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booksanddachshunds's reviews
230 reviews
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
5.0
Full review on my blog
I’ve been astonished to see, at the early start of the book, something my very own mother keep repeating. How, the rise of people affected by anxiety & depression, is in direct correlation with how life’s getting harder. We’re always improving our technologies, and yet our mental capacities as human beings remains the same.. It clearly goes un-balanced by far.
This book also made me realize in thoses “bullet points symptoms” lists, that the Derealization I was feeling wasn’t just an alien thing and that it is really related to my anxiety & depression ! See, I did talked about that to my psychologist at the time, but she didn’t said much.. all I remember is that she said I shouldn’t take weed because i’d be one to flip out more. So to see that thoses little periods of time where I felt like I was in a videogame/nothing is really real and therefore no action really matter (in a good AND bad way) is indeed part of that ? It was a relief!
I’ve been astonished to see, at the early start of the book, something my very own mother keep repeating. How, the rise of people affected by anxiety & depression, is in direct correlation with how life’s getting harder. We’re always improving our technologies, and yet our mental capacities as human beings remains the same.. It clearly goes un-balanced by far.
This book also made me realize in thoses “bullet points symptoms” lists, that the Derealization I was feeling wasn’t just an alien thing and that it is really related to my anxiety & depression ! See, I did talked about that to my psychologist at the time, but she didn’t said much.. all I remember is that she said I shouldn’t take weed because i’d be one to flip out more. So to see that thoses little periods of time where I felt like I was in a videogame/nothing is really real and therefore no action really matter (in a good AND bad way) is indeed part of that ? It was a relief!
Witchcraft and Monsters by Kala Godin
4.0
**Disclamer: I did received this book via NetGalley. This had in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it.**
Full review on the blog!
Though some poems were not ringing to me personally, i found most of them really beautiful and had to re-read them more than once, enjoying them a few more times. I quite liked how short this book was, and how much diversity in themes this contained- yet they all tied together perfectly in harmony and emotions.
Full review on the blog!
Though some poems were not ringing to me personally, i found most of them really beautiful and had to re-read them more than once, enjoying them a few more times. I quite liked how short this book was, and how much diversity in themes this contained- yet they all tied together perfectly in harmony and emotions.
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
5.0
Full review on my blog!
I related to Eliza right away, as I always felt like the “outsider” at school growing up. Though I certainly wasn’t a popular person on the internet; but it got me kind of fantasying of the “what if” my blog would be as popular and loved as Monstrous Sea. The book just wrapped me whole and I felt so cosy reading it.
What I thought was interresting with Wallace, was that he choosed to be mute and only speak when alone with someone or with his friends; something we rarely see in novels, atleast in my knowledge. I really grown to love the Eliza & Wallace friendship dynamic !
(.. see rest on the blog!)
I related to Eliza right away, as I always felt like the “outsider” at school growing up. Though I certainly wasn’t a popular person on the internet; but it got me kind of fantasying of the “what if” my blog would be as popular and loved as Monstrous Sea. The book just wrapped me whole and I felt so cosy reading it.
What I thought was interresting with Wallace, was that he choosed to be mute and only speak when alone with someone or with his friends; something we rarely see in novels, atleast in my knowledge. I really grown to love the Eliza & Wallace friendship dynamic !
(.. see rest on the blog!)
Silence radio by Alice Oseman
5.0
Full bilingual review on my blog
Dabord, je doit dire que j’ai vraiment aimée la façon que le livre était écrit; de court chapitres, avec une combinaison d’écriture dite “régulière” de roman autant que de version “chat”, avec quelques pages ici et la en tant qu’épisodes du podcast. Aled et Frances, tout deux était des personnages auxquels je me suis attachée, et j’ai meme pu voir mon ancienne moi en Frances; Une étudiante a succès qui n’est finalement pas totalement ce qu’elle présente au monde, et peut-etre pas si heureuse non plus.
Après avoir lu quelques pages, leur relations m’a parue des airs de «Finch & Violet» de tous nos jours parfaits.. hors le fait que Frances et Aled ne sont pas amoureux l’un de l’autre, ils ont juste cet air frais de faire ce qu’ils veulent et juste.. etre ensemble et d’avoir du plaisir.
Plus j’avançait dans ma lecture, moins que j’arrivait a m’arreter de lire.. et quand tout est parti en cacahuète après que leur identité a été découvert après que le podcast a été viral, J’ai été completement démolie… Tant sa réaction était apeuprès “acceptable” dans les circonstances, j’ai ressentit toute la douleur que Frances ressentait; et j’espèrait seulement une chose. Qu’ils soit tout les deux comme avant que tout ça arrive.
Dabord, je doit dire que j’ai vraiment aimée la façon que le livre était écrit; de court chapitres, avec une combinaison d’écriture dite “régulière” de roman autant que de version “chat”, avec quelques pages ici et la en tant qu’épisodes du podcast. Aled et Frances, tout deux était des personnages auxquels je me suis attachée, et j’ai meme pu voir mon ancienne moi en Frances; Une étudiante a succès qui n’est finalement pas totalement ce qu’elle présente au monde, et peut-etre pas si heureuse non plus.
