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azieyosabor's reviews
114 reviews
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
i'm at a loss for words.
i recently read ocean vuong's ”night sky with exit wounds” before “on earth we’re briefly gorgeous” and it has left me completely obsessed in his words. i cannot stress this enough: if it's written by ocean vuong, it's worth reading.
i'm not exaggerating when i say this book will leave you in tears. it's not just a book - it's a manifestation of the author's heart and soul, bleeding through every page. it's a beautiful and devastating work of art that will leave you feeling like a completely different person!
the prose in this novel is so poetic, it's as if the words dance on the page. you'll need a box of tissues next to you when reading this one. it's a life-changing experience that i cannot recommend enough. i know my words may not be enough to convince you, but trust me, this book is worth it. please, just give it a chance and let it change you like it has changed me.
*full review on goodreads*
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6307463043
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
“because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing. to be gorgeous, you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted.”
i'm at a loss for words.
i recently read ocean vuong's ”night sky with exit wounds” before “on earth we’re briefly gorgeous” and it has left me completely obsessed in his words. i cannot stress this enough: if it's written by ocean vuong, it's worth reading.
i'm not exaggerating when i say this book will leave you in tears. it's not just a book - it's a manifestation of the author's heart and soul, bleeding through every page. it's a beautiful and devastating work of art that will leave you feeling like a completely different person!
the prose in this novel is so poetic, it's as if the words dance on the page. you'll need a box of tissues next to you when reading this one. it's a life-changing experience that i cannot recommend enough. i know my words may not be enough to convince you, but trust me, this book is worth it. please, just give it a chance and let it change you like it has changed me.
*full review on goodreads*
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6307463043
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
OML, that was freaking adorable!!! i legit sprinted all over my house, and now everyone probably thinks i'm nuts (but they're used to my dramatic antics by now, lol)! everything was amazing especially my personal highlight, jane su is freaking awesome!! <3<3 like seriously, she's my crush, i can't even handle it! i'm like incapable of forming coherent sentences right now! haven't fangirled this hard in ages, thank goodness casey mcquiston brought it out of me again, ahhh!! i'm totally in love with this book, in case you couldn't tell.
→ tropes.
⤷ time travel element
⤷ found family
⤷ strangers to lovers
⤷ f/f romance
⤷ new york setting
— genre’s: queer contemporary romance (sci-fi)
*full review on goodreads!*
⤷https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6335448012
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
“but, you know, that feeling? when you wake up in the morning and you have somebody to think about? somewhere for hope to go? it's good. even when it's bad, it's good.”
OML, that was freaking adorable!!! i legit sprinted all over my house, and now everyone probably thinks i'm nuts (but they're used to my dramatic antics by now, lol)! everything was amazing especially my personal highlight, jane su is freaking awesome!! <3<3 like seriously, she's my crush, i can't even handle it! i'm like incapable of forming coherent sentences right now! haven't fangirled this hard in ages, thank goodness casey mcquiston brought it out of me again, ahhh!! i'm totally in love with this book, in case you couldn't tell.
→ tropes.
⤷ time travel element
⤷ found family
⤷ strangers to lovers
⤷ f/f romance
⤷ new york setting
— genre’s: queer contemporary romance (sci-fi)
*full review on goodreads!*
⤷https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6335448012
Terrific Mother by Lorrie Moore
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
confused as heck? yes.
entertained? also, yes.
am i oddly craving more of lorrie moore’s writing? yep, yep, yep!
entertained? also, yes.
am i oddly craving more of lorrie moore’s writing? yep, yep, yep!
Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
emotional
reflective
sad
5.0
ocean vuong's poetry collection, night sky with exit wounds, is a masterpiece that grips you with its exploration of themes such as identity, trauma, love, and loss. the power of his words is undeniable; vuong has a unique ability to touch hearts with his raw, bleeding emotions. his poetic metaphors feel insanely nostalgic and his descriptions are vivid yet incredibly soft.
this collection is not for the faint-hearted, and it's impossible not to be moved by the sadness radiating from its pages. however, amidst the tragedy, there is also hope, making it a truly remarkable piece. reading this collection will change you completely, and i urge you to take your time with it!
i cannot do justice to the talent of this poet with my review, but i can say with certainty that i will be devouring all of his other works until i've read everything he has written. whether it's a shopping list or a poem, if it's written by ocean vuong, it's worth reading.
Four-Legged Girl: Poems by Diane Seuss
overall, this short poetry collection is all about this woman born way back in the 19th century with four legs. it's got this fierce, female vibe - beautiful and kinda grimy, you know? i'm into poetry that's edgy, dark, and a bit like a story. it's weird, haunting, melancholic, but still kicks with some serious themes.
dark
emotional
reflective
3.0
so, randomly grabbed this book, didn't even read the synopsis, just vibed with the creepy-cool cover. some bits of these poems hit me, others left me scratching my head - totally challenging to read and decode...
overall, this short poetry collection is all about this woman born way back in the 19th century with four legs. it's got this fierce, female vibe - beautiful and kinda grimy, you know? i'm into poetry that's edgy, dark, and a bit like a story. it's weird, haunting, melancholic, but still kicks with some serious themes.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Masks of Faded Dreams by Marcelina LoBue
have you ever come across those books where you read the blurb, and you just know it's gonna be freaking awesome? well, masks of faded dreams is THAT book! the author hit me up, sent an early copy, and just from the blurb, i was like, “drop everything, i gotta read this NOW!” reading it was a wild 24-hour rollercoaster – i'm talking jaw-dropping shock, awe, laughter, squealing, and yeah, even a tear or two. so much love for these characters; they're a bunch of awesome, diverse personalities that had me feeling all sorts of emotions. sure, there were a few hiccups, but come on, it's a debut novel! loved every bit of it, stoked i got a free copy pre-publication, and trust me, i'm gonna be talking about these characters for ages!
→ tropes.
⤷ enemies to lovers
⤷ slow burn
⤷ masquerade ball
⤷ found family
⤷ magical realism
⤷ elemental magic
⤷ rebellions
⤷ espionage
⤷ urban fantasy
— genre’s: ya fantasy romance
→ content warnings.
heads up: this book's got some heavy stuff, mentions and flashbacks about past sexual assault (rape) involving the main character.
→ plot summary.
okay, so there's this girl, maia, right? she's got shadow powers and a super secret past. then, we got this dude, itzal, rocking fire powers, leading a rebellion. now, picture this: maia's dragged into her high school's masquerade ball, and boom, she bumps into itzal, the ally of her long-time enemy. she's all like, “no way i'm trusting this dude.” but plot twist, he ropes her into being a spy for his group of elementals called the “dxrks” – people with elemental magic in their blood. next thing you know, she's in her birth realm dealing with her haunting childhood demons. the revolution's looming, and she's gotta shove her trust issues aside to be a double agent for the dxrks, even when things aren't smooth with her and their leader. hold up, though – unexpected betrayals and mind-blowing revelations are popping up everywhere, putting maia's heart and everything she cares about on the line. she figures out the world's like a sea of people hiding behind masks, and her fear? drowning in the mist of all those masks or, scarier, losing herself in her OWN mask.
→ the writing.
i'm loving how easy it is to breeze through this book. the writing yanks you right into the story, and i'm all about getting the interesting stuff upfront and then getting the deets later – big fan of that move! but, gotta be real, it's a debut, so there's a bit of messiness, especially in scenes with more than two people. i got kinda overwhelmed trying to figure out who’s talking, ‘cause sometimes it’s not clear. spotted a few spelling and grammar slip-ups, but nothing major – happens to the best. once you get past those little bumps, it's a wild ride, and i'm legit up until 6 am glued to this book. it's that good! also, what's cool is that even though it's fantasy, it's not trying too hard with all the fancy words. it keeps it simple, which makes it a chill read and even more fun. there's this contemporary vibe that i'm digging personally. oh, but here's the thing – the chapters are like, super long. i'm not a fan of that, but luckily the plot is so juicy and well-written that i survived. still, shorter chapters would’ve been a game-changer for the pacing, especially with a plot like this. just throwing it out there, you feel me?
→ main characters.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ maia urtisti.
