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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book takes on a LOT--Blackness, queerness, family relationships, open relationships, fatness and body positivity, intersection of being Black and fat and female, and more. Sometimes I was confused, perhaps because a lot of these identities are not my own and I struggled to relate and to read between the line, and perhaps sometimes because there was just so much going on. I did have to stop myself at first from putting whatever stereotypes I have consumed about Black families and intergenerational relationships on this story and I accepted and celebrated this as one representation of many possibilities (that white people are afford automatically). I appreciated Winnie's introspection, and the fact that things weren't wrapped in a bow and boxed up at the end. For Winnie, there were some tough realizations about her relationship with Granny that couldn't just be solved in the span of a summer or a few weeks, but Kann leaves room for hope that maybe things could be better. She definitely hinted at the trauma experienced by someone of Granny's generation. I wonder if you need a little bit of life experience to understand all the moving parts in this book but maybe I'm selling younger teens short. It was a lot to take in but still a good read.
I liked the diverse voices presented in this YA novel. Winnie is black, identifies as queer, and stands up for who she is and how she looks because she feels good and likes herself. Realistic? I don’t know many teen girls like this but I’d sure like to!
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ya know...I tried. I really did.
I also tried with [b:Let's Talk About Love|31625039|Let's Talk About Love|Claire Kann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505836080l/31625039._SY75_.jpg|52306893] and I'm beginning to think that maybe as much as I really, really want to like them both, it's just too many words/thoughts/internalized feelings and subconversations for me. And I'm sad about it. LOL Because I mean, I like Virginia Woolf for goodness sakes, and she is the QUEEN of all around the mulberry bush. But I just couldn't finish these. So maybe Claire Kann is just not the author for me...and that's okay.
I really like Winnie, and I hope everything works out with her non-relationship, or her pushback against the patriarchy, or her fight against fat injustice, or her cantankerous relationship with her granny, or her buddy comedy with her cousin and brother,.... but like seriously, by page 140 or so, ,...I didn't care anymore. About ANY of it. And I kinda gotta care to keep going on this ride with ya Winnie girl. :(
But hey, go head black girl getting these two books written and published! You go girl!
I'm just umm...gonna...
I also tried with [b:Let's Talk About Love|31625039|Let's Talk About Love|Claire Kann|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505836080l/31625039._SY75_.jpg|52306893] and I'm beginning to think that maybe as much as I really, really want to like them both, it's just too many words/thoughts/internalized feelings and subconversations for me. And I'm sad about it. LOL Because I mean, I like Virginia Woolf for goodness sakes, and she is the QUEEN of all around the mulberry bush. But I just couldn't finish these. So maybe Claire Kann is just not the author for me...and that's okay.
I really like Winnie, and I hope everything works out with her non-relationship, or her pushback against the patriarchy, or her fight against fat injustice, or her cantankerous relationship with her granny, or her buddy comedy with her cousin and brother,.... but like seriously, by page 140 or so, ,...I didn't care anymore. About ANY of it. And I kinda gotta care to keep going on this ride with ya Winnie girl. :(
But hey, go head black girl getting these two books written and published! You go girl!
I'm just umm...gonna...
While this was not a page-turner or the kind of book that had brilliantly crafted sentences that stunned you into awed silence, it has SO many things other books (or media in general?) does not.
1. A fat main character who did not care to lose weight, or have self esteem issues
2. A QPR - not without it's issues, but still
3. Polyamory - a soon-to-be college student who didn't necessarily identify as such but who knew she could be in a relationship with more than one person
Does this belong on GoodReads? Yes, perhaps. That said, it wasn't easy to get into. Winnie is not a super likeable character (but also she wouldn't care that I said that) and it takes awhile for you to get the gist of allllll the relationships she has - family and friends. But this work of fiction is important for the sheer amount of representation that is not so easily stumbled upon. I can't even fully express how much that means to me, but when I get around to articulating it, I will write my own book. Thank you, Claire Kann.
1. A fat main character who did not care to lose weight, or have self esteem issues
2. A QPR - not without it's issues, but still
3. Polyamory - a soon-to-be college student who didn't necessarily identify as such but who knew she could be in a relationship with more than one person
Does this belong on GoodReads? Yes, perhaps. That said, it wasn't easy to get into. Winnie is not a super likeable character (but also she wouldn't care that I said that) and it takes awhile for you to get the gist of allllll the relationships she has - family and friends. But this work of fiction is important for the sheer amount of representation that is not so easily stumbled upon. I can't even fully express how much that means to me, but when I get around to articulating it, I will write my own book. Thank you, Claire Kann.
3.5 stars.
so, so grateful for finally some good queer-platonic relationship representation.
so, so grateful for finally some good queer-platonic relationship representation.
I like a lot of the aspects of this book but, together as a whole I didn't enjoy it like I was anticipating. Winnie bothered me at times but I was rooting for her to find acceptance and love while finding herself. I love Winnie's confidence and fat acceptance.
I love that poly and non romantic queer relationships were portrayed and addressed. Kara bothered me though in some of her actions. Her and Winnie were open about what they were and wanted yet she acted in a way that didn't mesh with her words.
I like the idea of the struggles between Winnie and her grandmother, but there was too much stubbornness and selfishness. They were so similar but her grandmother refused to let anyone else grow.
Overall, it was good but not great. It fell short of what I was hoping for.
I love that poly and non romantic queer relationships were portrayed and addressed. Kara bothered me though in some of her actions. Her and Winnie were open about what they were and wanted yet she acted in a way that didn't mesh with her words.
I like the idea of the struggles between Winnie and her grandmother, but there was too much stubbornness and selfishness. They were so similar but her grandmother refused to let anyone else grow.
Overall, it was good but not great. It fell short of what I was hoping for.
Claire Kann is officially my favorite contemporary writer, ahhhhhh.
I just wish Kara had been called aromantic on the page bc it seems like people who aren't aro/aro-spec are "getting" what a queerplatonic relationship means or how it works and I feel having that word could have helped a little.
I just wish Kara had been called aromantic on the page bc it seems like people who aren't aro/aro-spec are "getting" what a queerplatonic relationship means or how it works and I feel having that word could have helped a little.