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hopeloveslit's reviews
311 reviews
Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson
3.75
Black Girl You Are Atlas will feel like a warm hug to every Black girl who reads this poetry collection!
I Have More Souls Than One by Fernando Pessoa
4.0
“I am nothing,
Never shall be anything.
Cannot will to be anything,
This apart, I have in me, all the dreams of the world.”
Pessoa hit me right in the heart. This poetry collection is beautifully lyrical, intense, and oddly harrowing. These poems will stay with me forever; I resonated with them more than I’d like to admit.
Never shall be anything.
Cannot will to be anything,
This apart, I have in me, all the dreams of the world.”
Pessoa hit me right in the heart. This poetry collection is beautifully lyrical, intense, and oddly harrowing. These poems will stay with me forever; I resonated with them more than I’d like to admit.
The Awakening and Selected Stories by Kate Chopin
2.25
The Awakening centers around Edna's transformation from a mother and housewife to a woman who embraces freedom and eroticism. We see Edna garner a sense of individuality, independent thought, and acute self-awareness. I enjoyed this story. It’s short and interesting enough to read in a day. Edna’s awakening was touching to me and the ending was altogether haunting. (4/5)
Emancipation: A Life Fable tells the story of an unnamed animal. They spend their entire life confined in a cage and all their needs are met. It’s given the opportunity one day to face the wild and have freedom. However, it’s hesitant due to the unknowns that accompany living on your own. Chopin uses this story as an allegory for female liberation. (2.5/5)
At the ‘Cadian Ball… After reading seven stories from this collection, I’m just exhausted. Chopin's racist drivel is just too much. Yes, I know what time she lived and wrote in. There are racist slurs in almost every classic. However, the amount and intensity vary from author to author. I wish I could finish this collection but I’m simply going to throw the towel in. The remaining five stories are only 19 pages in total so I feel as though I can still rate this book. (1/5)
Désirée's Baby is a short story about a woman named Désirée. Désirée was adopted as a baby but there was no information about her ethnicity. She later marries a plantation owner and they have a child whose skin is darker than they expected. This leads them to believe Désirée must be of mixed race. The events that follow show readers how impactful societal racism was during this time, especially on individuals like Désirée. Although the story touches on an important topic, I didn’t enjoy it much. I think the length is at fault. A topic like this needs way more than a few pages. (2/5)
La Belle Zoraïde - DNF
At Chênière Caminada - DNF
The Story of an Hour is about Louise Mallard, a woman in a traditional marriage. The news reports that her husband was killed in an accident. However, after grieving, she begins to see freedom in her future. I want to give zero spoilers for this story because the plot twist is too good! I loved this story. It’s one of the strongest in this collection. (4/5)
Lilacs was a big failure for me. The only thing I liked was how Chopin used scent. Adrienne, the main character, is reminded of her youth when she smells lilacs. The scent acts as a trigger that draws her back to the convent. (1/5)
Athénaïse tells the story of a young woman of the same name. She flees her marriage and discovers freedom while away. Only to end up pregnant and returning to the same man she left in the first place. I feel like Chopin was trying to highlight female struggles during her time but this story failed to do that meaningfully. (1.5/5)
A Pair of Silk Stockings highlights feminine desire uniquely. Mrs. Sommer is a housewife but she isn’t financially well off. She receives a few dollars and plans to spend it on her family. However, while shopping she falls in love with a pair of silk stockings. This purchase sends her down a rabbit hole. She spends all the money doing things she likes instead of prioritizing her children. I liked the message of this story but it left much to be desired. (2/5)
Elizabeth Stock’s One Story- DNF
The Storm: A Sequel to ‘The Cadian Ball”- DNF
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4.5
We Should All Be Feminists is a beautiful and powerful book. Adichie conveys the importance of feminism through examples that even men should understand. Who can deny the existing gender inequalities after reading this book? Since living in the modern-day world clearly isn’t enough.
Bag of Bones by Stephen King
2.5
In 2023: "Wow. I don’t think any book King wrote can be worse than Fairytale.”
In 2025: “Damn, Bag of Bones is indeed worse than Fairytale, and this is one of Stephen King’s favorites? HOWWW?"
