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plannedandplanted's reviews
117 reviews
Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life by Maggie Smith
informative
inspiring
reflective
4.0
A good collection of writing advice! Though most of it is geared towards poetry, I think there’s a lot of solid advice for anyone writing in any genre.
Some parts did feel a little bit like Smith was stroking her own ego. There’s a lot of times she’s referencing poetry or writing tactics and uses her own work as direct examples, which she then ‘analyzes.’ I know it makes more sense and is cheaper to do that then directly including a poem from another writer (she does include a lot of other references for you to look up on your own), but it still felt a little icky sometimes.
Some parts did feel a little bit like Smith was stroking her own ego. There’s a lot of times she’s referencing poetry or writing tactics and uses her own work as direct examples, which she then ‘analyzes.’ I know it makes more sense and is cheaper to do that then directly including a poem from another writer (she does include a lot of other references for you to look up on your own), but it still felt a little icky sometimes.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Phew, this one’s gunna stick with me for a bit!
For starters, the prose is glorious. Zevin’s vocabulary is impressive, almost bordering on braggadocious. I really loved the ever shifting dynamics between Sam, Sadie, and Marx. It was interesting to watch each of them change and grow and regress separately and as a trio.
The commentary and insight into a disabled person’s mind and experience was so touching, and made me empathize with Sam’s behavior much more.
I actually really “liked”the “game scene” in 2nd person where Marx died. I mean, it wrecked me, but personally, I thought it was brilliantly done. He had already told Sadie about a dream he had in a game - it only makes sense that his mind, trapped between here and there, was a game as well. I was SOBBBBBING
I’m also really glad that Sam and Sadie didn’t end up together. Sam gave me major Ace vibes, though that may have been coming from a place of trauma and avoidance rather than of self-understanding and fulfillment.
There were some problematic elements. Sadie still seemed weirdly cool with Dov, and it felt like his attraction to college girls was just treated as a silly little joke, which was gross. And Sam yelling at Sadie at her house 3 MONTHS AFTER???? Idk if we were supposed to think he was an ass or not in that scene but for someone who had “experienced a lot of loss and grief” he sure was shit about understanding it. Maybe because he never actually processed and healed from his stuff like Sadie did.
As I say that, those two things do take off half a star. But if I were going purely in reading experience and vibes, without analyzing too much, it would have been a solid 5.
For starters, the prose is glorious. Zevin’s vocabulary is impressive, almost bordering on braggadocious. I really loved the ever shifting dynamics between Sam, Sadie, and Marx. It was interesting to watch each of them change and grow and regress separately and as a trio.
The commentary and insight into a disabled person’s mind and experience was so touching, and made me empathize with Sam’s behavior much more.
There were some problematic elements. Sadie still seemed weirdly cool with Dov, and it felt like his attraction to college girls was just treated as a silly little joke, which was gross. And Sam yelling at Sadie at her house 3 MONTHS AFTER???? Idk if we were supposed to think he was an ass or not in that scene but for someone who had “experienced a lot of loss and grief” he sure was shit about understanding it. Maybe because he never actually processed and healed from his stuff like Sadie did.
As I say that, those two things do take off half a star. But if I were going purely in reading experience and vibes, without analyzing too much, it would have been a solid 5.
The Toll by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
4.0
I was really into it for most of the book. The pacing was slow but then picked up in the middle and I had no idea where things were going.
But the pacing at the end was INSANE!! Everything happened so quickly - it felt very rushed. No one scene with any character group lasted more than a page r so, so it was hard for the emotional resonance to permeate.
That being said, I did love the diversity of the interstitials and the real life reflections that this book contained. It was definitely quite thought provoking!
But the pacing at the end was INSANE!! Everything happened so quickly - it felt very rushed. No one scene with any character group lasted more than a page r so, so it was hard for the emotional resonance to permeate.
That being said, I did love the diversity of the interstitials and the real life reflections that this book contained. It was definitely quite thought provoking!
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I was a little offput at the beginning by so much exposition, but it didn’t last the whole book. Eventually got to more showing than telling. It definitely was slower at first too but picked up relatively fast.
Some of the subject matter honestly felt pretty dark for a YA book! I think this would have made an even better adult series with the ability to get further into the nitty gritty — but, it would have meant more world building and filling in gaps about the Thunderhead that I don’t know that the author could have done.
All in all it was a good book and I felt very invested by the rendering. Will continue on with the series — excited to see where it goes from here.
Some of the subject matter honestly felt pretty dark for a YA book! I think this would have made an even better adult series with the ability to get further into the nitty gritty — but, it would have meant more world building and filling in gaps about the Thunderhead that I don’t know that the author could have done.
All in all it was a good book and I felt very invested by the rendering. Will continue on with the series — excited to see where it goes from here.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
The writing style was really bothering me. At 80 pages in I wasn’t fully invested, and someone told me it doesn’t get better. Messaging was a little too on the nose.