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elj_ne's reviews
1025 reviews
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
3.0
Engaging and readable, definitely the definition of a mass-market paperback. Not necessarily the kind of book I like to read personally but it was a quick, fun read.
Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee
2.5
Recieved this book as an e-ARC via NetGalley.
This is a very strange novel, one I appreciate the premise of and idea behind but ended up not enjoying. Some was down to the wry, direct narrator who really lacked subtley in driving the point of the book home, mixed with descriptions of surreal dreams (and non-dreams) I found hard to get straight in my head at times. I also found the tone pretty relentlessly bleak instead of finding much humour in it - much of the humour was directed towards the protagonist which was fair enough considering his character but didn't really provide any relief in the story. I thought the strength of this book came from the character development of the protagonist and the choices he makes and the way they tie in with the message - that part was really well done.
This is a very strange novel, one I appreciate the premise of and idea behind but ended up not enjoying. Some was down to the wry, direct narrator who really lacked subtley in driving the point of the book home, mixed with descriptions of surreal dreams (and non-dreams) I found hard to get straight in my head at times. I also found the tone pretty relentlessly bleak instead of finding much humour in it - much of the humour was directed towards the protagonist which was fair enough considering his character but didn't really provide any relief in the story. I thought the strength of this book came from the character development of the protagonist and the choices he makes and the way they tie in with the message - that part was really well done.
Africa Is Not A Country: Breaking Stereotypes of Modern Africa by Dipo Faloyin
4.0
Fun and engaging - an essay collection that covers different but intersecting topics: colonialism, imperialism, dictatorship, culture, travel writing. Recommend the audiobook read by the author. My favourite essays were the one on dictatorships and the one on the continuing theft of cultural artefacts from Africa to be displayed in Western museums.
Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter
3.0
Very easy to read but ultimately it just didn’t move me or give me anything new.
Collapse Feminism: The Online Battle for Feminism's Future by Alice Cappelle
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Starting the year strong! Thought this was a really great little book that actually would serve as a good introduction to current feminist thought and is admirably accessible. I listened on audiobook and would recommend the audiobook, though I'd like to pick up a physical copy to reread + make notes in.
Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet by Taylor Lorenz
3.5
Delivers a mostly chronological narrative on the progression of social media over the past couple of decades which I thought was interesting and was accessibly written and clearly well researched. I think I would have liked something a bit more in depth - this book is certainly not comprehensive and little will be new for those who lived through it - but overall a good read. Not sure the sub-title does it any favours, this reads more like a primer to the internet than how juicy "the untold story of fame, influence and power on the internet" makes it sound.
More Than a Best Friend by Emma R. Alban
3.0
Received a copy in exchange for review.
This was cute if a little long for what it is - there was one too many changes in circumstance/plot for me but I did really like the way it all tied together in the end. The epilogue really sets up a sequel which I found a bit annoying - it made the epilogue too long and I’m not super interested in the sequel so wasn’t a good way to end for me. Enjoyed the relationships between Gwen and Beth and their parents a lot, and it was all very sweet. A fun read!
This was cute if a little long for what it is - there was one too many changes in circumstance/plot for me but I did really like the way it all tied together in the end. The epilogue really sets up a sequel which I found a bit annoying - it made the epilogue too long and I’m not super interested in the sequel so wasn’t a good way to end for me. Enjoyed the relationships between Gwen and Beth and their parents a lot, and it was all very sweet. A fun read!
The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 51%.
One of the rare times I wish a book was more academic. I think maybe a good intro book to this topic but I wasn’t finding anything particularly useful in it so dnf-ed.