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rachel_faerie's reviews
542 reviews
The Odyssey by Homer
4.0
I had to read the Odyssey in high school and I was the only one in my class to actually enjoy it. Saw this book at Barns & Noble for 5 bucks so I had to get it and reread it. One of my fave classics.
The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones
4.0
Actual rating: 3.75⭐️
I LOVED and also didn't love this book. I love the actual story itself. I found it very unique and gripping. I love the plot / the twist/ and the characters, each character is different. They are so different from each other and yet they all get along and go well together just like real friends. And it also has some nice diversity. This book sort of reminds me of Supernatural but if sam and dean forgot to show up and the people had to figure out how to save themselves. A++ for effort....
HOWEVER: I have some gripes. The cliche wording in some of the descriptions. "The sun was chased away by the clouds" like how many times has that line been used in literature? SOME of her descriptions lacked originality. They weren't all like that though there were some descriptive character building pages that were great. And also "Her heart would have been hammering if she had had one" was used like 4 or 5 times and I don't know if it was supposed to be ironic or not but that annoyed me. Also the VERY FIRST SENTENCE OF THIS BOOK IS SO CORNY. Like why, Emily? Why? You could have just taken out the entire first paragraph and it would have set a better mood to the story right from the beginning.
THAT BEING SAID- I could not put this book down. Like I said from the start I actually enjoyed the story itself, it was different from anything I had ever read and I truly admired the uniqueness as well as having characters who are nothing alike be thrown together and form friendships despite their differences I loved that warm fuzzy friendship-ness part as well. And without spoiling anything Dee's story personally hit home for me and Emily gave me some goose bumps and watery eyes a few times.
I adored this book for its creativity and uniqueness. I just think during the editing process they missed a few opportunities to fine tune the way it was written and just make it that much better, you know? It was like RIIIIGHT on the cusp of being so much better that it's almost painful because I truly truly truly enjoyed this book and I just want it to fulfill its potential.
I LOVED and also didn't love this book. I love the actual story itself. I found it very unique and gripping. I love the plot / the twist/ and the characters, each character is different. They are so different from each other and yet they all get along and go well together just like real friends. And it also has some nice diversity. This book sort of reminds me of Supernatural but if sam and dean forgot to show up and the people had to figure out how to save themselves. A++ for effort....
HOWEVER: I have some gripes. The cliche wording in some of the descriptions. "The sun was chased away by the clouds" like how many times has that line been used in literature? SOME of her descriptions lacked originality. They weren't all like that though there were some descriptive character building pages that were great. And also "Her heart would have been hammering if she had had one" was used like 4 or 5 times and I don't know if it was supposed to be ironic or not but that annoyed me. Also the VERY FIRST SENTENCE OF THIS BOOK IS SO CORNY. Like why, Emily? Why? You could have just taken out the entire first paragraph and it would have set a better mood to the story right from the beginning.
THAT BEING SAID- I could not put this book down. Like I said from the start I actually enjoyed the story itself, it was different from anything I had ever read and I truly admired the uniqueness as well as having characters who are nothing alike be thrown together and form friendships despite their differences I loved that warm fuzzy friendship-ness part as well. And without spoiling anything Dee's story personally hit home for me and Emily gave me some goose bumps and watery eyes a few times.
I adored this book for its creativity and uniqueness. I just think during the editing process they missed a few opportunities to fine tune the way it was written and just make it that much better, you know? It was like RIIIIGHT on the cusp of being so much better that it's almost painful because I truly truly truly enjoyed this book and I just want it to fulfill its potential.
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
4.25
THIS WAS SO GOOD. As someone who suffers from anxiety on a varying scale I know how it feels to be one various ends of the spiral. John Green is honestly amazing with being able to put real life feelings into physical black and white words. Loved loved loved.
I Am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll
3.0
The first 60% of this book felt so predictable and also reminded me a LOT of The Girl on the Train. The only thing I will commend this book on was there was definitely a twist I did not see coming. That twist in the end gave this an extra star for me I was really teetering on 1/2 stars.
Also I just found the whole premise of the beginning of the book ridiculous. This woman sees 2 young girls talking to 2 boys who just got out of prison on a train. One girl goes missing and she takes responsibility because she "didn't call their parents to warn them." Keep in mind she doesn't know who these girls are nor how to get in contact with their parents so thats not plausible. Also if that were the case then every single person on the train should be at fault. There was bound to be at least ONE other person who saw/ heard them talking. Especially given that the witness wasn't even the one sitting the closest to them on the train. I dont know I just thought that whole beginning plot structure was ludicrous. And then the story and character building for the next like 20% of the book after this ridiculous plot beginning felt so forced. Like the narrator told us things instead of showed us and I just wasn't a huge fan.
Also I just found the whole premise of the beginning of the book ridiculous. This woman sees 2 young girls talking to 2 boys who just got out of prison on a train. One girl goes missing and she takes responsibility because she "didn't call their parents to warn them." Keep in mind she doesn't know who these girls are nor how to get in contact with their parents so thats not plausible. Also if that were the case then every single person on the train should be at fault. There was bound to be at least ONE other person who saw/ heard them talking. Especially given that the witness wasn't even the one sitting the closest to them on the train. I dont know I just thought that whole beginning plot structure was ludicrous. And then the story and character building for the next like 20% of the book after this ridiculous plot beginning felt so forced. Like the narrator told us things instead of showed us and I just wasn't a huge fan.
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
4.0
4 ⭐️ I listened to this book on audiobook and the narration was fantastic. Usually male voices annoy me because they sound fake but this narrator was brilliant. I loved this story! I laughed. I cried. I rolled my eyes. I identify with Leonard on so many levels. His mom reminds me of my own. The way he feels like an outsider. I felt like I was Leonard Peacock. And I loved his teacher. I had a teacher like him in high school and it really does make all the difference.
The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston
DNF- This book seemed beautiful from the synopsis but about 100 pages in and literally nothing of importance has happened to progress the plot. Like a bunch of random shit happened but none of it seemed important and the chapters alternate perspectives but also alternate POV and it’s hard to follow and I’d rather spend time reading books I will enjoy and be invested in.
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti
I borrowed this audiobook from my library and I got 60% of the way through and had 15 days left to return it but apparently they removed the audiobook from their online website sooooo I haven't finished this book. Marking it as done because I wasn't particularly enjoying the book anyways?? And I probably won't be seeking out another copy to finish it. The narration wasn't horrible just wasn't particularly captivated by the story. Nothing was really happening tbh so I'm not too upset over not being able to finish the audiobook. On to the next!!
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
4.0
3.75 ⭐️ not what I was expecting going into the story but still enjoyable. I love me some end of the world stories. I only wish the time line was linear for this type of story. I don’t always mind when time is changed between past and present but something of end of the world stories always makes me want to read everything in a linear sequence, just my preference. Still a good story, I still enjoyed it. I would probably have liked the physical book better than the audio book but I’ll have to revisit this at a later date.