emilyinherhead's reviews
1143 reviews

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

3.0

Another enjoyable-enough-but-somewhat-dated-at-this-point YA novel from John Green! I’m not mad I read it, but I probably would have liked it better had I done so approximately fifteen years ago. Determined to read through his whole back catalog, though, because I heard that there’s at least one Mountain Goats easter egg in each one.

McSweeney's 67 by Dave Eggers, Claire Boyle

3.5

I didn’t love every story, but overall I’d say this is a solid collection.

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

4.5

What stuck with me most about this book was the innovative format! I’ve never read anything like this before.

The Hunter by Tana French

4.5

This sequel had a lot of what I loved about The Searcher (the writing style, the rich atmosphere, the vivid setting, the community of characters) and it wrapped up Cal and Trey’s story in a really satisfying way.

Here After by Amy Lin

4.0

I cannot believe how much pain we are asked to bear when we are alive. How, even if there is a way, no one can show us how to live with it. (255)

Whew, this memoir is tough. Amy Lin has really gone through some shit, and her resilience and ability to find beauty amidst so much pain is astounding.

Viral Justice: How We Grow the World We Want by Ruha Benjamin

3.0

Ruha Benjamin shares some important information in this book, but the structure felt a little scattered and all over the place at times. I might recommend it as a primer for folks who are new to activism like this. 

Liberation Day: Stories by George Saunders

4.5

George Saunders has such a weird brain and I will continue to eagerly consume anything and everything that comes out of it.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

5.0

This book made me an instant Kaveh Akbar fan. The writing is gorgeous and the tone is warm—even though some of the subject matter is difficult (addiction, suicidal ideation, etc), I loved the main character and wanted to stay inside this story long after it ended.

I missed her so frantically that saying “I missed her” isn’t enough. I could feel it in my body, the tips of my fingers and the soft skin of my ankles, in my eyelids. It all throbbed for her.

Bodily Harm by Margaret Atwood

2.5

It’s been so long since I read this that I can’t remember specific details, but I recall that the vibes were kind of bleak and that I lost interest in the plot at several points.

Nimona by ND Stevenson

4.5

This had been on my list forever and I’m so glad I finally got around to it! I loved so much about it—the character dynamics, the themes, the art style. Still deciding how I feel about the ending.