marisa_n's reviews
169 reviews

I have never read anything quite like this before. I'm glad I experienced it as an audiobook, as it felt like I was listening to a spoken word performance or a play. The writing was lovely to listen to. I also appreciated the brevity of the book, which aligned with the references to myths. The author covered so much in a short timeframe, which mostly worked. That said, there were a lot of characters thrown out in a short timeframe, which made it hard to remember who was who.

I liked the main message (that I got out of) this book: that our stories today are no less interesting, emotional, or powerful than those told in mythology. That the people of today will one day be the new ancients.

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The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 32%.

This book is neither helpful nor enjoyable to read.

At the beginning of the book, the author talks about our annoying inner voice that never shuts up, makes little sense, and disturbs our inner peace... and then he proceeds to let his inner voice write the entire book. It read like a stream of consciousness. It was vague, contradictory, repetitive, and arrogant.

The author's inability to concisely make his point highlights his lack of knowledge on the subject. The structure was a mess. There was no credible research cited. There was no thoughtful analysis of spiritual theories. The content consisted of vague ramblings about happiness and countless examples of how "you" would react in various situations. He says so much without really saying anything at all. I was left with the impression that he had nothing to say, but a word count to fill. The whole thing screams of a privileged white man pretending to be a spiritual guru.

Although there were a few valuable reminders, they were largely obscured by the filler. Moreover, the "insights" were not actionable. For example, he claims people need to "let go" of previous experiences that are taking us out of the present moment (and let them all go, all at once, because doing it one at a time is too slow), but provides no actionable advice on how to do so.

The useful tidbits (in the first 1/3 of the book):

Your thoughts don't define you. Step back and listen to what your inner voice is saying. Learn to quiet it so you can live in the present.
Your past experiences can negatively influence your current behavior. When this occurs, don't try to push down those bad feelings/ memories, but embrace them.

The Wife Between Us by Sarah Pekkanen, Greer Hendricks

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Lots of twists & turns. Some were more enjoyable than others.

Content Warnings

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 2%.

I can't get past the ~~terrible~~ writing style.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.0

An intimate, tragic memoir about a child actor. The book read like a series of short journal entries, with the author’s voice slowly changing as she matured. In the book, she describes her childhood growing up in a household that was low-income, violent, and emotionally unpredictable. She recounts stories of being emotionally, mentally, and sexually abused by her mother. She unpacks the desperation and helplessness of trying to force herself to fit into a life she never wanted as an actress. She lays bare her poor coping mechanisms–OCD, disordered eating, alcoholism, and co-dependent relationships with shitty men. Lastly, she discusses her journey toward recovery.

This book was hard to read as it was direct, graphic, and brutal. She goes into detail about the abuse from her mother, as well as from those around her. Although this book was centered on her mother, I found most of the people in her life just as bad, or at least complicit. From those also trying to abuse/manipulate her (ex: her grandmother, the creator, boyfriends), to those who stayed silent when she needed help (ex: her father, her grandfather). It is truly heartbreaking to think of a child / young adult surrounded by so many adults that are actively harming her.

The book ends with...

her quitting acting, seeking help for her eating disorder, and coming to terms with her mother's abuse. At first, it felt like the book ended a little too abruptly. I thought perhaps she should have waited a bit longer--recovered, started the next phase of her life, etc--to publish the book. But I ultimately landed on the feeling that the reader isn't owed a happy ending. Moreover, there probably won't be one clear place in her life where she gets a happy end from there on out. Life will present many ups and downs. She will likely be unpacking her trauma, working on her coping mechanisms, and re-inventing herself over and over again for the rest of her life. Therefore, the messy ending was genuine.

Despite the backlash, I think this title is an appropriate summation of the book. We do not get to dictate how others process their trauma. We do not control if / how people mourn. We do not owe the dead a positive legacy, especially if they were objectively terrible people while alive.

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The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

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funny lighthearted relaxing

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The book is cheesy, but in a fun, self-indulgent way. A fake dating book that likes to poke fun at the whole fake dating trope. Most of the book seemed pretty cliche YA, but it got a little spicy towards the end. I'd say this is a fun, light-hearted beach read.

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marisa_n's reviews 169 reviews

marisa_n's reviews
169 reviews