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plantbasedbride's reviews
189 reviews
The Switch by Beth O'Leary
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Switch was such a wholesome read!
Cute characters? Check.
Friends to lovers? Check.
Enemies to lovers? Check.
Sappy ending that made me cry? Big ol' check.
Leena and her 79-year-old Grandmother, Eileen, switch lives in search of a breather and romance, respectively, and the result is adorably sweet and silly. I would highly recommend if you need a bit of a breather, yourself!
Cute characters? Check.
Friends to lovers? Check.
Enemies to lovers? Check.
Sappy ending that made me cry? Big ol' check.
Leena and her 79-year-old Grandmother, Eileen, switch lives in search of a breather and romance, respectively, and the result is adorably sweet and silly. I would highly recommend if you need a bit of a breather, yourself!
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer and Infidelity
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“I can’t lose the thing I’ve held onto for so long, you know?” My face twists up from the pain of pushing it out. “I just really need it to be a love story, you know? I really, really need it to be that.”
“I know,” she says.
“Because if it isn’t a love story, then what is it”? I look to her glassy eyes, her face of wide open empathy. “It’s my life,” I say. “This has been my whole life.”
My Dark Vanessa is not a love story. It is the disquieting tale of a young woman suffering from the trauma of being sexually abused and manipulated by her high school English teacher, held hostage to his needs, groomed, and gaslit into believing she was the instigator. These first sexual experiences, repeated rape and abuse, inform her relationship with herself and her sexuality for decades to come. She cannot see her tormentor for what he truly is, and it's heartbreaking.
I can't say I enjoyed reading this book. It's more apt to say that I was drawn in and unable to look away despite my disgust. It is similar to Lolita in that way and references Nabokov's novel many times as Vanessa clings to a representation of her lived experiences, romanticizing them as a way to cope. Though the subject matter is incredibly upsetting, Russell's writing is raw, stark, and well structured. She draws us into Vanessa's mind and lays her trauma and denial bare for all to see.
My Dark Vanessa is a commentary on the sexualization of young girls and the double-edged sword that is the #metoo movement. It asks us to take a hard look at how we perceive teenage girls and why we, as a society, tend to put the blame on them (as victims and minors) over adult men who perpetrate violence upon them. It is painful, bleak, and all too familiar.
“Somehow I sensed what was coming for me even then. Really, though, what girl doesn’t? It looms over you, that threat of violence. They drill the danger into your head until it starts to feel inevitable. You grow up wondering when it’s finally going to happen.”
“I know,” she says.
“Because if it isn’t a love story, then what is it”? I look to her glassy eyes, her face of wide open empathy. “It’s my life,” I say. “This has been my whole life.”
My Dark Vanessa is not a love story. It is the disquieting tale of a young woman suffering from the trauma of being sexually abused and manipulated by her high school English teacher, held hostage to his needs, groomed, and gaslit into believing she was the instigator. These first sexual experiences, repeated rape and abuse, inform her relationship with herself and her sexuality for decades to come. She cannot see her tormentor for what he truly is, and it's heartbreaking.
I can't say I enjoyed reading this book. It's more apt to say that I was drawn in and unable to look away despite my disgust. It is similar to Lolita in that way and references Nabokov's novel many times as Vanessa clings to a representation of her lived experiences, romanticizing them as a way to cope. Though the subject matter is incredibly upsetting, Russell's writing is raw, stark, and well structured. She draws us into Vanessa's mind and lays her trauma and denial bare for all to see.
My Dark Vanessa is a commentary on the sexualization of young girls and the double-edged sword that is the #metoo movement. It asks us to take a hard look at how we perceive teenage girls and why we, as a society, tend to put the blame on them (as victims and minors) over adult men who perpetrate violence upon them. It is painful, bleak, and all too familiar.