⤷ sunshine
so, at first, i'm thinking maia might turn out to be this annoying “i'm not like other girls” pick-me kind of female lead we all hate. but whoa, i was dead wrong. keep in mind, she's just sixteen, but damn, she's mature for her age. she's been through some messed-up stuff that no one her age should have to deal with. she's strong, determined, and it's seriously admirable. i love how she's done being pushed around – she wants respect, and you bet she makes sure she gets it. she's all about self-improvement and puts in the effort. her whole life, she's felt helpless and numb, but not anymore. these words shouldn't even be connected to her after this book. it's powerful stuff!
right from the start, we get bits of her past that scarred her bad. each crumb warned me of the tears to come, and it hit hard. kai hale deserves a spot in hell for what he did to a child like her. anyone who denied her justice will suffer too. heartbreaking to read, but i'm glad she rises above it all. however, her backstory delivery could've been smoother. it was kinda dumped on us all at once, messing with the pacing. would've preferred it more spread out for a killer climax. still, it adds a bittersweet but beautiful layer to the story.
loving the character development, though. maia starts off a bit helpless, but with each chapter, she's getting more badass. standing her ground against elijah and itzal's crap, or facing off with kai on the bridge – she's tapping into her total spitfire self. about time that fire in her showed up. big fan of strong female leads.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ itzal caddel.
my man, my man, my man! <3<3 right off the bat, this guy brings in some serious personality, and i'm all for it. he's the first character in the book that i quickly got a soft spot for. perfect mix of sweet and hot, protective, witty, and sassy – got me weak in the legs, he's that awesome. and let's talk about the best part – he's hella cocky. sorry, but cocky male main characters just hit different, and i'm way too down bad for them. it's borderline concerning! but real talk, he can be kinda stupid, switching from cozy warm to ice-cold, rude, and infuriating. i get it, we're dealing with teens and emotions on overdrive, but sometimes he's just unnecessarily rude and it looks dumb.
then again, i get why he's like that. like maia, he's been through some serious stuff, scars and all. it ain't easy, especially when they're so young. if you actually think about it, he's sweet, just takes a bit for him to warm up to someone. once he does, though, you'll see how freaking amazing he is.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ maia and itzal.
okay, so their story is a rollercoaster, full of lies and misunderstandings messing with their love. they make progress, but bam, kai drops more secrets, and we're back to square one – fighting and being enemies. but when those secrets aren't wrecking things, they're legit sweet together. both sarcastic AF, even when they were enemies, they just clicked. the romance? super cute. i legit screamed every time itzal called maia “sunshine,” no lie, they're adorable. but here's the thing – i kinda feel like the romance wasn't really necessary to the plot. it moved crazy fast, almost forced, you know? like, it wouldn't have changed much if maia and itzal stayed platonic with a cozy friendship vibe, and this book could've been all about a cute found family. but hey, don’t get me wrong, the romance isn’t bad. it’s super sweet, had me grinning tons, just maybe not totally necessary.
→ side characters.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ phoenix and astra.
my girls (aka the adorable nature x water duo <3) i'm obsessed with them, seriously, they're the absolute best. since we first meet them, i've been falling harder for these gals with every dang chapter. astra is legit the most precious cinnamon roll with this fiery side that's just so darn hot – love her to bits. and phoenix? haha, she's a legend. super blunt, always speaking her mind no matter how harsh, which i oddly love about her. but the more you get to know her, turns out she's got this sweet soul too.
can we talk about the sapphic rep though? phoenix and astra are like made for each other, such an adorable couple. marcelina lobue, i'm already a fan, but you know what would make me love you even more? a spin-off with heaps of cute, adorable moments featuring my fave girls :)) yep, these two are the bomb and definitely brightened up the whole story, which i was already loving!
