byarielshirley's reviews
81 reviews

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

5.0

This story is haunting and humbling. 

The Hidden Universe: Adventures in Biodiversity by Alexandre Antonelli
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.

Great read, I just took too long and needed to return it to the library. I will be back.

Black Girls Must Be Magic by Jayne Allen

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I picked this book up as it was on display at my local library. I was captivated by the title and am actively trying to read more books with a BIPOC perspective. I haven’t read the first book of the series but I found the lens of Tabby and reading from her experiences enlightening and an empathetic read. While I am not an African American woman, I feel like I have been able to gain a deeper understanding on the societal pressures faced by African American women in their day to day. In all honesty, I found the writing a bit clunky but it was informative and emotionally gripping. 

When Things Are Alive They Hum by Hannah Bent

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Girls That Invest: Your Guide to Financial Independence through Shares and Stocks by Simran Kaur

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This is one of the best investing books I have read! Simran breaks down concepts in a simple and digestible way, encouraging the reader to take their financial goals seriously but also while demonstrating how easy it is to grow your portfolio. I would recommend this to anyone looking to grow their financial wealth, confidence in financial literacy, but also diversify their reading as generally these genres are dominated by a different author demographic. The podcast is equally as educational and I am so glad a book format was created. I will be reading this again and buying it as gifts for cousins, nieces, sisters, etc.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.

Just really wasn’t in the mood to be completely honest, and it didn’t particularly capture my attention

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.

While I am keen to finish this book at some point, I am not keen to continue reading about the violence committed. It was also quite difficult to understand the slang that was created in the story and I felt like it was too difficult to grasp the story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Violence

The Light Behind the Window by Lucinda Riley

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Wild Milk by Sabrina Orah Mark

emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

I read this cover to cover. I wanted to stop and never pick it up again, but I quickly became addicted. Very different style of writing to what I would usually read. I felt understood but also a bit disturbed. So many boiled eggs.

The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Amely Greeven, Marisa Belger, Heng Ou
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.

hopeful informative slow-paced

5.0

My husband and I poured over these pages in the lead up to our sons birth and wow did these recipes deliver! My new go to gift for my up and coming baby showers. Beautifully written and photographed.