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bobsacoolword's reviews
267 reviews
The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book made me smile and laugh but it also made me cry. Have you ever finished a book and knew that someday, it’d become a book someone didn’t know they needed? I had a book like that when I was a kid and this felt exactly like that feeling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Transphobia
bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This collection was so beautifully written, and although I didn't connect with every single poem (which is totally normal and I wish reviewers wouldn't dock stars because they don't identify with every poem). This book feels a little like being broken and then put back together again when you read it. I recommend reading it in one go and just letting yourself heal a little bit.
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement by Angela Y. Davis
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I wish I had broken it up into more sittings. It really helps to show how different movements are connected, but can get repetitive because a lot of the speeches cover the same people or same events. I don’t think the repetitiveness is bad. I think it was meant to be read over time because when you read it all at once, you run the risk of accidentally tuning out things you feel like the book has already covered. I just did not read this in a way that was optimal for me.
At the same time, it's a reminder of how poor the history education is in the United States and how now as adults, it's our responsibility to learn all of these moments and decide how we are going to let them shape our values and beliefs. I loved being able to see how all of these different movements all throughout history and all over the world are connected. Too often, it's easy to see these moments and just feel despair, but hearing how generations of activists all over the world fighting different fights have helped to shape each others' battles. It sparks the small bit of hope I was holding on to, where community and connection are the key to revolutions.
At the same time, it's a reminder of how poor the history education is in the United States and how now as adults, it's our responsibility to learn all of these moments and decide how we are going to let them shape our values and beliefs. I loved being able to see how all of these different movements all throughout history and all over the world are connected. Too often, it's easy to see these moments and just feel despair, but hearing how generations of activists all over the world fighting different fights have helped to shape each others' battles. It sparks the small bit of hope I was holding on to, where community and connection are the key to revolutions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl's Notes from the End of the World by Kai Cheng Thom
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Reading the reviews for this book makes me realize I don't think anyone really knows who the target audience is and a lot of reviewers who are represented in the marginalized communities mentioned in the books have criticized the content of the books. I don't know if I feel comfortable giving a numerical review because both this book and the reviews have reminded me how much harder I need to work at educating myself on these topics. I am giving this book 4 stars because I found it informative and insightful, but also because it resonated with some of my own experiences. Ordinarily, I'd give any book that gave me as much as it did 5 stars, but I want to acknowledge that other reviewers have mentioned that some of the arguments made missed the mark for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
This book covers a lot of tough topics. I tried to pull from some of the most common content warning on reviews for the book, but I would definitely be prepared for things that can be tough to talk about.
Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was the definition of slow burn. I was on the edge of my seat watching as our two narrators' lives became more and more intertwined. After binge reading the Bridgerton series and realizing I had a sudden thirst for historical fiction, I absolutely loved being transported to a setting I never imagined I'd become drawn into: 1970s Mexico. As an adult, I am learning more and more how little history I actually know because most of what I've been taught has been centered on the US or Europe pre-1700s and getting to dive into these settings has made me so excited to learn more about the history surrounding it.
Not everyone seems to like Maite and I get that because I felt the same way. I also identified with her for almost the entire novel, so that's probably why. My heart broke and cheered her on the entire novel. I loved Elvis too, but I wasn't always as invested in his chapters.
Not everyone seems to like Maite and I get that because I felt the same way. I also identified with her for almost the entire novel, so that's probably why. My heart broke and cheered her on the entire novel. I loved Elvis too, but I wasn't always as invested in his chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
The main character has a lot of moments where she's unhappy with her body or her appearance.
Self Love Poetry: For Thinkers & Feelers by Melody Godfred
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
Not every poem is going to hit you, but you're going to think about every poem because you're going to read it twice--once in a version that's inspired by the logical left side of the brain and next in a version inspired by the creative right side of the brain. As you read, you'll feel a bit like your brain is getting a workout.
This was a cool experience and I would definitely recommend reading it and then making all your friends read it.
This was a cool experience and I would definitely recommend reading it and then making all your friends read it.
flower crowns & fearsome things by Amanda Lovelace
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
2.0
Some of the poems were incredible. Some just felt like words thrown in a book. There were a lot that I knew if I saw them on Instagram, I'd press like and probably send one or two of them to a friend I thought would appreciate them. I'm glad I read it. It just didn't move me personally.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual harassment
The Mother of the Brontës: When Maria Met Patrick by Sharon Wright
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Sitting back in my English classes, I used to wonder what the authors of the books we were reading were like but I never thought I'd be glad I know more about what the mother of the famous Brontë sisters was like. This biography covers the entire life of Maria Branwell, from her birth in 1783 to her sickness and death at the age of 38. You'll learn about her upbringing in Penzance to a working-class family (with some interesting stories about her family's ties to the smuggling trade). You'll get to hear about the books she read as she started approaching spinsterhood, which includes some Jane Austen. You'll be inspired by her likely dangerous journey to join her aunt and uncle in Yorkshire to help them run their school and pleasantly surprised when it led to a romance with a handsome Irishman, the school's external classics examiner, Patrick Brontë. After they were married, Maria followed Patrick and his career as a priest, giving birth to future famous authors along the way. Eventually, Patrick was offered a difficult post at Hayworth (a setting that would eventually inspire Wuthering Heights) and you'll feel bad for how badly Maria and Patrick must have wanted the congregation to accept them. And when Maria gets sick later, your heart will break for the children she will leave behind, who will write stories featuring characters without mothers or characters with unique connections to their mothers.
