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hmgauthier's Reviews (244)
“Thought you might find the corpses of my previous husbands? Sorry, but I keep them in a warehouse in Queens.”
I adored every moment reading this book. A story full of sibling love, learning to live with grief, and the different ways to be a hero.
I love that Sik was a hero who never used a weapon throughout the whole story, both so compelling and different.
Ishtar and Mo stole my heart. It’s been a long time since I read Mesopotamian myths and I loved it entirely.
This was a wild read a year into the Covid pandemic.
I adored every moment reading this book. A story full of sibling love, learning to live with grief, and the different ways to be a hero.
I love that Sik was a hero who never used a weapon throughout the whole story, both so compelling and different.
Ishtar and Mo stole my heart. It’s been a long time since I read Mesopotamian myths and I loved it entirely.
This was a wild read a year into the Covid pandemic.
"The goal is to block access to the ballot and to policy making because letting the agitators inside might yield new laws to remedy inequality or injustice."
With history and personal experience by her side, Abrams's account of the lengths people go to suppress the right to vote is scathing and horrifying. The long and continuous history of disenfranchising/suppressing the right to vote is one all people should know. That being said, her hope and drive to involve all Americans in governance is incredibly uplifting.
The subsection regarding the rise of authoritarian populism was frightening to read and all too relevant.
With history and personal experience by her side, Abrams's account of the lengths people go to suppress the right to vote is scathing and horrifying. The long and continuous history of disenfranchising/suppressing the right to vote is one all people should know. That being said, her hope and drive to involve all Americans in governance is incredibly uplifting.
The subsection regarding the rise of authoritarian populism was frightening to read and all too relevant.
“I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to carry on. As I am.”
I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get into Rowell’s books, a damn shame. I will say, I struggled with the first few pages. The near info dump of names and figuring out the magic system took a little while to compute.
That being said, I loved so much about the story that momentary confusion is canceled out.
A magic system based around the idea that words and phrases/songs have power? Immaculate.
The Remus Lupin x Sirius Black vibes are fabulous.
The ending is so beautifully bittersweet it makes my heart ache.
Also the bisexual representation? Obsessed.
I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get into Rowell’s books, a damn shame. I will say, I struggled with the first few pages. The near info dump of names and figuring out the magic system took a little while to compute.
That being said, I loved so much about the story that momentary confusion is canceled out.
A magic system based around the idea that words and phrases/songs have power? Immaculate.
The Remus Lupin x Sirius Black vibes are fabulous.
The ending is so beautifully bittersweet it makes my heart ache.
Also the bisexual representation? Obsessed.
“If I do go, give us a happy ending, will you? In your book?”
Clare is a masterful weaver of stories. Her ability to sprinkle in doubt and detail over the identity of the killer through the pages was both breathtaking and incredibly frustrating.
This character driven sequel has imparted a numbness that will sadly remain until the next book is in my hands.
Grace is an incredibly interesting character. Compelling but god damnit do I hate her.
Now I need to know, what the hell is in the globe necklace and please let it be what pulls this shit back together.
Clare is a masterful weaver of stories. Her ability to sprinkle in doubt and detail over the identity of the killer through the pages was both breathtaking and incredibly frustrating.
This character driven sequel has imparted a numbness that will sadly remain until the next book is in my hands.
Grace is an incredibly interesting character. Compelling but god damnit do I hate her.
Now I need to know, what the hell is in the globe necklace and please let it be what pulls this shit back together.
“Alba n’dualchas: Belonging to Scotland.”
So many interesting things were captured in this book: the history of tartan, Highland political complexities, and the magic of the land. At times this book truly captured how Scotland felt to me.
I didn’t like how the book felt like a running advertisement for Heughan products. That got old quickly. The way they talked about an aspect of Outlander was unappreciated. I think I expected something more?
Next Scotland trip I definitely need to visit some standing stones.
So many interesting things were captured in this book: the history of tartan, Highland political complexities, and the magic of the land. At times this book truly captured how Scotland felt to me.
I didn’t like how the book felt like a running advertisement for Heughan products. That got old quickly. The way they talked about an aspect of Outlander was unappreciated. I think I expected something more?
Next Scotland trip I definitely need to visit some standing stones.
I enjoyed a few sentiments this book imparted but overall I felt like I was being preached at. This goes on a short list of books I gave up on halfway through.
2.5/5
"I want characters to be the most honest of all things-human."
I am quite surprised I didn't like this more. I very much skimmed the last 60 pages.
I loved certain aspects of this book. Like how we can't talk about one movie/book/show being revolutionary for women and how the world isn't as progressive as we need it be. I thought the sections on Scrabble to be enjoyable.
Maybe essays aren't my thing. Maybe I expected too much. None of the content felt particularly new. Many of the stronger sections I did like were cut short as half ideas and it was all too loosely structured for me.
"I want characters to be the most honest of all things-human."
I am quite surprised I didn't like this more. I very much skimmed the last 60 pages.
I loved certain aspects of this book. Like how we can't talk about one movie/book/show being revolutionary for women and how the world isn't as progressive as we need it be. I thought the sections on Scrabble to be enjoyable.
Maybe essays aren't my thing. Maybe I expected too much. None of the content felt particularly new. Many of the stronger sections I did like were cut short as half ideas and it was all too loosely structured for me.
“There are acres of skirts between us, and it strikes me that whoever came up with the waltz probably didn’t imagine two girls doing it together.”
I like a lot of things about this: Sapphic Scottish princess, Scotland obsessed bisexual MC, and a cast of funny friends.
It feels like 100+ pages of this story are missing, the story just started getting really good and it was over. The end felt incredibly rushed and Millie felt a little flat at times.
Overall it was cute and I wish a younger me had this to read growing up.
I like a lot of things about this: Sapphic Scottish princess, Scotland obsessed bisexual MC, and a cast of funny friends.
It feels like 100+ pages of this story are missing, the story just started getting really good and it was over. The end felt incredibly rushed and Millie felt a little flat at times.
Overall it was cute and I wish a younger me had this to read growing up.
“Systemic racism is a machine that runs whether we pull the levers or not, and by just letting it be, we are responsible for what it produces.”
Two of my big takeaways are: be comfortable with being uncomfortable and to keep talking (more importantly listening and learning) about race.
The variety of topics discussed from microaggressions, the school-to-prison pipeline, an excellent definition of privilege, and the origin of police in the Night Patrols all show the deep roots of white supremacy. The coupling of topics with anecdotes really drove home each chapter.
An excellent call to action.
Two of my big takeaways are: be comfortable with being uncomfortable and to keep talking (more importantly listening and learning) about race.
The variety of topics discussed from microaggressions, the school-to-prison pipeline, an excellent definition of privilege, and the origin of police in the Night Patrols all show the deep roots of white supremacy. The coupling of topics with anecdotes really drove home each chapter.
An excellent call to action.
4.5 stars. "Our deepest, most authentic selves are not born; they are fashioned."
The politics of fashion run far deeper than meets the eye. In this scholarly work, Ford shows how fashion isn't just a simple manner of clothing ourselves but is a social and political act and has been for as long as sumptuary codes have existed. The Enlightenment Era shift from written to unwritten dress codes that exist still today is fascinating.
I thought the inclusion of how unfairly school dress codes target and impact young women was incredibly important and deserve a longer piece in itself.
I will say, this book was an incredibly dense, slow read for me.
The politics of fashion run far deeper than meets the eye. In this scholarly work, Ford shows how fashion isn't just a simple manner of clothing ourselves but is a social and political act and has been for as long as sumptuary codes have existed. The Enlightenment Era shift from written to unwritten dress codes that exist still today is fascinating.
I thought the inclusion of how unfairly school dress codes target and impact young women was incredibly important and deserve a longer piece in itself.
I will say, this book was an incredibly dense, slow read for me.