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bookphile's reviews
982 reviews
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
4.0
I really enjoyed the prose of Brown Girl Dreaming. Woodson's idea of writing it is free-flowing poetry lends the story this really beautiful, dreamy quality. Woodson manages to give so much detail, describe so much in so few words. I really felt like I got to know not only her but also her family.
I really recommend this to anyone who likes prose poetry, history, and family narratives.
I really recommend this to anyone who likes prose poetry, history, and family narratives.
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
5.0
Listen.
I don't like romance. Or cutesy romantic stories.
But The Sun is Also a Star just stole my heart.
The relationship that develops between Daniel and Natasha felt so organic though, their reactions, their words, their interactions. And it's not like they were in love-love, it was a deep, meaningful connection between two people at the crossroads of their lives. The most important day of their lives.
The ending, while slightly bitter sweet, felt natural and realistic. While I wanted more, I'm glad things ended the way they did.
Overall, a fantastic, light hearted, beautiful story.
I don't like romance. Or cutesy romantic stories.
But The Sun is Also a Star just stole my heart.
The relationship that develops between Daniel and Natasha felt so organic though, their reactions, their words, their interactions. And it's not like they were in love-love, it was a deep, meaningful connection between two people at the crossroads of their lives. The most important day of their lives.
The ending, while slightly bitter sweet, felt natural and realistic. While I wanted more, I'm glad things ended the way they did.
Overall, a fantastic, light hearted, beautiful story.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
3.0
2nd re-read review:
SPOILERS
I think this book resonated better with me the first time. Because my nineteen year old cousin died in an accident and the pain was fresh.
I can honestly say that this book is just John Green talking. If you ever watched any of his videos, the writing in his book are exactly how he talks. Somewhat pretentious and funny in a geeky way. But it's fine when a forty something year old man talks like that. But when two teenagers talk like that? It just felt so trite. I don't really buy the fact that Augustus talked that way on purpose. If anything, I feel like he'd talk in slang instead of metaphors.
The first thing that jumped out at me this time was how quickly things happen, maybe only a couple of months. They meet and then maybe two weeks later Augustus asks her to go with him to Amsterdam. They only spend three days there. Then he's sick and within a month he dies.
I don't think their love is as epic as they make it out to be. They barely knew each other. But I think that's the point. Like Augustus says "you gave me an eternity in a numbered amount of days." or whatever. Time is different for them. They know they could die any time.
I knocked this down a star. And I almost knocked it down to two because it means "it's ok" and that would be metaphorical.
First Review:
The humankind thrives on suffering. I'm not trying to be poetic and I know I sound contrite, but it's true. Why else would people write about dying children, more importantly why would anyone read them? Maybe it's because it makes us feel better about ourselves, because hey, I don't have cancer or I don't know anyone who does. Or maybe some people read them because they want to feel connected, because they want to know that they aren't the only ones who suffered through this. But either way it still makes us feel better. Honestly, I didn't like this book at first, because it was annoying. Well, actually the dialogue between the teenagers was annoying because it was extremely unrealistic. Okay, I get it, these kids are dying and they're smart, and this somehow gives this this incredible existential depth that even the adults can't reach. Okay, I know some very smart people: they don't talk like that. Usually, those really, incredibly intelligent people talk like five year olds. Unless they're Sheldon Cooper, and even he talks in more understandable terms than these teenagers. BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD: The plot twists were actually really easy to pick up on. I guessed about half way through the book, I think right when they went on the trip that the person dying wasn't going to be the one you were led to believe. I started bawling pretty early. I actually hate this book because it was so hard to read because it made me cry so hard. But I liked other things: I liked how it was Hazel's Dad who cried. I liked Isaac. I liked how his girl-friend broke up with him. I liked Hazel's best friend who called her and tried to be nice even if Hazel no longer makes an effort. And the fact that she doesn't doesn't let go even if Hazel already did. I liked that her parents don't let her wallow... not entirely. At the end anyway, her Mom doesn't take shit from her. I think Augustus's parent's reaction were underplayed: I know someone who just passed away, his parents are inconsolable. His Dad talks to him, walks to places where they've been together, keeps talking to him. He keeps crying. This man guzzles vodka like it's nothing, take shit from no one type of guy. And he can't stop crying. His Mom wouldn't let go of the coffin. Mr. Green you really underplayed it. Although I guess when you expect it, it's different than when it just happens.
I don't know. I'm still crying. This book was just really, really hard to read.