For me, the best part was getting to read her words. She created authors people have studied in schools for years. She helped to shape the early years of writers that would someday grace hundreds of must-read classic novel lists. There's not much surviving of Maria Branwell, which the author notes could be why we never had a biography for her until now. But now you can read the pieces that are surviving: several letters she wrote to Patrick and a religious tract that she wrote but wasn't able to get published.
One thing I really appreciate is that in every part of Maria's life, the author takes the time to explain things about the culture or society in that day that could be helpful to know. You can tell that this was incredibly well-researched, not only because the author was told there wasn't enough information about Maria Branwell to create a full biography for her, but because she genuinely wanted to tell the story of the mother of the Brontës.
For me, the best part was getting to read her words. She created authors people have studied in schools for years. She helped to shape the early years of writers that would someday grace hundreds of must-read classic novel lists. There's not much surviving of Maria Branwell, which the author notes could be why we never had a biography for her until now. But now you can read the pieces that are surviving: several letters she wrote to Patrick and a religious tract that she wrote but wasn't able to get published.
One thing I really appreciate is that in every part of Maria's life, the author takes the time to explain things about the culture or society in that day that could be helpful to know. You can tell that this was incredibly well-researched, not only because the author was told there wasn't enough information about Maria Branwell to create a full biography for her, but because she genuinely wanted to tell the story of the mother of the Brontës.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I'll be honest-- I had no idea who Marjorie Post was or the legacy of her family before I read this book. I've never been big on historical fiction either so I went in worried I wouldn't enjoy this one. I am so glad I was wrong! Marjorie Post's story was absolutely fascinating and now I want to read her ex-husband's book just to learn even more about her story.
If you're not familiar with her story (as I'm sure most people aren't), Marjorie Post was the heiress to the Postum Cereal Company (now General Foods) after her father started the company. Her life at the Postum Cereal Company is absolutely fascinating--you learn about how her father becomes inspired to create simple breakfast solutions that are healthy and taste great while under the care of Dr. Kellogg (yes, there is a connection to a certain competing cereal company). Marjorie grows up watching her father's company quickly find success and after his death, she assumes control of it through the men in her life. I'm sure an entire novel could be written just about the ideas and innovations she helped push for, but Allison Pataki blessed us with so much more: her philanthropy efforts (a highlight: she "loaned" a very expensive ship to the US during a World War), her service to the United States government (for example, she was the first U.S. Ambassadress to the Soviet Nation), and several cycles of romance and heartbreak in the form of her former marriages.
When I finished this one, I had to stop reading for a bit because I knew it would be hard for the next one to top it. I definitely recommend it now.
If you're not familiar with her story (as I'm sure most people aren't), Marjorie Post was the heiress to the Postum Cereal Company (now General Foods) after her father started the company. Her life at the Postum Cereal Company is absolutely fascinating--you learn about how her father becomes inspired to create simple breakfast solutions that are healthy and taste great while under the care of Dr. Kellogg (yes, there is a connection to a certain competing cereal company). Marjorie grows up watching her father's company quickly find success and after his death, she assumes control of it through the men in her life. I'm sure an entire novel could be written just about the ideas and innovations she helped push for, but Allison Pataki blessed us with so much more: her philanthropy efforts (a highlight: she "loaned" a very expensive ship to the US during a World War), her service to the United States government (for example, she was the first U.S. Ambassadress to the Soviet Nation), and several cycles of romance and heartbreak in the form of her former marriages.
When I finished this one, I had to stop reading for a bit because I knew it would be hard for the next one to top it. I definitely recommend it now.
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
5.0
As someone who read Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson many times as a kid, I've spent most of the quarantine dreaming about the novels I'd read with main characters living through this pandemic. This wasn't at all what I thought I'd read.
No spoilers here, but this was exactly what I needed to read. It's lighthearted enough that it didn't make me feel sadder about the constant stream of Delta variant news and stories about hospitals running out of generators again. Don't get me wrong--this book was not a walk in the park to read. I cried so much while reading it, but it gave me a space to process my own COVID grief.
No spoilers here, but this was exactly what I needed to read. It's lighthearted enough that it didn't make me feel sadder about the constant stream of Delta variant news and stories about hospitals running out of generators again. Don't get me wrong--this book was not a walk in the park to read. I cried so much while reading it, but it gave me a space to process my own COVID grief.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent