing on the neighbor’s TV, what I really want to know is what the sound sounded like! I loved and appreciated the physical horror, but all around the horror elements just were mid and not enough.
Was really hopeful for this book, really beautiful idea, really beautiful phrases and thoughts, but it just misses the mark.
favorite quotes from the book -
“grief is selfish: we cry for ourselves without the person we have lost far more than we cry for the person” (p. 107)
“when I went to visit her, I found it increasingly difficult, not to imagine the two of us breaking down and turning to dust” (p. 117)
“ the gentle grasp and then drop of a hug that I’d initiated” (p. 118)
“I wore it as a badge of honor, nonetheless, picking up abandoned glasses with a sigh and fairing them to the dishwasher. I don’t really think it’s that hard, I used to say a lot, and she would apologize and fill the chip and sink with soap, and and really, now I think about it, what an absolute waste of life.” (p. 126)
“I’ve been thinking about you, a bit. I bite the tips of my fingers and I think about you.” (p. 176)
“… version of her I imagined before I met her, the gentle pressure when I pushed my lips in the cup of my own hand and pretended a kiss…” (p. 185)
This book was rreeeally tedious and boring for the first 70% with some really beautiful lines and perspectives on grief peppered in that i am glad i read this book for.
Too many chunks of just regurgitating facts about the ocean with not enough reason for the facts, just that they were fun
Miri DOES say that it IS hard to make a person see how much you love someone, especially hard to make them love that person themself. I really wanted to be invested, and I shed a few tears, but I was taken out by the mundanity of it all. Too much detail placed on the wrong things. I don’t need to know exactly what was playing on the neighbor’s TV, what I really want to know is what the sound sounded like! I loved and appreciated the physical horror, but all around the horror elements just were mid and not enough.
Was really hopeful for this book, really beautiful idea, really beautiful phrases and thoughts, but it just misses the mark.
favorite quotes from the book -
“grief is selfish: we cry for ourselves without the person we have lost far more than we cry for the person” (p. 107)
“when I went to visit her, I found it increasingly difficult, not to imagine the two of us breaking down and turning to dust” (p. 117)
“ the gentle grasp and then drop of a hug that I’d initiated” (p. 118)
“I wore it as a badge of honor, nonetheless, picking up abandoned glasses with a sigh and fairing them to the dishwasher. I don’t really think it’s that hard, I used to say a lot, and she would apologize and fill the chip and sink with soap, and and really, now I think about it, what an absolute waste of life.” (p. 126)
“I’ve been thinking about you, a bit. I bite the tips of my fingers and I think about you.” (p. 176)
“… version of her I imagined before I met her, the gentle pressure when I pushed my lips in the cup of my own hand and pretended a kiss…” (p. 185)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
The Odyssey by Homer
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I CANT BELIEVE I FINISHED THE ODYSSEY
this is huge for me - this is one of the books that made me STOP reading in high school.
some absolutely horrific events ! gotta say ! but i found that when i was explaining to people what was happening play by play it had me really excited.
im just happy i read this book - not going to rate it bc its literally the odyssey and that feels weird.
this is huge for me - this is one of the books that made me STOP reading in high school.
some absolutely horrific events ! gotta say ! but i found that when i was explaining to people what was happening play by play it had me really excited.
im just happy i read this book - not going to rate it bc its literally the odyssey and that feels weird.
Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski
challenging
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Going in I anticipated a lot of out this book. I was hoping it would dive deeper into sexual anxieties & provide resources for sexual trauma, etc., but that’s not what this is. It’s setting the bar straight for sexual conversation and understanding, which is important. Emily Nagoski provides so much sex science in a very digestible way, although I personally could have done without so many analogies, it’s a first step for many on their understanding their sexuality. Once I realized that I’m not the intended audience for this book // got past what I expected this book to be, I really appreciated it for what it is.
Really well written, really well organized, very easy to follow. Highly recommend for those of you who just don’t know where to start- sex is scary to talk about, but not with Emily Nagoski. :)
Really well written, really well organized, very easy to follow. Highly recommend for those of you who just don’t know where to start- sex is scary to talk about, but not with Emily Nagoski. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment