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estellegodard's reviews
287 reviews
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
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, and 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, and 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.
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
medium-paced
3.0
I have been intrigued by this book for many years & I’m glad to have gotten around to it so I can take part in the discourse.
this was a tough book for me. the prose is very flowery and difficult to read. the plot is also very abstract which does not help the reading process. these are things that historically can break a book for me. for at least the first 50 pages I was very thoroughly confused. yet, eventually things click into place & I began to understand the format of the book, the rules of the world, and overall what was going on.
there were portions I really enjoyed, especially towards the middle. there are some well chosen lines and the language is very deliberate.
all in all, I thought this was a decent read but there were too many aspects that don’t gel with my preferences, which outweighed the high points. I really wish we had more world building; I think this is the main thing that would have elevated the novel to a higher rating/enjoyment level.
this was a tough book for me. the prose is very flowery and difficult to read. the plot is also very abstract which does not help the reading process. these are things that historically can break a book for me. for at least the first 50 pages I was very thoroughly confused. yet, eventually things click into place & I began to understand the format of the book, the rules of the world, and overall what was going on.
there were portions I really enjoyed, especially towards the middle. there are some well chosen lines and the language is very deliberate.
all in all, I thought this was a decent read but there were too many aspects that don’t gel with my preferences, which outweighed the high points. I really wish we had more world building; I think this is the main thing that would have elevated the novel to a higher rating/enjoyment level.
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
an epic family drama that was worth every slow burn moment. I loved the ending & it’s ambiguity. each character was so fleshed out and multi dimensional. they are all hard to love but one can’t help but sympathize with them as their lives spin more and more out of control. everything felt very realistic & like a plausible outcome to each choice that was made. what I enjoyed most was seeing how every decision will alter the course of everyone’s lives, little by little.
I appreciated the conversation around climate change but found it a little redundant at times, especially the portions in the woods when dickie and pj are building the well/bunker.
overall this is a book I’ll keep thinking about and represents the modern epoch very well.
I appreciated the conversation around climate change but found it a little redundant at times, especially the portions in the woods when dickie and pj are building the well/bunker.
overall this is a book I’ll keep thinking about and represents the modern epoch very well.
Januaries: Stories of Love, Magic & Betrayal by Olivie Blake
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I started off liking this but overall there were more stories I disliked than truly liked.
I don’t often read fantasy so there were several stories that felt unique to me & brought me back to the fairytales I liked as a kid. but overall there was a lot of repetitiveness among stories and tropiness.
the author writes beautifully which is the saving grace of several stories.
I don’t often read fantasy so there were several stories that felt unique to me & brought me back to the fairytales I liked as a kid. but overall there was a lot of repetitiveness among stories and tropiness.
the author writes beautifully which is the saving grace of several stories.
National Dish: Around the World in Search of Food, History, and the Meaning of Home by Anya von Bremzen
informative
medium-paced
3.0
I really liked the concept of this and overall there were many portions that were very interesting. I wish there had been more a bit of a wider range of food represented per culture. I thought that the author chose interesting areas of the world to focus on and she captures how important food is for the identity of a country/people.
Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I respect and admire this true story but it didn’t emotionally impact me in the way I thought it would. however, I think there is a lot of strength in telling this story & i appreciated several of the very candid reflections the author had
The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century by Amia Srinivasan
informative
medium-paced
4.75
what a stupendous collection of essays ! very well written, interesting, and informative. the author does a great job of investigating all perspectives and sides when making her argument. her feminist content builds on plenty of historical feminist theories while giving it modern perspective. all the essays were fantastic but I didn’t enjoy the last 2 as much as the others.
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore by Evan Friss
informative
medium-paced
4.25
each case study revolving around a specific book store was truly informative and a pleasure to listen to. this book is wide reaching and terrifically incorporates all forms of book selling.
this is really aimed at book lovers, bookstore enthusiasts, and people interested in history. I am all of these things so it was a perfect fit! as a new yorker it was also very cool to recognize certain bookstores or to learn about the independent stores that I never got to know.
this is really aimed at book lovers, bookstore enthusiasts, and people interested in history. I am all of these things so it was a perfect fit! as a new yorker it was also very cool to recognize certain bookstores or to learn about the independent stores that I never got to know.