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17mima's reviews
128 reviews
None Of This Is Serious by Catherine Prasifka
3.5
Don’t read this if you don’t like unlikable main characters. Like, just don’t. You will hate every second of it.
On the other hand, if you like reading someone’s thoughts and being inside their mind, this is for you.
It’s definitely very weird. It’s all based in the narrator’s mind, we never read her dialogue (except her messages) just her thoughts - we see what she wants to say, not what she actually said or how she said it, which I find interesting.
A lot of people don’t like “the crack”, which seems like a very weird plot point of an alternate reality, BUT if you read it knowing it’s supposed to represent the Covid pandemic, it makes a lot more sense. I feel like that makes a huge difference in whether you like the book or not.
By the end of the book, it kind of goes off the rails, and it feels like the author didn’t know how to end the plot (there was none), so she just kind of left it at a random point.
It’s a fine book, especially since it’s a debut novel, but definitely not something you *have* to read. It has some very relatable elements, which are saviors of this book, but not that much more.
On the other hand, if you like reading someone’s thoughts and being inside their mind, this is for you.
It’s definitely very weird. It’s all based in the narrator’s mind, we never read her dialogue (except her messages) just her thoughts - we see what she wants to say, not what she actually said or how she said it, which I find interesting.
A lot of people don’t like “the crack”, which seems like a very weird plot point of an alternate reality, BUT if you read it knowing it’s supposed to represent the Covid pandemic, it makes a lot more sense. I feel like that makes a huge difference in whether you like the book or not.
By the end of the book, it kind of goes off the rails, and it feels like the author didn’t know how to end the plot (there was none), so she just kind of left it at a random point.
It’s a fine book, especially since it’s a debut novel, but definitely not something you *have* to read. It has some very relatable elements, which are saviors of this book, but not that much more.
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
5.0
I can easily understand how a lot of people don’t like this book, because they find the main character insufferable. The thing is, I think I’m just insufferable enough to really really enjoy her narration.
I found myself underlining so so many of her thoughts, or just simple sentences in dialogues. (The room was cold. I tugged on a polo neck, and my head got stuck in it. I laughed, then wondered if this was to check I still knew how to.)
To me it definitely reads as the voice of a girl in her early 20s, which suited me perfectly.
It was funny, sad, and very mean. The author was never afraid to write down our darkest thoughts, the ugliest parts of our nature.
The ending is fine imo. I don’t particularly LOVE open endings, but I felt it suited the main character and her relationships. I took it to mean she just said her goodbyes to Edith, and got on a plane to Julian. Probably not the popular choice, but I really enjoyed her and Julian’s relationship, and it’s a fictional book so let me be happy :).
I found myself underlining so so many of her thoughts, or just simple sentences in dialogues. (The room was cold. I tugged on a polo neck, and my head got stuck in it. I laughed, then wondered if this was to check I still knew how to.)
To me it definitely reads as the voice of a girl in her early 20s, which suited me perfectly.
It was funny, sad, and very mean. The author was never afraid to write down our darkest thoughts, the ugliest parts of our nature.
Foster by Claire Keegan
5.0
Incredible how much was said and felt in such a short book, especially in a child’s voice.
“As we gather all these things together, I remember the days we spent, where we got them, what was sometimes said, and how the sun, for most of the time, was shining.”
“As we gather all these things together, I remember the days we spent, where we got them, what was sometimes said, and how the sun, for most of the time, was shining.”
The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos
4.5
I hate to admit it, but it’s worth it reading the first (incredibly slow) book in this series in order to get to this one.
It’s a night and day difference in pacing and plot, and especially characters’ relationships.
What I disliked remains to be just Ophelia being a bit annoying with her sneezing and such, with a new addition - Fox constantly grabbing “Twit” and putting it in his hair, and that being described and mentioned to no end. Really just minor stuff, the plot moved along pretty nicely.
What I liked is how much more interesting the plot was in this book. That is only bolstered by the great world-building done in the first book, which was expanded even more now. We get much deeper into the characters and their individual relationships, which is what really brings the whole story to life. The characters, although eccentric, feel real and tangible, you can feel connected to them now.
