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izzyvb023's reviews
82 reviews
The Bacchae by Euripides
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
great read for any girls who like to dance, drink wine, participate in terrifying rituals, cross dress, and hunt the upholders of the patriarchy.
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
5.0
What a beautifully candid book this was. I started it yesterday and couldn’t put it down until i finished. Jennette has a way of storytelling that makes it seem almost fictional, but when you remember it’s all real, your heart breaks into a million pieces.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
5.0
There is so much to say about this book, but I will try to gather my thoughts. I realized that it’s not often you read a book that takes place in a single location for the entire story. It was really interesting to see how Patchett continued to make the location engaging. At the same time, there was a sort of monotony to it, forcing you to reckon with the monotony that the characters feel. Every single thing that happens takes several pages to describe in detailed prose. While I would normally get bored by this, i think this particular story and context called for it. Similar to the characters, i fell in love with the house and with the people in the book. I was rooting for all of them. In my heart I knew it couldn’t end well, but I wanted to hope. The ending came so quickly and left me just really heartbroken. It was simultaneously unexpected and expected, and I praise Patchett for that.
The Girls by Emma Cline
3.0
2.5 stars
I liked this book but i didnt love it.
I think it had some really beautiful moments and writing. And it was really interesting to read a first hand (albeit fictional) perspective of those 60’s girl cults. But the writing was hard to stomach sometimes. Lots of telling and not showing. Lots of unnecessary adjectives to make sentences longer.
I think the perspective of the 14 year old girl was really well done, and that stood out for me over the other parts. The way that Evie was desperate for attention and love and willing to do anything for it was so emblematic of the middle school angsty girl experience. However, i got lost a little in the sections where Evie was an adult. I liked it for its narrative changes and we could see how Evie reflected on the past. But, I didn’t really see the point or love it otherwise. I almost wish these parts had more reflection on what happened to suzanne and russell (and the others) and what Evie ended up doing, instead of the random side plot.
Liked:
- girl cult vibes (reading a lot of cult books right now for my research)
- perfectly captured the experience of being 14 and desperately craving attention
- great writing of characters like Russell: so equally enthralling and full of shit
Didn’t like:
- random side plots and characters like julian/Zav/dan
- the way older evie was written
- very slow at the beginning & spends a lot of time writing exposition
I liked this book but i didnt love it.
I think it had some really beautiful moments and writing. And it was really interesting to read a first hand (albeit fictional) perspective of those 60’s girl cults. But the writing was hard to stomach sometimes. Lots of telling and not showing. Lots of unnecessary adjectives to make sentences longer.
I think the perspective of the 14 year old girl was really well done, and that stood out for me over the other parts. The way that Evie was desperate for attention and love and willing to do anything for it was so emblematic of the middle school angsty girl experience. However, i got lost a little in the sections where Evie was an adult. I liked it for its narrative changes and we could see how Evie reflected on the past. But, I didn’t really see the point or love it otherwise. I almost wish these parts had more reflection on what happened to suzanne and russell (and the others) and what Evie ended up doing, instead of the random side plot.
Liked:
- girl cult vibes (reading a lot of cult books right now for my research)
- perfectly captured the experience of being 14 and desperately craving attention
- great writing of characters like Russell: so equally enthralling and full of shit
Didn’t like:
- random side plots and characters like julian/Zav/dan
- the way older evie was written
- very slow at the beginning & spends a lot of time writing exposition