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lilydoyle6's Reviews (1.47k)
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
don’t get the audiobook — her voice sounds too cheery for the subject matter. but that’s my personal opinion.
the book is good, written well, and the characters are interesting. i just feel like not a lot happened for any reason. it’s just things going on & no learning or growth from it. it’s just continued stories.
it was written well and it had a good premise.
the book is good, written well, and the characters are interesting. i just feel like not a lot happened for any reason. it’s just things going on & no learning or growth from it. it’s just continued stories.
it was written well and it had a good premise.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
kristin hannah you've done it again. the subject matter was amazing - i love to see "forgotten" women of history given a spotlight. there is nothing i love more than women's friendships especially during good times and hard times.
this book was an emotional roller coaster. i loved frankie - sometimes her morality and "goodie two shoes-ness" was slightly annoying but i get it. RYE IF I EVER SEE YOU IT'S ON SIGHT!!! but in her we got to see a girl transform into a strong, capable, resilient woman. i loved following her story.
barb and ethel were amazing side characters and best friends. they were well rounded and real.
the pacing of this book was great and at no point did i feel like it was dragging or contained unnecessary detail. a feat considering how much substance there is to the topic. it felt like you were there.
i loved how it ended and the full circle moment she got with her parents & someone else - no spoilers ;)
i also believe the way she depicted the experience after the war was accurate and gut wrenching. but it gave you a whole picture of the harrowing experience. this book gave you a pretty good look at this devastating and unnecessary war, the people who served & died, the people who served & were discounted, the recovery at home, & how to pick up the pieces.
overall, i thoroughly enjoyed this one. i cried several times. i had to keep reading. i was so invested.
also every time someone told her there were no women i vietnam i wanted to punch somebody. lol
this book was an emotional roller coaster. i loved frankie - sometimes her morality and "goodie two shoes-ness" was slightly annoying but i get it. RYE IF I EVER SEE YOU IT'S ON SIGHT!!! but in her we got to see a girl transform into a strong, capable, resilient woman. i loved following her story.
barb and ethel were amazing side characters and best friends. they were well rounded and real.
the pacing of this book was great and at no point did i feel like it was dragging or contained unnecessary detail. a feat considering how much substance there is to the topic. it felt like you were there.
i loved how it ended and the full circle moment she got with her parents & someone else - no spoilers ;)
i also believe the way she depicted the experience after the war was accurate and gut wrenching. but it gave you a whole picture of the harrowing experience. this book gave you a pretty good look at this devastating and unnecessary war, the people who served & died, the people who served & were discounted, the recovery at home, & how to pick up the pieces.
overall, i thoroughly enjoyed this one. i cried several times. i had to keep reading. i was so invested.
also every time someone told her there were no women i vietnam i wanted to punch somebody. lol
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
there were parts of this book i really enjoyed and that were beautifully written. i loved what the author was trying to say and what she said about sexuality and grief and mothers and complicated relationships.
however, this book gave me a bit of whiplash in places. you'd get a beautiful section about grief and mothers or sexuality, or what's going on with the journey with her mom's ashes, but then it'd go into an introspective on writing or different references to ancient greek or other writings.
also the fact that this is fiction but says it's a biography. i get it - but again, a bit of mixed messaging.
i think it just needed a bit more structure and less bouncing around. i really love what the message behind the book was, the themes, the subject matter, etc. but the other issues were a lot to overcome
however, this book gave me a bit of whiplash in places. you'd get a beautiful section about grief and mothers or sexuality, or what's going on with the journey with her mom's ashes, but then it'd go into an introspective on writing or different references to ancient greek or other writings.
also the fact that this is fiction but says it's a biography. i get it - but again, a bit of mixed messaging.
i think it just needed a bit more structure and less bouncing around. i really love what the message behind the book was, the themes, the subject matter, etc. but the other issues were a lot to overcome
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
first, loved that this took place in chicago. second, i love women & our resilience, strength, & willingness to get shit done. it makes me feel like we need to organize again.
this book coming out shortly after roe v wade was overturned was some good timing. it reminds us how far we've come and how much we have to lose if we have to go back to unsafe abortions. because they will always happen regardless.
that aside. this book. the characters at the front of our story are complicated, wonderful, and different. they are all different parts to this puzzle and add something. you really see how some go from being so anti-abortion to pro. you see people fight sexism, the patriarchy, build friendships, have courage, and deal with life.
the beginning portion of the book starts off a tad slow and you're waiting to build a connection with the characters, but it starts building the pace.
overall a solid historical fiction about an important topic.
this book coming out shortly after roe v wade was overturned was some good timing. it reminds us how far we've come and how much we have to lose if we have to go back to unsafe abortions. because they will always happen regardless.
