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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this is was a book with promise but unfortunately didn’t maintain it, at least in my opinion.
i really liked the first half, but after then, just got bored of it. not sure if it was the writing stile, or if i just wasn‘t a big fan of the random mystical parallels; i mean in some ways i understood the thought behind it, but it just felt very out of the blue for me? just not a book i particulary enjoyed idk
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I thought this would be one of my top reads of 2025. Unfortunately, the second half really didn't deliver what the first promised.
🍊
I found this an uneven book. I completely bought the story of the narrator's childhood growing up in a strictly religious household, while also coming to understand her own desires towards women. It was perfectly voiced as a naive but intelligent child, streaked with wry and sometimes excellent humour.
•
But things just started to fall apart at about page 120. I didn't buy the parallel of the mythical stories, and found a tightly drawn character disintegrate before my eyes.
•
Is this a deliberate technique mirroring the effect of her rejection by her family and community? Maybe. But if it is, I don't think it needed to be done at the expense of the book's impetus.
🍊
I found this an uneven book. I completely bought the story of the narrator's childhood growing up in a strictly religious household, while also coming to understand her own desires towards women. It was perfectly voiced as a naive but intelligent child, streaked with wry and sometimes excellent humour.
•
But things just started to fall apart at about page 120. I didn't buy the parallel of the mythical stories, and found a tightly drawn character disintegrate before my eyes.
•
Is this a deliberate technique mirroring the effect of her rejection by her family and community? Maybe. But if it is, I don't think it needed to be done at the expense of the book's impetus.
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Last book of 2023! I went into this book blind, only knowing that it fit the Popsugar reading challenge prompt “a book about a forbidden romance.” This was a weird but well written novel. It was a mixture of coming-of-age, parable, and memoir. The religious stuff went over my head so I probably didn’t get as much out of this as others with a more religious upbringing would. Nevertheless, I enjoyed parts of this sapphic romance Bildungsroman.
Here was my favorite line: “Walls protect and walls limit. It is in the nature of walls that they should fall. That walls should fall is the consequence of blowing your own trumpet.” (112)
Here was my favorite line: “Walls protect and walls limit. It is in the nature of walls that they should fall. That walls should fall is the consequence of blowing your own trumpet.” (112)
I read this book for one reason and one reason only: It was in one of my all time favorite sitcom, Spaced (which I highly recommend if you like British humor!).
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the main plot and the interesting relationship between the narrator and her mother. However, that’s about it, and to be honest I found it to be a bit boring. It was interesting enough for me to finish it, but I just don’t think it’s for me.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the main plot and the interesting relationship between the narrator and her mother. However, that’s about it, and to be honest I found it to be a bit boring. It was interesting enough for me to finish it, but I just don’t think it’s for me.