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outer_books's reviews
131 reviews
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom
what I dislike:
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was a great and BEAUTIFUL example of a revenge story. I love it the whole anger but satisfaction at the end. chief's kiss!
This is a 'cosy' historical horror that follows a widowed woman during the times were women do not have voices and she makes her way to give those who wronged her bloody hell.
I listened to the audiobook voiced by Barrie Kreinik, she did a great job at voicing the characters. She did an amazing job on varying her voice with different characters so it was easy to follow. I will buy the physical copy because it has beautiful illustrations by the author himself.
what I like:
This is a 'cosy' historical horror that follows a widowed woman during the times were women do not have voices and she makes her way to give those who wronged her bloody hell.
I listened to the audiobook voiced by Barrie Kreinik, she did a great job at voicing the characters. She did an amazing job on varying her voice with different characters so it was easy to follow. I will buy the physical copy because it has beautiful illustrations by the author himself.
what I like:
- the writing beautifully described the the world, the characters and the creatures beautifully.
- the satisfaction at the end of the were those horrid people got what they want...beautiful. I love the violent descriptions.
- the trials, the history of 1666 and the fear of everyone, including women, was greatly written and provided a good understanding into thar time era, including me being more and more curious of that time era and witches.
what I dislike:
- the beginning was a bit slow for me, though it is understandable as it gives you context to everything in the town, the people and the forest folk.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Bullying, Blood, Religious bigotry, Violence, Sexism, Hate crime, and Gore
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Final thoughts:
This is book is unrealistic in the aspect of 'every single man was sexist and unaccepting of women back in the 60s'. But there were topics that were very interesting and realistic that still exists today such as sexism, misogyny and people are ingrained to refuse to put the first foot at the door for change due to fear. I love the little humours here and there but it wasn't a lot. It was fun and emotional to watch Elizabeth's hard journey from what she wanted to something completely beyond her imaginations but still did what she loved. I know I gave it a 3.5/5, it doesn't mean it was bad I really enjoyed the book whether somethings are realistic or not. It was such a fun read for me!
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
PLEASE READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS BEFORE DIVING INTO THIS BOOK!!!! (another to add amongst the others from below, 'BIRTH AND LABOR')
Short summary: We follow Elizabeth Zott, a chemist, where she faces the challenges of loss, gain and different paths that she takes in her life to make a change for herself and others in the sixties where women where not seen as equal as men.
Likes:
- the flow of the writing is beautiful. it's too descriptive in my eyes while too short and abrupt. I could still feel the characters' behaviours and how they feel from them showing it without telling. As well as having not too long description which made it easier for my head to paint a picture of the world and the characters.
- the characters have very varying personalities and behaviours.
- its not so realistic that its super fun to read. like having an overly smart dog that could learn over 900 words from the vocabulary and has the attention of a human being.
- I love that the chemical terms were not that complicated to understand.
Dislikes:
- I did chuckle on some instances in the book but it wasn't much despite it being marketed as a 'Humorous' book.
Final thoughts:
This is book is unrealistic in the aspect of 'every single man was sexist and unaccepting of women back in the 60s'. But there were topics that were very interesting and realistic that still exists today such as sexism, misogyny and people are ingrained to refuse to put the first foot at the door for change due to fear. I love the little humours here and there but it wasn't a lot. It was fun and emotional to watch Elizabeth's hard journey from what she wanted to something completely beyond her imaginations but still did what she loved. I know I gave it a 3.5/5, it doesn't mean it was bad I really enjoyed the book whether somethings are realistic or not. It was such a fun read for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Misogyny, Death, Death of parent, and Rape
Moderate: Blood and Suicide
Minor: Racism
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
3.0
"books are easily destroyed but words will live as long as people can remember"
Rating: 3/5 ⭐
Opinions:
*What I like:
I have been wanting to read this book for a while because of the buzz and how the book looks, so neat and flexible, along with the cover. It made me curious “why does it call 'Shatter Me’? The cover showed a beautiful blue eye with the outlines of a forest as eyelashes, tears as waterfall and beautiful sea blue eyes that saw sadness throughout?”
I love the cover and the description of the book, as it doesn't say a lot of what's going to happen.
