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hopeloveslit's reviews
313 reviews
The things we keep inside by Celine Walde
4.0
I loved this collection of poetry. I enjoy Celine's poetry on Instagram, so I knew the book would not disappoint. The section titles are to die for. The poems were raw and relatable, and the prose spoke to my soul. The collection explores pain, heartbreak, life, and more. The work felt like it was written for me. I connected with these poems on a whole different level. It's easy to feel like our feelings inside are wrong and abnormal. But This book felt like a warm hug and acknowledgment that I'm not alone. These are genuinely profound musings from a beautiful writer. I highly recommend this poetry book if you like poetry/prose and have ever felt alone or cold.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
4.0
I listened to I'm Glad My Mom Died and loved Jennette's narration. This memoir is raw, heartbreaking, and slightly humorous. The writing was simplistic but powerful. I have to admire Jennette's vulnerability. Writing this, reading it aloud, and publishing it took a lot of strength. There are lots of triggers, so be sure to check them all, but here are a few: Eating disorders, child abuse, death of a parent, and alcoholism.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
5.0
On Writing is entertaining, inspiring, informative, and relatable—a must-read if you're a writer. Many parts will resonate with you. As an ever-evolving writer, I have read a few books on the writing craft, but none flowed like this one. King is a master storyteller, and I was thrilled to see it shine through a memoir of this kind. This book's absolute highlight was getting a deeper look into how King creates his stories and where the ideas come from. He has intriguing thoughts on stories and how he believes they should be formed. (I should say how they develop themselves.)
King's advice for writers is priceless. He gives valuable advice on the craft in the "On Writing" section. From constructing your "toolbox," effective use of dialogue, loads of insight on description, to editing and drafts. There are pages with stories and duplicates where you can see the edits. I loved that. It felt so hands-on. I enjoyed the first section as well. Learning about King and the experiences that shaped his work was great. He talks about moments in his childhood, his mother, his battle with addiction, and his hunger for reading and writing fiction.
King's advice for writers is priceless. He gives valuable advice on the craft in the "On Writing" section. From constructing your "toolbox," effective use of dialogue, loads of insight on description, to editing and drafts. There are pages with stories and duplicates where you can see the edits. I loved that. It felt so hands-on. I enjoyed the first section as well. Learning about King and the experiences that shaped his work was great. He talks about moments in his childhood, his mother, his battle with addiction, and his hunger for reading and writing fiction.
Drowning by T.J. Newman
2.0
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator was okay but could have been better. Some quick pros: binge-able, informative, and lots of action. I enjoyed learning about planes and protocols. The author did a good job describing unfamiliar objects, situations, etc. There was lots of action from the beginning, and it kept me interested. Overall, this didn’t feel like a thriller to me. Sure, there’s some suspense, but I wasn’t on the edge of my seat.
Thank you to Libro.fm for the audiobook!
Thank you to Libro.fm for the audiobook!
Ungodly by Maggie Bowyer, Maggie Bowyer
4.5
Wow! I devoured this collection in one sitting. I love Bowyer's poetry. It is so authentic and unique. It carries so much depth and heavy emotion. Maggie touches on topics I feel don't get talked about enough, like chronic illness, LGBTQ+ struggles, and racial issues in America. I love when artists use their artistry to bring awareness to things society tends to shun. Well done, Maggie.
The writing is phenomenal; from figurative language, imagery, and formatting, all poems combine to create a flowing read. Every page leads perfectly into the next, moving you along too. The way Maggie writes about her love encounters is so relatable, and I felt a hint of nostalgia throughout some of the love poems, which I loved!
Some of my favorite poems were "You ruined your own reputation" on page 32, "Soldier" on page 87, "Inaugural" on page 130, and "Inspiration" on page 168. I highly recommend this poetry collection and will be revisiting it forever!!
The writing is phenomenal; from figurative language, imagery, and formatting, all poems combine to create a flowing read. Every page leads perfectly into the next, moving you along too. The way Maggie writes about her love encounters is so relatable, and I felt a hint of nostalgia throughout some of the love poems, which I loved!
