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izzyvb023's reviews
91 reviews
Bunny by Mona Awad
4.0
i think I scribbled “wtf” no less than 10 times in the margins of this book. Every couple of pages, I’d think “what did i just read??” And yet I couldn’t put it down.
As others have said, this book reads like a cross between Heathers, Frankenstein, and The Secret History. I was expecting more secret history/girly cult vibes, but was enthralled by the absolute horror created by the Frankenstein aspect. But make no mistake, Bunny certainly has a mind of its own as well.
Awad’s narrative choices in part 2 were particularly captivating-i felt like i was truly in the MIND of a bunny (or perhaps a bunny-made creation with no agency or choice in the matter).
Reminiscent on Woolf’s, “Mrs. Dalloway,” Awad’s “Bunny” truly immerses the reader into the writing and the chaotic rambling mind of the main character. I love reading a book that both a) makes me truly believe i am in the characters mind, and b) subsequently makes me question my own sanity and whether or not “im” the bad guy.
As others have said, this book reads like a cross between Heathers, Frankenstein, and The Secret History. I was expecting more secret history/girly cult vibes, but was enthralled by the absolute horror created by the Frankenstein aspect. But make no mistake, Bunny certainly has a mind of its own as well.
Awad’s narrative choices in part 2 were particularly captivating-i felt like i was truly in the MIND of a bunny (or perhaps a bunny-made creation with no agency or choice in the matter).
Reminiscent on Woolf’s, “Mrs. Dalloway,” Awad’s “Bunny” truly immerses the reader into the writing and the chaotic rambling mind of the main character. I love reading a book that both a) makes me truly believe i am in the characters mind, and b) subsequently makes me question my own sanity and whether or not “im” the bad guy.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
3.0
I understand the mixed reviews on this book, but i truly loved it. I was a big fan of the original trilogy in my tweenhood, so it was exciting to read this prequel as an adult.
Some people who hated it are citing how obnoxious and draining it was to read coriolanus describe his “poverty” and disdain for the rebels/districts when he was *always* in a privileged position that allowed him to succeed. Reader, that is the entire thesis of the book.
Those in power will always find a way to blame the oppressed for their oppression. The rich will always find a way to blame the poor for their conditions.
Take for example how wealthy politicians are stripping rural communities of their access to food stamps and healthcare, citing laziness and lack of intelligence as reasons for their poverty. Those same politicians are the ones who *create* and cyclically enforce that poverty again and again, finding some way each time to blame it on individual citizens. Another more prevalent example right now could be the situation in Gaza. The scene with Arachne in the zoo and the subsequent press from the capitol felt all too familiar. Arachne is killed by a child she taunts, tortures, and keeps locked in a cage. Once killed, the capitol vows to end this “district terrorism,” as if the child who killed her was a feral animal,
Any act of violence against oppressors is seen as terrorism if you are the one with the power and the keys to the cage.
While i admit, this book wasnt as gripping as the OG Hunger Games trilogy, it was a beautiful indictment of American values and the violence that ensues under late stage capitalism. Snow FULLY believes he is in the right when he commits every single one of his detestable actions. He doesn’t believe himself to be evil or oppressive. In fact, he is guided by a strong moral compass of justice, truth, and loyalty. Collins’s writing allows the reader a glimpse into this mindset and shows how paradigms like this make violent horrific people truly feel like they are acting with the best intentions. That *they* are the ones who are oppressed and poor and deprived.
Overall, i enjoyed the writing and i loved the references to the original trilogy. It was interesting to connect Snow’s actions in the earlier books to his circumstances and storyline in this book-to see how he became the detestable character he is.
Excited to see the movie!
Some people who hated it are citing how obnoxious and draining it was to read coriolanus describe his “poverty” and disdain for the rebels/districts when he was *always* in a privileged position that allowed him to succeed. Reader, that is the entire thesis of the book.
Those in power will always find a way to blame the oppressed for their oppression. The rich will always find a way to blame the poor for their conditions.