SPOILERS
I think this book resonated better with me the first time. Because my nineteen year old cousin died in an accident and the pain was fresh.
I can honestly say that this book is just John Green talking. If you ever watched any of his videos, the writing in his book are exactly how he talks. Somewhat pretentious and funny in a geeky way. But it's fine when a forty something year old man talks like that. But when two teenagers talk like that? It just felt so trite. I don't really buy the fact that Augustus talked that way on purpose. If anything, I feel like he'd talk in slang instead of metaphors.
The first thing that jumped out at me this time was how quickly things happen, maybe only a couple of months. They meet and then maybe two weeks later Augustus asks her to go with him to Amsterdam. They only spend three days there. Then he's sick and within a month he dies.
I don't think their love is as epic as they make it out to be. They barely knew each other. But I think that's the point. Like Augustus says "you gave me an eternity in a numbered amount of days." or whatever. Time is different for them. They know they could die any time.
I knocked this down a star. And I almost knocked it down to two because it means "it's ok" and that would be metaphorical.
First Review:
The humankind thrives on suffering. I'm not trying to be poetic and I know I sound contrite, but it's true. Why else would people write about dying children, more importantly why would anyone read them? Maybe it's because it makes us feel better about ourselves, because hey, I don't have cancer or I don't know anyone who does. Or maybe some people read them because they want to feel connected, because they want to know that they aren't the only ones who suffered through this. But either way it still makes us feel better. Honestly, I didn't like this book at first, because it was annoying. Well, actually the dialogue between the teenagers was annoying because it was extremely unrealistic. Okay, I get it, these kids are dying and they're smart, and this somehow gives this this incredible existential depth that even the adults can't reach. Okay, I know some very smart people: they don't talk like that. Usually, those really, incredibly intelligent people talk like five year olds. Unless they're Sheldon Cooper, and even he talks in more understandable terms than these teenagers. BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD: The plot twists were actually really easy to pick up on. I guessed about half way through the book, I think right when they went on the trip that the person dying wasn't going to be the one you were led to believe. I started bawling pretty early. I actually hate this book because it was so hard to read because it made me cry so hard. But I liked other things: I liked how it was Hazel's Dad who cried. I liked Isaac. I liked how his girl-friend broke up with him. I liked Hazel's best friend who called her and tried to be nice even if Hazel no longer makes an effort. And the fact that she doesn't doesn't let go even if Hazel already did. I liked that her parents don't let her wallow... not entirely. At the end anyway, her Mom doesn't take shit from her. I think Augustus's parent's reaction were underplayed: I know someone who just passed away, his parents are inconsolable. His Dad talks to him, walks to places where they've been together, keeps talking to him. He keeps crying. This man guzzles vodka like it's nothing, take shit from no one type of guy. And he can't stop crying. His Mom wouldn't let go of the coffin. Mr. Green you really underplayed it. Although I guess when you expect it, it's different than when it just happens.
I don't know. I'm still crying. This book was just really, really hard to read.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
4.0
I had some credits and when the trailer came out I decided to give this book a chance. I didn't stay away from it for any particular reason, except that it's a childhood classic and since I missed reading it as a child I felt the experience would be tainted.
The story was definitely enjoyable, though Meg was a bit hard to like at times. But the thing is, while she's hard to like, Meg is such an important character because she's an angry girl. Her anger is always justified, though it came from childish stubbornness and impatience and misunderstanding - Meg is a child and that's exactly how a child would act.
I do say the audio narrator wasn't that great and the voices she did for a couple of characters annoyed me. So I kind of want to get a hard copy and read it over later.
The story was definitely enjoyable, though Meg was a bit hard to like at times. But the thing is, while she's hard to like, Meg is such an important character because she's an angry girl. Her anger is always justified, though it came from childish stubbornness and impatience and misunderstanding - Meg is a child and that's exactly how a child would act.
I do say the audio narrator wasn't that great and the voices she did for a couple of characters annoyed me. So I kind of want to get a hard copy and read it over later.
Jingo by Terry Pratchett
5.0
I don't think I've ever laughed so much because of a book as I have with this one. Terry Pratchett is a genius of comedic yet poignant writing. Which makes me that much sadder that he passed away.
These books always start off slowly, with one common theme driving a narrative and an important issue and looking it through a ridiculous/comedic glasses in this one it's racism, xenophobia, and overt nationalism.
I would have never thought that the pairing Vetinari, Nobby, and Colon would ever happen or work, but holy shit, so much gold. I could barely handle Nobby as Beti.
