georgiasbookescapes's reviews
421 reviews

I Don't by Clementine Ford

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Clementine Ford is a feminist and in her latest book, she looks at the history and current sociopolitical worlds of marriage with a lens focused on middle class white people. Throughout the book Ford provides numerous references for statistics and historical facts whilst also providing a manifesto like voice to her writing. For those who enjoyed, in particular Fight Like A Girl, you will find a somewhat similar voice here. Ford doesn’t hold back, looking at history, the financial implications and choices that are made, statistics on divorce, pregnancy and divorce, the all too commonly overlooked domestic violence and a chapter on the engagement ring industry alone. Although for me personally, it did not sway me into wanting to marry my current partner (no need for congratulations yet, we’re still to formally get engaged rather than verbally affirm marriage is a entity we’d like to engage in), it was interesting to learn more about the history of the wedding industry and reflect on different aspects of how or why I may want to choose to make this choice. And ultimately, Ford is not telling people they cannot make the decision for marriage for themselves, but I felt, rather reflect on why each aspect is important given in white middle class society we are encouraged to blindly follow the narrative of marriage and what is “normal” regarding it. For Ford that meant realising she does not want to marry and that’s amazing and after reading this book I can see why she has chosen that for herself. I highly recommend this book for all people, those wanting to, or not wanting to marry, learn more about one of the most expensive industries for white middle class populations and reflect more within your own choices on the matter.

My Dream for You by Jasmin McGaughey, Ash Barty

emotional hopeful fast-paced

5.0

 The art work is stunning and the writing by Barty is beautiful. She wrote this for her first child and it beautifully captures all the lovely things a parent has opportunity to share with their child through life. If you’re in need of a picture book for any reason - I highly recommend this beautiful book! 💕

Human Acts by Han Kang

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

In 1980 there was a 10 day massacre following a student being shot at a university based protest in Gwangju, South Korea. This book follows experiences fictionalised of some of those who loved him. 

This book is dark, it is heavy, and all based in a dark reality I still know little about. But ultimately, as the title suggests, it was based on human acts. This was a 12 recommended by 12 friends. And it’s one I think that’s going to sit with me for a long time. I studied history at school, at university and still major historical events like this I only learn about by chance after a novel is written. This only happened 44 years ago. Welcome to being educated in the Western world I guess. Want history outside of a white lens? Work harder to find it I guess. Thanks for the recommendation @readbysez 

This is one I don’t know if I can numerically rate. 

Salt Houses by Hala Alyan

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

4 generations of family, all starting from Palestine. On the night before of Alia’s wedding, her mother reads her future in a coffee cup. Holding some details to herself, all the events pass soon in the Six Day War of 1967. Forced to move about, the story shows different lives of the family and the impact from the invasion of Palestine all those generations back. 

This book is beautifully written. The impacts of colonisation from just the 20th century and the ongoing impacts that have been continuing including to right now and the current genocide occurring in Palestine. The impacts of trauma and intergenerational trauma are hard to move past. As the blurb of my book asks it ultimately boils down to - where do you go when you can’t go home?

Big thanks to Mostly Books for making this a Blind Date With A Book for me to nab! 😍

Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

4.0

Grace Henderson is a soccer veteran, Phoebe Matthews is the latest rookie on the nationals team and plays the same spot as Grace. What starts for Grace as some possible rivalling and dealing with the fallout of an injury things change swiftly when spice hits the scene between the two women!

This is a cute sports lesbian romance which I didn’t know I needed in my life?!! The banter between the women and the spice scenes were a plenty 🥵 and both very welcome! 😏 for people wanting more fun lesbian stories that touch on heavy issues in a somewhat light manner - this book does it beautifully! I can’t wait for the TV series to come out! 😍😍

An American Immigrant by Johanna Rojas Vann

dark emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

Melanie is a second generation Colombian American journalist living in Miami. The last time she visited Colombia was for her Quinceañera 10 years ago. When an opportunity for a story comes up looking at the cocaine imports into Miami and its effects comes up she takes the opportunity to visit family. But she learns more than she ever expected. 

This book was really great for the first 60%. I loved learning through Melanie’s eyes about Colombia (I need to visit asap myself clearly it sounds so beautiful and fun) and through her mother’s journey to America. But the last 40% really dragged and I skimmed the last of it. I think if this was 100 pages shorter and more succinct in its ending it would’ve been a much more incredible book. It had all the right elements - personal story turned into a novel, but the level of detail about Melanie’s work dragged in the end. 

Thank you to NetGalley and WaterBrook & Mutlnomah for this ARC.

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Queenie is a 25 year old British Jamaican woman who works as a journalist. Her white boyfriend of 3 years has asked for a break  and things are unravelling around her quickly in all areas of her life. Managing racism, managing complicated family and friendship dynamics, this book tackles numerous themes in one debut novel! 

This book is a reread for me from 5 years ago. At the start I was uncertain about how it, despite remembering loving it! The chaotic nature of the writing flitting between past and present, and Queenie’s seeming actions were a lot. But suddenly the book takes a turn and it pulls everything into clarity. This book is incredible. It’s heavy, but it tackles these hard themes beautifully! If you haven’t read it, you should! It’s highly relatable reflecting how our childhood can influence our dating choices in our 20s. 

TW: cheating, childhood abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

1.0

In Switzerland on a tiny island Pa Salt had 6 adopted daughters he raised. Pa Salt was ever aloof and at the time of his death his 6 daughters come back together. None new anything about their biological families but now with Pa Salt’s passing they have their chance. 

Riley created a series for this family. It’s a long drama story, with plenty of historical romance as well. If you love historical romance, soap dramas, extremely slow burn romances, and stories inspired by mythology this book is for you! Unfortunately this was not for me. The soapy drama writing did not do it for me. Maybe if it was 300 pages shorter I would’ve better enjoyed it? I can see why so many do adore this it’s highly rated! So if any of these aspects appeal, a few friends come to mind for me, I’d say definitely get onto it! 

Inkflower by Suzy Zail

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Lisa’s dad is dying. He has 6 months because of a motor neurone disease. Her father never talked about the past, but now he finally is. He survived the holocaust. But kissing her boyfriend Adam means she doesn’t have to face her father’s past, or his future, she can stay right here and now.

This book is really powerful. This book is based on Zail and her father’s real stories with some creative licensing, such as Zail’s own age at the time her father passed, with Zail being 37, not 17. But in her authors note she shares that the holocaust stories are those of her own fathers. She says she wrote the story so we don’t forget. So reading this at a time where the world is allowing these things to repeat itself is interesting and uncomfortable all at once. 

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Reni Eddo-Lodge is a journalist and author. In 2014 she wrote a blog post titled “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race”. White people, such as myself have spent a lot of time making demands of People of Colour to discuss race and sometimes when we thought we meant well - asked how to do better rather than doing the research ourselves. Eddo-Lodge set her boundaries with that article and was able to gain more talks in a more genuine manner with people and write this book. Eddo-Lodge breaks down how racism began in Britain with its history roots in slavery and how it permeates today. Although Eddo-Lodge discusses racism particularly in Britain, being the colonising country or the majority of the Western world, these issues can be seen within many colonised countries of Britain such as in so called Australia where I reside and grew up. Eddo-Lodge looks at feminism, intersectionality, the racism fears and more. Eddo-Lodge breaks down ever complex topics, simplified and accessible. If you haven’t read this one yet, I suggest you read it immediately and pair it with Brown Scars, White Tears by Ruby Hamad for the best understanding.