“Somehow I sensed what was coming for me even then. Really, though, what girl doesn’t? It looms over you, that threat of violence. They drill the danger into your head until it starts to feel inevitable. You grow up wondering when it’s finally going to happen.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a touching, whimsical, wholesome, lovely tale of found family, acceptance, and belonging. And I adored it with all my heart.
Linus is sent to assess the viability of an orphanage by the sea, and the magical children (and adults) he meets there will change his life forever. Each character is complex and wonderful and reading about them made my heart grow ten sizes. I honestly love them all, but I must mention my deep appreciation for Chauncy and his pure heart and absolutely adorable dream, Sal and his stunning poetry and quiet strength, Talia's gruff love and fierce loyalty, and Lucy's diabolical sense of humour and vulnerability.
This book explores important issues in a straightforward and at times heavy-handed way, but it didn't bother me. The message may be clear, but it is an important one. Not all themes must be hidden behind layers of metaphor and innuendo. Sometimes you can just say what you mean:
“Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you're not alone, you will overcome.”
A book about protecting children no matter who or what they are, finding love and acceptance for those who are different, and seeking to understand each other rather than shut each other out with hate and fear, and full of some of the most vivid and loveable characters I've had the pleasure to read about, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a new favourite.
“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”
Linus is sent to assess the viability of an orphanage by the sea, and the magical children (and adults) he meets there will change his life forever. Each character is complex and wonderful and reading about them made my heart grow ten sizes. I honestly love them all, but I must mention my deep appreciation for Chauncy and his pure heart and absolutely adorable dream, Sal and his stunning poetry and quiet strength, Talia's gruff love and fierce loyalty, and Lucy's diabolical sense of humour and vulnerability.
This book explores important issues in a straightforward and at times heavy-handed way, but it didn't bother me. The message may be clear, but it is an important one. Not all themes must be hidden behind layers of metaphor and innuendo. Sometimes you can just say what you mean:
“Hate is loud, but I think you'll learn it's because it's only a few people shouting, desperate to be heard. You might not ever be able to change their minds, but so long as you remember you're not alone, you will overcome.”
A book about protecting children no matter who or what they are, finding love and acceptance for those who are different, and seeking to understand each other rather than shut each other out with hate and fear, and full of some of the most vivid and loveable characters I've had the pleasure to read about, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a new favourite.
“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Body shaming, and Xenophobia
That Could Be Enough by Alyssa Cole
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
From the author's note: “In writing this story I remembered that, above all, the story of America is one of a great multitude of individuals with so many things stacked against them who…lived. And loved. And thrived. No matter the time period, and no matter the obstacles placed before them. People from marginalized groups have always made their way by finding their place within their communities and holding tightly to the things most dear to them. They fight, in small ways and in large. They hope, though common sense may tell them not to, and sometimes America is worthy of that hope.”
That Could Be Enough is a radiantly written snapshot of two independent Black women who couldn’t be more different falling in love and finding a shared passion. The prose was gorgeous, the characters jumped off the page, the steamy scenes were scalding, and the ending had me in tears.
I would highly recommend this to lovers of sapphic historical romance and Hamilton. You won't be disappointed!
That Could Be Enough is a radiantly written snapshot of two independent Black women who couldn’t be more different falling in love and finding a shared passion. The prose was gorgeous, the characters jumped off the page, the steamy scenes were scalding, and the ending had me in tears.
I would highly recommend this to lovers of sapphic historical romance and Hamilton. You won't be disappointed!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Sexism and Racism
So You've Been Publicly Shamed by Jon Ronson
challenging
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
In So You've Been Publicly Shamed Jon Ronson explores the big bad realm of online shaming. I decided to pick this one up on a whim after hearing it mentioned in several YouTube videos discussing cancel culture within the span of a week, and I was surprised to see that this book was published back in 2015. In the 6 years since this book was released not only has online bullying not been eradicated, but it has become even more extreme. I wonder what Ronson would think of the cancel culture of today?
I have always been a bit confused by the concept of cancel culture, I must admit. While I wholeheartedly support accountability, I find the tendency of the mob on social media to tear someone apart before any evidence or context can be applied, acting as judge, jury, and executioner, both confounding and mildly terrifying.
As Ronson stated in this book; “we know that people are complicated and have a mixture of flaws and talents and sins. So why do we pretend that we don’t?”
There is so much nuance in the ways human beings communicate and act and live, and yet online our entire personhood is forced into two dimensions. As a YouTuber, this is even more obvious to me. The way I present myself online through my content, and the way others perceive me through the screen, is not an all-encompassing representation of the multifaceted and flawed human being that I am. Pretty much every fellow YouTuber I have ever talked to has expressed a sentiment I know well - self-censorship as a means of self-preservation. Of course, all of us practice self-censorship to a certain extent every day every time we communicate, but as a public-facing person on the internet, the possibility of being misinterpreted and canceled looms larger than life.
Ronson said it succinctly here; “We were creating a world where the smartest way to survive is to be bland.”
I don't know what the solution is to the problem of an avalanche of cancel culture, but I do know that compassion and a nuanced approach both go a long way.
While I found this book a quick, informative, and interesting read, I did have a few qualms with it.
First of all, Ronson tiptoes around the fact that women experience public shaming on a different level and in different ways than men, yet never actually dives into those distinctions or explores the implications. This was a missed opportunity. He also expresses some questionable ideas such as implying he doesn't believe in white privilege and fully standing behind his conviction that Justine Sacco (who tweeted a terrible racist tweet and was canceled for it) did nothing wrong. Lastly, the structure of this book was a bit half hazard and confusing as Ronson constantly switched between case studies at breakneck speed.
Despite my criticisms, I found this book to be a thought-provoking read with some valuable insight into this worrying trend and I would recommend it.
“We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside it.”
I have always been a bit confused by the concept of cancel culture, I must admit. While I wholeheartedly support accountability, I find the tendency of the mob on social media to tear someone apart before any evidence or context can be applied, acting as judge, jury, and executioner, both confounding and mildly terrifying.
As Ronson stated in this book; “we know that people are complicated and have a mixture of flaws and talents and sins. So why do we pretend that we don’t?”
There is so much nuance in the ways human beings communicate and act and live, and yet online our entire personhood is forced into two dimensions. As a YouTuber, this is even more obvious to me. The way I present myself online through my content, and the way others perceive me through the screen, is not an all-encompassing representation of the multifaceted and flawed human being that I am. Pretty much every fellow YouTuber I have ever talked to has expressed a sentiment I know well - self-censorship as a means of self-preservation. Of course, all of us practice self-censorship to a certain extent every day every time we communicate, but as a public-facing person on the internet, the possibility of being misinterpreted and canceled looms larger than life.
Ronson said it succinctly here; “We were creating a world where the smartest way to survive is to be bland.”
I don't know what the solution is to the problem of an avalanche of cancel culture, but I do know that compassion and a nuanced approach both go a long way.
While I found this book a quick, informative, and interesting read, I did have a few qualms with it.
First of all, Ronson tiptoes around the fact that women experience public shaming on a different level and in different ways than men, yet never actually dives into those distinctions or explores the implications. This was a missed opportunity. He also expresses some questionable ideas such as implying he doesn't believe in white privilege and fully standing behind his conviction that Justine Sacco (who tweeted a terrible racist tweet and was canceled for it) did nothing wrong. Lastly, the structure of this book was a bit half hazard and confusing as Ronson constantly switched between case studies at breakneck speed.
Despite my criticisms, I found this book to be a thought-provoking read with some valuable insight into this worrying trend and I would recommend it.
“We are defining the boundaries of normality by tearing apart the people outside it.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Misogyny
Minor: Suicide and Rape
Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Across the Green Grass Fields is yet another beautiful installment of Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children Series, reminding us yet again that there's no right way to be a girl (or a boy or an enby).
Book six revolves around Regan, a young intersex girl who loves horses with all her heart. As a former horse girl myself, I can relate to Regan. Horses are awesome. She is also struggling with toxic friendships, bullying, and shame. Also exceedingly relatable. Growing up is rough.
When Regan finds her door she walks into a magical land full of horse-like creatures and learns that the best way for her to fit in is to be her truest self.
I thought this book was lovely. It read a bit younger than some of the other books in this series, and didn't pack quite the emotional punch of my favourites, but it was still enjoyable and deeply meaningful.
Book six revolves around Regan, a young intersex girl who loves horses with all her heart. As a former horse girl myself, I can relate to Regan. Horses are awesome. She is also struggling with toxic friendships, bullying, and shame. Also exceedingly relatable. Growing up is rough.
When Regan finds her door she walks into a magical land full of horse-like creatures and learns that the best way for her to fit in is to be her truest self.
I thought this book was lovely. It read a bit younger than some of the other books in this series, and didn't pack quite the emotional punch of my favourites, but it was still enjoyable and deeply meaningful.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Violence, Death, and Kidnapping
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America by Tracey Baptiste, Ibi Zoboi, Coe Booth
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
I haven't read many anthologies in my life, and there's a good reason. I generally struggle with short stories (typically wanting more depth from them) and a collection of several, especially written by different authors and only tangentially related in theme, has the tendency to leave me feeling a bit overwhelmed and disconnected. That being said, Black Enough was a beautiful illustration of the diversity in the Black community, especially amongst teens. Exploring discovery of self and sexual orientation, identity and belonging, religion and freedom, community and family, trauma and loss, and more, this anthology has so much to share about the Black experience - in all its shapes and shades and frequencies.
As is to be expected, some of the stories resonated more deeply than others. Those that grabbed my heart the most were:
- Half A Moon by Renée Watson
- Oreo by Brandy Colbert
- Wild Horses, Wild Hearts by Jay Coles
- Gravity by Tracey Baptiste
- The Trouble With Drowning by Dhonielle Clayton
Gravity, especially, caught my attention. Baptiste uses stunning language to describe what is ultimately a single moment in time, a moment that drags on forever as a girl's thoughts race - coming to terms with what is happening to her, what it means, and what she can do to protect herself as she is "about to come back down to earth where all things fall apart, another fact of physics. Because it is the hardness of the floor, and the abrupt halt in momentum, and the unyielding nature of the surface, that causes a thing to crack. Even if it is not that thing's fault. And then we talk about this thing being broken, or it needing to be fixed, and not what part of the floor has played in the matter. Never the part about the floor being a constant threat. Even if it is a nice floor. Even if everybody wants one just like it.”
It was just beautiful and pulled me in more effectively than any other story in the collection.
My individual ratings for each story vary from 2-5 stars with the average rating coming in at 3.5, so I am rounded up to 4 stars.
I think this anthology is well worth the read but would recommend going into it knowing that some stories will resonate much deeper than others (and they likely won't be the same stories that grabbed me or anyone else)!
Trigger Warnings: bullying, slut-shaming, sexual harassment and assault, abortion, racism, homophobia, self-harm, suicide
As is to be expected, some of the stories resonated more deeply than others. Those that grabbed my heart the most were:
- Half A Moon by Renée Watson
- Oreo by Brandy Colbert
- Wild Horses, Wild Hearts by Jay Coles
- Gravity by Tracey Baptiste
- The Trouble With Drowning by Dhonielle Clayton
Gravity, especially, caught my attention. Baptiste uses stunning language to describe what is ultimately a single moment in time, a moment that drags on forever as a girl's thoughts race - coming to terms with what is happening to her, what it means, and what she can do to protect herself as she is "about to come back down to earth where all things fall apart, another fact of physics. Because it is the hardness of the floor, and the abrupt halt in momentum, and the unyielding nature of the surface, that causes a thing to crack. Even if it is not that thing's fault. And then we talk about this thing being broken, or it needing to be fixed, and not what part of the floor has played in the matter. Never the part about the floor being a constant threat. Even if it is a nice floor. Even if everybody wants one just like it.”