Vimes and Carrot also continue to be national treasures. I do wish we'd take more focus on Angua, Cheri and Sybil. Hopefully, we'll get more of them, and maybe even have them interact in the next one.
These books always start off slowly, with one common theme driving a narrative and an important issue and looking it through a ridiculous/comedic glasses in this one it's racism, xenophobia, and overt nationalism.
I would have never thought that the pairing Vetinari, Nobby, and Colon would ever happen or work, but holy shit, so much gold. I could barely handle Nobby as Beti.
Vimes and Carrot also continue to be national treasures. I do wish we'd take more focus on Angua, Cheri and Sybil. Hopefully, we'll get more of them, and maybe even have them interact in the next one.
The Fifth Elephant by Terry Pratchett
4.0
Another fantastic installment.
It was super great to see the world outside of Ankh Morpork and explore more of Discworld. This one dealt specifically with the immigrant diaspora, belonging, cultural shifts and evolution.
It's just super interesting to watch Sam Vines change, he'd made such a huge journey from being a drunk to being a wily politician. The other characters have changed too, but not as much, and sometimes I do wish we would focus on them.
I would love to read about Cheery's internal turmoil or Angua's pain. But also it's amazing that we can see it from the little we see of it.
Gosh, I love this series so much.
It was super great to see the world outside of Ankh Morpork and explore more of Discworld. This one dealt specifically with the immigrant diaspora, belonging, cultural shifts and evolution.
It's just super interesting to watch Sam Vines change, he'd made such a huge journey from being a drunk to being a wily politician. The other characters have changed too, but not as much, and sometimes I do wish we would focus on them.
I would love to read about Cheery's internal turmoil or Angua's pain. But also it's amazing that we can see it from the little we see of it.
Gosh, I love this series so much.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
4.0
I was honestly impressed with this novel. Leigh Bardugo has grown a lot as an author from The Grisha trilogy and she has stepped up her game. Six of Crows is fantastically written, has a diverse cast of characters, and an intricately woven plot full of suspense, plot twists, betrayal, forgiveness, and a little bit of romance.
I think what I liked most about this book is the characters. Every single one of them was well defined and believable enough to seem real. The diversity of the cast was also pleasing. We have characters who suffer from mental disorders, physical imperfections, PTSD, then there's girl characters who stick up for each other and have each other's back, characters of different races and cultures. And all of this without feeling like it's too much. They're all in it together for the money, but they also go on a sort of journey where they discover who they are because the difficulty of this mission will force some of them to confront their deepest fears.
The writing is fantastic, the plot moved along at nice pace, there's enough twists to keep things interesting and suspenseful. My one gripe was that sometimes we'd be thrown back into a character's backstory and while I enjoyed the backstory, it sort of threw me a bit from main plot. Maybe that was me being impatient, but I think some of the transitions could have been better.
Overall, I think that if you enjoyed The Grisha trilogy, you will love this. Although, you should also be aware that you will not see any of the major characters from it - some of them are mentioned in the passing, but none make an appearance. Nor should you go into the story expecting it to be like The Grisha because it's not, this is a whole different adventure within the same world.
I can't believe that cliffhanger though, Bardugo how could you? Yes, it's a fantastic set-up for the next book, but now I have to wait a year!
I think what I liked most about this book is the characters. Every single one of them was well defined and believable enough to seem real. The diversity of the cast was also pleasing. We have characters who suffer from mental disorders, physical imperfections, PTSD, then there's girl characters who stick up for each other and have each other's back, characters of different races and cultures. And all of this without feeling like it's too much. They're all in it together for the money, but they also go on a sort of journey where they discover who they are because the difficulty of this mission will force some of them to confront their deepest fears.
The writing is fantastic, the plot moved along at nice pace, there's enough twists to keep things interesting and suspenseful. My one gripe was that sometimes we'd be thrown back into a character's backstory and while I enjoyed the backstory, it sort of threw me a bit from main plot. Maybe that was me being impatient, but I think some of the transitions could have been better.
Overall, I think that if you enjoyed The Grisha trilogy, you will love this. Although, you should also be aware that you will not see any of the major characters from it - some of them are mentioned in the passing, but none make an appearance. Nor should you go into the story expecting it to be like The Grisha because it's not, this is a whole different adventure within the same world.
I can't believe that cliffhanger though, Bardugo how could you? Yes, it's a fantastic set-up for the next book, but now I have to wait a year!