Take a photo of a barcode or cover
crywithclaire's reviews
52 reviews
Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Stanley Blair
4.0
given that my interest in reproductive justice is basically a personality trait at this point, this book wasn’t particularly groundbreaking for me, but i do think it would be very impactful for a lot of people. it’s short and to the point, which i really admire. the arguments themselves are very strong, and it only takes about an hour to read cover to cover. i think every sexually active person should read it, especially straight men lol. in conclusion, the title says it all.
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
3.0
it’s been a while since i’ve read a book that hit me this hard. because of the time jumps you know something goes wrong with jesuits in space, but you don’t know exactly what until nearly the very end. the protagonists unfolding of and reckoning with what happens is both captivating and gut wrenching. the best way i can explain it is like a car crash that you can’t look away from, but in an oddly beautiful way i guess? i also enjoyed how interwoven this book is with anthropology, linguistics, theology, philosophy, etc. i’ll admit there were some occasions where characters would be having a conversation about one of the above topics and it became clear through their conversation what the AUTHOR likely thought, as if she were using the characters as a mouthpiece for her ideas, but i guess all authors do that? currently sprinting to google Russell and her background because tbh i think that would explain a lot.
UPDATE: i’m back after reading that the author wrote this as a DEFENSE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS?!? there were clear parallels to colonialism and the willful misunderstandings and assumptions made by those in a “white savior” mindset … but i really struggle to understand the columbus parallel like, at all? i read this book as a condemnation of colonialism, not as a defense of colonizers. i have much more to say about this ridiculousness but ill leave it here - i had to change my rating despite this book being well paced and well written because that just left the most sour taste in my mouth. disgusting bye
UPDATE: i’m back after reading that the author wrote this as a DEFENSE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS?!? there were clear parallels to colonialism and the willful misunderstandings and assumptions made by those in a “white savior” mindset … but i really struggle to understand the columbus parallel like, at all? i read this book as a condemnation of colonialism, not as a defense of colonizers. i have much more to say about this ridiculousness but ill leave it here - i had to change my rating despite this book being well paced and well written because that just left the most sour taste in my mouth. disgusting bye
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
5.0
i was one of those sheltered kids who was never allowed to watch nickolodeon, so i picked this up with no background on jennette mccurdy at all. people in my life who know me well enough kept recommending this book to me, and now i see why.
i honestly thought it was going to be like my mom sucks and used me for money and fame type stuff, which there were of course elements of that, but jennette’s story is so much more than just child star-related mommy issues. i loved her writing style and her honesty, and the way she writes about certain issues is like, idk, the exact thought process/inner monologue is just … painfully realistic. that being said, i personally would have liked a bit of a content warning. i did the audiobook so maybe there is one in the print version, idk? the way she verbalized her ed thoughts was just a lot for me.
i honestly thought it was going to be like my mom sucks and used me for money and fame type stuff, which there were of course elements of that, but jennette’s story is so much more than just child star-related mommy issues. i loved her writing style and her honesty, and the way she writes about certain issues is like, idk, the exact thought process/inner monologue is just … painfully realistic. that being said, i personally would have liked a bit of a content warning. i did the audiobook so maybe there is one in the print version, idk? the way she verbalized her ed thoughts was just a lot for me.
Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
2.0
i don’t know what i was expecting but colin was annoying and so was this book. tbh im tired of spicy books (end of sentence lol) that structure their ~intimate~ scenes as an emotional climax that occurs during/after an argument. there are emotions other than anger, u know…tho i’m not sure colin does. and i know some of yall are into this but tbh someone being mad at me does NOT get me all hot and bothered, and neither does me being angry at someone? to each their own i guess. also very uncomfortable with how little regency era women know about stuff to the point they are unable to give informed consent. i think colin handled it okayish honestly given the circumstances but it still made me uncomfortable. and his attitude overall was awful and his insecurities were unattractive, not endearing. imagine you get to date your long time crush and turns out he’s a horrible person (this has happened to me), but instead of other people acknowledging how shitty this person turned out to be, they herald your relationship as the greatest love story of “the season”. it’s just mean and penelope deserved better.
the second star is for good exciting lady whistledown drama, lady danbury doing/saying anything, and the stunning church reveal.
the second star is for good exciting lady whistledown drama, lady danbury doing/saying anything, and the stunning church reveal.
Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
1.0
ok i have a lot to say but the other 1 and 2 star reviews say it better.
this book goes nowhere. i wanted to like it because, cmon, rosalind franklin. and science stuff that gets overly technical or jargon-y generally doesn’t bother me too much. to sum it up:
1) part 1 section where she’s in france, it’s always unclear if ppl are speaking in english or in french, she then italicizes some words in french but really only because they sound cool or as a reminder of “look! we’re in paris!”. it is as dumb as it is confusing
2) exposition in dialogue is SO clunky and unnatural
3) all this girl does in this book is go to the lab, take pictures in the lab, argue with men in the lab, argue with her dad about being a scientist, rinse and repeat. nothing happens.
4) for a book that’s supposed to be a badass scientist pushing the boundaries of gender roles, they sure make her entire life decisions revolve around men. like, making her leave france to take the job in england because a man ~broke her heart~? ew. disgusting.