Take for example how wealthy politicians are stripping rural communities of their access to food stamps and healthcare, citing laziness and lack of intelligence as reasons for their poverty. Those same politicians are the ones who *create* and cyclically enforce that poverty again and again, finding some way each time to blame it on individual citizens. Another more prevalent example right now could be the situation in Gaza. The scene with Arachne in the zoo and the subsequent press from the capitol felt all too familiar. Arachne is killed by a child she taunts, tortures, and keeps locked in a cage. Once killed, the capitol vows to end this “district terrorism,” as if the child who killed her was a feral animal,
Any act of violence against oppressors is seen as terrorism if you are the one with the power and the keys to the cage.
While i admit, this book wasnt as gripping as the OG Hunger Games trilogy, it was a beautiful indictment of American values and the violence that ensues under late stage capitalism. Snow FULLY believes he is in the right when he commits every single one of his detestable actions. He doesn’t believe himself to be evil or oppressive. In fact, he is guided by a strong moral compass of justice, truth, and loyalty. Collins’s writing allows the reader a glimpse into this mindset and shows how paradigms like this make violent horrific people truly feel like they are acting with the best intentions. That *they* are the ones who are oppressed and poor and deprived.
Overall, i enjoyed the writing and i loved the references to the original trilogy. It was interesting to connect Snow’s actions in the earlier books to his circumstances and storyline in this book-to see how he became the detestable character he is.
Excited to see the movie!
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
5.0
I think everyone should read this book. I wish I had read it in highschool instead of reading “heart of darkness.” But, books find us when we need them most, I suppose. A true 5/5 for me for so many reasons.
First, the storytelling is immaculate. Kingsolver weaves together the 5 narratives to create such a fascinating epic. Some books are just stories, and books are literature. This book is certainly the latter.
I think this is the kind of book that means something different to everyone. For me, i was really drawn to the gender aspect: motherhood, womanhood, and how these descriptions change with and for the characters over time. What does it mean for this to be a book told only by women and girls? How does each woman gain AND lose her independence throughout the novel?
I was also really interested in the religious aspect and how religion took different forms for each person in the book. (That is, each person except Nathan and Rachel. They never really change). Religion was a stagnant, immovable object for every character at the very beginning. But, for each woman, it changed drastically and in different ways as a result of their experiences in the Congo. As someone who has grappled with evangelicalism and grew up surrounded by southern missionaries, but has since adapted their faith, I felt as if I was experiencing these same stories alongside Leah, Adah, Ruth Maya, and Orleanna. I was reliving my own stories and learning new ones along the way.
I find it really interesting that a lot of the negative reviews surround the book’s depiction of Christianity. I suppose that’s why the book is banned in several schools too. If all you took from the book is “Christianity bad,” then I don’t think you actually read the book or understood it.
There is so much more I could say about this book regarding disability, politics, The Apocrypha, growing up, etc etc. i never thought id say this, but i almost wish i was a student again just so i could pull my favorite quotes and write essays on them.
Anyway. A very longwinded way to say: read this book. And if you do, id love to discuss it
First, the storytelling is immaculate. Kingsolver weaves together the 5 narratives to create such a fascinating epic. Some books are just stories, and books are literature. This book is certainly the latter.
I think this is the kind of book that means something different to everyone. For me, i was really drawn to the gender aspect: motherhood, womanhood, and how these descriptions change with and for the characters over time. What does it mean for this to be a book told only by women and girls? How does each woman gain AND lose her independence throughout the novel?
I was also really interested in the religious aspect and how religion took different forms for each person in the book. (That is, each person except Nathan and Rachel. They never really change). Religion was a stagnant, immovable object for every character at the very beginning. But, for each woman, it changed drastically and in different ways as a result of their experiences in the Congo. As someone who has grappled with evangelicalism and grew up surrounded by southern missionaries, but has since adapted their faith, I felt as if I was experiencing these same stories alongside Leah, Adah, Ruth Maya, and Orleanna. I was reliving my own stories and learning new ones along the way.
I find it really interesting that a lot of the negative reviews surround the book’s depiction of Christianity. I suppose that’s why the book is banned in several schools too. If all you took from the book is “Christianity bad,” then I don’t think you actually read the book or understood it.
