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bashsbooks's reviews
241 reviews
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
What the fuck? I said to myself when I picked up this book at the library and realized it was a first person POV alternate history novel about Hillary Clinton née Rodham. I was intrigued but also kind of appalled by the concept - there's something that strikes me as... tasteless, I guess, about writing an AU of a real person's life while they're still alive and profiting off of it. That said, I doubt that someone of Hillary Rodham Clinton's fame and power would allow such a book to exist without her permission.
What the fuck? I continued to think as I read Rodham. It's written more or less like a political memoir - though with more honesty and more risque details. We meet Hillary in the late 60s and follow her to 2016, though we jump around in time, with some years coming to us as flashbacks, and some year summarized down to a few sentences. The premise, of course, is that Hillary meets Bill, dates him, but doesn't marry him. And because of that, it ends up being weirdly like a one-that-got-away romance? (Side Note: Kinda of funny in a fucked up way to write a book that basically says "If you hadn't married your husband, you wouldn't have taken the biggest L of your life." Like that's embarrassing. )
Rodham gives us intimate details, like Bill Clinton's height (he's 6'2", his tallness is referenced constantly), what sex is like with him (good but kind of boring), and how he has to have the agency in their relationship even in this girlboss trainwreck (why is he the one who decides they shouldn't get married???). It gives us things I never wanted to see, like Hillary Clinton experiencing widespread lesbophobia, Donald Trump endorsing her for president for some reason (that felt masturbatory in the bad way I fear), and a last minute fake dating subplot. And it left me thinking, at the very end, what the fuck did I just read?
My friends really liked hearing me talk about it in the groupchat, though. That's why I finished it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a hater like me.
What the fuck? I continued to think as I read Rodham. It's written more or less like a political memoir - though with more honesty and more risque details. We meet Hillary in the late 60s and follow her to 2016, though we jump around in time, with some years coming to us as flashbacks, and some year summarized down to a few sentences. The premise, of course, is that Hillary meets Bill, dates him, but doesn't marry him. And because of that, it ends up being weirdly like a one-that-got-away romance? (Side Note: Kinda of funny in a fucked up way to
Rodham gives us intimate details, like Bill Clinton's height (he's 6'2", his tallness is referenced constantly), what sex is like with him (good but kind of boring), and how he has to have the agency in their relationship even in this girlboss trainwreck (why is he the one who decides they shouldn't get married???). It gives us things I never wanted to see, like Hillary Clinton experiencing widespread lesbophobia, Donald Trump endorsing her for president for some reason (that felt masturbatory in the bad way I fear), and a last minute fake dating subplot. And it left me thinking, at the very end, what the fuck did I just read?
My friends really liked hearing me talk about it in the groupchat, though. That's why I finished it. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a hater like me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Fatphobia, Suicide, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
Teach Your Cat Irish by Anne Cakebread
informative
fast-paced
3.0
Cute book with a lot of common phrases to practice! The pronunciation guides are a bit off (especially given Irish has three major dialects that cause alternate pronunciations), but it's still a cute learning tool. I've been telling our cat Ellie to Fág é whenever she gets into stuff she shouldn't.
Gaeilge i mo Chroí - Irish in my Heart by Molly Nic Céile
funny
informative
slow-paced
5.0
A great resource from one of my favorite Irish content creators! I was so excited when Nic Céile announced Gaeilge i mo Chroí, book version. It's entertaining, it's clear, it's generous, and it brims full of love for the Irish language. I appreciated the vocabulary lessons and the extensive integration of Irish into the text - it's a shame that StoryGraph only allows one language on the listing, because this book is truly bilingual. I will be coming back to reference this as my journey as Gaeilge continues. Go raibh míle maith agat, Molly!
Men Have Called Her Crazy by Anna Marie Tendler
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
1.0
This is the most embarrassing book that I have ever had the misfortune of reading. The lack of self-awareness is so extreme that it seems willful, and the lack of meaningful interaction with privilege seems deceptive. What do I mean?
