hopegreen's reviews
80 reviews

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

5.0

hilarious and heartbreaking, witty and wise: a brilliantly crafted portrait of the trials and triumphs of being a writer. this book is profoundly honest, truly motivating, overflowing with invaluable advice, and now thick with folded corners and underlines. it's messy and it's masterful - an essential read for aspiring storytellers.

The Lives of Saints by Leigh Bardugo

4.0

an exquisite little book - an elegant collection of darkly whimsical short stories with gorgeous illustrations. 

Save the Cat!: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder

4.0

a stubborn but strong manifesto of strict guidelines to craft a winning screenplay. outdated in places, but timeless in others — industry standards change, but the rules of structuring a great story endure. 

Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

5.0

heart-wrenchingly glorious. the whole novel aches with beauty, brimming with gorgeously observed descriptions of nature and of people, while also unbearably heavy with everything unsaid. I'll never look at that part of my hand in the same way. 

The Way of Kings Part One by Brandon Sanderson

4.0

phenomenally built. took a long, long time to reach where it needed to be, but now I'm completely planted in roshar's rocky landscape, and ready to experience the rest of what this saga has to offer. 

Blessed Are the Misfits: Great News for Believers Who Are Introverts, Spiritual Strugglers, or Just Feel Like They're Missing Something by Brant Hansen

4.0

wonderfully playful, and yet also deeply affirming. I absolutely adore hansen's goofy honesty.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

3.0

a vivid but often distant retelling of the victories and rivalries within the norse pantheon. 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

3.0

when I was told this book was "all vibes, zero plot", they were not exaggerating. the descriptions of the environments and costumes and food were outstanding, but the characters, while eccentric, seemed to be laid on top of it all, not bound enough to the world to generate a compelling plot. 

Meadowlands by Louise Glück

3.0

a beautifully unified collection, with delightfully veiled allusions to the odyssey throughout.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

3.0

simple and sweet. ultimately, it could have done much more than just constantly beaming and pointing proudly at its premise, but otherwise an easy, cosy story, charming and uncomplicated.