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notebookrambles's Reviews (41)

The Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

4.5

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Wow. I knew how the ending was going to be and I still balled my eyes for thirty minutes. I wish that I was exaggerating. I am not kidding. Towards the end, I tried to stop crying and I actually did stop. I stopped for 10 seconds and got back and started crying as soon as I started reading again.

I'm not sure if it was my love for a good romance story or my love for greek myths. It could be both. This story was just *mwah* chefs kiss. The characters felt real. It wasn't like reading old stories off a book. It felt real. I could see myself in their shoes and I understood them. I had so many favorite parts in the book but there were many quotes.

"Name one hero who was happy."
"I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blinf, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world."
"You do not command me."
"Achilles was looking at me. 'You hair never quite lies flat here.' He touched my head, just behind my ear, 'I don't think I've ever told you how I like it.'"
"In the darkness, two shadows, reaching through the hopeless heavy dusk. Their hands meet, and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out the sun."

Needless to say, this story is one of the best I've read in a long time.

Although, there was a small portion that felt like filler.

Cinderella Is Dead

Kalynn Bayron

4.5

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This story resonated with me for several reasons, it tried to dismantle the patriarchy and fight for women's rights. If you have children who are above the age of 11, 12, or 13, this is a very progressive book and inspirational. Key takeaways to stand up for what you begin even if you're standing alone. For all you know, you might be someone else's inspiration and what they need to speak up.

As a queer person reading this book, the homophobia stings but it was in a realistic way.

The way parents changed the subject and avoided the conversation and say you should not "feel" this way. Just as Luke put it, "Just because they deny us doesn't mean we cease to exist."

Constance has to be my favorite character, she was determined and strong. The characters felt real and I loved the characters. I wanted to read more and know more of the story. In a way, I knew what was going to happen at the end but I didn't know how specifically. I keep thinking about one particular scene.

It was in the market or public square: "If my life could serve a purpose," the woman begins, raising her head a little and looking directly at the king, "then let this be it. I would die to give even just one person the chance to be free from you."

There are always going to be people who feel the spark to take action but sometimes, they don't speak up alone but will be a martyr when the time comes. One thing the king said and I completely agree with is, "There are always choices. They may not be ones you like, but there are always choices." This book is full of life quotes and memorable quotes.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron was a beautiful and engracing read. (I don't know if "engracing" is an actual word yet but I know engrace is a word.) I could not put down this book and read cover to cover.

There are some graphic depictions of violence and misogyny.

I do recommend this book and I like this.

Shadow and Bone

Leigh Bardugo

3.25

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Freed

E.L. James

3.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

Ecofeminism

Maria Mies

DID NOT FINISH: 25%

In His Father's Footsteps

Danielle Steel

DID NOT FINISH

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I DNF'ed this when I was on page 340. At that point the story had become very predictable and had very little actions scenes. Originally it was my book to read during my homeroom period at school but eventually it became unbearable.

The first few pages were informative about the holocaust, which was why I bought it. I thought I'd gain some insight into the holocaust but it wasn't anything I didn't already know.

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens

Sean Covey

5.0

hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Have I gone back time and time again to read this book? Yes.
How many times have I read and reread this book? More than I can count.
Did I also read this book at different stages in my life? Also yes.
Do I recommend it? Clearly yes.