estellegodard's reviews
269 reviews

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

while very bingeable and pleasant to read, this book does not rewrite the wheel. it’s a fairly predictable family drama with elements (like jack) that are not developed enough. a lot rides on the miscommunications between characters and there comes a time when these miscommunications become a bit redundant. despite these shortcomings, there are some well written passages and the pages turned themselves. celeste ng is a gripping author but i definitely liked “little fires everywhere” more. 

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

adventurous mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I was ready to give this book 5 stars but ultimately the last 100 pages or so fell a little short for me. but overall I absolutely loved this book. it was so whimsical and the writing style was really lovely and special. each intertwining story was a joy to read and I loved all the world building. 
I appreciated that some things are never explained nor resolved, but the ending was a tad confusing and it felt at times like the author was trying to shove in extra layers, just for the sake of it. 
I found this to be a very rewarding book to read & as someone who rarely reads fantasy, I was totally enamored by the intricate storytelling.  

Want by Gillian Anderson

slow-paced

2.25

conceptually I really like the idea of this book but the execution didn’t work for me. it becomes quite redundant after a while and we never gain any particular insight into the causes of certain fantasies. granted, we are told early on that this book won’t provide any analysis, but I think this is what it desperately needed to create a more interesting book & not just an accumulation of various sexual thoughts. 
there is, of course, still value in having a book that destigmatizes sex and doesn’t make women feel judged or taboo. 

Au Bonheur Des Dames by Émile Zola

slow-paced

3.5

i enjoyed this classic in ebbs and flows. for much of it, I found the setting to be interesting & the character dynamics to be fun to read about it. I especially liked the descriptions of paris in this ever-changing era, the juxtaposition between the small boutiques and the big department store. however, there are passages of long descriptions , specifically in the last few chapters when they are having the all-white sale, that feel endless and drone on for too long. I also thought the ending was far too rushed, especially after all the time we spend with the characters. 

Sociopath by Patric Gagne

funny informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

incredible narration by the author ! this is an engaging memoir that both educates and entertains. I came out of it with a deeper and more authentic understanding of sociopaths. I liked that the author doesn’t hold back and speaks bluntly about her behavior. overall, this creates sympathy for an often stigmatized disorder & I really enjoyed it. 

The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell

informative slow-paced

2.75

this was my least favorite amanda montell book. it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t nearly as interesting as her other work. the essays didn’t feel very cohesive to the theme & I didn’t enjoy her personal anecdotes that much. that being said, she’s a great audio book narrator and I will continue to consume everything she publishes. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.25

it’s cheesy a lot of the time & very predictable. despite this, it’s an enjoyable book and really pleasant to read; the portions in marcellus’ point of view are so endearing & tova and ethan jump off the page. I found cameron to be a big man-child (though I’m sure that was the point) and it made it hard to sympathize with him. 

Girlhood by Melissa Febos

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75

plenty of really impactful observations about being a woman and I especially resonated with the passages about adolescence. the essays were at times a bit long, and I didn’t find the final essay to be as impactful as some of the middle ones. nonetheless, the author is very eloquent and I enjoyed this collection. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

beautifully written novel with some really wonderful philosophical observations on life, death, happiness, etc. I also enjoyed the various storylines and narrators that coexist. however, in my opinion the plot dragged at times & I never felt compelled to keep reading after finishing a chapter. the ending also didn’t have the strongest effect on me, especially as we got into the more fantastical elements. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

adventurous dark informative slow-paced

3.0

once again, a very well researched and informative book by david grann. the author does a good job of including anecdotes and dialogues that bring the story to life, rather than being a simple historical book. that being said, it’s still very dense. the first third of the book deals entirely with the crew before the wreck and it is pretty tedious and confusing. there’s a lot of technicalities and names to keep track of and it’s not that interesting. getting to the ship wreck and especially the escape attempts felt like an adventure story & was much more enjoyable. I also particularly liked the bits of chapters that focused on the patagonian and indigenous tribes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence