sarah2438's reviews
1100 reviews

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

4.0

Very interesting look at life in Iran through an underrepresented perspective. Definitely worth a read.

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

1.0

This was so boring and communicated almost nothing. There were some bits about civil rights advancement and the relationship between Mary and Eleanor, but honestly even that was lacking. It was just two ladies talking the entire time. Huge historical events (like Pearl Harbor, rising tensions in Europe) were completely glossed over with just a paragraph or two. I understand that's not what we're intending to focus on with this story, but seriously? So boring and I didn't care about any of it. I'm almost resentful to the Book Nerd Challenge for making me read this.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

4.0

FINALLY a good one from this author. Probably not good enough to make me want to read something else from her but I did really enjoy this one.

The Ghost Cat by Alex Howard

1.5

I really, really wish I loved this more. But I would say it's honestly closer to 1.5 stars than 2.
I went into this that it would be a very cozy read about a ghost kitty observing the changes in the world around him. But it was less cozy and more fantasy. I knew right off the bat that this wouldn't work from me when the kitty went to kitty heaven and it honestly reminded me of the cringey CGI werewolves in Breaking Dawn Part 1-- I just couldn't take that seriously. I don't think we needed those parameters/challenges for this story. It would've been enough just have a kitty wake up as a ghost, watching the world change around him. But this was just over complicated and weirdly done. Bummer. 
**I received a free eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

4.0

Glad I finally got to this one! I enjoyed it. I think I would've appreciated more about Elizabeth's relationship with her daughter but that's a pretty small critique.

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

2.0

Good concept but poorly executed. All of the MCs were either awful or bland cardboard. Hannah is whiny and just not a good person. She says she feels bad about sleeping with a married man but I don't believe it for a second. Ugh. I'm glad TJR's writing has improved cause I wouldn't read more of her if this had been my introduction.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

4.0

I think I had built this up in my mind to be something lifechanging, when in reality it was just pretty good. Marcellus will stay in my heart and makes me want to read more books with animal perspectives.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

4.0

So glad I read this with the audiobook because that really helped me with the AAVE. Sad but heartwarming in the end.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

3.0

It feels a bit criminal to not love this, and yet, I did not. This is my first time reading something by Toni Morrison and I wasn't expecting her writing to be so dense. Very poetic at times, but I struggled both with the writing and the narrative of the story-- it was always fluctuating, not linear at all. I'm embarrassed to admit it but Morrison's works may take more careful analysis than I was able to do this time around. Maybe I'll reread this at a later date.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Pedophilia

Artemis by Andy Weir

2.0

So thoroughly unimpressed with Andy Weir. I was bored out of my mind with Project Hail Mary and Artemis was the same way. Generic tough-girl FMC that doesn't actually walk the walk, lots of science I didn't even pretend to understand, and stakes I don't really care about. Technically I still have The Martian on my shelves, but do I even bother? At least this one checked another Book Nerd box.