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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
Okay, so hear me out. This is exactly what I wanted to do in high school and probably the kind of friends I needed.
After going to a private Catholic school for four year, I related so hard to all of this. From hypocritical teachers and dress codes (totally got around the whole no converse rule by wearing converse boots, drove my homeroom teachers insane) to pervy teachers. I would have killed to have the balls to ruin our harmful sex ed presentations and the awful presenters that made me feel like I would be subhuman for questioning sexuality and the statistics that were plain wrong. Also the characters were fantastically written.
10/10, I was emotional reading this.
After going to a private Catholic school for four year, I related so hard to all of this. From hypocritical teachers and dress codes (totally got around the whole no converse rule by wearing converse boots, drove my homeroom teachers insane) to pervy teachers. I would have killed to have the balls to ruin our harmful sex ed presentations and the awful presenters that made me feel like I would be subhuman for questioning sexuality and the statistics that were plain wrong. Also the characters were fantastically written.
10/10, I was emotional reading this.
I wonder if Katie Henry has ever met a real life person before. Based on the very non-human like interactions that happen in this book, I would say no. There are tons of random outbursts and just like so many things that like…people just don’t do? Like humans do not act this way???
I don’t know why I bought this book, as I hate reading about religion, but I’m trying to read some books I have had for ages. So far not so good.
I don’t know why I bought this book, as I hate reading about religion, but I’m trying to read some books I have had for ages. So far not so good.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 out of 5 stars
This book started out really well, and while I am no atheist, I related to many things the main character felt going into Catholic school. By the end, though, I felt like not much got resolved, and what did get tied up were things I didn't really care about.
This book started out really well, and while I am no atheist, I related to many things the main character felt going into Catholic school. By the end, though, I felt like not much got resolved, and what did get tied up were things I didn't really care about.
Eden raises an eyebrow. "I don't do spells, that's not part of my practice."
"You used to," Lucy insists. "You totally used to, you carried around that giant spellbook for all of seventh grade."
"Ugh, that book was horrible. The author named herself Sapphire Lonewolf. I didn't know any better yet."
Did anyone else catch this almost-certain reference to Teen Witch by Silver Ravenwolf? I may or may not have poured over that book at a similar age myself...
This book was interesting. I'm not really isn't to present tense writing right now which is my main beef with it, but main character POV is certainly a solid option for YA like this. I think it'd be a legitimate good read for a middle schooler or young high schooler because the message is quite positive.
"You used to," Lucy insists. "You totally used to, you carried around that giant spellbook for all of seventh grade."
"Ugh, that book was horrible. The author named herself Sapphire Lonewolf. I didn't know any better yet."
Did anyone else catch this almost-certain reference to Teen Witch by Silver Ravenwolf? I may or may not have poured over that book at a similar age myself...
This book was interesting. I'm not really isn't to present tense writing right now which is my main beef with it, but main character POV is certainly a solid option for YA like this. I think it'd be a legitimate good read for a middle schooler or young high schooler because the message is quite positive.
This is one of those books you hope makes it onto every high school reading list and that kids really read it and take it to heart so our future America isn't as polarized and divisive and hostile as the one we're currently living in. It's funny, honest, and realistic, as are the characters. There were a few odd "Mean Girls" moments, but beyond that, this is a must read (if I were the sort who says that kind of thing, which I'm not, but really, give it a shot).
absolutely phenomenal
loved EVERYTHING this book had to offer!
loved EVERYTHING this book had to offer!
Michael Osman is tired of moving around the country to meet the demands of his father's job. With this move he ends up at St. Clair's, a Catholic school with Catholic rules. Michael is an athiest, and from the beginning thinks there is no one like him and he's going to have a miserable school year.
But then he meets Lucy, a pious Catholic girl who is also a member of a secret club called Heretics Anonymous. When introduced to the group, Michael realizes that maybe he isn't the only one who hates all the Catholic rules at the school, and maybe there is a way they can get people talking about them; maybe they can change them for good. This, of course, is a disaster waiting to happen, and it does.
I listened to this audiobook, and I loved the narrator. The book was funny, blasphemous, and real. It was both mortifying and easy to remember what it was like to be a teenager through the eyes of the members of Heretics Anonymous, fighting the world because you are learning to be your own person and caring about every unfairness.
I kind of didn't like how nicely everything wrapped up in the end. Michael grows a lot in his understanding of life and rules and expectations after a major mistake that gets him suspended from school. He's a pretty angry kid for most of the book, and suddenly it seems like he magically outgrows that in a short space of time. He gets everything he wants at the end, so it kind of portrays an image that his problems are over and he'll now be able to go on living his life without much consequence.
All in all though, it was really delightful.
But then he meets Lucy, a pious Catholic girl who is also a member of a secret club called Heretics Anonymous. When introduced to the group, Michael realizes that maybe he isn't the only one who hates all the Catholic rules at the school, and maybe there is a way they can get people talking about them; maybe they can change them for good. This, of course, is a disaster waiting to happen, and it does.
I listened to this audiobook, and I loved the narrator. The book was funny, blasphemous, and real. It was both mortifying and easy to remember what it was like to be a teenager through the eyes of the members of Heretics Anonymous, fighting the world because you are learning to be your own person and caring about every unfairness.
