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atreegrowsinbooks's reviews
241 reviews
The Carrying: Poems by Ada Limón
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Another brilliant collection of poems by Ada Limón. She’s easily becoming my favorite poet. I particularly enjoy when she mentions birds and animals. But her mentions of grief have me in tears. I thought this collection was very strong, with more mentions of what the body can/can’t do and how that has impacted her life. Listening to this on audio was wonderful and made me tear up a lot. Will be waiting for a physical copy to annotate and copy down my favorite lines.
From "THE VULTURE & THE BODY":
""What if, instead of carrying
a child, I am supposed to carry grief?"
Some favorite poems are "Against Belonging", "Losing", and "Sparrow, What Did You Say?"
From "THE VULTURE & THE BODY":
""What if, instead of carrying
a child, I am supposed to carry grief?"
Some favorite poems are "Against Belonging", "Losing", and "Sparrow, What Did You Say?"
The Hurting Kind: Poems by Ada Limón
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
An absolutely wonderful collection of poems by Ada Limón. I cried so many times listening to this book. There were many poems about animals, birds in particular that I really enjoyed. I have never related more to anything than the following lines from the poem “The Hurting Kind”, in part 5:
“I have always been too sensitive, a weeper from a long line of weepers.
“I have always been too sensitive, a weeper from a long line of weepers.
I am the hurting kind. I keep searching for proof.”
I will 100% be purchasing this collection so I can read it forever.
I will 100% be purchasing this collection so I can read it forever.
A Fortune for Your Disaster: Poems by Hanif Abdurraqib
fast-paced
5.0
So so good. Can’t recommend Hanif enough. Loved being able to hear him speak his poems. Looking forward to finding a physical copy to annotate and read through again.
The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
5.0
Flew through this so fast because it was so cute! Be still my heart.
I instantly loved the chemistry between Mimi and Vincent. It felt very real and kind of reminded me of Janine and Gregory’s chemistry from Abbott Elementary. The slow burn was 🔥
I think fake dating can be a trope that is difficult to come off as believable. And in this case, the reasonings actually seemed plausible. Their first meeting was absolutely adorable and their continued flirting was such a great slow burn.
The 3rd act conflict wasn’t my favorite but the characters explained themselves in a way that didn’t totally make me hate it.
Loved seeing Vincent be a confident black astronaut. I don’t think I’ve read a book with astronauts before or where a character has space knowledge. I related to the characters not having confidence in themselves and being anxious in certain situations. I enjoyed that Mimi wasn’t whiny and knew what she wanted out of her career.
I’m all for characters taking chances, owning up to their mistakes, and finding love with people deserving of it.
Overall really liked this book and will look for more from Easton in the future.
I instantly loved the chemistry between Mimi and Vincent. It felt very real and kind of reminded me of Janine and Gregory’s chemistry from Abbott Elementary. The slow burn was 🔥
I think fake dating can be a trope that is difficult to come off as believable. And in this case, the reasonings actually seemed plausible. Their first meeting was absolutely adorable and their continued flirting was such a great slow burn.
The 3rd act conflict wasn’t my favorite but the characters explained themselves in a way that didn’t totally make me hate it.
Loved seeing Vincent be a confident black astronaut. I don’t think I’ve read a book with astronauts before or where a character has space knowledge. I related to the characters not having confidence in themselves and being anxious in certain situations. I enjoyed that Mimi wasn’t whiny and knew what she wanted out of her career.
I’m all for characters taking chances, owning up to their mistakes, and finding love with people deserving of it.
Overall really liked this book and will look for more from Easton in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Dear Memory: Letters on Writing, Silence, and Grief by Victoria Chang
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Probably one of my favorite collections of essays I’ve ever read. I don’t think I’ll be able to adequately review this book.
Hanif Abdurraqib writes with such lyricism that it almost felt like listening to music as he narrated these works. The audio version was remarkable and I’ll be sure to grab a physical copy to mark some of my favorite passages.
“What I really want to do is say that life is impossible, and the lie we tell ourselves is that it is too short. Life, if anything, is too long. We accumulate too much along the way. Too many heartbreaks, too many funerals, too many physical setbacks. It's a miracle any of us survive at all.”
