anneliesadriaens's reviews
72 reviews

dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

While I think it’s extremely important to write a book on the topic of domestic abuse, I feel like the execution was poor. The note from the author explains in great detail her vision for the book, but the writing of it fell flat. The book is filled with unnecessary details and I didn’t think the writing was captivating or brought the characters to life. There are too many weird spicy scenes that remind me of Wattpad fiction I read when I was fourteen. I am also weirded out by the large role Ellen DeGeneres plays in this book. A lot of the plot felt too convenient (come on, Lily Blossom Bloom opens a flower shop called Lily Bloom’s???)

Except for Alyssa and Lily’s mom, none of the characters are likeable. Hoover describes Lily as “caring, intelligent and strong” but I found her constant criticism of her mother and her roommate and her neglect of Alyssa’s struggles not caring at all. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I really feel like she’s not someone I would want to be friends with. I felt like they really needed to work more on her character, I really wanted this story to tear me apart but through the weak writing style and character building, I just couldn’t.

I gravely worry about how this book will affect young girls, as it stays very surface level about the subtility of domestic abuse and it is marketed as a romance novel. I think by mirroring the situation of Hoovers mother, the book does not adequately represent the reality of domestic abuse (often a lack of support system, financial control, psychological manipulation) and I think this does not spread the awareness we would want it to spread. I feel like the non fiction books I’ve read on the topic were more emotional, sincere and carefully written than this

OK dan niet: Over mijlpalen, maakbaarheid en de millennial mindfuck by Katrin Swartenbroux

Go to review page

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

4.25

Hoewel bepaalde hoofdstukken nog te ver van mijn bed waren, had ik dit boek echt nodig. Enkel al door OK dan niet te lezen, voelde ik mij minder eenzaam. Niet enkel in het nu, maar ook in het toekomstbeeld dat ik voor mezelf zie. De hoofdstukken “anderhalf” (over relaties), “OK dan niet” (over hoop en de toekomst) en “ik ben het” (over gemeenschap en menselijke connectie) voelden als een warme knuffel, troostend zonder te preken of te oordelen. Niet alle hoofdstukken sloten even hard aan bij mijn levensfase, maar dat hoeft ook niet. Elke zin die resoneert, zorgt voor catharsis. Daarnaast is het boek ook ongelooflijk grappig en zit het vol met onderzoek, gesprekken en bronnen.

Ik ben niet iemand die noteert in boeken, maar hier had ik dat absoluut moeten doen. Zodat ik de vlotte en doordachte verwoording nog lang kan onthouden. Zodat ik er later nog eens op terug kan komen.

Babel: An Arcane History by R.F. Kuang

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I loved the Poppy war trilogy so much it scared me to start reading Babel. From the back you can immediately tell it’s so different from the Poppy war and I was afraid I would not like it as much. I finally got around to reading it and - while it was different from the Poppy war - adored this book. R. F. Kuang is the queen of intertwining historical events with moving stories and complex characters. The fantasy aspect was not as pronounced as in the Poppy war but I found the characters to have even more depth in Babel.

The plot twists had me gasping out loud but I have to admit TikTok influenced me to think that the ending would be even more surprising than it was. While Babel was the longest book I’ve read in a while, I found that it wasn’t boring or tedious at all. A big kudos to R. F. Kuang for discussing racism (both in society and in academia) in such an unique, compelling yet realistic way

Africa Is Not A Country: Breaking Stereotypes of Modern Africa by Dipo Faloyin

Go to review page

funny hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

Go to review page

dark reflective fast-paced

5.0

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

Go to review page

challenging reflective fast-paced

4.0