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ashmagoffin's reviews
689 reviews
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
4.0
Suzanne Collins has an effortlessly readable writing style which really captivated my interest. It is a tricky thing to try and get people to become invested when they know the outcome of the story already, I found myself trying unconsciously put up a mental block at times to stop myself becoming too attached but that honestly did not work. I still found myself connecting to the characters and the story and felt like I have been punched in the chest. The parallels and callbacks in this story were a nice touch as well. After I finished A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes I thought I would never continue this series but I'm so glad I picked up this book, this story in the Hunger Games canon was definitely worth telling.
Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson
2.25
I am a woman in STEM and I greatly appreciate the women who have paved the way for me so I was able to study medical radiation science and work as a nuclear medicine scientist with little obstruction. So I was immediately intrigued by this play as I do enjoy works that celebrate women in science. A historical adaptation should not be a documentary but there were multiple aspects which I did not vibe with. Henrietta Leavitt is portrayed as deaf and wears a historic hearing aid for the time as she was in real life. However, her colleague Annie Cannon who is also a character in this play is portrayed as hearing when she was also deaf. I just do not understand why you would make that choice as a playwright? How bizarre.
There was also a sense of contention between science and religion whereas Leavitt was a devote Christian her entire life, I do understand that by not placing Earth in the centre of the universe and finding out how vast the universe actually is had a huge impact of society at the time but it seems odd to portray Leavitt this way when it seemed to be a huge part of her identity.
There was a romantic subplot added with a fictional character named Peter Shaw. His presence seemed to reflect the male opinion of women at the time but why did he have to become romantically interested in the protagonist? An odd move indeed to add such focus to something to a story about a woman who seemed to want to be just LEFT ALONE to focus on astronomy and to be taken seriously as a scientist.
Besides from opening with all the issues I had with the script, the dialogue is engaging, the dynamics and interactions between the individuals leap off the page so this would translate well to the stage. The script gives great scope to the potential for staging and creative set and lighting design.
I am all for championing women in science and I love to see historical feminist plays. As a real person in history I feel like Henrietta Leavitt deserves an accurate representation in a work that is described as a true story.
Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
4.0
The back of this book says for fans of One Day x Daisy Jones and the Six x Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and this is entirely correct. A messy messy MESSY novel about coming of age, falling in and out of love and finding your identity in early 2000s. I loved unflinching, unapologetic and opinionated Percy, hungry for experiences and life. Holly Brickley really captured the pretentiousness of passionate uni students in a way that was amusing and not unbearable. This book is a love letter to artistic relationships, coming of age, making mistakes and to the music of the early 2000s. It made me feel nostalgic to the music of that era and a time gone by. I found myself at the end of this book not satisfied. It may have been entirely the point. Nevertheless, this is a superb debut and definitely worth checking out.
Thank you to Lizzie from Harper Collins for my gifted copy
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
5.0
My first Anne Tyler was an absolute delight. This book had an addictive tone, it followed somewhat commonplace events with observational wit. I cannot describe how hilarious I found this book, the dry humour, the eccentric characters which felt like they leapt off the page, the dysfunctional relationships felt recognisable and the sheer drama that could only surround a wedding. This book was excellently paced, my edition sitting at under 170 pages which makes for a delightful afternoon read. I loved reading Gail's observations of the world and the people around her, also the things left unsaid, particularly a mother's love for her daughter that is not often expressed. I knew this book was American but it felt like distinctively English in a strange way, probably due to the dry humour. This book would also make a superb play.
I adored this, I cannot wait to pick up more Anne Tyler.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
3.25
Not my fav Abby Jimenez, a bit too much miscommunication and rushed at the end but otherwise a solid romance read.
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
4.0
Yes hello friends, let me introduce you to the book which is a Venn diagram of my interests. I Cheerfully Refuse follows Rainy as he journeys down a flooded Lake Superior in dystopian-ish, near-ish future America. The writing is quite simply excellent, beautiful lyrical prose which makes even the most mundane action seem magical and thought-provoking. This formed a strong connection, Leif Enger captures Rainy's perspective vividly, a quiet man who is observant but does not always express himself through words, finding it easier to communicate music instead. I felt like I was truly seeing the world through his eyes, his love for his wife Lark, self-soothing himself through music and the beauty of the natural world.
I felt the impact of all of Rainy's highs and lows evocatively, the clever prose was bleak, atmospheric, darkly humorous, sorrowful and yet comforting. Rainy is a bassist and the essence of being a musician is captured perfectly, it felt like a love letter to music. As the narrative ambles on I was left wondering what was the point? I am a bit clueless to what but I enjoyed the experience all the same.
I felt the impact of all of Rainy's highs and lows evocatively, the clever prose was bleak, atmospheric, darkly humorous, sorrowful and yet comforting. Rainy is a bassist and the essence of being a musician is captured perfectly, it felt like a love letter to music. As the narrative ambles on I was left wondering what was the point? I am a bit clueless to what but I enjoyed the experience all the same.