There is so much more I could say about this book regarding disability, politics, The Apocrypha, growing up, etc etc. i never thought id say this, but i almost wish i was a student again just so i could pull my favorite quotes and write essays on them.
Anyway. A very longwinded way to say: read this book. And if you do, id love to discuss it
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. The different narration styles were so interesting and unlike anything else I’d ever read. I loved how the changes in narration reflected the games that Sam and Sadie were making, and at the same time reflected their own experiences and struggles at the time.
As a self proclaimed literary nerd, the references to Macbeth, Emily Dickinson, and The Iliad made me really excited. I love the way that literature was woven into a book about STEM. I think, just like in the games, every individual person will have a different reading and different experience with this book. You might cling to its LGBTQ+ themes or its depiction of disabilities and re read those prominent sections again and again. You might be a computer/video game nerd and find it exciting to read about characters who share your interests. Maybe you dont really care about ancient literature OR video games and you decided to read this just for the hell of it-and you ended up learning a lot.
I’m not sure where i fall on this spectrum, but I can say that reading this book was a beautifully unique experience. I saw a lot of myself in these characters. But at the same time, i knew nothing about their respective worlds and enjoyed learning about them.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
As a self proclaimed literary nerd, the references to Macbeth, Emily Dickinson, and The Iliad made me really excited. I love the way that literature was woven into a book about STEM. I think, just like in the games, every individual person will have a different reading and different experience with this book. You might cling to its LGBTQ+ themes or its depiction of disabilities and re read those prominent sections again and again. You might be a computer/video game nerd and find it exciting to read about characters who share your interests. Maybe you dont really care about ancient literature OR video games and you decided to read this just for the hell of it-and you ended up learning a lot.
I’m not sure where i fall on this spectrum, but I can say that reading this book was a beautifully unique experience. I saw a lot of myself in these characters. But at the same time, i knew nothing about their respective worlds and enjoyed learning about them.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
4.0
This book was on my Christmas list and I finished it by new year’s.
Having grown up in the South, I really appreciated and enjoyed all the “southern-isms” throughout the book. Hendrix perfectly captures the essence of the upper middle class southern white lady (who has a classy drawl not a tacky twang, of course). Grace and Slick especially were written so on the nose. I found all the passive aggressiveness between the ladies and the general southern behavior extremely witty. Of course vampires would love the south-everyone is always invited in!
I don’t read a lot of horror, so this book was SHOCKING to me at some points. I physically recoiled at some of the gore and violence. But it was worth it because I love vampire stories. What a great allegory for sexual abuse and how these housewives are gaslit by their husbands into thinking the violence is normal and that everything is all alright.
I’ve seen a little bit of criticism regarding how Mrs. Greene was treated by the characters and how her arc was written. I would agree with the general criticism that race relations are not really Hendrix’s commentary to make. However, i do think it’s unfortunately an accurate depiction of southern small towns and the pervasive racism that still lurks there. Mrs. Greene is right—the police *dont* care that children were dying in 6 mile. The men treat that area of town as their real estate playground. The white ladies turn their backs as soon as helping Mrs Greene becomes an inconvenience. They even refuse to take part in the eventual “slaying” and make her do the actual cutting and slicing. It probably wasn’t Hendrix’s place to write from Mrs. Greene’s point of view, but the socioeconomic context certainly matters, especially in towns like this one.
Overall, i found it a really engaging and clever book. I would be interested in reading a prequel / seeing more from this world if it existed.
Having grown up in the South, I really appreciated and enjoyed all the “southern-isms” throughout the book. Hendrix perfectly captures the essence of the upper middle class southern white lady (who has a classy drawl not a tacky twang, of course). Grace and Slick especially were written so on the nose. I found all the passive aggressiveness between the ladies and the general southern behavior extremely witty. Of course vampires would love the south-everyone is always invited in!
I don’t read a lot of horror, so this book was SHOCKING to me at some points. I physically recoiled at some of the gore and violence. But it was worth it because I love vampire stories. What a great allegory for sexual abuse and how these housewives are gaslit by their husbands into thinking the violence is normal and that everything is all alright.