It was just beautiful and pulled me in more effectively than any other story in the collection.
My individual ratings for each story vary from 2-5 stars with the average rating coming in at 3.5, so I am rounded up to 4 stars.
I think this anthology is well worth the read but would recommend going into it knowing that some stories will resonate much deeper than others (and they likely won't be the same stories that grabbed me or anyone else)!
Trigger Warnings: bullying, slut-shaming, sexual harassment and assault, abortion, racism, homophobia, self-harm, suicide
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual assault, Racism, Homophobia, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion and Self harm
Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Grown is an unsettling cautionary tale that explores the grooming, abuse, and assault of underage girls by men in power. Inspired by R. Kelly, Korey is a superstar with charm and charisma who lures Enchanted in with love bombs then flips and exerts control on all aspects of her life, isolating her from her family and destroying her sense of self.
It is so vital that young people read stories like this before they find themselves in a similar situation. I have lost count of the number of people I have known (especially in the entertainment industry) who have been the victim of grooming and/or manipulation and abuse by people with the power to launch careers. Those with money and influence holding a young and naive creative person hostage, dangling their dreams just out of reach. It's disgusting and all too common, as the #metoo movement has demonstrated.
This book is not an easy read by any means, but it covers so much ground and could help young people recognize the signs of abusive and unsafe behaviour before it's too late.
Thank you to Tiffany D. Jackson for including trigger warnings at the start of this book. Stories like these are vital but can bring back trauma for those who have been victims of this kind of abuse. They should be packaged in such a way that allows the reader to make informed decisions about when and if they can consume the content.
Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse and assault of minors, rape of minors, child abuse and physical assault of minors, kidnapping, drugging, ephebophilia, verbal abuse and gaslighting, violence, murder, blood, slut-shaming, victim-blaming
It is so vital that young people read stories like this before they find themselves in a similar situation. I have lost count of the number of people I have known (especially in the entertainment industry) who have been the victim of grooming and/or manipulation and abuse by people with the power to launch careers. Those with money and influence holding a young and naive creative person hostage, dangling their dreams just out of reach. It's disgusting and all too common, as the #metoo movement has demonstrated.
This book is not an easy read by any means, but it covers so much ground and could help young people recognize the signs of abusive and unsafe behaviour before it's too late.
Thank you to Tiffany D. Jackson for including trigger warnings at the start of this book. Stories like these are vital but can bring back trauma for those who have been victims of this kind of abuse. They should be packaged in such a way that allows the reader to make informed decisions about when and if they can consume the content.
Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse and assault of minors, rape of minors, child abuse and physical assault of minors, kidnapping, drugging, ephebophilia, verbal abuse and gaslighting, violence, murder, blood, slut-shaming, victim-blaming
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Kidnapping, Death, Violence, and Sexual violence
A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel
A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel is, in my opinion, a fascinating blend of historical and science fiction with a dash of action and adventure. This first installment in what is to become a series focuses on mother and daughter duo Sarah and Mia Freed, the 99. They are the descendants of a line of women, the Kibsu, with a shared face and single-minded purpose - to take humanity to the stars. But who are the Kibsu, really? And why did they come to Earth in the first place?
I wasn't sure how to feel about this decidedly unique tale when I first picked it up. While I was intrigued by the premise and the author's clearly extensive research, the writing felt choppy and dispassionate - as if I was being held at arm's length from the narrative.
But at some point, maybe a third of the way in, I realized I had become deeply invested in the characters and their mission. Mia, especially, felt deeply human (though her humanity is perhaps in question) and real. She struggles with the path laid out for her by her mother, Sarah, with very little explanation. She agonizes over the violence she has seen and participated in. She wonders if humanity is truly deserving of their help or beyond redemption. And along with these larger questions of morality and purpose, she goes through the same coming of age experiences so many of us have shared - who is she, really, and what does she want out of life?
