obstinateheadstrongcurl's reviews
942 reviews

Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

I don’t understand the hype around this series. It was good but not great? My biggest issue was how the main character’s flaws weren’t really reckoned with. Maybe that’s addressed later in the series but I’m not sure it’s worth continuing for me. If you’re a big fan of YA romantasy I would suggest giving it a try but I don’t think it’s worth seeking out otherwise. 

Hippie Food: How Back-To-The-Landers, Longhairs, and Revolutionaries Changed the Way We Eat by Jonathan Kauffman

informative fast-paced

3.75

This was an entertaining look at the history of the natural food movement in the US. Fascinating to see how the movement originated. I appreciated that the author addressed how race and class played a part in who participated/was invited into the movement.

Palestine: A Socialist Introduction by Sumaya Awad, Brian Bean

hopeful informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Such an important read. A really fascinating and informative series of essays highlighting past and ongoing socialist efforts within Palestinian society and activism.

River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard

informative medium-paced

3.5

This story has all the drama and pettiness of a reality tv show but wasn’t always told in the most gripping way. For the most part entertaining but I did find my attention slipping occasionally.

Femlandia by Christina Dalcher
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.

This is the same shallow feminism as The Barbie Movie but (more) dystopian. Just not for me.

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

I read the second book in Eloisa James's Fairy Tales series several years ago and really enjoyed it, but this one didn’t quite live up to the mark. Cinderella has never been my favourite fairy tale, so this one was always going to suffer a bit in comparison to the Beauty and the Beast retelling. The prince’s ego was overly inflated, and it wasn’t something he ever reckoned with. The message was basically ‘princes be princing’. He was annoying to the point that it didn’t make sense that Kate would even be attracted to him. Also, this book came out in 2010 so I know we as a society were less aware, but a European prince going on archaeological digs in Africa and taking artefacts home is not a plot that has aged well.

I did enjoy Kate’s character, she wasn’t nearly so passive as most Cinderella characters, although she did have a bad case of ‘not like other girls’. Henry was a delight; she was such an entertaining character. I also appreciated the communication between Kate and Gabriel. There were a few times when I thought we’d get into the weeds of an unrealistic miscommunication trope, but James kept everything really true to the characters.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love everything Elizabeth Acevedo writes but this might be my favourite. I wish I’d had this book when I was a teenager. The themes of family, religion and self-discovery are handled so well. As always with Acevedo, I highly recommend the audiobook. She’s an incredible narrator and her poetry and prose are gorgeous. 

Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein

informative medium-paced

4.25

After listening to the If Books Could Kill episode covering this book, I was a bit nervous to pick it up, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. I do think Klein stretches things a bit too far sometimes while trying to humanise Wolf (when Wolf said vaccinated people don’t have a smell anymore, it wasn’t a broader comment on society, she’s just crazy). But overall this was a really insightful look at the alt right and how people fall down the rabbit hole. 

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

adventurous 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? No

4.5

Such a delight! Absolutely loved the setting and magic system. We need more diverse dragon books! 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

dark medium-paced

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

2.25

Bizarre fever dream of a book that became even less charming when I read the notes at the back and learned Thompson refused to give any credit to Oscar Zeta Acosta, the inspiration for the attorney.