In 2025: “Damn, Bag of Bones is indeed worse than Fairytale, and this is one of Stephen King’s favorites? HOWWW?"
The Bird's Nest by Shirley Jackson
3.5
The Bird's Nest centers around Elizabeth Richmond, a woman with dissociative identity disorder. Throughout the narrative, she struggles to control her other personalities, Bess, Beth, and Betsy. One or the other causes chaos in Elizabeth by seizing control at varying times.
Doctor Wright and Aunt Morgen are supporting characters. They both have immense influence on the personalities and the story overall. I liked all the characters, especially the personalities. My favorite was Betsy since she's a devil and exceedingly tumultuous. Her chapter POV was the best part of the book for me.
I enjoyed this Jackson novel. The more I read by her, I fall deeper and deeper in love with her mind. Her stories are always convoluted and require attention while reading. Often requiring a reread to fully grasp the story and Jackson's point. It's one of my favorite kinds of stories. I like to think!!
Doctor Wright and Aunt Morgen are supporting characters. They both have immense influence on the personalities and the story overall. I liked all the characters, especially the personalities. My favorite was Betsy since she's a devil and exceedingly tumultuous. Her chapter POV was the best part of the book for me.
I enjoyed this Jackson novel. The more I read by her, I fall deeper and deeper in love with her mind. Her stories are always convoluted and require attention while reading. Often requiring a reread to fully grasp the story and Jackson's point. It's one of my favorite kinds of stories. I like to think!!
Christine: A Novel by Stephen King
4.0
I've read some astounding novels by Stephen King. At this point, the bar is up there! Due to the premise, I went into Christine expecting a hot mess. I love the 1983 film. However, I couldn't imagine the story told through the classic detailed King style. I thought I'd be one hundred percent bored. I was so very wrong. I'm currently riding an unexpected book high.
(to be continued.)
(to be continued.)
You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth
3.5
Holiday thrillers usually fail full circle (for me.) Better Watch Out has its flaws, but there are many redeemable qualities. Overall, I enjoyed this story, and I’d reread it.
The good:
-The short chapters make for a bingeable read.
-There’s a good amount of gore!
-Plot twists you’ll never see coming.
-Isolated location (one of my favorite tropes.)
The bad:
-The characters are pretty flat.
-The dialogue was off-putting at times.
-The Christmas elements were lacking.
The good:
-The short chapters make for a bingeable read.
-There’s a good amount of gore!
-Plot twists you’ll never see coming.
-Isolated location (one of my favorite tropes.)
The bad:
-The characters are pretty flat.
-The dialogue was off-putting at times.
-The Christmas elements were lacking.
Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
5.0
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
In April of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned for protesting segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. While incarcerated, he wrote the famous and influential ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’ In this letter, Martin defends nonviolent action to protest unjust laws like segregation. This letter is heartbreaking but full of moving points. It’s a must-read for every American, especially when history is being told less and less truthfully.
“‘Well, aren’t you tired?’ She said, ‘Yes, my feets is tired, but my soul is rested.’”
The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life is a concept and speech by King. He believed to live a fulfilled life one had to encompass three dimensions: Length (personal development), Breadth (concern for others), and Height (spiritual connection.) I read this speech. Then, I listened to it. Martin’s speeches are commanding and it’s as if his voice pierces into your soul. I can’t recommend reading and listening more. You can find this speech on YouTube.
In April of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was imprisoned for protesting segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. While incarcerated, he wrote the famous and influential ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail.’ In this letter, Martin defends nonviolent action to protest unjust laws like segregation. This letter is heartbreaking but full of moving points. It’s a must-read for every American, especially when history is being told less and less truthfully.
“‘Well, aren’t you tired?’ She said, ‘Yes, my feets is tired, but my soul is rested.’”
The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life is a concept and speech by King. He believed to live a fulfilled life one had to encompass three dimensions: Length (personal development), Breadth (concern for others), and Height (spiritual connection.) I read this speech. Then, I listened to it. Martin’s speeches are commanding and it’s as if his voice pierces into your soul. I can’t recommend reading and listening more. You can find this speech on YouTube.