I’ve seen a little bit of criticism regarding how Mrs. Greene was treated by the characters and how her arc was written. I would agree with the general criticism that race relations are not really Hendrix’s commentary to make. However, i do think it’s unfortunately an accurate depiction of southern small towns and the pervasive racism that still lurks there. Mrs. Greene is right—the police *dont* care that children were dying in 6 mile. The men treat that area of town as their real estate playground. The white ladies turn their backs as soon as helping Mrs Greene becomes an inconvenience. They even refuse to take part in the eventual “slaying” and make her do the actual cutting and slicing. It probably wasn’t Hendrix’s place to write from Mrs. Greene’s point of view, but the socioeconomic context certainly matters, especially in towns like this one.
Overall, i found it a really engaging and clever book. I would be interested in reading a prequel / seeing more from this world if it existed.
If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
3.0
"But that is how a tragedy like ours or King Lear breaks your heart—by making you believe that the ending might still be happy, until the very last minute."
Former and current theatre kids will certainly appreciate the references and energy of this novel. Many times i caught myself saying “oh the author was DEFINITELY a theatre kid at some point or another.” I really enjoyed all the Shakespeare quotes intertwined with the dialogue - it was a fun touch that often required me to re read certain pages to see if there could be hidden meaning in the verses.
If you *liked* Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History,’ you will like this book. If you *loved* Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History,’ you might not like this book. I enjoyed the dark academia, the theatrics, the horror, and the thrill of this novel (things i also enjoyed in TSH). But, this book definitely felt like it wanted desperately to be TSH, but physically forced itself to be different enough so it wasnt reductive. It’s different enough that it has its own voice, but still feels pretty close in content.
Overall, it was a fun read and I especially appreciated the pacing and the development of the characters’ relationships. The typical Shakespearean five act structure was a great touch too. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys theatre/literature/mysteries and needs a quick read.
Former and current theatre kids will certainly appreciate the references and energy of this novel. Many times i caught myself saying “oh the author was DEFINITELY a theatre kid at some point or another.” I really enjoyed all the Shakespeare quotes intertwined with the dialogue - it was a fun touch that often required me to re read certain pages to see if there could be hidden meaning in the verses.
If you *liked* Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History,’ you will like this book. If you *loved* Donna Tartt’s ‘The Secret History,’ you might not like this book. I enjoyed the dark academia, the theatrics, the horror, and the thrill of this novel (things i also enjoyed in TSH). But, this book definitely felt like it wanted desperately to be TSH, but physically forced itself to be different enough so it wasnt reductive. It’s different enough that it has its own voice, but still feels pretty close in content.
Overall, it was a fun read and I especially appreciated the pacing and the development of the characters’ relationships. The typical Shakespearean five act structure was a great touch too. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys theatre/literature/mysteries and needs a quick read.
Circe by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In a bit of a reading slump, so this was a re-read for me when I couldn’t find myself interested in anything else. As always, i found it beautifully written and incredibly well researched. Miller’s depiction of Circe and Penelope as agents of their own stories (instead of just side characters in a man’s) is especially striking and important.
Makes me want to pretend to be a witch and make potions like i used to with my mom’s conditioner and lotions.
Makes me want to pretend to be a witch and make potions like i used to with my mom’s conditioner and lotions.
55 Successful Harvard Law School Application Essays, 2nd Edition: With Analysis by the Staff of The Harvard Crimson by Harvard Crimson
3.0
Counting this as a book for my reading challenge since it technically is one.
Had some good insights and i am definitely glad I read it. Way too many essays about Israel and about rich kids discovering poverty and deciding to practice law because of it.
Had some good insights and i am definitely glad I read it. Way too many essays about Israel and about rich kids discovering poverty and deciding to practice law because of it.
Beach Read by Emily Henry
3.0
Great book to get me out of a reading slump. It is exactly what it advertises itself to be: a beach read. The ending was predictable, the characters were pretty cookie cutter, and the plot was straightforward. Sometimes you just need a book like this that won’t stress you out or leave you drained.