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estellegodard's reviews
294 reviews
La Gouvernante Française by Henri Troyat
slow-paced
2.75
I was expecting a historical fiction novel with more drama and action. this was slow and pretty uneventful despite the full on revolution and war happening throughout. I think this was due to the very removed narrative tone. there were a few moments that moved me, mainly when the main character finds her old employers in paris again. but overall, this left much to be desired, despite being of interesting subject matter.
What I Ate in One Year (and Related Thoughts) by Stanley Tucci
funny
fast-paced
5.0
this was wonderfully narrated by stanley tucci himself. the day to day entries made the pace snappy and a great joy to notice little details that probably would not be written down otherwise. I loved the way tucci writes about food & I found him very funny too. truly an enjoyable book.
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
an incredible leap from the first book - this was fantastic the whole way through! everything I disliked from the first book was remedied: the pacing was much better, the dialogues were great, the intrigue and action was consistently exciting. I can’t wait to get into the next book.
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
informative
3.5
the third part/chapter of this book was the most stimulating and interesting. while the whole book is very well written, I was gripped most by the dissection and analysis the author provides in regards to the palestinian/israeli conflict.
Des diables et des saints by Jean-Baptiste Andrea
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
each character jumps off the page and has such a strong individual personality. the writing style was easy to read but very lyrical at times, with lovely more abstract & reflective passages. the ending was very cathartic and I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience.
Worn: A People's History of Clothing by Sofi Thanhauser
informative
medium-paced
3.75
several very informative chapters about the history of cloth, its symbolic nature, and some of the socioeconomic effects the industry has had. it’s a very far-reaching book and does a great job of touching on many cultures, histories, and current events.
Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
having now read a few books by this author, I can say she has a strong mastery for writing unlikable/perverse characters and describing filth. i enjoyed this book early on but it quickly got repetitive. the ending was definitely thrilling and real redeeming factor.
eileen is the pinnacle of a deluded and narcissistic character. her obsession with herself is insufferable and eventually gets boring, but there are glimpses into her psyche that are genuinely intriguing.
I think this book could have been shorter.
eileen is the pinnacle of a deluded and narcissistic character. her obsession with herself is insufferable and eventually gets boring, but there are glimpses into her psyche that are genuinely intriguing.
I think this book could have been shorter.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
a very fast paced and exciting book. the story takes us through so many phases of the main character’s life which really aids in establishing his role in the grander story. I found that certain portions of the book were a slog to get through, especially when the games first commence. I did love all the action sequences and the ruses used to capture the enemy. I actually enjoyed the violence and thought it was just the right amount of gore without it becoming torture-porn.
what I struggled with most was following tactic development and the slight of hands from each house/proctor. the amount of characters and moving parts in this book often makes it tricky to follow and I had to trust that eventually I’d understand where all of it was heading.
I also think I would have appreciated this more if everyone was older and not 16 when we first begin the book. I understand they are supposed to be children and in school, but it is fundamentally difficult to believe high schoolers could act this way, and frankly they read more as young adults than teenagers. I think I am simply beyond the “high schoolers fighting for their lives” trop.
overall, I expected this book to be a bit more immersive and there were definitely some rocky patches, but I am excited to read the rest of the trilogy.
what I struggled with most was following tactic development and the slight of hands from each house/proctor. the amount of characters and moving parts in this book often makes it tricky to follow and I had to trust that eventually I’d understand where all of it was heading.
I also think I would have appreciated this more if everyone was older and not 16 when we first begin the book. I understand they are supposed to be children and in school, but it is fundamentally difficult to believe high schoolers could act this way, and frankly they read more as young adults than teenagers. I think I am simply beyond the “high schoolers fighting for their lives” trop.
overall, I expected this book to be a bit more immersive and there were definitely some rocky patches, but I am excited to read the rest of the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Rape, Violence, Blood, War
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
having never read “huckleberry finn” I have no point of reference. nonetheless, this book reads like an updated classic, so I think it successfully attained its goal.
I loved the depth given to each character and the constantly twisting plot. the last 30 pages were excellent and very powerful. however, it felt like we didn’t get any closure with huck; the last time we see him doesn’t at all feel like it should be the last time.
this book came highly recommended and with countless terrific reviews, and I think it’s well worth the read. it’s an entertaining and valuable piece of literature.
I loved the depth given to each character and the constantly twisting plot. the last 30 pages were excellent and very powerful. however, it felt like we didn’t get any closure with huck; the last time we see him doesn’t at all feel like it should be the last time.
this book came highly recommended and with countless terrific reviews, and I think it’s well worth the read. it’s an entertaining and valuable piece of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery
Art Is Life: Icons and Iconoclasts, Visionaries and Vigilantes, and Flashes of Hope in the Night by Jerry Saltz
slow-paced
2.75
super disappointed by this. I was expecting something profound and fleshed out, but it was an accumulation of saltz’s reviews/essays which read as vignettes about various movements, artists, and shows.
I was looking for something more comprehensive, informative, and linear. the issue with this book is that it assumes all readers are well versed in modern and contemporary art. thus, there is little context which can be hard to follow.
of course, there were some interesting passages, but I found myself interested only when I knew what was being discussed.
I was looking for something more comprehensive, informative, and linear. the issue with this book is that it assumes all readers are well versed in modern and contemporary art. thus, there is little context which can be hard to follow.
of course, there were some interesting passages, but I found myself interested only when I knew what was being discussed.