When I started reading the book, it was very beautiful. I love the writing style of the author and how she created realistic characters with each individual personality and preference making them more human. I swear, I never thought that some authors could write a character such as Warner or Kenji! I especially was so surprised by Warner’s. It gave life and danger into the story.
He’s like the bad guy but at the same time not!
I don't know with everyone else but I fell for that guy bad, even if I still have no knowledge of his past, which I’m so excited to know in the novellas along with the rest of the series.
I love the men that Taherah Mafi created but Juliette? Well, I would give her a 5/10. She had a lot of shit that went through her life and that's pretty understandable, she's strong, caring and careful but afraid, naïve, and just...man, she makes me want to pull my hair out of my scalp. If I had read this book in the beginning of my teenage years I would have supported her and cry for her and say “oh gosh I wish I could be in there for her and help her..” but now “Go woman up, little girl! Life’s harsh! Deal it with!” (Sorry too harsh 😂)
Alas I won't judge her too soon, as there are 3 more books to read in the series and hopefully she becomes more stronger.
What I think about everything from the beginning to the end? Well, it was slow then hell, then hell, then hell, then again HELL, then boom of logic, then hell, then….you got the picture. In short it was a CARZY RIDE. I pretty much had mixed feelings about it and then boom 10 or less chapters before the end, it was mind blowing!!
I truly never expected this to even turnout!
Truly this is gave out an unexpected event. And I was like, “X-MEN?!”
Truly, I had a moment of déjà vu when she and the three boys entered Omega Point. If I could describe it, I would say it's Ruth discovering another hope for herself when she escaped from Magnito to be welcomed into Charles’ hopeful and safe world to acknowledge that she's not alone.
What I don't like about the book:
Although I had fun reading this, there are still things that I don't like.
I had expected for this book to talk about a girl who doesn't appreciate her gifts, thinks of it as something bad for her then she would find herself throughout the hell hole on her own.
And I was disappointed that it turned out to be something out of every novel, a girl finding love and that man frees her.
I'm all about women power. I don't mean for it to be a bad read, I enjoyed it but I had expectations and the excitement dropped.
Though I continued reading it, hoping at least something different might happen.
Then it did!
But, unfortunately I still won't give this a 5/5 🌟 because it's more of a naïve love story than a dystopian search of self-improvement and acceptance.
Alas, I will still continue with the series to know more and see where this goes.
Rating: 3/5 ⭐
Opinions:
*What I like:
I have been wanting to read this book for a while because of the buzz and how the book looks, so neat and flexible, along with the cover. It made me curious “why does it call 'Shatter Me’? The cover showed a beautiful blue eye with the outlines of a forest as eyelashes, tears as waterfall and beautiful sea blue eyes that saw sadness throughout?”
I love the cover and the description of the book, as it doesn't say a lot of what's going to happen.
When I started reading the book, it was very beautiful. I love the writing style of the author and how she created realistic characters with each individual personality and preference making them more human. I swear, I never thought that some authors could write a character such as Warner or Kenji! I especially was so surprised by Warner’s. It gave life and danger into the story.
He’s like the bad guy but at the same time not!
I don't know with everyone else but I fell for that guy bad, even if I still have no knowledge of his past, which I’m so excited to know in the novellas along with the rest of the series.
I love the men that Taherah Mafi created but Juliette? Well, I would give her a 5/10. She had a lot of shit that went through her life and that's pretty understandable, she's strong, caring and careful but afraid, naïve, and just...man, she makes me want to pull my hair out of my scalp. If I had read this book in the beginning of my teenage years I would have supported her and cry for her and say “oh gosh I wish I could be in there for her and help her..” but now “Go woman up, little girl! Life’s harsh! Deal it with!” (Sorry too harsh 😂)
Alas I won't judge her too soon, as there are 3 more books to read in the series and hopefully she becomes more stronger.
What I think about everything from the beginning to the end? Well, it was slow then hell, then hell, then hell, then again HELL, then boom of logic, then hell, then….you got the picture. In short it was a CARZY RIDE. I pretty much had mixed feelings about it and then boom 10 or less chapters before the end, it was mind blowing!!
I truly never expected this to even turnout!
Truly this is gave out an unexpected event. And I was like, “X-MEN?!”
