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943 reviews
The House of My Mother by Shari Franke
Shari Franke’s childhood was miserable yet filmed for the world to consume and enjoy. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code which quickly grew into emotional abuse, all while maintaining the image of a picture-perfect family for their YouTube channel 8 Passengers. The channel documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for 2.5 million subscribers. Private moments of the children's lives were recorded and put out for the world to see. Shari and her siblings were forced to essentially work, create content, act, and manage their social media from a young age. Without social media Ruby would likely have still been a terrible and abusive parent but with social media she became connected to Jodi Hildebrandt and together they promoted a weird matriarchal cult which encouraged strict parenting, their techniques eventually ending in multiple counts of child abuse. Shari now uses her platform to raise awareness of child safety issues and its commendable that through the book she talks of her own experiences and does not name her siblings or what happened to them, allowing them at least a piece of privacy. The book does raise interesting points about child safety and family vloggers and I suspect this may be the first but not the last memoir we see from a child of family vlogging.
5.0
Shari Franke’s childhood was miserable yet filmed for the world to consume and enjoy. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code which quickly grew into emotional abuse, all while maintaining the image of a picture-perfect family for their YouTube channel 8 Passengers. The channel documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for 2.5 million subscribers. Private moments of the children's lives were recorded and put out for the world to see. Shari and her siblings were forced to essentially work, create content, act, and manage their social media from a young age. Without social media Ruby would likely have still been a terrible and abusive parent but with social media she became connected to Jodi Hildebrandt and together they promoted a weird matriarchal cult which encouraged strict parenting, their techniques eventually ending in multiple counts of child abuse. Shari now uses her platform to raise awareness of child safety issues and its commendable that through the book she talks of her own experiences and does not name her siblings or what happened to them, allowing them at least a piece of privacy. The book does raise interesting points about child safety and family vloggers and I suspect this may be the first but not the last memoir we see from a child of family vlogging.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
3.5
Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at Wellwood House in Florida, in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Wellwood House is a place to hide unwed mothers to have their babies in secret before being forced to give them up for adoption. There Fern meets Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to keep her baby and escape to a commune, Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father, and Holly, just fourteen, mute and pregnant. The home is unbearable, every moment of their lives and bodies are controlled, until the library van arrives and they meet Miss Parcae, who gives Fern a book about witchcraft. For the first time, the girls have power in their own hands. But there is a price that must be paid for that power.
The true horror of this book is the conditions the girls suffer, the lies told to them by the staff and each other, and the complete lack of agency. It's a sobering view to think this was 55 years ago and yet some people want to see use return to the days when young girls could be molested and forced to have babies in secret. For that reason I didn't find the witches particularly scary, nor did I understand any of the girls aversion to giving in and joining the coven. In fact the witchcraft seemed secondary to the main storyline of what happens to the girls. I enjoy Grady Hendrix's writing and he captures the voice of teenage girls so well, but his books are always a hit or miss and this is a miss. It is slow in the begining, there's a slow introduction to the witchcraft, and then the plot is incredibly basic. But I never understand books where people refuse to become witches. I am very ready to join a coven and live in the forest. This is a sombre reminder of a shameful past, but it is very light on the horror and witchcraft
The true horror of this book is the conditions the girls suffer, the lies told to them by the staff and each other, and the complete lack of agency. It's a sobering view to think this was 55 years ago and yet some people want to see use return to the days when young girls could be molested and forced to have babies in secret. For that reason I didn't find the witches particularly scary, nor did I understand any of the girls aversion to giving in and joining the coven. In fact the witchcraft seemed secondary to the main storyline of what happens to the girls. I enjoy Grady Hendrix's writing and he captures the voice of teenage girls so well, but his books are always a hit or miss and this is a miss. It is slow in the begining, there's a slow introduction to the witchcraft, and then the plot is incredibly basic. But I never understand books where people refuse to become witches. I am very ready to join a coven and live in the forest. This is a sombre reminder of a shameful past, but it is very light on the horror and witchcraft
Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
5.0
It has been a year since Penny started working at DallerGut Dream Department Store. Surviving a year means she can take the express commuter train to the Company District where the dream production companies are located and discover how all raw dream materials are turned into dreams. The world opens up new possibilities to Penny, including the Civil Complaint Center, where people can complain about their dreams.
This is such a sweet book, which like the first focuses on a series of dreams and dreamers, exploring why we dream and the importance of memory. It's such a fun world and a light, colourful read. It will make you want to dream of a place where you can go to buy dreams and pay in emotions
This is such a sweet book, which like the first focuses on a series of dreams and dreamers, exploring why we dream and the importance of memory. It's such a fun world and a light, colourful read. It will make you want to dream of a place where you can go to buy dreams and pay in emotions
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
2.5
Book editor Clementine has inherited her aunts apartment in New York after her sudden passing. She had her aunt were close and her aunt always said the apartment was magic. Magic in the sense that sometimes you can go into the apartment and it will be 7 years in the past. Clementine never believed the stories until she comes home one day to find a dashing handsome man Iwan, who tells her her dead aunt told him he could sublet for the summer - the summer that was 7 years ago when Clementine and her aunt backpacked around Europe. After a wonderful weekend together Clementine leaves returning to the present, but will she be able to find Iwan in the present or will she be able to return to the past?
I didn't hate this premise and I love time travelling books, it's a shame there wasn't more time travel involved. Clementine spends a lot of time bleating on about being broken and damaged and maybe I'm heartless but I expected a deeper story than "my aunt died, ergo I'm broken forever", especially considering everytime she ended up in the past she made no attempt to contact her aunt or leave her a message. Her aunts death also seemed very tragic and is then glossed over, for someone so broken Clementine heals in rapid time. Although there was nothing really wrong with the characters of Iwan or Clementine there was no real conflict either. Romance needs a conflict that drives them apart but they meet 7 years in the past, cross paths almost immediately in the present, and although the interactions might be awkward, they're clearly into each other. The whole thing was anticlimactic and the set up with Iwan/James/Vera seemed very obvious, there were no twists or surprises. It's also fairly minor but is there any reality where a millennial would leave real estate in Brooklyn empty for 6 months? Even grief doesn't trump the housing crisis.
I didn't hate this premise and I love time travelling books, it's a shame there wasn't more time travel involved. Clementine spends a lot of time bleating on about being broken and damaged and maybe I'm heartless but I expected a deeper story than "my aunt died, ergo I'm broken forever", especially considering everytime she ended up in the past she made no attempt to contact her aunt or leave her a message. Her aunts death also seemed very tragic and is then glossed over, for someone so broken Clementine heals in rapid time. Although there was nothing really wrong with the characters of Iwan or Clementine there was no real conflict either. Romance needs a conflict that drives them apart but they meet 7 years in the past, cross paths almost immediately in the present, and although the interactions might be awkward, they're clearly into each other. The whole thing was anticlimactic and the set up with Iwan/James/Vera seemed very obvious, there were no twists or surprises. It's also fairly minor but is there any reality where a millennial would leave real estate in Brooklyn empty for 6 months? Even grief doesn't trump the housing crisis.
All's Well by Mona Awad
5.0
Miranda was once a promising theatre actress but during a performance of Macbeth she fell from the stage, injuring her back and hip, ending her career. The accident and operations have left Miranda with chronic pain, unable to act, a shell of her former self. It's time for the class to put on a Shakespearean play and the class is set on Macbeth but Miranda can't face the Scottish play, electing instead that they perform one of Shakespeare's lesser known and problematic plays, All's Well That Ends Well. The class is ready to mutiny when Miranda meets a brethren of three Scottish men, who seem to know all about her and after a confusing evening Miranda wakes up and her pain has lessened. After some frightening incidents with a student and a sadistic physiotherapist, her pain is gone completely. Or is it? What follows is a fever dream of Shakespearian proportions in situations which become weirder and weirder, magic and mayhem.
The thing I loved about this book is that Awad captured life with chronic pain so perfectly. Getting conflicting information from doctors, exercises that make the pain worse, friends who lose interest when pain goes on for too long and suggest maybe the pain isnt real, colleagues who suspect she's faking. It is a constant, frustrating cycle that has destroyed every aspect of Miranda's life. Miranda’s voicelessness in having her pain being taken seriously by medical professionals and her friends dismissal and willingness to believe she’s being dramatic, was heartbreaking to read. As someone with chronic pain it was easy to relate to Miranda and even though I think she was supposed to be an unlikeable character - both when she's in pain and miserable, and when she is healed and becomes manic - I felt for her. The truth is pain can make you an awful person who thinks awful things and wishes people who don't believe you felt even an ounce of your pain, and when the pain is gone you can gaslight yourself into thinking it wasn't that bad, and to that end Miranda is a brilliantly written character. There are many Shakespearen references including the ending which I think is a bit of a homage to All's Well That Ends Well. I devoured this book in an evening, I absolutely loved it.
The thing I loved about this book is that Awad captured life with chronic pain so perfectly. Getting conflicting information from doctors, exercises that make the pain worse, friends who lose interest when pain goes on for too long and suggest maybe the pain isnt real, colleagues who suspect she's faking. It is a constant, frustrating cycle that has destroyed every aspect of Miranda's life. Miranda’s voicelessness in having her pain being taken seriously by medical professionals and her friends dismissal and willingness to believe she’s being dramatic, was heartbreaking to read. As someone with chronic pain it was easy to relate to Miranda and even though I think she was supposed to be an unlikeable character - both when she's in pain and miserable, and when she is healed and becomes manic - I felt for her. The truth is pain can make you an awful person who thinks awful things and wishes people who don't believe you felt even an ounce of your pain, and when the pain is gone you can gaslight yourself into thinking it wasn't that bad, and to that end Miranda is a brilliantly written character. There are many Shakespearen references including the ending which I think is a bit of a homage to All's Well That Ends Well. I devoured this book in an evening, I absolutely loved it.
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
5.0
Say Nothing is a brilliant work of narrative non fiction about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Keefe provides history of the Troubles and talks about figures who were instrumental in the formation and operation of the Provisional IRA (the Provos who believed the only way to a united Ireland was through violent armed resistance). Keefe focuses the narrative on four individuals - Jean McConville, a widowed mother of 10 children who was "disappeared", Brendan Hughes, an IRA soldier who orchestratd Bloody Sunday, Dolours Price, one of the IRAs first female soldiers, and Gerry Adams, alleged IRA general turned politician. Although this book provides a lot of details and was thoroughly researched (there are over 100 pages of sources) it is also an emotional journey. The Price sisters initially believed peace could be achieved through non violent methods, however after a peaceful march was attacked by Loyalists, they determined violence was the only language the British would understand. We follow Delores, Brendan and others transform from idealistic teens with an intense belief in nationalism, to people who are willing to kill and die for their cause, and finally to broken, traumatised shells. When imprisoned IRA soldiers subjected themselves to hunger strikes - Bobby Sands and nine other men perished for the cause, it is clear how passionately they believed in the cause. Whilst the book (and cause) starts idealistic, the people involved are scarred forever. What is brilliant about this book is that it's an incredibly complex issue and Keege truly takes you on journey. At no times does he glamorise the work of the Provos - though they admit it could be fun and at times people would have called them freedom fighters. He is also clear that others called them terrorists and over time they regretted many actions. Sever PTSD, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, survivors guilt, and above all, a strong sense of betrayal is evident in the 3rd act when the Good Friday Agreement is passed and the Sinn Féin party take power. It is a remarkable insight into how young, idealistic people can be used and discarded.
The abduction and murder of Jean McConville is very much the thread that runs throughout the whole book and she and her family help reflect the human toll of the Troubles. Whilst others fought an idealogical war, families were torn apart and very, very few people have been held to account. I was left with an appreciation of the fact the Troubles aren't fully settled, and how can they ever be when there is still such a culture of silence, lies, and fear. There has been such a lot of history and as Keefe points out this is just a story of the Provisional IRA, it is not a history of the IRA nor the British Army - though he does cover many things the Army did to antagonise and sabotage the Irish, and the part they played in allowed a lot of bombings to occur. This was an emotional and brilliant read.