that aside. this book. the characters at the front of our story are complicated, wonderful, and different. they are all different parts to this puzzle and add something. you really see how some go from being so anti-abortion to pro. you see people fight sexism, the patriarchy, build friendships, have courage, and deal with life.
the beginning portion of the book starts off a tad slow and you're waiting to build a connection with the characters, but it starts building the pace.
overall a solid historical fiction about an important topic.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was a WILD ride. every time you thought it was resolved it kept going and got crazier. the serial killer/main killer/writers were very michael meyers-esque.
this book concept is GREAT. honestly, the thought that writing a 1 star review for a book can cause someone to hunt you down to kill you is chilling and makes me think twice...
but it was a thrilling ride, with great characterization, action, and motives. it was entertaining and you definitely kept reading to see wtf was going to happen.
the audiobook was a nice touch with the other narrator for the male characters.
this book concept is GREAT. honestly, the thought that writing a 1 star review for a book can cause someone to hunt you down to kill you is chilling and makes me think twice...
but it was a thrilling ride, with great characterization, action, and motives. it was entertaining and you definitely kept reading to see wtf was going to happen.
the audiobook was a nice touch with the other narrator for the male characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Child death
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
i think if you're new to mental health, wanting to improve it & don't have access to therapy, this book provides clear, accurate information and practical tools to help improve areas of your mental health. the book is organized into sections on depression, anxiety, grief, motivation, stress, emotional pain, self-doubt, and creating a meaningful life. those are broken down into smaller bite-sized chapters with information and tools.
i gave this 4 stars because a decent amount of information was already known to me, but it didn't make it any less valuable. i found some chapters more useful and insightful, such as the motivation, emotional pain, and self-doubt chapters.
i like how the author included questions for journaling, which are introspective and curious. overall a really solid book.
i gave this 4 stars because a decent amount of information was already known to me, but it didn't make it any less valuable. i found some chapters more useful and insightful, such as the motivation, emotional pain, and self-doubt chapters.
i like how the author included questions for journaling, which are introspective and curious. overall a really solid book.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
i loved the title of this book and the description of how rupaul came to title it that. i enjoyed getting a glimpse into how he grew up, his rise to fame, & his relationships with love & family & getting sober. at times, it feels a bit out of touch with saying other people of color just play the victim when there’s very real systemic racism and societal racism.
at other times i wished he delved deeper and gave certain stories more space to develop. a lot of times you’d get a chunk, it’d be vulnerable & then he’d just move on. but i do appreciate what we were given.
selfishly, i wanted more about rupaul in drag, the evolution of her. but overall still a great memoir. just need a bit more finesse. love rupaul though for the good and meh. and i love the many catch phrases.
at other times i wished he delved deeper and gave certain stories more space to develop. a lot of times you’d get a chunk, it’d be vulnerable & then he’d just move on. but i do appreciate what we were given.
selfishly, i wanted more about rupaul in drag, the evolution of her. but overall still a great memoir. just need a bit more finesse. love rupaul though for the good and meh. and i love the many catch phrases.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book was eerie, weird as hell, and somewhat unsatisfying? the descriptions and emotions eileen feels and how she describes things is simply off putting and macabre. she desperately will do anything to feel needed or loved and so clearly needs to be in an al anon program or at the very least to leave her dad behind. but i get why she doesn't - she seems so naive and stuck. always fantasizing about an escape or something better but never doing anything to get there. you can feel the build up and escalation of this book. and then you reach the conclusion which is she finally gets out and her escapist fantasies come true. and i enjoyed the fact that the ending had a bit of twist after she parts ways from rebecca.
i feel like there was a huge set up and, it feels wrong to say, but character "building" for who and why eileen is who she is, but then the action starts in the last ~60 pages or so and then it's just a quick ending. there are some recurring images that seem important enough to note.
but overall, just an unsettling story and much like a car crash, i couldn't look away, or in this case - stop reading.
love otessa but not my fave out of the two i've read so far. the quest continues.
i feel like there was a huge set up and, it feels wrong to say, but character "building" for who and why eileen is who she is, but then the action starts in the last ~60 pages or so and then it's just a quick ending. there are some recurring images that seem important enough to note.
but overall, just an unsettling story and much like a car crash, i couldn't look away, or in this case - stop reading.
love otessa but not my fave out of the two i've read so far. the quest continues.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
this was a captivating story, beautifully written as only jesmyn ward can do. there's so much depth and beautiful, heartbreaking descriptions, & symbols that pack a punch. i liked the spiritual aspect of the story. i do think i wanted a bit more from this in terms of what was happening but overall such a great story.
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book had good pacing, an interesting premise, and fun characters. the writing was calculated just like the main character. i was always curious and wondering how it would all turn out and thought it was headed somewhere extremely cliché but thankfully no.
i felt like it got a bit rushed and clunky at the end but overall entertaining.
i felt like it got a bit rushed and clunky at the end but overall entertaining.