5) protagonist is a mary sue. where is the multifaceted, interesting, deep character i was promised on the back of the cover? cause she’s not in this book
6) genuinely the only moment i felt anything in this book about science when in part 1 it’s revealed that the guy she later leaves paris because of (never actually happened) was married all along. for a book that’s supposed to be about overcoming obstacles as a female scientist in a sexist world, that’s a pretty sad emotional climax.
7) there are so many parts of the book where the author clearly is just taking things off of rosalind’s wikipedia and rephrasing it for her book. it’s so lazy.
8) other than that, no research was done here. i learned more about rosalind franklin from googling her for 15 minutes than from this sad excuse of a book.
ugh ew ugh bye
this book goes nowhere. i wanted to like it because, cmon, rosalind franklin. and science stuff that gets overly technical or jargon-y generally doesn’t bother me too much. to sum it up:
1) part 1 section where she’s in france, it’s always unclear if ppl are speaking in english or in french, she then italicizes some words in french but really only because they sound cool or as a reminder of “look! we’re in paris!”. it is as dumb as it is confusing
2) exposition in dialogue is SO clunky and unnatural
3) all this girl does in this book is go to the lab, take pictures in the lab, argue with men in the lab, argue with her dad about being a scientist, rinse and repeat. nothing happens.
4) for a book that’s supposed to be a badass scientist pushing the boundaries of gender roles, they sure make her entire life decisions revolve around men. like, making her leave france to take the job in england because a man ~broke her heart~? ew. disgusting.
5) protagonist is a mary sue. where is the multifaceted, interesting, deep character i was promised on the back of the cover? cause she’s not in this book
6) genuinely the only moment i felt anything in this book about science when in part 1 it’s revealed that the guy she later leaves paris because of (never actually happened) was married all along. for a book that’s supposed to be about overcoming obstacles as a female scientist in a sexist world, that’s a pretty sad emotional climax.
7) there are so many parts of the book where the author clearly is just taking things off of rosalind’s wikipedia and rephrasing it for her book. it’s so lazy.
8) other than that, no research was done here. i learned more about rosalind franklin from googling her for 15 minutes than from this sad excuse of a book.
ugh ew ugh bye
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
5.0
The first quarter of the book made me think we were getting east Asian history and folklore-inspired Harry Potter. While that definitely sounds like something I’d like to read, this book was decidedly NOT that. As I pieced together the elements of Chinese and Japanese history which form the blueprint for this book’s events, I knew I was in for a rough ride, but I had no idea just HOW rough. R. F. Kuang has a lot to say about power, imperialism, genocide, war, racism, and addiction, and she does not hold back. However, it didn’t feel like the characters were just a mouthpiece for her ideas (like how i felt when reading The Sparrow). This book is engaging, poignant, and well deserving of 5 stars.
—
“Because the answer could not be rational…It was, simply, what happened when one race decided that the other was insignificant.
The Federation had massacred Golyn Niis for the simple reason that they did not think of the Nikara as human. And if your opponent was not human, if your opponent was a cockroach, what did it matter how many of them you killed? What was the difference between crushing an ant and setting an anthill on fire? Why shouldn't you pull wings off insects for your own enjoyment? The bug might feel pain, but what did that matter to you?
If you were the victim, what could you say to make your tormentor recognize you as human? How did you get your enemy to recognize you at all?
And why should an oppressor care?
Warfare was about absolutes. Us or them. Victory or defeat.
There was no middle way. There was no mercy. No surrender.
This was the same logic, Rin realized, that had justified the destruction of Speer. To the Federation, to wipe out an entire race overnight was not an atrocity at all. Only a necessity.” - The Poppy War, page 432.
—
“Because the answer could not be rational…It was, simply, what happened when one race decided that the other was insignificant.
The Federation had massacred Golyn Niis for the simple reason that they did not think of the Nikara as human. And if your opponent was not human, if your opponent was a cockroach, what did it matter how many of them you killed? What was the difference between crushing an ant and setting an anthill on fire? Why shouldn't you pull wings off insects for your own enjoyment? The bug might feel pain, but what did that matter to you?
If you were the victim, what could you say to make your tormentor recognize you as human? How did you get your enemy to recognize you at all?
And why should an oppressor care?
Warfare was about absolutes. Us or them. Victory or defeat.
There was no middle way. There was no mercy. No surrender.
This was the same logic, Rin realized, that had justified the destruction of Speer. To the Federation, to wipe out an entire race overnight was not an atrocity at all. Only a necessity.” - The Poppy War, page 432.
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin
4.0
painfully relatable. to an insane degree. but minus one star for the secondhand embarrassment throughout and for the very abrupt ending. but i guess it’s great that i wanted more!
The Magdalen Girls by V.S. Alexander
1.0
DNF. any book by a male author that describes the female protagonist’s breasts within the first five pages is not worth reading. even worse when the female protagonist is a MINOR (or at the oldest 18? idk. it’s not better in my opinion as she is a high school student). though perhaps him not being irish is actually the worst offense. i’ll let you be the judge of that.