Some of my favorite poems were "You ruined your own reputation" on page 32, "Soldier" on page 87, "Inaugural" on page 130, and "Inspiration" on page 168. I highly recommend this poetry collection and will be revisiting it forever!!
100 Small Poems by Nicholas Cairns
5.0
I've loved Cairn's poetry since I started following him on IG. He performs his work in such a beautiful way. Everything Cairns writes is perfection to me; my emotions are continuously stirred up.
I love these poems and how much I connected to them. With poetry, it can be hard to connect. But I related to almost every poem, and that's amazing. Nik's wordplay is fascinating. Although these poems are small, they pack a punch. There's so much depth within these lines. Some of my favorite poems are "Bone," "Porcelain," "Clean," and "Journeys."
100 Small Poems is an easy read and did not disappoint. I've read this collection twice now; both times have felt magical. I purchased the Kindle version, and I will be buying a paperback. I need this on my shelf, you know, to reread number three.
I love these poems and how much I connected to them. With poetry, it can be hard to connect. But I related to almost every poem, and that's amazing. Nik's wordplay is fascinating. Although these poems are small, they pack a punch. There's so much depth within these lines. Some of my favorite poems are "Bone," "Porcelain," "Clean," and "Journeys."
100 Small Poems is an easy read and did not disappoint. I've read this collection twice now; both times have felt magical. I purchased the Kindle version, and I will be buying a paperback. I need this on my shelf, you know, to reread number three.
Many Small Hungerings by William Bortz
4.0
Many Small Hungerings is a collection of poetry that explores grief, love, nostalgia, and so much more.
These poems were beautiful, and they truly spoke to me. They were spot-on and relatable. There’s something for everyone in this book. Bortz writes with so much intensity and depth. I love his writing style. Some of my favorite poems were “The Revolution Has Taken On A Hue Of,” No One Died That Day,” “Ghost(s),” and “Bouquet.”
I’m not a fan of the lack of punctuation. It tampers with the flow of any given work (for me.) However, I know this is common within contemporary poetry.
Overall, I enjoyed it, and it was an easy read. I recommend this collection to all poetry lovers! Thank you to Andrews McMeel for sending me a copy.
These poems were beautiful, and they truly spoke to me. They were spot-on and relatable. There’s something for everyone in this book. Bortz writes with so much intensity and depth. I love his writing style. Some of my favorite poems were “The Revolution Has Taken On A Hue Of,” No One Died That Day,” “Ghost(s),” and “Bouquet.”
I’m not a fan of the lack of punctuation. It tampers with the flow of any given work (for me.) However, I know this is common within contemporary poetry.
Overall, I enjoyed it, and it was an easy read. I recommend this collection to all poetry lovers! Thank you to Andrews McMeel for sending me a copy.
Allergies: Poems on Grieving and Loving by Maggie Bowyer
4.0
Bowyer's poetry gives all the feels! The voice is so unique and heartfelt. This collection focuses on love and grief, topics we know too well. There's something for every heart within these pages. I recommend this collection to all poetry lovers.
Thank you to the author for sending me an E copy!
Thank you to the author for sending me an E copy!
Sugar Too Sweet by Alexandra Vincent, Alexandra Vincent
4.0
I read Vincent's first poetry collection Monarch, and I'm glad to say I enjoyed Sugar Too Sweet just as much. The interior artwork is beautiful. I liked many poems and loved how raw they felt. Vincent uses vivid imagery and stunning metaphors. I recommend this collection to all poetry lovers.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
2.5
The premise is good, and I was excited to read this book. However, The Midnight Library did not live up to my expectations. Nora Seed is such a bland main character. I couldn't find one thing I liked about her. So I was never invested in her story or the outcome. I did enjoy some parts, specifically before the halfway mark. The second half of this novel is very predictable. The messages and Nora's revelations about life were underwhelming. I liked them, but I heard them all before. Overall, I have mixed feelings about this novel. Another reader may enjoy this, but it felt too "self-help" to me. 2.5 stars, 3 rounded up.