To the first point: Tendler seems to believe she is incapable of being in the wrong - she plays the victim in this book like it's a competitive sport and she is going for Olympic gold. Every boyfriend she's ever had, he's the problem. This is why she has concluded, without any sense of nuance, that men are the problem and women are not - to the point where she says stuff like "I don't think I could raise a male child." What? This is a strange conclusion given that the reoccurring antagonists of her life are her mother and her ex-therapist, both of whom are women. I commented on this to my friends about halfway through the book, so imagine my surprise when she reveals at the end that her psychiatrist observed the same thing, and she directly refutes it by calling him a misogynist without a hint of irony. The people in her life clearly don't care about her to let her publish something that makes her look that stupid. Her black-and-white view of gendered interactions suggests to me that she wouldn't know the meaning of intersectionality if it walked by her in the form of race, class, sexuality, or any other identity axis upon which she is privileged. Which brings me to the second point: Tendler clearly has money and white privilege - specifically the type that is typical for white women to flex, which explains this lack of interest in intersectionality (then she wouldn't be the victim anymore!). She rarely acknowledges her privileges; she says something about having money in passing when she discusses her dog's extensive medical bills. But it haunts the narrative like it's Laura fucking Palmer: she moves across the country multiple times, she renovates a Connecticut home she fills with vintage furniture, she specializes in Victorian lampshade making, she has a spare grand to replace expensive hormones when she fucks up one of the bottles (because she's mad that she didn't have a person to show her how to inject them!), and, of course, she can afford nearly two weeks of inpatient care.
I am empathetic to her problems - I, too, was raised as a girl and am still viewed by many as a woman; thus, I experience a lot of misogyny myself. I, too, have been suicidal and self-harmed, and I, too, have GAD and MDD. But goddamn. She needs a hefty dose of reality and perspective, especially if she's telling her own story in such an unlikeable way.
I went into this book assuming I would feel sorry for her because, well, I was exposed to the same news cycle about her divorce that the rest of us were. But I left it with a deep sympathy for the comedian who must not be named.
To the first point: Tendler seems to believe she is incapable of being in the wrong - she plays the victim in this book like it's a competitive sport and she is going for Olympic gold. Every boyfriend she's ever had, he's the problem. This is why she has concluded, without any sense of nuance, that men are the problem and women are not - to the point where she says stuff like "I don't think I could raise a male child." What? This is a strange conclusion given that the reoccurring antagonists of her life are her mother and her ex-therapist, both of whom are women. I commented on this to my friends about halfway through the book, so imagine my surprise when
I am empathetic to her problems - I, too, was raised as a girl and am still viewed by many as a woman; thus, I experience a lot of misogyny myself. I, too, have been suicidal and self-harmed, and I, too, have GAD and MDD. But goddamn. She needs a hefty dose of reality and perspective, especially if she's telling her own story in such an unlikeable way.
I went into this book assuming I would feel sorry for her because, well, I was exposed to the same news cycle about her divorce that the rest of us were. But I left it with a deep sympathy for the comedian who must not be named.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, and Pregnancy
The Summer Palace and Other Stories by C.S. Pacat
dark
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A nice companion to the trilogy! The Summer Place and The Adventures of Charls the Veretian Cloth Merchant were my favorites (the latter made me laugh out loud several times), but I enjoyed them all. A very nice peak into the perspectives of other characters and the world after the end of the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, and Trafficking
Moderate: Sexual violence and Xenophobia
Minor: War
Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
AHHH this one is my favorite! I read it in a medication mishap-fueled haze in the middle of the night. I did not stop. I was on the edge of my proverbial seat. It was a neat end to the series - and until the last like 15 pages I was like, how are they going to get out of this one? I love Laurent and the Regent playing 5D chess even if it has ruined my blood pressure. I love Damen's stupid himbo ass (does he think ANYTHING through?) I love gay sex. And I can excuse monarchies just this once, for all the aforementioned reasons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Incest, Suicide, Medical content, and Alcohol
-Manipulation and betrayal
Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In a rare twist, I prefer this sequel to the original. I enjoyed the development and deepening of Damen and Laurent's relationship. I felt that the writing was fuller and more mature stylistically. And I felt that the stakes were raised and plot twists were revealed in a way that felt well-considered and deliberate.