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ elijah.
i didn't vibe with him right from the start, unlike the others. always grumpy, glaring, and dropping annoying remarks on maia – seriously, he just got on my nerves. not at all like how itzal hyped him up, saying he'd overwhelm us with his sarcastic humor. i'd be all in for that 'cause funny characters are my jam, but nope, he wanted to be all edgy and weird. until we got the lowdown on why he acts the way he does!
i straight-up screamed when the part about why he's giving maia a hard time was spilled because i called it! predictable as heck, but i don't mind that. actually, i'm stoked 'cause my guess was spot on. elijah's past and character turned out to be a crazy interesting and welcome plot twist! now that it's out there, we see he's actually sweet and protective – super adorable. towards the end, we even get a taste of that funny side itzal teased. he's a total sweetheart with a seriously big heart.
→ the dxrks.
this crew of elementals is straight-up silly, loving, and adorbs in their little espionage adventures. fire (itzal), shadow (maia), nature (astra), wind (elijah), and water (phoenix) – loved 'em all, even if i had some faves. seriously, they're like a big found family, each one carrying some scars but finding solace and a safe spot with each other. seeing the “dxrks” welcome maia into the squad was kinda rocky at first, but soon they were all tight, super cute. and those fight scenes? nerve-wracking as heck! the way they teamed up, had each other's backs, and all their elemental powers colliding – it's wild. never read a book about elementals before, so this crew was the perfect intro for me to dive into more of these kinds of books!
→ in conclusion.
dude, this book? freakin' loved it! the plot, characters (especially them), the elemental magic vibe – the whole package was awesome. for a debut, it's seriously mind-blowing, and i'm hella impressed. marcelina killed it, and i'm totally gonna keep an eye out for whatever she drops next! said pretty much everything already, so i'm just gonna wrap this up by saying, seriously, EVERYONE needs to check this out. if you were into “six of crows” or the movie “the darkest minds,” this book's gonna be your jam too.
masks of faded dreams by marcelina lobue hits the shelves on april 2nd, 2024. pre-order it now on amazon and barnes & noble – no joke, you won't regret it! <3<3
— thank you marcelina lobue, the author for sending me a copy of this e-arc. opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
𓍢 ִ ໋ “shadows aren’t born; they’re made, always nestled in the lingering presence of sunlight.”
have you ever come across those books where you read the blurb, and you just know it's gonna be freaking awesome? well, masks of faded dreams is THAT book! the author hit me up, sent an early copy, and just from the blurb, i was like, “drop everything, i gotta read this NOW!” reading it was a wild 24-hour rollercoaster – i'm talking jaw-dropping shock, awe, laughter, squealing, and yeah, even a tear or two. so much love for these characters; they're a bunch of awesome, diverse personalities that had me feeling all sorts of emotions. sure, there were a few hiccups, but come on, it's a debut novel! loved every bit of it, stoked i got a free copy pre-publication, and trust me, i'm gonna be talking about these characters for ages!
→ tropes.
⤷ enemies to lovers
⤷ slow burn
⤷ masquerade ball
⤷ found family
⤷ magical realism
⤷ elemental magic
⤷ rebellions
⤷ espionage
⤷ urban fantasy
— genre’s: ya fantasy romance
→ content warnings.
heads up: this book's got some heavy stuff, mentions and flashbacks about past sexual assault (rape) involving the main character.
→ plot summary.
okay, so there's this girl, maia, right? she's got shadow powers and a super secret past. then, we got this dude, itzal, rocking fire powers, leading a rebellion. now, picture this: maia's dragged into her high school's masquerade ball, and boom, she bumps into itzal, the ally of her long-time enemy. she's all like, “no way i'm trusting this dude.” but plot twist, he ropes her into being a spy for his group of elementals called the “dxrks” – people with elemental magic in their blood. next thing you know, she's in her birth realm dealing with her haunting childhood demons. the revolution's looming, and she's gotta shove her trust issues aside to be a double agent for the dxrks, even when things aren't smooth with her and their leader. hold up, though – unexpected betrayals and mind-blowing revelations are popping up everywhere, putting maia's heart and everything she cares about on the line. she figures out the world's like a sea of people hiding behind masks, and her fear? drowning in the mist of all those masks or, scarier, losing herself in her OWN mask.