Truly, I had a moment of déjà vu when she and the three boys entered Omega Point. If I could describe it, I would say it's Ruth discovering another hope for herself when she escaped from Magnito to be welcomed into Charles’ hopeful and safe world to acknowledge that she's not alone.
What I don't like about the book:
Although I had fun reading this, there are still things that I don't like.
I had expected for this book to talk about a girl who doesn't appreciate her gifts, thinks of it as something bad for her then she would find herself throughout the hell hole on her own.
And I was disappointed that it turned out to be something out of every novel, a girl finding love and that man frees her.
I'm all about women power. I don't mean for it to be a bad read, I enjoyed it but I had expectations and the excitement dropped.
Though I continued reading it, hoping at least something different might happen.
Then it did!
But, unfortunately I still won't give this a 5/5 🌟 because it's more of a naïve love story than a dystopian search of self-improvement and acceptance.
Alas, I will still continue with the series to know more and see where this goes.
Red Leaves by Sita Brahmachari
5.0
5/5 Stars
I love this book. It was immensely touching and...beautiful.
It spoke about three children, Aisha, Zak, and Iona, who are struggling with their difficulties in their lives and wound up together by the woods, past war, and an old lady.
Aisha is a Muslim refugee from Somalia. She was taken care of in a foster home by a carer Liliana and felt safe in her new life with the carer until news that she would be adopted crushed all the happiness within her.
Zak lives in a house that's been renovated while coping with the separation of his parents and the 'unheard' of his brother while being taken care of by a Sri Lanka carer.
Iona's family has fallen apart. She had escaped from it and lived on the streets with her dog Red. Escaping from herself as well.
The book has spoken about something that everyone should be reminded of. It talks about that in this planet of ours, people have been living, and still are, within wars, crimes and had to leave their homes to move into another unknown place with people of different culture and religion. It spoke about why we don't think about the people on the streets and ask how did they end up like what they ended up now. It spoke about how we don't think about the past and history of places, buildings, and streets. What happened in the past before we were welcomed into this world.
The book was full of life and reality of the life we're living.
I like how the characters all laughed, cried and just be human around each other despite their differences. It was such a moving part for me that it almost made me cry.
The author was brilliant with the concept of how these three children bumped into each other, slowly trusting one another and become friends. I love the idea, it was unrealistic but realistic at the same time.
The very thing that made me love this book, other than the topic of human rights, was the reminding of how we should be grateful for what we have and where we are. Some are desperate to have what we have, so we should pause think about the things that kept us going in our lives.
This was a great read for me and I highly recommend it.
I love this book. It was immensely touching and...beautiful.
It spoke about three children, Aisha, Zak, and Iona, who are struggling with their difficulties in their lives and wound up together by the woods, past war, and an old lady.
Aisha is a Muslim refugee from Somalia. She was taken care of in a foster home by a carer Liliana and felt safe in her new life with the carer until news that she would be adopted crushed all the happiness within her.
Zak lives in a house that's been renovated while coping with the separation of his parents and the 'unheard' of his brother while being taken care of by a Sri Lanka carer.
Iona's family has fallen apart. She had escaped from it and lived on the streets with her dog Red. Escaping from herself as well.
The book has spoken about something that everyone should be reminded of. It talks about that in this planet of ours, people have been living, and still are, within wars, crimes and had to leave their homes to move into another unknown place with people of different culture and religion. It spoke about why we don't think about the people on the streets and ask how did they end up like what they ended up now. It spoke about how we don't think about the past and history of places, buildings, and streets. What happened in the past before we were welcomed into this world.
The book was full of life and reality of the life we're living.
I like how the characters all laughed, cried and just be human around each other despite their differences. It was such a moving part for me that it almost made me cry.
The author was brilliant with the concept of how these three children bumped into each other, slowly trusting one another and become friends. I love the idea, it was unrealistic but realistic at the same time.
The very thing that made me love this book, other than the topic of human rights, was the reminding of how we should be grateful for what we have and where we are. Some are desperate to have what we have, so we should pause think about the things that kept us going in our lives.
This was a great read for me and I highly recommend it.
恋してダディ [Koishite Daddy] by Kyou Kitazawa
4.0
A very cute manga that's balancing between love, family and acceptance from society and other family members.