emilyrosebooks's reviews
595 reviews

Bow Before the Elf Queen by J.M. Kearl

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

I have to rate this relatively highly because I couldn't stop listening to it, but it isn't higher because there were some plot points and world building that bothered me. That being said, I totally couldn't stop, I loved Thane, and Tithepine was such a fun addition! Plus, a friend assures me that the future books in the series fix my issues I have with book one, so I will keep going!

Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization by Neil deGrasse Tyson

adventurous funny informative medium-paced

4.5

This was a really enjoyable read! Very thought provoking, and would be good for a book club who is OPEN MINDED and up for rational discussion. Do not read if you are easily offended. Or do. 

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

5.0

If you have made it this far in the Throne of Glass series, you will not be disappointed by this epic 900+ page culmination of the story. Throne of Glass series is now officially my favorite series of all time. 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Second reading through, I stand by my previous assessment of one of my top 5 books of 2023. I LOVED this story. Nora is presented as a somewhat icy "city person" with her expensive shoes and clothes, obsession with her peloton, fancy book agent job, but man, does she gain some depth of character in this book! Her relationship with her sister, a trauma bond if I have ever read one, develops and grows throughout the book. Charlie Lastra, who gives "short king" energy even though he is not described as short, is a fantastic match for Nora.  This is a happy ending outside of your "classic" storyline and it is so fitting. LOVE this book so much. 

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

4.0

I thought this was a really unique and interesting read. The premise is that Cussy Mary, also known as "Bluet" and "Book Woman" is blue - a condition caused by methemoglobinemia - a rare genetic condition that really was present in Kentucky for a time. This story is historical fiction, but I do feel like I learned a lot about the "Blues", as well as the Pack Librarians that delivered books to the most secluded and poorest people in the 30s and 40s. 

I think my only issue with the plot was Jackson Lovett coming around to court Cussy Mary. Maybe it is just a sign of the times that his love for her was not really apparent until that moment, even though he supposedly had been asking her father for her hand for months. Certainly not a romance in that regard, because even though you know it must be coming, it still feels abrupt.

Wizard and Glass by Stephen King

dark emotional slow-paced

3.5

I do not think this is the best book in the series, however it is essential to understanding Roland, his motivations, and his past. Honestly, it makes the relationship with Roland the character murky, because I can't decide if I love him or hate him. He is a complex, deep, sometimes surprising character. 

Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics by Marc Lamont Hill, Mitchell Plitnick

challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

Let me preface this review by making it clear that I am completely ignorant of foriegn politics, and that includes the Israel/Palestine conflict. That is precisely why I wanted to read this book, because with elections coming up, and the fact that I am now over 30, and responsible for raising a human to be generally good, I think it is important for me to at least TRY to educate myself on important issues. So to me, the Israel/Palestine issue feels recent, but this book helped me understand the conflict that has been going on for decades. I honestly do not remember ever being educated on it, and frankly I don't think anyone in the 90s through 2010s would have had the courage to properly educate on the issue fairly because saying anything anti-Israel may come across anti-semetic. 

What I am taking away from this book:

• If I am going to call myself a liberal, social progressive, or otherwise pro-humanitarian person, this MUST include the humanitarian plight of Palestinians. The title of this book, "Except for Palestine" goes over how many progressives in the US seem to be loud and proud in their fight for human rights everywhere, but are mysteriously quiet about Palestinians. 
• When Israel is asking to be "recognized as an Jewish state" by the Palestinians, they are asking something that NO OTHER COUNTRY has ever asked of another. To put it in terms I can wrap my own head around easier, that would be like saying to indigenous people of America that they MUST acknowledge that the United States has the right to be a Christian country -- NO ONE WOULD EVER AGREE TO THAT!!! 
• Being pro-Palestinian people DOES NOT mean you are anti-semetic! Even in many of the solutions proposed in peace talks (that have been going on for decades), the concessions that Palestinians are being asked to make would require them to accept that they are second class citizens to Jews native to Israel, even native born Israeli's that are not Jewish would have consequences as far as preferential and fair treatment. 
• I am alarmed by the way the United States has handled this conflict over the last 4 decades or so, and how it seems many of our President's have essentially "passed the buck" about the Israel issue over and over. Now, I do understand it is a very sensitive topic, and diplomacy is probably best (what do I know, ya know?), but I am equally alarmed by the political choices Donald Trump made during his presidency. There are many MANY people who will say "at least he made a move" instead of passing it on, but it appears to be a poorly thought out decision to finally move the embassy to Jerusalem. I can't even say it was all Trump being crazy though, because the moving of the embassy was signed into law FOREVER ago, and each president has continued to sign a waiver that pushes it off 6 months over and over. 

Anyway, as far as a book review goes, I think this is a must read. I can't give it 5 stars only because it was hard to understand at times, but again I am coming from COMPLETE ignorance of the topic. 

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell

dark mysterious medium-paced

5.0

This book was dark and creepy and kept me on my toes the whole time. I have my beliefs about what is the truth, but also there is still enough doubt at the end that it is up for debate. I am reading this for a book club and I'm excited to hear all opinions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I am giving this 3 stars because the writing is really wonderful, it is creepy and bold. However it is very very slow. I enjoyed the perspective of the narrator as the main character in her now 70s looking back and telling the story of herself at age 24. The main character, Eileen, is NOT lovable, especially not in her youth, but she is the sort of disaster you can't look away from. I do wish the book started with the sentence, "This is the story of how I disappeared" or something along those lines because it felt directionless for a while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder

Not Her Villain by Irene Bahrd

fast-paced

I can't give this a star rating, because it is a *spicy* novel, which to me is a whole different category. It is however, 4 chili spice emoji's worth of spicy. It has the billionaire romance (or romantasy if you will), grumpy sunshine, peircings, hunter/prey kink, breeding kink, public *spice*, etc. Do with that what you will!