The abduction and murder of Jean McConville is very much the thread that runs throughout the whole book and she and her family help reflect the human toll of the Troubles. Whilst others fought an idealogical war, families were torn apart and very, very few people have been held to account. I was left with an appreciation of the fact the Troubles aren't fully settled, and how can they ever be when there is still such a culture of silence, lies, and fear. There has been such a lot of history and as Keefe points out this is just a story of the Provisional IRA, it is not a history of the IRA nor the British Army - though he does cover many things the Army did to antagonise and sabotage the Irish, and the part they played in allowed a lot of bombings to occur. This was an emotional and brilliant read.
The Auschwitz Photographer: The Forgotten Story of the WWII Prisoner Who Documented Thousands of Lost Souls by Maurizio Onnis, Luca Crippa
3.0
When Germany invaded poland in 1939 Wilhelm Brasse was offered the chance to swear allegiance to The Wehrmacht and join the nazi party. He refused and was deported to Auschwitz. A trained portrait photographer, he was tasked with taking photos of the prisoners and soldiers, and later of Meangles experiments. These photographs were used as part of the Nuremberg trials and provided the evidence needed to prove the atrocities which happened at Auschwitz.
I find it hard to rest this book because it's an important story - as all stories from the holocaust are important- but the writing lacked a certain depth. It felt like a third hand story, we learn what Brasse did day to day and what some of the other prisoners did but there are a lot of details missing. Food is rarely mentioned except when he goes to the bakery to get extra bread to share with his blockmates. The cold, illness, uniforms, the sleeping arrangements, Didn't feel like they were really described in the same way other stories I've read about the camps were. There's also a point where Brasse tells as doctor he is Jewish and had been lying about it, but it's never revealed if this is true or if he was lying to the doctor. About half way through I realised it was a translated text and assumed some of the descriptions were lost in translation but when I finished the source page said they used a documentary Brasse had been interviewed for and a couple of other sources - it essentially was a third hand tale! I think the fact the writers didn't interview Brasse or his family impacted the depth and emotion of the book. It also starts when he's already at the camp and ends when he leaves the camp. Brasse helped establish the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum and ran tours for years before his death. It would have been nice to learn more about his life outside the camp and the work he did to preserve the history of what happened. There were really interesting stories about some of the prisoners and it would have been interesting to learn more about them - like the only man who was permitted to marry in Auschwitz or the priest who took the place of another prisoner when he was called up to be murdered. The subject matter is important and interesting, it's a shame the writing was lacking.
I find it hard to rest this book because it's an important story - as all stories from the holocaust are important- but the writing lacked a certain depth. It felt like a third hand story, we learn what Brasse did day to day and what some of the other prisoners did but there are a lot of details missing. Food is rarely mentioned except when he goes to the bakery to get extra bread to share with his blockmates. The cold, illness, uniforms, the sleeping arrangements, Didn't feel like they were really described in the same way other stories I've read about the camps were. There's also a point where Brasse tells as doctor he is Jewish and had been lying about it, but it's never revealed if this is true or if he was lying to the doctor. About half way through I realised it was a translated text and assumed some of the descriptions were lost in translation but when I finished the source page said they used a documentary Brasse had been interviewed for and a couple of other sources - it essentially was a third hand tale! I think the fact the writers didn't interview Brasse or his family impacted the depth and emotion of the book. It also starts when he's already at the camp and ends when he leaves the camp. Brasse helped establish the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum and ran tours for years before his death. It would have been nice to learn more about his life outside the camp and the work he did to preserve the history of what happened. There were really interesting stories about some of the prisoners and it would have been interesting to learn more about them - like the only man who was permitted to marry in Auschwitz or the priest who took the place of another prisoner when he was called up to be murdered. The subject matter is important and interesting, it's a shame the writing was lacking.