Short story shorter, don’t read it for the romance probably (it’s more than the first one but I wouldn’t get my hopes up), but the plot is way more interesting.
It’s a night and day difference in pacing and plot, and especially characters’ relationships.
What I disliked remains to be just Ophelia being a bit annoying with her sneezing and such, with a new addition - Fox constantly grabbing “Twit” and putting it in his hair, and that being described and mentioned to no end. Really just minor stuff, the plot moved along pretty nicely.
What I liked is how much more interesting the plot was in this book. That is only bolstered by the great world-building done in the first book, which was expanded even more now. We get much deeper into the characters and their individual relationships, which is what really brings the whole story to life. The characters, although eccentric, feel real and tangible, you can feel connected to them now.
Short story shorter, don’t read it for the romance probably (it’s more than the first one but I wouldn’t get my hopes up), but the plot is way more interesting.
A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos
slow-paced
3.5
First of all, this is not a fantasy-romance book and don’t let anyone fool you. It is not a “slow-burn enemies to lovers” etc. It has little-to-none (none, in my opinion) romance or romantic banter. The only point to be made for romance is that the main characters are engaged to be in an arranged marriage. (To be clear, this probably changes in later books in the series.)
With that out of the way, I am truly dumbfounded about what to rate this book.
What I disliked about the book is really about my personal preference, but it consists mainly of the main character - Ophelia, annoying me to no end at times. It took an enormous amount of time for me to feel connected to her, and I feel like the author almost intended that. With her constant mention of her glasses changing color (which I found unnecessary but whatever), sneezing all the time and being cold all the time etc. It just sucked that the book focused so little on characters and relationships vs. the plot, when the plot isn’t that interesting.
I swear I’m not trying to sh*t on the book, it’s just neither good nor bad and it has left me confused lol.
What I liked though, is how the author never allows us to trust a character. They are all very gray, and you never know what the actual truth is. The world-building is good, as well as the magic/powers.
The book is good, I can’t say it isn’t, just be prepared that it is SLOW. I had to claw my way through the first ~100pgs.
Good luck! ;)
With that out of the way, I am truly dumbfounded about what to rate this book.
What I disliked about the book is really about my personal preference, but it consists mainly of the main character - Ophelia, annoying me to no end at times. It took an enormous amount of time for me to feel connected to her, and I feel like the author almost intended that. With her constant mention of her glasses changing color (which I found unnecessary but whatever), sneezing all the time and being cold all the time etc. It just sucked that the book focused so little on characters and relationships vs. the plot, when the plot isn’t that interesting.
I swear I’m not trying to sh*t on the book, it’s just neither good nor bad and it has left me confused lol.
What I liked though, is how the author never allows us to trust a character. They are all very gray, and you never know what the actual truth is. The world-building is good, as well as the magic/powers.
The book is good, I can’t say it isn’t, just be prepared that it is SLOW. I had to claw my way through the first ~100pgs.
Good luck! ;)
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
3.0
It has some interesting insights in the first couple of chapters, losing momentum as the book goes on. I found it pretty redundant later on, as it kept repeating a lot of the same ideas.
It randomly starts focusing a lot on religion and spirituality later on as well, which I found odd. There are a couple very weird takes throughout the book, but I can’t really give it less stars only because I disagree.
It did it’s job I would say. Pretty good but nothing revolutionary in my opinion.
It randomly starts focusing a lot on religion and spirituality later on as well, which I found odd. There are a couple very weird takes throughout the book, but I can’t really give it less stars only because I disagree.
It did it’s job I would say. Pretty good but nothing revolutionary in my opinion.
U zimu by Karl Ove Knausgård
4.0
The way this man describes people makes me realize how little I pay attention to my surroundings.
The essays about random people are probably my favorite, but there’s a bunch of great topics.
It’s a very relaxing calm chill book overall, not very dynamic.
The essays about random people are probably my favorite, but there’s a bunch of great topics.
It’s a very relaxing calm chill book overall, not very dynamic.