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raethereviewer's Reviews (869)
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
I don’t know how to put into words how much this novel has fundamentally changed me.
Kaveh Akbar is so prescient in the poetry community and that seems to extend wonderfully into this debut novel. I loved the explorations of addiction, recovery, life, death, and the significance of it all.
Kaveh Akbar is so prescient in the poetry community and that seems to extend wonderfully into this debut novel. I loved the explorations of addiction, recovery, life, death, and the significance of it all.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn’t reread the original series before starting this but I felt instantly transported back to Panem from the very first page. It’s been over 10 years since I read the books but the memories of them flooded back to me and the world that Suzanne Collins has built remains an ever tangible one. Seeing it from Haymitch’s perspective, getting a glimpse of him before, learning how his intentions were misconstrued by the Capitol and President Snow, it all added so much to the original. This isn’t one of those prequels that feels misplaced or incongruent. It brings in context to Haymitch’s character and his later actions that we don’t get to see in the original trilogy. The emphasis on propaganda and media control was well done and this is definitely the kind of book I could see myself handing to a teenager.
I loved how many layers this had. From explorations of grief to aging to why we even want to be in relationships. It was so well done and very steamy.
Finally got around to reading my favorite poets’ favorite poet and I understand the hype now.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was genuinely such a fun read. I enjoyed the way that the history was blended into the narrative and the characterization of Harriet Tubman felt so true to who she was and who she’d be if she magically came back. I hope Bob the Drag Queen continues writing because this was so creative.
This was so different from any other romance I’ve read before. I don’t think calling it a second-chance romance can encapsulate it accurately. This is a love story about learning how to love yourself as an individual when you can only remember yourself as a unit with your partner. It’s about growing through grief. It’s about the importance of a community that you can depend on, even at your lowest. It is truly a work of art.
I finished this in one sitting at a bookstore cafe. My preference still lies with Time is a Mother but so many of these poems made me feel on a visceral level, even when I had trouble understanding the more metaphysical metaphors. This collection is so cohesive and I truly enjoyed the experience of reading it.
I’m beating myself up for taking so many YEARS to read this. It’s been on my shelf collecting dust since it was released only for me to eat it up in two days when I finally crack it open. I absolutely loved the way Nima’s story represents so much of the diaspora experience. There’s an element of magical realism that I wasn’t expecting but was integrated into the novel so well. Safia Elhillo is an amazing poet and an amazing storyteller.
This was perfect for getting me out of my reading slump. Their love story is so cute and beautiful and well-earned. It just has one of my romance icks toward the end but I think it’s handled as best as it could be.
My heart continues to split open for Palestine. Mosab Abu Toha is truly one of the best poets I’ve ever read. I need to add physical copies of his collections to my personal library so I can read and annotate and do it all over again with every single one of these poems.