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nadia's reviews
520 reviews
There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America's Biggest Catfish by Anna Akbari
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
I was really excited to read this but the problem is the title gives the book away and so I therefore had very little patience for what was happening on all sides (which I know is very harsh on the women featured. Hindsight is a powerful thing!). I also came to really despise the voice of Ethan in the audiobook, "knowing" who he was/what he'd turn out to be.
I saw Traci Thomas's review where she said this would have been better as an article or podcast and I wholeheartedly agree!
I saw Traci Thomas's review where she said this would have been better as an article or podcast and I wholeheartedly agree!
Saga, Vol. 11 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
Something about this volume didn't pop for me. Felt a little emotionally removed, especially given some of the stuff that happened! I got to the end and felt like: "that's it??".
Looking forward to Volume 12!!
Looking forward to Volume 12!!
Ambition Monster by Jennifer Romolini
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A solid listen! It wasn't what I was expecting when I started and I was a little bored — definitely felt like more of a standard memoir, with a lot more of a focus on relationships than I though — but then I got into it, especially in the middle, when we had more BTS re Romolini's work. I was intrigued then. I love a juicy BTS.
Saga, Vol. 10 by Brian K. Vaughan
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Wow, so great to be back with the series! I'm so curious to see where this goes!
The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
Disclaimer: I read this book in one day, while exhausted, in order to finish in time before the Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Prize winner announcement.
I went into this book with low expectations based on little tidbits I'd seen and heard from others and I found myself really taking to the writing style and I (bar one time) liked the multiple POVs. I also really liked how Enright played with the concept of memory and had recurring thoughts/moments crop up across different chapters and perspectives.
However, something about the book just didn't fully click. I felt detached from the characters and the poetry parts didn't really do much for me (though, maybe they would have had more impact had I not been rushing to finish the book). I did like the idea of weaving them in though!
Final Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Brotherless Night
2. River East, River West
3. Enter Ghost
4. Soldier Sailor
5. Restless Dolly Maunder
6. The Wren, The Wren
I went into this book with low expectations based on little tidbits I'd seen and heard from others and I found myself really taking to the writing style and I (bar one time) liked the multiple POVs. I also really liked how Enright played with the concept of memory and had recurring thoughts/moments crop up across different chapters and perspectives.
However, something about the book just didn't fully click. I felt detached from the characters and the poetry parts didn't really do much for me (though, maybe they would have had more impact had I not been rushing to finish the book). I did like the idea of weaving them in though!
Final Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Brotherless Night
2. River East, River West
3. Enter Ghost
4. Soldier Sailor
5. Restless Dolly Maunder
6. The Wren, The Wren
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a great book! The writing and use of varying narrative forms/media was excellent and I appreciated the setting and the themes, especially how art, via theatre and Shakespeare, intertwined with war, politics, and identity. The book started off really strong for me: I was intrigued, immersed, and could feel the tension between the characters. And it does unfold masterfully on the whole.
However, at some point it started to drag a little and I couldn't keep track of all of the characters introduced. This made it hard for me to fully believe or be invested in some of their decisions and actions. To be fair, I was super tired while reading this and also trying to read it super quickly in advanced of the Women's Prize winner announcement. And, although I don't think it necessary, I do wish I had a stronger grasp of the story and characters in Hamlet as that would have enhanced my engagement with the debates and discussions featured in the book.
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Brotherless Night
2. River East, River West
3. Enter Ghost
4. Soldier Sailor
5. Restless Dolly Maunder
Despite being my third ranked book, I see Enter Ghost being a worthy winner of the Women's Prize, more so than River East, River West!
However, at some point it started to drag a little and I couldn't keep track of all of the characters introduced. This made it hard for me to fully believe or be invested in some of their decisions and actions. To be fair, I was super tired while reading this and also trying to read it super quickly in advanced of the Women's Prize winner announcement. And, although I don't think it necessary, I do wish I had a stronger grasp of the story and characters in Hamlet as that would have enhanced my engagement with the debates and discussions featured in the book.
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Brotherless Night
2. River East, River West
3. Enter Ghost
4. Soldier Sailor
5. Restless Dolly Maunder
Despite being my third ranked book, I see Enter Ghost being a worthy winner of the Women's Prize, more so than River East, River West!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
This was a great book about a topic I've not read anything about prior. Emotional, tense, sad, and informative, it gives a unique portrayal of life in a time of a brutal civil war, exploring the tough choices people, especially women, have to make every single day. While I really liked the writing style and certain narrative techniques used, it also contributed to certain parts of the book not having as big of an emotional impact on me as I'd expect given the subject matter!
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Brotherless Night
2. River East, River West
3. Soldier Sailor
4. Restless Dolly Maunder
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Brotherless Night
2. River East, River West
3. Soldier Sailor
4. Restless Dolly Maunder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
River East, River West by Aube Rey Lescure
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is a great debut! I was engaged every step of the way and enjoyed the two main POVs/timelines and how they intertwined. It felt like a unique expat story/perspective than one I've typically read before.
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. River East, River West
2. Soldier Sailor
3. Restless Dolly Maunder
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. River East, River West
2. Soldier Sailor
3. Restless Dolly Maunder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
I was excited when I started this book. I got on with the narrative voice and was so curious as to where the story was going...then it ended up being slightly underwhelming, boring, and repetitive.
I was rather disappointed come the end but when you learn of the context under which this book was written it adds some magic back to the whole thing, the knowledge of which contributed to my final rating.
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Soldier Sailor
2. Restless Dolly Maunder
I was rather disappointed come the end but when you learn of the context under which this book was written it adds some magic back to the whole thing, the knowledge of which contributed to my final rating.
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Soldier Sailor
2. Restless Dolly Maunder
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A very well-written, raw, real book about motherhood and marriages. I can see how this book would be a very tough read for some and very relatable to others — probably both! For me, the book lost a little bit of steam in the middle and then towards the end. Certain themes started to feel a bit repetitive, but overall it evoked emotion — a range (frustration, anger, sadness, nostalgia, joy) — and sustained my interest!
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Soldier Sailor
:-D
Current Women's Prize 2024 Fiction Shortlist rankings:
1. Soldier Sailor
:-D
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Fatphobia and Suicidal thoughts