Also, the sex is hot and emotionally intense.
Also, the sex is hot and emotionally intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Xenophobia, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest and Alcohol
-Manipulation and betrayal
Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This series is apparently quite notorious! And I can see why - it definitely doesn't ascribe to conventional and "appropriate" interpersonal and sexual dynamics. The worldbuilding is designed solely for horny reasons, which I love, and the plot is interesting enough to keep my attention, which I appreciate. I think that the Pascat's writing style is a bit underdeveloped, but it works fine enough for what this book aims to accomplish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, Blood, and War
Minor: Incest, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Young adult memoirs are a fickle and difficult genre. It's kind of niche, and YA in general is subject to what adults think teens want, not what teens actually want. (Not that I know what teens want, either, but I can postulate about some things they might not want.) I think for the most part, Johnson recalls being a teen better than most adults, and he's franker with teens than most adults are willing to be. I respect this honesty and directness from him, I like that All Boys Aren't Blue tackles CSA, sexuality, gender, abuse, racism, homophobia, death, and toxic masculinity without shying away from them, and with empathy and nuance without making excuses for abusers. At times, he does come off a little stiff and lecturey, but he's above average for the genre. And his anecdotes are well-chosen and well-connected.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Homophobia, Incest, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Deadnaming, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Grief, and Classism
Minor: Outing, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
-Queer slurs
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It is my current opinion that Emily Brontë was the best writer amongst her sisters, which is a shame given she has the smallest corpus.
That said, I liked Charlotte's Jane Eyre better than Anne's Agnes Grey. Jane is an endearing character, one who is far more flexible in her morality and ambiguous in her actions (though not too much so, I assume, to make her unsympathetic to contemporary readers, which is kind of a shame to me as a modern reader, but I digress). Mr. Rochester is a fucking piece of work, and I do hate him, but I totally understand why Jane wants to fuck him. I'm weirdly charmed by St. John Rivers as well, but he's also an asshole, and why are all these men trying to manipulate my girl Jane? On a somewhat related note, it's so funny that Jane's ugly appearance comes up CONSTANTLY. And that Jane's Aunt Mrs. Reed has beef with her. Like, she's ten.
I'm fascinated by Bertha Mason and the idea of a dude having a crazy wife he keeps in the attic, so I will be reading Wide Sargasso Sea. I also think Jane's life would've been better if she'd decided to be a lesbian spinster with the Rivers sisters.
That said, I liked Charlotte's Jane Eyre better than Anne's Agnes Grey. Jane is an endearing character, one who is far more flexible in her morality and ambiguous in her actions (though not too much so, I assume, to make her unsympathetic to contemporary readers, which is kind of a shame to me as a modern reader, but I digress). Mr. Rochester is a fucking piece of work, and I do hate him, but I totally understand why Jane wants to fuck him. I'm weirdly charmed by St. John Rivers as well, but he's also an asshole, and why are all these men trying to manipulate my girl Jane? On a somewhat related note, it's so funny that Jane's ugly appearance comes up CONSTANTLY. And that Jane's Aunt Mrs. Reed has beef with her. Like, she's ten.
I'm fascinated by Bertha Mason and the idea of a dude having a crazy wife he keeps in the attic, so I will be reading Wide Sargasso Sea. I also think Jane's life would've been better if she'd decided to be a lesbian spinster with the Rivers sisters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Racial slurs, Suicide, Alcohol, and Colonisation
-Ableism abound of both the mental and physical varieties
-Missionary work portrayed as a good thing