While Mia was by far my favourite character, there were several others of interest throughout the novel. In fact, even characters with comparatively little page time such as Von Braun, The Tracker, Hsue-Shen, Billie, and Korolev jumped off the page and straight into my imagination. There are no "good" and "bad" guys in the novel, only shades of grey - and that is exceptionally interesting to read.
This story is set predominantly in Germany and Russia from the end of the Second World War through the Cold War and has a clear focus on rocket science. I can't say I have ever read a work of fiction that told the history of the development of modern space travel from this perspective, but I have certainly had my appetite whetted for it!
Interspersed between chapters continuing the primary narrative is a series of Entr'actes exploring past generations of the Kibsu. These Entr'actes were wonderfully immersive vignettes adding depth and nuance to our understanding of these women and their place in history, and I loved them all. They do, however, tend to be extremely violent (as does the primary timeline), so please keep that in mind and check content warnings if you need them (I have included some at the end of my review).
I discovered after finishing the book that there is a playlist associated with it - one song per chapter. I would highly recommend listening to the playlist while reading, as each song evokes the time, place, and mood of each chapter in a delectable way! I ended up skimming through the book again as I listened to get the full experience, and it was just wonderful. I have a feeling that if I had known of the playlist and listened along the first time through, I may have enjoyed the early portion of the book much more.
I would highly recommend this novel to Sci-Fi and history lovers who have an interest in the exploration of human nature and the development of the technology required for space flight. It is perhaps a niche concept and likely won't work for everyone, but for those of us it does work for this could easily become a new favourite! I know I can't wait to read the rest of the series when it becomes available.
Trigger warnings: Suicide, murder, violence, extreme gore, body horror, the Holocaust, war, homophobia and conversation therapy, torture, imprisonment, racism, miscarriage, sexual assault
Thank you to NetGalley for proving an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel is, in my opinion, a fascinating blend of historical and science fiction with a dash of action and adventure. This first installment in what is to become a series focuses on mother and daughter duo Sarah and Mia Freed, the 99. They are the descendants of a line of women, the Kibsu, with a shared face and single-minded purpose - to take humanity to the stars. But who are the Kibsu, really? And why did they come to Earth in the first place?
I wasn't sure how to feel about this decidedly unique tale when I first picked it up. While I was intrigued by the premise and the author's clearly extensive research, the writing felt choppy and dispassionate - as if I was being held at arm's length from the narrative.
But at some point, maybe a third of the way in, I realized I had become deeply invested in the characters and their mission. Mia, especially, felt deeply human (though her humanity is perhaps in question) and real. She struggles with the path laid out for her by her mother, Sarah, with very little explanation. She agonizes over the violence she has seen and participated in. She wonders if humanity is truly deserving of their help or beyond redemption. And along with these larger questions of morality and purpose, she goes through the same coming of age experiences so many of us have shared - who is she, really, and what does she want out of life?
While Mia was by far my favourite character, there were several others of interest throughout the novel. In fact, even characters with comparatively little page time such as Von Braun, The Tracker, Hsue-Shen, Billie, and Korolev jumped off the page and straight into my imagination. There are no "good" and "bad" guys in the novel, only shades of grey - and that is exceptionally interesting to read.
This story is set predominantly in Germany and Russia from the end of the Second World War through the Cold War and has a clear focus on rocket science. I can't say I have ever read a work of fiction that told the history of the development of modern space travel from this perspective, but I have certainly had my appetite whetted for it!
Interspersed between chapters continuing the primary narrative is a series of Entr'actes exploring past generations of the Kibsu. These Entr'actes were wonderfully immersive vignettes adding depth and nuance to our understanding of these women and their place in history, and I loved them all. They do, however, tend to be extremely violent (as does the primary timeline), so please keep that in mind and check content warnings if you need them (I have included some at the end of my review).
I discovered after finishing the book that there is a playlist associated with it - one song per chapter. I would highly recommend listening to the playlist while reading, as each song evokes the time, place, and mood of each chapter in a delectable way! I ended up skimming through the book again as I listened to get the full experience, and it was just wonderful. I have a feeling that if I had known of the playlist and listened along the first time through, I may have enjoyed the early portion of the book much more.
I would highly recommend this novel to Sci-Fi and history lovers who have an interest in the exploration of human nature and the development of the technology required for space flight. It is perhaps a niche concept and likely won't work for everyone, but for those of us it does work for this could easily become a new favourite! I know I can't wait to read the rest of the series when it becomes available.
Trigger warnings: Suicide, murder, violence, extreme gore, body horror, the Holocaust, war, homophobia and conversation therapy, torture, imprisonment, racism, miscarriage, sexual assault
Thank you to NetGalley for proving an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Blood, Gore, Miscarriage, and Homophobia
They Said This Would Be Fun: Race, Campus Life, and Growing Up by Eternity Martis
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Eternity was told she would have fun at Western - the quintessential Canadian party school. But what she experienced was anything but.
As a Canadian with connections to Western (I didn't attend but friends and family did), this book really hit home. We, in Canada, are great at ignoring our race issues and feeling superior to America in terms of racism. But we are not immune. In fact, we have a long history (and present) of severe racism and oppression.
We also have serious issues with sexism and misogyny, of which I've experienced more than I care to remember. College is a dangerous time for many young women and can be a source of long-lasting trauma for those of us who make it through.
Eternity's raw and honest retelling of her experiences with racism, misogyny, and misogynoir as a mixed-race woman of colour at Western was eye-opening and infuriating. I was so angry and worried for her throughout. No one deserves to be treated as she was, and she is sadly not alone.
They Said This Would Be Fun is a poignant reminder that "for so long young people have been infantilized and shamed for talking about the things that affect us. We’re told we haven’t worked long enough, lived long enough, been through enough to have our own pain validated."
But I share Eternity's hope that "this book will be an urgent reminder that dismissing the experiences of young people today will have serious permanent implications for our entire society."
A must-read for my fellow Canadians with an ending that had me in tears, this book is well worth your time.
Hear me talk about my thoughts on this book while creating a spread for it in my reading journal here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45F0dob7MS4
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, sexual harassment, misogyny, misogynoir, racism, black face, gaslighting, domestic abuse
You can find me on...
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/plantbasedbride">Youtube</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elizabethturn/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethTurn">Twitter</a>
As a Canadian with connections to Western (I didn't attend but friends and family did), this book really hit home. We, in Canada, are great at ignoring our race issues and feeling superior to America in terms of racism. But we are not immune. In fact, we have a long history (and present) of severe racism and oppression.
We also have serious issues with sexism and misogyny, of which I've experienced more than I care to remember. College is a dangerous time for many young women and can be a source of long-lasting trauma for those of us who make it through.
Eternity's raw and honest retelling of her experiences with racism, misogyny, and misogynoir as a mixed-race woman of colour at Western was eye-opening and infuriating. I was so angry and worried for her throughout. No one deserves to be treated as she was, and she is sadly not alone.
They Said This Would Be Fun is a poignant reminder that "for so long young people have been infantilized and shamed for talking about the things that affect us. We’re told we haven’t worked long enough, lived long enough, been through enough to have our own pain validated."
But I share Eternity's hope that "this book will be an urgent reminder that dismissing the experiences of young people today will have serious permanent implications for our entire society."
A must-read for my fellow Canadians with an ending that had me in tears, this book is well worth your time.
Hear me talk about my thoughts on this book while creating a spread for it in my reading journal here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45F0dob7MS4
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, sexual harassment, misogyny, misogynoir, racism, black face, gaslighting, domestic abuse
You can find me on...
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/plantbasedbride">Youtube</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elizabethturn/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethTurn">Twitter</a>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, and Sexual assault