The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang
2.0
The Rainfall Markets operate during the rain season and once inside you can exchange your life for another one. You can only get in if you send them an essay of your misfortune and in return you will receive a ticket to the markets. Serin is certain there's a better life for her. Her father died when she was too young to remember him, her house burned down, she lives with her mother in a dank “semi-basement” apartment, and, last year, her little sister ran away and has not returned, so she heads to the market in search if something better. The market is run by Dokkaebi, goblin-like creatures from Korean folklore and Serin is aided by Isha the cat who guides her around the market and eats everything.
I thought this would be magical and sweet but it was kind of lame. Serin requests all sorts of futures which all seem to be a monkey paw situation and they all turn out terribly. Her future wishes are not well thought out and they are the type of things you might wish for as a teenager - an important job, a hot husband, your own business (business not specified). This would have worked better as a YA novel, it definitely wasn't an adult tone. I also hate books which suggest this is the best life you could have because I'm quite sure if I was a millionaire my lifestyle would be a lot better.
I thought this would be magical and sweet but it was kind of lame. Serin requests all sorts of futures which all seem to be a monkey paw situation and they all turn out terribly. Her future wishes are not well thought out and they are the type of things you might wish for as a teenager - an important job, a hot husband, your own business (business not specified). This would have worked better as a YA novel, it definitely wasn't an adult tone. I also hate books which suggest this is the best life you could have because I'm quite sure if I was a millionaire my lifestyle would be a lot better.
Scenes of a Graphic Nature by Caroline O'Donoghue
Many years ago Charlie's father survived a terrible tragedy which killed all the children in his school on Clipham, a small island off the west coast of Ireland. Since his diagnosis of cancer Charlie has diligently taken his story and turned it into an independent film with her best friend Laura - all without ever setting foot in Ireland, let alone Clipham. When their film is invited to be shown at the Cork film festival they decide to travel to Cork and Clipham to see exactly where Charlie's father is from. But when they arrive Charlie's perception of her father's story is immediately challenged. Was it a terrible accident that killed all the children or is something more sinister at play?
I really loved the Rachel Incident so I was excited for this read, however it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Charlie is self obsessed, moody, lazy, and as the novel progresses she comes to realise her art is bad. Her movie is bad. Which of course it is, she made a movie about Ireland without ever going! Her father was 6yrs old when his classmates died due to carbon monoxide poisoning, relying on his memory rather than going to the island was an insane choice. She manages to rub the islanders the wrong way, makes poor choices which leave them stranded on the island, and never shows any real drive to make a quality movie. I don't mind unlikeable characters but Charlie's unlikeability leads to the story being slightly chaotic. The writing was brilliant but I think it struggled with deciding if it was a thriller about a conspiracy about the school, a love story, a story of guilt, or friendship. The ending is very unsatisfying. It felt like the author had written Charlie into a corner where she was about to be thrown off the island but the story still needed to be wrapped up. It was all very rushed and really didn't answer all the questions. The whole conspiracy didn't make a lot of sense and while I think there is a lot to be said about the Magdalen laundries, the Catholic Church, and the Irish spirit of not talking about things, I don't think this is a good representation of that culture or history.
3.0
Many years ago Charlie's father survived a terrible tragedy which killed all the children in his school on Clipham, a small island off the west coast of Ireland. Since his diagnosis of cancer Charlie has diligently taken his story and turned it into an independent film with her best friend Laura - all without ever setting foot in Ireland, let alone Clipham. When their film is invited to be shown at the Cork film festival they decide to travel to Cork and Clipham to see exactly where Charlie's father is from. But when they arrive Charlie's perception of her father's story is immediately challenged. Was it a terrible accident that killed all the children or is something more sinister at play?
