Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Hard to separate the feelings about what happens within the book with the writing / story itself and how it’s told so it was difficult to rate this book. It’s not an easy read, but overall I’d say it was worth it even when I was deeply uncomfortable and trying to fly through sections. Cults are something else. Wow.
dark
sad
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First off, the cover is is a genius piece of advertising, because who isn't going to be drawn in by sparkly gold glitter? And it actually fits with the story, so kudos for that.
The writing and style is perfectly fine, again, it fits the story. The story is fine, and I had no problem with the characters, and unlike some other readers, I didn't think the story was overly far fetched, even if "the Body" refused to buy water in an extreme drought, and instead drank and baptised each other in soda.
I guess it could be considered empowering as the main character grows and develops, but I wasn't moved by this book, and I struggle to see how it's receiving so many 4 and 5 star reviews. I'm emphatically neutral about it, so 2.5 stars.
The writing and style is perfectly fine, again, it fits the story. The story is fine, and I had no problem with the characters, and unlike some other readers, I didn't think the story was overly far fetched, even if "the Body" refused to buy water in an extreme drought, and instead drank and baptised each other in soda.
I guess it could be considered empowering as the main character grows and develops, but I wasn't moved by this book, and I struggle to see how it's receiving so many 4 and 5 star reviews. I'm emphatically neutral about it, so 2.5 stars.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 stars. I'm grading harshly because holy-what, this was depressing. Necessary. But depressing. Beautiful writing, harsh as hell storyline. I liked how it felt timeless. Could have been a story from any decade between the 60's and today. Which lends itself to the question: given all our feminist revolutions, have women's lives changed all that much?
Will end with a fabulous passage:
"I decided then to tell Artichoke to be ugly. To make herself as ugly as possible and not worry too much about beauty or what anyone thought of her. To be unpainted, to live in the breeze and stand under waterfalls and not be worried over the height of mountains, of quiet trails deep in the woods. To not be scared of roads slick with rain, of valleys dry in drought. I'd tell her 'no fear' and she'd know it was the deepest truth and she would be everything I was not. She would be wild and free. And I wouldn't worry because I knew the secret. That through all of her ugliness, all her hiking and running and jumping and falling and getting back up and saying no and saying what she wanted, her scraped hands, her freckled skin, her smart brain, she would of course be beautiful."
Will end with a fabulous passage:
"I decided then to tell Artichoke to be ugly. To make herself as ugly as possible and not worry too much about beauty or what anyone thought of her. To be unpainted, to live in the breeze and stand under waterfalls and not be worried over the height of mountains, of quiet trails deep in the woods. To not be scared of roads slick with rain, of valleys dry in drought. I'd tell her 'no fear' and she'd know it was the deepest truth and she would be everything I was not. She would be wild and free. And I wouldn't worry because I knew the secret. That through all of her ugliness, all her hiking and running and jumping and falling and getting back up and saying no and saying what she wanted, her scraped hands, her freckled skin, her smart brain, she would of course be beautiful."
dark
medium-paced
this one was a rollercoaster ride. I ultimately think I liked it - I definitely liked the ending. it’s a little uneven overall, some of the character connections could’ve been stronger. it did definitely keep me engaged & wanting to pick it up again & again.