I kind of didn't like how nicely everything wrapped up in the end. Michael grows a lot in his understanding of life and rules and expectations after a major mistake that gets him suspended from school. He's a pretty angry kid for most of the book, and suddenly it seems like he magically outgrows that in a short space of time. He gets everything he wants at the end, so it kind of portrays an image that his problems are over and he'll now be able to go on living his life without much consequence.
All in all though, it was really delightful.
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars. This has been on my TBR for like 2 years, and y'know, maybe it should've stayed there.
There were a few highlights, but it ultimately falls very very flat.
The Saints:
1. Humor:
There are legitimately funny moments and characters in this book. Some of the stunts the HA pulls off are hilarious and I did laugh out loud at points, mostly during the first half of the book.
2. Interesting Points About Feminist Theology/Religion
Henry makes compelling points about religious institutions and their capacity for change. I appreciated the ways she brought up the good and bad parts of Catholicism and her thoughtful examination about the reasons people stay or leave. Additionally, Lucy provides interesting examples of feminist theology and I do want to look into some of the thinkers she brings up (catch me being a nerd).
3. The Ending
There are some nice points made in the ending that I'm not gonna get into for spoiler reasons, but they did make me almost rate the book 3 stars. It's a really good ending. That said, most of those points wouldn't have needed to be made had Michael not been a douchebro supreme and they don't make the previous 300 pages worth it.
The Sinners:
1. The Romance is *Extremely* Uncomfortable
There's a romance between Lucy and Michael. It was awkward, forced, and uncomfortable. Michael's primary interest in Lucy is really superficial and primarily motivated by horny teenage boy energy As I said, uncomfortable.) Lucy and Michael literally don't even have *1* conversation that would indicate a romance. The romance is so unnecessary and the plot would be better served if they were friends.
2. Characters Are Very 1 Dimensional
Every character in this book is defined by one thing, usually religion, and have literally 0 character traits outside of that.
3. Michael is a Edgelord
Ugh, Michael. Michael is a Holden Caulfield without any of the literary merit. He's the type of atheist that likes to be snarky to religious people on the internet because he's so confident he's right and completely unable to see *any* benefit to religious institutions. At one point he literally tells Lucy, who wants to be a priest, that she's too smart to be religious. I have nothing against atheism, but Michael represents the worst of atheists.
4. Writing Style
This one is self explanatory - I didn't really vibe with Henry's writing style.
5. Tone is Very Confusing
The book is marketed as a comedy that makes some serious points about religion. And yes, sometimes blurbs give the wrong impression of books. But the first half really does fall in line with the "Divine Comedy" branding. Except like 2/3 of the way through the book, there's a massive tone shift, and it gets very very serious and almost sad. The shift is so jarring and doesn't really work, so the book overall feels disjointed.
I was excited to pick this up, but it was really disappointing.
There were a few highlights, but it ultimately falls very very flat.
The Saints:
1. Humor:
There are legitimately funny moments and characters in this book. Some of the stunts the HA pulls off are hilarious and I did laugh out loud at points, mostly during the first half of the book.
2. Interesting Points About Feminist Theology/Religion
Henry makes compelling points about religious institutions and their capacity for change. I appreciated the ways she brought up the good and bad parts of Catholicism and her thoughtful examination about the reasons people stay or leave. Additionally, Lucy provides interesting examples of feminist theology and I do want to look into some of the thinkers she brings up (catch me being a nerd).
3. The Ending
There are some nice points made in the ending that I'm not gonna get into for spoiler reasons, but they did make me almost rate the book 3 stars. It's a really good ending. That said, most of those points wouldn't have needed to be made had Michael not been a douchebro supreme and they don't make the previous 300 pages worth it.
The Sinners:
1. The Romance is *Extremely* Uncomfortable
There's a romance between Lucy and Michael. It was awkward, forced, and uncomfortable. Michael's primary interest in Lucy is really superficial and primarily motivated by horny teenage boy energy
Spoiler
(at one point he refers to a "Leftover Dream Boner," he gets weirdly turned on over Lucy leaning over, and uses "The Dakotas are beautiful this time of year" to describe her boobs. There's also very weird things around consent and boundaries in that scene.2. Characters Are Very 1 Dimensional
Every character in this book is defined by one thing, usually religion, and have literally 0 character traits outside of that.
3. Michael is a Edgelord
Ugh, Michael. Michael is a Holden Caulfield without any of the literary merit. He's the type of atheist that likes to be snarky to religious people on the internet because he's so confident he's right and completely unable to see *any* benefit to religious institutions. At one point he literally tells Lucy, who wants to be a priest, that she's too smart to be religious. I have nothing against atheism, but Michael represents the worst of atheists.
4. Writing Style
This one is self explanatory - I didn't really vibe with Henry's writing style.
5. Tone is Very Confusing
The book is marketed as a comedy that makes some serious points about religion. And yes, sometimes blurbs give the wrong impression of books. But the first half really does fall in line with the "Divine Comedy" branding. Except like 2/3 of the way through the book, there's a massive tone shift, and it gets very very serious and almost sad. The shift is so jarring and doesn't really work, so the book overall feels disjointed.
I was excited to pick this up, but it was really disappointing.