I really loved the Rachel Incident so I was excited for this read, however it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Charlie is self obsessed, moody, lazy, and as the novel progresses she comes to realise her art is bad. Her movie is bad. Which of course it is, she made a movie about Ireland without ever going! Her father was 6yrs old when his classmates died due to carbon monoxide poisoning, relying on his memory rather than going to the island was an insane choice. She manages to rub the islanders the wrong way, makes poor choices which leave them stranded on the island, and never shows any real drive to make a quality movie. I don't mind unlikeable characters but Charlie's unlikeability leads to the story being slightly chaotic. The writing was brilliant but I think it struggled with deciding if it was a thriller about a conspiracy about the school, a love story, a story of guilt, or friendship. The ending is very unsatisfying. It felt like the author had written Charlie into a corner where she was about to be thrown off the island but the story still needed to be wrapped up. It was all very rushed and really didn't answer all the questions. The whole conspiracy didn't make a lot of sense and while I think there is a lot to be said about the Magdalen laundries, the Catholic Church, and the Irish spirit of not talking about things, I don't think this is a good representation of that culture or history.
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
5.0
It's 1961 and Isabel is living in the Dutch countryside in the house her uncle purchased for her family. Her mother is dead and her brothers have left, so it is just her, knocking around the house, counting the spoons, convinced the maid is stealing from her. When her womanising brother Louis introduces her and their brother Heinrich to his new love Eva, Isabel doesn't bother to hide her distain. Louis has a habit of falling both in and out of love very quickly. But when an assignment sends him overseas he installs Eva in the house, telling Isabel to be nice. Eva is the antithesis of Isabel, warm, friendly, she sleeps late and is messy. Soon Isabel is going mad, counting all their cutlery, certain things are going missing, even more certain Eva is here with a nefarious purpose to kick her out of her own home.
This is such a near perfect book, it is absolutely brilliant. In such a short book Van der Wouden is able to clearly portray such fully realised characters. Isabel is stern, uptight, anxious, what initially comes across as mean - "even honey couldn't sweeten that vinegar" one character comments - is actually nervousness and uncertainty. Louis is womanising and fickle, Heinrich is kind and funny, a 'confirmed bachelor', who lives with his 'good friend' Sebastian. Eva is the opposite of Isabel, although initially fun and lively, it becomes clear she is hiding secrets. While the relationship between Isabel and Eva, and their subsequent character development is the core of the story, this is also an exploration of post war Netherlands, as Van der Wouden focuses on the quiet denial of recent history and self-justifications in the aftermath of the Holocaust. This is a story about lies that individuals, families, and nations tell themselves, some lies are made consciously, and others live lies concealing the truth even from themselves. Considering the topics of the book - the holocaust, unrequited love, gay romance in an unaccepting time - The Safekeep isn't a dark book (in fact some chapters are quite spicy). Isabel is a fairly unsympathetic character in the begining but by the end I felt for her and her sad little life, and it has quite a hopeful ending, showing the bonds we create with others can change us for the better. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, it was such a marvellous read.
This is such a near perfect book, it is absolutely brilliant. In such a short book Van der Wouden is able to clearly portray such fully realised characters. Isabel is stern, uptight, anxious, what initially comes across as mean - "even honey couldn't sweeten that vinegar" one character comments - is actually nervousness and uncertainty. Louis is womanising and fickle, Heinrich is kind and funny, a 'confirmed bachelor', who lives with his 'good friend' Sebastian. Eva is the opposite of Isabel, although initially fun and lively, it becomes clear she is hiding secrets. While the relationship between Isabel and Eva, and their subsequent character development is the core of the story, this is also an exploration of post war Netherlands, as Van der Wouden focuses on the quiet denial of recent history and self-justifications in the aftermath of the Holocaust. This is a story about lies that individuals, families, and nations tell themselves, some lies are made consciously, and others live lies concealing the truth even from themselves. Considering the topics of the book - the holocaust, unrequited love, gay romance in an unaccepting time - The Safekeep isn't a dark book (in fact some chapters are quite spicy). Isabel is a fairly unsympathetic character in the begining but by the end I felt for her and her sad little life, and it has quite a hopeful ending, showing the bonds we create with others can change us for the better. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, it was such a marvellous read.