Après avoir lu quelques pages, leur relations m’a parue des airs de «Finch & Violet» de tous nos jours parfaits.. hors le fait que Frances et Aled ne sont pas amoureux l’un de l’autre, ils ont juste cet air frais de faire ce qu’ils veulent et juste.. etre ensemble et d’avoir du plaisir.
Plus j’avançait dans ma lecture, moins que j’arrivait a m’arreter de lire.. et quand tout est parti en cacahuète après que leur identité a été découvert après que le podcast a été viral, J’ai été completement démolie… Tant sa réaction était apeuprès “acceptable” dans les circonstances, j’ai ressentit toute la douleur que Frances ressentait; et j’espèrait seulement une chose. Qu’ils soit tout les deux comme avant que tout ça arrive.
Pourquoi pas nous ? by Adam Silvera, Becky Albertalli
4.0
Full *bilingual Fren/Eng* review on the blog!
**Disclamer: I did received this book via NetGalley. This had in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it.**
This story was quite a light read ! As always, I loved the dual point of view of the story; though I much more preffered Arthur’s. I appreciated alot how humoristic the story was, and how it included alot of our pop culture.
Working at a coffee shop myself, it was kinda cool how one of Dylan’s love interrest did aswell! I could picture all that was happening in the coffee shops into my own, leaving me thinking of this book while at work often. And omg, the dates with Ben and Arthur was super cute !!! Lead me into thinking of my owns I had with Alex *aherm*
I also appreciated alot how Arthur have no shame in saying he’s medicated, and some mentions of Dylan having panic attacks; The characters all felt real, having depths to them and going through all sorts of emotions.
**Disclamer: I did received this book via NetGalley. This had in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it.**
This story was quite a light read ! As always, I loved the dual point of view of the story; though I much more preffered Arthur’s. I appreciated alot how humoristic the story was, and how it included alot of our pop culture.
Working at a coffee shop myself, it was kinda cool how one of Dylan’s love interrest did aswell! I could picture all that was happening in the coffee shops into my own, leaving me thinking of this book while at work often. And omg, the dates with Ben and Arthur was super cute !!! Lead me into thinking of my owns I had with Alex *aherm*
I also appreciated alot how Arthur have no shame in saying he’s medicated, and some mentions of Dylan having panic attacks; The characters all felt real, having depths to them and going through all sorts of emotions.
Fountain Dead by Theresa Braun
3.0
**Disclaimer: I did received a copy of this book from the author for review purpose. This has in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it**
full review on the blog !
It had started to become really interesting at about 70% in the book; as of which I would’ve had finished the last 30% in one setting, if it wouldn’t had been so late already. The actions started to make more sense and I was eager to finally discover what was up with that fountain and what in hell that beast was – although the novel is on the shortest side already, all the *before* was a bit too slow-paced for me; though probably needed in some way to set the atmosphere and the keys of the story ..
Fewer percentages later, it became harder again for me to grasps onto what was going on and added with the back and forth, the turn of the story and it’s ending didn’t made any sense to me. Again, most of it would’ve probably had been better enjoyed if it would’ve be written in an “easier” english for me.
full review on the blog !
It had started to become really interesting at about 70% in the book; as of which I would’ve had finished the last 30% in one setting, if it wouldn’t had been so late already. The actions started to make more sense and I was eager to finally discover what was up with that fountain and what in hell that beast was – although the novel is on the shortest side already, all the *before* was a bit too slow-paced for me; though probably needed in some way to set the atmosphere and the keys of the story ..
Fewer percentages later, it became harder again for me to grasps onto what was going on and added with the back and forth, the turn of the story and it’s ending didn’t made any sense to me. Again, most of it would’ve probably had been better enjoyed if it would’ve be written in an “easier” english for me.
The Silver Queen by Josie Jaffrey
5.0
**Disclaimer: I did received a copy of this book from the author for review purpose. This has in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it**
full review on the blog
This trilogy (given the last tome isn’t written yet) is honestly my everything !! Josie’s books will forever be my favorites and I will never stop screaming about them.
She created characters I just love with all my heart – Cam, Julia and Lucas; Along with other characters we love to hate – Rufus and Felix. You get just so wrapped in the story, I kept thinking about it everywhere; specially at work, and kept wishing how it could end up VS how it will end up. One of thoses book you SO wanna finish to know what will happen, but NOT finish it as youd wanna stay in this world forever.
full review on the blog
This trilogy (given the last tome isn’t written yet) is honestly my everything !! Josie’s books will forever be my favorites and I will never stop screaming about them.
She created characters I just love with all my heart – Cam, Julia and Lucas; Along with other characters we love to hate – Rufus and Felix. You get just so wrapped in the story, I kept thinking about it everywhere; specially at work, and kept wishing how it could end up VS how it will end up. One of thoses book you SO wanna finish to know what will happen, but NOT finish it as youd wanna stay in this world forever.
