estellegodard's reviews
239 reviews

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

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

5.0

i was so dedicated and attached to the characters; I just wanted them to survive and succeed. the writing style was super pleasant, mixing really incredible descriptions with humor and also some really poignant introspection about the state of the world. the ending was very satisfying & as a reader I trust that demon will have a good life from here on out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

I Remain in Darkness by Annie Ernaux

emotional reflective slow-paced

2.0

overall, tedious. the last chapter, when discussing the death of the mother, was the moment that moved me most and felt most relatable. while this book is realistic and means well, it felt callus at times and I couldn’t sympathize with neither the mother nor the author. this is my second ernaux book & i am left unimpressed, like last time. 

Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women by Renee Engeln

informative medium-paced

3.5

relatable and backed by research; this makes for a very informative and digestible book. 

Minor Detail by Adania Shibli

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

2.0

this was bleak and dry; it didn’t work for me. the last 20 pages drew me in the most, especially as parts from the first section begin to make an appearance in the second section. the way aspects of both stories are mirrored gave a “ghost of the past” feeling to the book, which I thought was clever storytelling considering the generational trauma that exists in palestine. 

The Collected Schizophrenias by Esmé Weijun Wang

informative slow-paced

2.75

I expected to be more immersed in this book; I expected a memoir. the essays felt too dense for me and erred on the side of textbooky at times. this made for not a very enjoyable experience. however, there were a few essays that taught me things and I gained some insight into a topic I knew very little about. I just wish I had learned more and connected with the author on a deeper level. 

Evil Eye by Etaf Rum

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

3.75

we really root for the main character in this book which makes the book easy to read & urges us to find out what happens. once I became absorbed in the story, there was no stopping me. however, it’s a repetitive book and it lacks subtlety. a lot of the dialogues feel forced and most things feel predictable, even cheesy. despite its shortcomings, there were good conversations about generational trauma and mental health (even if they were very heavy handed). I’m rating this book fairly highly because I think the story it tells is important and I never wanted to put the book down. 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

emotional sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I loved this book so much. it’s a rollercoaster of emotions and it kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping and praying for the wellbeing of these characters. the layering of stories is beautiful, especially between nora and yale; such different tales yet united by heartache and tragedy. I loved the time jumps, especially as we learn more about how fiona’s past influenced her present allowing us to piece things together. lastly, I liked how nothing was black and white in this book. there is no singular bad guy, nor a singular good guy; everyone is simply trying their best with the cards they were dealt. 

So Sad Today: Personal Essays by Melissa Broder

funny reflective sad medium-paced

3.25

there were some really great essays in this collection; I especially loved the essays: “I told you not to get the knish” where she really opens up and gives a valuable insight into love. however, essays like “google hangout with my higher self” that were meant to be funny didn’t read as well for me. yet, the author balances the funny/vulnerable tone with success. 

So Late in the Day: Stories of Women and Men by Claire Keegan

fast-paced

4.25

it’s hard to rate a collection of short stories but this was an overall great one. the first and last really made an impact on me while the second was more subdued. the author has a gift for capturing normal human interactions, peeling back the layers of the characters and exposing them slowly to us. I enjoyed this a lot and it read very quickly. 

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. I thought the author used descriptors that fit the grimy vibe of this book perfectly. plot wise I thought the book was a little repetitive at times but I thought the unhinged ending was pretty cool. as an experience I wish it had been scarier; it often felt like we were building tension but nothing really happened, especially regarding the ghost.