→ the writing.
i'm loving how easy it is to breeze through this book. the writing yanks you right into the story, and i'm all about getting the interesting stuff upfront and then getting the deets later – big fan of that move! but, gotta be real, it's a debut, so there's a bit of messiness, especially in scenes with more than two people. i got kinda overwhelmed trying to figure out who’s talking, ‘cause sometimes it’s not clear. spotted a few spelling and grammar slip-ups, but nothing major – happens to the best. once you get past those little bumps, it's a wild ride, and i'm legit up until 6 am glued to this book. it's that good! also, what's cool is that even though it's fantasy, it's not trying too hard with all the fancy words. it keeps it simple, which makes it a chill read and even more fun. there's this contemporary vibe that i'm digging personally. oh, but here's the thing – the chapters are like, super long. i'm not a fan of that, but luckily the plot is so juicy and well-written that i survived. still, shorter chapters would’ve been a game-changer for the pacing, especially with a plot like this. just throwing it out there, you feel me?
→ main characters.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ maia urtisti.
⤷ sunshine
so, at first, i'm thinking maia might turn out to be this annoying “i'm not like other girls” pick-me kind of female lead we all hate. but whoa, i was dead wrong. keep in mind, she's just sixteen, but damn, she's mature for her age. she's been through some messed-up stuff that no one her age should have to deal with. she's strong, determined, and it's seriously admirable. i love how she's done being pushed around – she wants respect, and you bet she makes sure she gets it. she's all about self-improvement and puts in the effort. her whole life, she's felt helpless and numb, but not anymore. these words shouldn't even be connected to her after this book. it's powerful stuff!
right from the start, we get bits of her past that scarred her bad. each crumb warned me of the tears to come, and it hit hard. kai hale deserves a spot in hell for what he did to a child like her. anyone who denied her justice will suffer too. heartbreaking to read, but i'm glad she rises above it all. however, her backstory delivery could've been smoother. it was kinda dumped on us all at once, messing with the pacing. would've preferred it more spread out for a killer climax. still, it adds a bittersweet but beautiful layer to the story.
loving the character development, though. maia starts off a bit helpless, but with each chapter, she's getting more badass. standing her ground against elijah and itzal's crap, or facing off with kai on the bridge – she's tapping into her total spitfire self. about time that fire in her showed up. big fan of strong female leads.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ itzal caddel.
my man, my man, my man! <3<3 right off the bat, this guy brings in some serious personality, and i'm all for it. he's the first character in the book that i quickly got a soft spot for. perfect mix of sweet and hot, protective, witty, and sassy – got me weak in the legs, he's that awesome. and let's talk about the best part – he's hella cocky. sorry, but cocky male main characters just hit different, and i'm way too down bad for them. it's borderline concerning! but real talk, he can be kinda stupid, switching from cozy warm to ice-cold, rude, and infuriating. i get it, we're dealing with teens and emotions on overdrive, but sometimes he's just unnecessarily rude and it looks dumb.
then again, i get why he's like that. like maia, he's been through some serious stuff, scars and all. it ain't easy, especially when they're so young. if you actually think about it, he's sweet, just takes a bit for him to warm up to someone. once he does, though, you'll see how freaking amazing he is.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ maia and itzal.
okay, so their story is a rollercoaster, full of lies and misunderstandings messing with their love. they make progress, but bam, kai drops more secrets, and we're back to square one – fighting and being enemies. but when those secrets aren't wrecking things, they're legit sweet together. both sarcastic AF, even when they were enemies, they just clicked. the romance? super cute. i legit screamed every time itzal called maia “sunshine,” no lie, they're adorable. but here's the thing – i kinda feel like the romance wasn't really necessary to the plot. it moved crazy fast, almost forced, you know? like, it wouldn't have changed much if maia and itzal stayed platonic with a cozy friendship vibe, and this book could've been all about a cute found family. but hey, don’t get me wrong, the romance isn’t bad. it’s super sweet, had me grinning tons, just maybe not totally necessary.
→ side characters.
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ phoenix and astra.
my girls (aka the adorable nature x water duo <3) i'm obsessed with them, seriously, they're the absolute best. since we first meet them, i've been falling harder for these gals with every dang chapter. astra is legit the most precious cinnamon roll with this fiery side that's just so darn hot – love her to bits. and phoenix? haha, she's a legend. super blunt, always speaking her mind no matter how harsh, which i oddly love about her. but the more you get to know her, turns out she's got this sweet soul too.
can we talk about the sapphic rep though? phoenix and astra are like made for each other, such an adorable couple. marcelina lobue, i'm already a fan, but you know what would make me love you even more? a spin-off with heaps of cute, adorable moments featuring my fave girls :)) yep, these two are the bomb and definitely brightened up the whole story, which i was already loving!
꒰⋆𐙚 ⌗ elijah.
i didn't vibe with him right from the start, unlike the others. always grumpy, glaring, and dropping annoying remarks on maia – seriously, he just got on my nerves. not at all like how itzal hyped him up, saying he'd overwhelm us with his sarcastic humor. i'd be all in for that 'cause funny characters are my jam, but nope, he wanted to be all edgy and weird. until we got the lowdown on why he acts the way he does!
i straight-up screamed when the part about why he's giving maia a hard time was spilled because i called it! predictable as heck, but i don't mind that. actually, i'm stoked 'cause my guess was spot on. elijah's past and character turned out to be a crazy interesting and welcome plot twist! now that it's out there, we see he's actually sweet and protective – super adorable. towards the end, we even get a taste of that funny side itzal teased. he's a total sweetheart with a seriously big heart.
→ the dxrks.
this crew of elementals is straight-up silly, loving, and adorbs in their little espionage adventures. fire (itzal), shadow (maia), nature (astra), wind (elijah), and water (phoenix) – loved 'em all, even if i had some faves. seriously, they're like a big found family, each one carrying some scars but finding solace and a safe spot with each other. seeing the “dxrks” welcome maia into the squad was kinda rocky at first, but soon they were all tight, super cute. and those fight scenes? nerve-wracking as heck! the way they teamed up, had each other's backs, and all their elemental powers colliding – it's wild. never read a book about elementals before, so this crew was the perfect intro for me to dive into more of these kinds of books!
→ in conclusion.
dude, this book? freakin' loved it! the plot, characters (especially them), the elemental magic vibe – the whole package was awesome. for a debut, it's seriously mind-blowing, and i'm hella impressed. marcelina killed it, and i'm totally gonna keep an eye out for whatever she drops next! said pretty much everything already, so i'm just gonna wrap this up by saying, seriously, EVERYONE needs to check this out. if you were into “six of crows” or the movie “the darkest minds,” this book's gonna be your jam too.
masks of faded dreams by marcelina lobue hits the shelves on april 2nd, 2024. pre-order it now on amazon and barnes & noble – no joke, you won't regret it! <3<3
𓍢 ִ ໋ “a legend for the legends themselves.”
— thank you marcelina lobue, the author for sending me a copy of this e-arc. opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Im Westen nichts Neues by Erich Maria Remarque
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
this book goes deep into the world war I trenches, showing how messed up war really is. crazy thing is, it dropped back in 1929, but guess what? it's still hitting hard today. open it up right now, and you'll see it's sadly just as relevant as it was all those years ago. but man, it's intense and mind-blowing. finished the book, watched the movie too, and it’s been sticking with me every single day (not that i mind). if you haven’t given it a shot, you seriously need to – it’s way more than just a read.
now, the story follows this young guy, paul bäumer, who starts off as a regular student. his entire class and him, voluntarily sign up to support at the trenches all pumped, thinking it's gonna be an epic adventure fighting for their country, but once they hit the trenches, it's a whole different story…
trench warfare is a legit nightmare – losing buddies to death, not knowing where your next meal’s coming from – it all leads to them feeling disillusioned. even when they get leave, going back to normal life is impossible. they’re messed up, and the treatment they get from doctors and nurses is often jacked up – overworked or even using them for weird experiments. it’s heart-shattering stuff.
i'm super into world war I and II, and i gotta say, i've never come across anything that hits war like this book does.
it's a quick read, but crazy detailed. it lays out all the trench warfare life – the highs, the boredom, the freakin' horror, pain, fear, hunger, dirt, loss, feeling totally out of place, and that constant reminder that you could literally die any second. and the big theme? this book's all about how pointless war is. like, why put your life on the line for something that's just messed up? it's not some hero glorification or trying to justify germany's wwi role. according to remarque, it's all about showing how the war wrecked a whole generation, even the ones who made it out alive!