The General Theory of Haunting by Richard Easter
4.0
3,5 stars upped to 4
**Disclamer: I did received this book via NetGalley. This had in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it.**
This review is quite long, so do go read the totality of it on the blog.
** Trigger warning; include a scene going over the death of a child and a suicide attempt; Also, from my perspective, most of the characters has some kind of mental health issue and/or addiction (alcohol). **
As the first horror book that i’m reading, I quite loved the atmosphere even as it wierdly soothed me to sleep in a way. However, this book wasn’t the non-fiction I would’ve thought it was by the title of it, and to be honest even if I liked it; I just think it went kind of slow.. and thus the book felt long to me. Instead of horror escalating, it just kind of went up, stalled for a while, to go up again, stalled, and so on. I would’ve prefered the horror to keep escalating and really make me hold my breath – and that wasn’t the case here. The ending was not anything I would’ve had suspected ! I was in shock to see how everything unfolded before my eyes. Alas, I found what the Marryman Hall was hiding and the end and what it all meant left me in tears.
**Disclamer: I did received this book via NetGalley. This had in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it.**
This review is quite long, so do go read the totality of it on the blog.
** Trigger warning; include a scene going over the death of a child and a suicide attempt; Also, from my perspective, most of the characters has some kind of mental health issue and/or addiction (alcohol). **
As the first horror book that i’m reading, I quite loved the atmosphere even as it wierdly soothed me to sleep in a way. However, this book wasn’t the non-fiction I would’ve thought it was by the title of it, and to be honest even if I liked it; I just think it went kind of slow.. and thus the book felt long to me. Instead of horror escalating, it just kind of went up, stalled for a while, to go up again, stalled, and so on. I would’ve prefered the horror to keep escalating and really make me hold my breath – and that wasn’t the case here. The ending was not anything I would’ve had suspected ! I was in shock to see how everything unfolded before my eyes. Alas, I found what the Marryman Hall was hiding and the end and what it all meant left me in tears.
Angels Can't Swim by Alexandra McCann
4.0
**Disclaimer: I have received a copy of this book from the author for review purpose. This has in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it**
read full review on my blog
At first, this novella wasn’t quite what I had expected it to be. I was shocked to see that it was more in form of bullet points about three girls rather than the narrations form the other novels I had read have; this being in fact my first novella I do read.
After the shock was passed, I started to really love it. This book have a great moral at the end of it and each of the girls face a different struggle; yet all three come to peace with it and pass through it. The author pass the message that whatever might it be that you are facing, you can live through it with the help of friends and professionals if needs be.
I specially appreciate how this novella ended well, leaving me with a feeling of happiness and hopefulness rather than in tears; for many bad things could’ve happened, especially on Maggie’s side. I also feel at peace with how we all find our voice somewhere in the mix, it might just not be at the same time – but we will find it nonetheless. Really worth the read!
read full review on my blog
At first, this novella wasn’t quite what I had expected it to be. I was shocked to see that it was more in form of bullet points about three girls rather than the narrations form the other novels I had read have; this being in fact my first novella I do read.
After the shock was passed, I started to really love it. This book have a great moral at the end of it and each of the girls face a different struggle; yet all three come to peace with it and pass through it. The author pass the message that whatever might it be that you are facing, you can live through it with the help of friends and professionals if needs be.
I specially appreciate how this novella ended well, leaving me with a feeling of happiness and hopefulness rather than in tears; for many bad things could’ve happened, especially on Maggie’s side. I also feel at peace with how we all find our voice somewhere in the mix, it might just not be at the same time – but we will find it nonetheless. Really worth the read!
In Servitude by Heleen Kist
4.0
** Disclaimer: I have received a copy of this book from the author for review purpose. This has in no way, shape or form affected my opinion on it **
This review has been wrote on Sept.6 while I finished the read and edited my review on Sept.10. View the full review on my blog
The book started really well for me; projecting me straight into Grace’s emotions and shoes. I loved the fact our main character spoke to her sister in her thoughts and how she’s having anxiety. I finally finished this book on the 10th, which is 4days late of when my blog tour was planned to. This ending !! It wasn’t anything i’ve had even considered, and after all the bad was gone, happened to be the sweetest thing.. to turn again! It’s true I got lost in the middle, but i am happy I went and finished it (even if late) – as it turns out that book was really good.
This review has been wrote on Sept.6 while I finished the read and edited my review on Sept.10. View the full review on my blog
The book started really well for me; projecting me straight into Grace’s emotions and shoes. I loved the fact our main character spoke to her sister in her thoughts and how she’s having anxiety. I finally finished this book on the 10th, which is 4days late of when my blog tour was planned to. This ending !! It wasn’t anything i’ve had even considered, and after all the bad was gone, happened to be the sweetest thing.. to turn again! It’s true I got lost in the middle, but i am happy I went and finished it (even if late) – as it turns out that book was really good.