“The thing about grief is that it never truly leaves. From the moment it enters you, it becomes something you are always getting over. I will take healing in whatever form I can…”
“No one decides when the people we love are actually gone. May we all be buried on our own terms.”
“That maybe, what we see when we close our eyes is better than anything the living world could offer us in our waking hours.”
“It is hard to keep missing someone when there's no way to tell how long you've been without them. When everything blurs into a singular and brilliant darkness.”
Hanif Abdurraqib writes with such lyricism that it almost felt like listening to music as he narrated these works. The audio version was remarkable and I’ll be sure to grab a physical copy to mark some of my favorite passages.
“What I really want to do is say that life is impossible, and the lie we tell ourselves is that it is too short. Life, if anything, is too long. We accumulate too much along the way. Too many heartbreaks, too many funerals, too many physical setbacks. It's a miracle any of us survive at all.”
“The thing about grief is that it never truly leaves. From the moment it enters you, it becomes something you are always getting over. I will take healing in whatever form I can…”
“No one decides when the people we love are actually gone. May we all be buried on our own terms.”
“That maybe, what we see when we close our eyes is better than anything the living world could offer us in our waking hours.”
“It is hard to keep missing someone when there's no way to tell how long you've been without them. When everything blurs into a singular and brilliant darkness.”
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Wow did this book wreck me.
I really enjoyed how we got to learn about Ever through the eyes of his family members. I think that’s a very interesting way to allow a reader to get to know a character without directly hearing their perspective.
The narrators were fantastic too, both the author and Rainy Fields had a great speaking presence. I was drawn in by their voices.
I will say, that at times I was a little lost as to who the family member was we were hearing from and how they were related to Ever. I didn’t realize until after I finished the audio and borrowed the ebook version that there is a family tree in the front of the book. That would have been helpful to refer back to during my listen.
While I did like how the conclusion of the book was in Ever’s perspective, I wish we had gotten more directly from him. All in all, a heart wrenching book that I’ll be sure to keep thinking about. Definitely will be looking out for more from this author.
I really enjoyed how we got to learn about Ever through the eyes of his family members. I think that’s a very interesting way to allow a reader to get to know a character without directly hearing their perspective.
The narrators were fantastic too, both the author and Rainy Fields had a great speaking presence. I was drawn in by their voices.
I will say, that at times I was a little lost as to who the family member was we were hearing from and how they were related to Ever. I didn’t realize until after I finished the audio and borrowed the ebook version that there is a family tree in the front of the book. That would have been helpful to refer back to during my listen.
While I did like how the conclusion of the book was in Ever’s perspective, I wish we had gotten more directly from him. All in all, a heart wrenching book that I’ll be sure to keep thinking about. Definitely will be looking out for more from this author.
Space Struck: Poems by Paige Lewis
medium-paced
4.0
I never know how to review poetry. For me, reading poetry is so personal. And maybe that’s why it’s hard to rate and review. I really liked the style of the poems in this book. It’s clear that Paige Lewis has tremendous skill and I look forward to reading more of their work.
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
PRIDE & PREJUDICE by Jane Austen was one of the first books I loved as a young teen. To me, the story was about independence, loving oneself and others, and second chances. As a shy kid, those were easily relatable topics.
When I heard about MOST ARDENTLY by Gabe Cole Novoa, a trans retelling of P&P, I knew I needed to read it. And let me tell you, this book now has my whole heart. I am looking forward to adding this book to my P&P shelf.
In MOST ARDENTLY, we follow Oliver, a young trans boy in the regency era as he handles
heteronormative societal expectations, coming into his own queerness, and finding love and acceptance. Reading this story made me so happy on so many levels. I loved seeing queer and trans joy being represented! The characters also experience first love and contentment, which is always so lovely to read. I want to infinitely give these characters hugs.
You don't need to know the original story of P&P to enjoy this retelling, so if you haven't read it please don't let that stop from picking this up!
However, please check content warnings. Please be gentle with yourself and only read to your comfort level.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Dysphoria, and Transphobia