this book is like real talk – no sugarcoating. it spills all the crazy war stuff, every thought running through every soldier's head, no matter where they're from. whether it's paul, the main guy, being german, french, or british – they all felt this deep. it hits you right in the feels, more than anything else can.
if you're gonna read just one war book, make it this one. seriously.
now, the story follows this young guy, paul bäumer, who starts off as a regular student. his entire class and him, voluntarily sign up to support at the trenches all pumped, thinking it's gonna be an epic adventure fighting for their country, but once they hit the trenches, it's a whole different story…
trench warfare is a legit nightmare – losing buddies to death, not knowing where your next meal’s coming from – it all leads to them feeling disillusioned. even when they get leave, going back to normal life is impossible. they’re messed up, and the treatment they get from doctors and nurses is often jacked up – overworked or even using them for weird experiments. it’s heart-shattering stuff.
i'm super into world war I and II, and i gotta say, i've never come across anything that hits war like this book does.
it's a quick read, but crazy detailed. it lays out all the trench warfare life – the highs, the boredom, the freakin' horror, pain, fear, hunger, dirt, loss, feeling totally out of place, and that constant reminder that you could literally die any second. and the big theme? this book's all about how pointless war is. like, why put your life on the line for something that's just messed up? it's not some hero glorification or trying to justify germany's wwi role. according to remarque, it's all about showing how the war wrecked a whole generation, even the ones who made it out alive!
this book is like real talk – no sugarcoating. it spills all the crazy war stuff, every thought running through every soldier's head, no matter where they're from. whether it's paul, the main guy, being german, french, or british – they all felt this deep. it hits you right in the feels, more than anything else can.
if you're gonna read just one war book, make it this one. seriously.
Dear Justyce by Nic Stone
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
- 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? Yes
4.0
so, i kinda impulse-bought this book out of the blue. it popped up on my kindle, looked interesting, checked out the synopsis, and thought, “yep, let's do it!” turns out, it's a sequel to “dear martin” (which i'll read soon, promise), but no worries, it stands alone just fine! most reviews recommend to read both books, and i definitely will. can't believe i gave in to the impulse, but this time it was totally worth it. the book is mind-blowing—you won't get it till you read it. my heart is still in pieces 24 hours after finishing it 😭. seriously, give it a shot; it totally shifted my perspective on life.
quan’s story breaks my heart – he's like me just a kid. when he writes to justyce, he's talking about the most unhinged stuff and spilling about his life like a typical teenager. it hit me, like, real hard – this isn't some guilty grown-up in jail; it's a innocent kid 😠. he's been stuck waiting for a trial for more than two years, no date in sight, just fading away in a system that slams the cuffs on quick but takes forever to make a decision, even when there's not much (or no) proof 😒
overall, i won't spill all the deets, but seriously, grab this. read it. feel it. get mad and actually do something!
*the content of this book includes descriptions of a panic attack, incarceration, racism, racial profiling, gun violence, police brutality, incarceration of a parent, domestic violence, cancer, drug use, poverty, sleep paralysis, and graphic language (including the use of the f-word and n-word). please be aware of these themes before diving into the book!
quan’s story breaks my heart – he's like me just a kid. when he writes to justyce, he's talking about the most unhinged stuff and spilling about his life like a typical teenager. it hit me, like, real hard – this isn't some guilty grown-up in jail; it's a innocent kid 😠. he's been stuck waiting for a trial for more than two years, no date in sight, just fading away in a system that slams the cuffs on quick but takes forever to make a decision, even when there's not much (or no) proof 😒
overall, i won't spill all the deets, but seriously, grab this. read it. feel it. get mad and actually do something!
*the content of this book includes descriptions of a panic attack, incarceration, racism, racial profiling, gun violence, police brutality, incarceration of a parent, domestic violence, cancer, drug use, poverty, sleep paralysis, and graphic language (including the use of the f-word and n-word). please be aware of these themes before diving into the book!