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ellaep's reviews
325 reviews
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
3.0
I enjoyed the ending, so I didn't want to give this book a 2, even though I was going to until about 85% of the way in.
I want to preface this by mentioning that I very rarely enjoy romance. Honestly, I just don't really enjoy Sally Rooney plots in general because, in the two novels by her that I have read so far, they really focus on "realistic" and "raw" portrayals of relationships, and I don't find that engaging at all. In this book romance drama took up a lot of space, and I just never wanted to read it. I also didn't care about the main-characters of this book at all and felt myself getting annoyed by them very often.
The ending was sweet and had some good character growth (especially from Peter, who I thought was the more interesting of the two) which I was worried would never happened, and that made me care more about them. Also, even though I don't love her plots, Sally Rooney's writing is really good.
I want to preface this by mentioning that I very rarely enjoy romance. Honestly, I just don't really enjoy Sally Rooney plots in general because, in the two novels by her that I have read so far, they really focus on "realistic" and "raw" portrayals of relationships, and I don't find that engaging at all. In this book romance drama took up a lot of space, and I just never wanted to read it. I also didn't care about the main-characters of this book at all and felt myself getting annoyed by them very often.
The ending was sweet and had some good character growth (especially from Peter, who I thought was the more interesting of the two) which I was worried would never happened, and that made me care more about them. Also, even though I don't love her plots, Sally Rooney's writing is really good.
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier
4.5
It's hard to explain how crazy I feel after finishing this book. Classic du Maurier, I guess.
The blame and secrecy. The sweetness and innocence. Mysterious, a little scary, but so earnest and emotional. This book was so good y'all. I remember why I loved Rebecca so much, I really should read more du Maurier. I also just love books where the point of view character starts to lose their minds a little bit.
Honestly, my take on this is that my girl did nothing wrong. She was a flawed person to be sure, with a childhood that inspired hatred and a need for her own life to be everything she never had. Two sheltered and naive men fell in love with her, then became abusively jealous and tried to control her. Even our cute POV character wanted it to be just the two of them alone forever, but did he ever actually know her and what she wanted? No, because he didn't actually care about her. If she was poisoning them, she was fucking right too. No one should be controlled and abused in their relationships. It's such a shame too, because I loved Phillip with his innocence and earnest feelings, but he was in the wrong.
The blame and secrecy. The sweetness and innocence. Mysterious, a little scary, but so earnest and emotional. This book was so good y'all. I remember why I loved Rebecca so much, I really should read more du Maurier. I also just love books where the point of view character starts to lose their minds a little bit.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
3.0
Really interesting and well-written, but it did not have to be that long. Every part felt like it dragged, and it's just 350 pages
Now in November: A Novel by Josephine Winslow Johnson
2.25
I listened to this as an audio-book.
I didn't really enjoy this book. The story felt very similar to a John Steinbeck novel. John Steinbeck can make me read the most boring story in the world, just because I love the way he writes. This book has all of the elements of a Steinbeck, sad american story, a family going through it, but without the charm. Sorry ): Honestly I need to stop reading sad american classics, I'm getting tired of them.
I didn't really enjoy this book. The story felt very similar to a John Steinbeck novel. John Steinbeck can make me read the most boring story in the world, just because I love the way he writes. This book has all of the elements of a Steinbeck, sad american story, a family going through it, but without the charm. Sorry ): Honestly I need to stop reading sad american classics, I'm getting tired of them.
Stateless by Elizabeth Wein
3.5
This story really surprised me. I don't read a lot of YA and I was worried I wouldn't like it, but I definitely did! The characters were really fun - kinda gave Man from UNCLE vibes - the setting and story were super interesting, and I love the whole murder mystery spy vibe. I wish we could've gotten even more from the other pilot characters and that the murder mystery remained a mystery for longer, because it honestly wasn't very mysterious. However, I did straight up read most of this in one day and I squealed out loud, so I would definitely recommend it!
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
4.5
So incredibly interesting and well-written
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
3.75
It was sweet, original and well written. I love found family and I am a sucker for "the reluctant parent that learns to love it" trope.
A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid
3.75
The writing was so beautiful and engaging, I just wish it was longer. Super excited to read more books by this author