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elizlizabeth's reviews
166 reviews
The Overstory by Richard Powers
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
I feel that Powers is an excellent short story writer. I really loved the first part of this book because of how engaging and emotive the character introductions were. The concept of the book is pretty cool: Roots has the introductions, Trunk where they all meet, Crown where they split, and Seeds as a sort of epilogue. However, in the execution the plot felt overly dramatic and the author kept either repeating or negating the character arcs to introduce conflict. This is a book I would've loved if nothing of substance happened, but in its effort to be jaw dropping it became trite and dated.
I was expecting a well-reaearched ode to trees and the inextricable paths that join us to them and the first part IS that. I am just disappointed that it didn't continued in the same vein. Roots is so good that it can even stand on its own, so I will cherish those stories and forget the rest.
I was expecting a well-reaearched ode to trees and the inextricable paths that join us to them and the first part IS that. I am just disappointed that it didn't continued in the same vein. Roots is so good that it can even stand on its own, so I will cherish those stories and forget the rest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Ableism and Miscarriage
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
3.0
This started great but then it became so melodramatic for no reason. I ended up hating Amir and his plot armor; everyone around him keeps suffering so that he can learn "a lesson" and yet he never does!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: War
Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
4.0
Very informative and interesting memoir. Whacky to read about the kind of technology they used not too long ago, and also how the attitude towards women divers was (is?) at the time.
I would've appreciated a glossary of terms and maybe maps and diagrams across the book, but other than that it was a very enjoyable read.
I would've appreciated a glossary of terms and maybe maps and diagrams across the book, but other than that it was a very enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Addiction and Injury/Injury detail
Cartas de Papá Noel by Martin Simonson, J.R.R. Tolkien
funny
fast-paced
3.5
Little glimpse of what Tolkien was doing outside his more "serious" work. I didn't dislike it but I hardly think it will interest anyone who is not a die-hard Tolkien fan already.
The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
This was a bit dissapointing since I read Technopoly and liked the insights on that one a lot. Here I feel like he takes strong arguments and somehow manages to get to the wrong conclussions. Most of the last half had me dying with laughter at how immature and superficial it was, but I would eventually like to annotate and dissect this book further because there's definitely something if I can only get behind the reactionary attitude and the USAmerican occidentalism.
Despite the arguments practically leading him to it, Postman refuses to acknowledge how the socioeconomic patterns dictate social constructs like CHILDHOOD which he spent so many pages proving to be one. At one point he concludes that "American culture is [the enemy of childhood] but it's not a forthright enemy in the sense that one might say for example, that America is against communism". Dude. My brother in christ I'm begging you to see what the opposite of communism is.
Despite the arguments practically leading him to it, Postman refuses to acknowledge how the socioeconomic patterns dictate social constructs like CHILDHOOD which he spent so many pages proving to be one. At one point he concludes that "American culture is [the enemy of childhood] but it's not a forthright enemy in the sense that one might say for example, that America is against communism". Dude. My brother in christ I'm begging you to see what the opposite of communism is.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Misogyny
At a couple of points the author mentions lesbianism and homosexuality as taboos that must be kept from the children until they are of age.
He concludes that protecting childhood is ultimately a responsibility not of the family but of the women since they are the most apt to care and educate for children.
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Lovely collection of short, slice of life stories. I felt very at peace reading them, albeit a little melancholy.
This is my second read of this after some years. Will definitely be reading again in the future as I feel you get something different out of it everytime.
This is my second read of this after some years. Will definitely be reading again in the future as I feel you get something different out of it everytime.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Grief
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
Very compelling story, a mix between true crime and dark academia in its themes. Do heed the warnings though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Murder, Child abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: Terminal illness, Police brutality, Homophobia, and Gun violence
Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
The main ideas were very interesting to me as an educator and definitely gave me food for thought. I'm surprised at how current the critic is given the time this was written and the one we live in now.
I felt that it was very US centric at times and even laughed at some of the more nationalist notions. I would love to read someone picking at this specifically, but it wasn't a big enough problem to me. I enjoyed the writing style and would definitely read this again and look for more books by this author.
I felt that it was very US centric at times and even laughed at some of the more nationalist notions. I would love to read someone picking at this specifically, but it wasn't a big enough problem to me. I enjoyed the writing style and would definitely read this again and look for more books by this author.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Abortion, and Colonisation
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Legit laughed out loud in public transport reading this. I was expecting it to lean heavily on the romance but I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't.
I can definitely see myself re-reading this in the future.
I can definitely see myself re-reading this in the future.
En el tiempo de las mariposas by Julia Alvarez
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Torture, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Medical trauma