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sauvageloup's reviews
508 reviews
Wavewalker: Breaking Free by Suzanne Heywood
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
a very gripping and emotional autobiography
pros:
- the book covers a large period of time very smoothly, dealing with a lot of very difficult topics and still finding humour in places. I was rooting for Heywood all the way through.
- she charts her changing relationship with the journey, her parents, and the sea very adeptly, and it made me pretty emotional at times. she shows such incredible strength with her drive to get herself out of this situation she is essentially trapped in, dealing with emotional abuse, neglect, confinement, forced work, abandonment, poverty, near death encounters, loneliness, and depression.
- but she deals with all of these awful things so practically and straight forwardly that it almost doesnt immediately register how awful it is. the time when she was stuck alone in Auckland was the hardest part to read, with how incredibly down she gets amidst impossible circumstances (and absolutely no support from her brother either), and yet still pulls through.
- the writing was easy to read, highly evocative and very compelling. the pictures also really added to the story and imagery.
- I also liked that she tried to track down Wavewalker later in life.
cons:
- not really a con, but I just honestly couldn't believe that she had continued a decent relationship with her pretty terrible parents until she decided to write the book. I guess it was very hard to deal with what they had done.
in all, a very compelling and moving autobiography about a very unique and difficult childhood and teen years that I will definitely not forget any time soon.
pros:
- the book covers a large period of time very smoothly, dealing with a lot of very difficult topics and still finding humour in places. I was rooting for Heywood all the way through.
- she charts her changing relationship with the journey, her parents, and the sea very adeptly, and it made me pretty emotional at times. she shows such incredible strength with her drive to get herself out of this situation she is essentially trapped in, dealing with emotional abuse, neglect, confinement, forced work, abandonment, poverty, near death encounters, loneliness, and depression.
- but she deals with all of these awful things so practically and straight forwardly that it almost doesnt immediately register how awful it is. the time when she was stuck alone in Auckland was the hardest part to read, with how incredibly down she gets amidst impossible circumstances (and absolutely no support from her brother either), and yet still pulls through.
- the writing was easy to read, highly evocative and very compelling. the pictures also really added to the story and imagery.
- I also liked that she tried to track down Wavewalker later in life.
cons:
- not really a con, but I just honestly couldn't believe that she had continued a decent relationship with her pretty terrible parents until she decided to write the book. I guess it was very hard to deal with what they had done.
in all, a very compelling and moving autobiography about a very unique and difficult childhood and teen years that I will definitely not forget any time soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Abandonment, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Blood, Medical trauma, Confinement, Domestic abuse, and Sexism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Chronic illness, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Cursing, Physical abuse, and Violence
The Wake-Up Call by Beth O'Leary
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
a really fun rom com frolic
pros:
- I liked how there were aspects of both characters that weren't immediately obvious and the other had to learn, and that they both tried harder to be kinder and less snappy, respectively.
- I liked that Lucas fell first and it made sense since izzy had, she believed, been so hurt by him.
- it was funny and angsty, I definitely felt for especially Lucas when he was trying so hard and it wasnt paying off.
- the writing is really gripping and the book just rolls along so well, I read it very fast.
cons:
- they did talk it out but I liked less how Lucas had to sort of seduce her without scaring her off because she couldnt face her own feelings. I felt he should have backed off or been honest, rather than, bevolently, manipulating her.
- I would have also enjoyed a bit more detail on side characters, like Mandy, Ollie, Arjun, Mrs B and Barty, etc. they're all nice but not given much detail. we do get a bit on the Hedgers and Mr Townsend, and a little on Izzy's friends so maybe I'm asking a bit much!
- I also thought the end was a little too good to be true, considering a flood in guest bookings is great, but the hotel was in such dire financial straights that they wouldnt have the cash flow. I suppose with the obvious interest, though, they could get an investor.
overall, a really fun rollicking book that I thoroughly got caught up in. and also called me single in about 300 languages.
pros:
- I liked how there were aspects of both characters that weren't immediately obvious and the other had to learn, and that they both tried harder to be kinder and less snappy, respectively.
- it was funny and angsty, I definitely felt for especially Lucas when he was trying so hard and it wasnt paying off.
- the writing is really gripping and the book just rolls along so well, I read it very fast.
cons:
- I would have also enjoyed a bit more detail on side characters, like Mandy, Ollie, Arjun, Mrs B and Barty, etc. they're all nice but not given much detail. we do get a bit on the Hedgers and Mr Townsend, and a little on Izzy's friends so maybe I'm asking a bit much!
overall, a really fun rollicking book that I thoroughly got caught up in. and also called me single in about 300 languages.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and Cursing
Minor: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Pandemic/Epidemic
This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
a wholly engaging and well written autobiography that I picked up on a whim
pros:
- the writing is clear, fun and includes lots of words I didn't know. it bounces along and jumps from topic to topic in a way that's fun.
- it was very interesting to learn more about Judaism and margoyles' experience of it, her family and her upbringing. for a majority of it, she is more informative than anything and quite moving at times
- I enjoyed all her stories and found her mixture of totally blunt honesty and older person views interesting
- her politics align very much with mine and it was good to hear her views on Israel and Palestine - the book was published in 2021, so she was unfortunately before her time in predicting the war between them.
- i liked hearing her views on fatness, death, beauty and aging, among other not talked about topics. she is wonderfully open about being queer and I liked how she never hid that she'd had relations with men and didnt let loving two men in her life make her any less of a lesbian.
cons:
- at times, I didn't agree with her black and white view, she stresses being kind (quite rightly) but is judgemental against people who use grammar differently, against pop music, Harry Potter fans (fair enough with j k Rowling but she just said the fans were too old for it, despite admitting she'd never seen the films or read the books), and also doesn't believe in coming out to people 'who cant cope with it'. often her stories involved saying something potentially pretty hurtful to someone because of her lack of filter which didnt seem kind.
- the topic jumps were also a bit jarring at times and I felt the first half had much more flow than the second.
- I also got bored when she spoke for a long time about people and scenes, big lists of films and people I had never heard of, but that's probably my age.
overall, I found her interesting and charming and enjoyed learning about her life.
pros:
- the writing is clear, fun and includes lots of words I didn't know. it bounces along and jumps from topic to topic in a way that's fun.
- it was very interesting to learn more about Judaism and margoyles' experience of it, her family and her upbringing. for a majority of it, she is more informative than anything and quite moving at times
- I enjoyed all her stories and found her mixture of totally blunt honesty and older person views interesting
- her politics align very much with mine and it was good to hear her views on Israel and Palestine - the book was published in 2021, so she was unfortunately before her time in predicting the war between them.
- i liked hearing her views on fatness, death, beauty and aging, among other not talked about topics. she is wonderfully open about being queer and I liked how she never hid that she'd had relations with men and didnt let loving two men in her life make her any less of a lesbian.
cons:
- at times, I didn't agree with her black and white view, she stresses being kind (quite rightly) but is judgemental against people who use grammar differently, against pop music, Harry Potter fans (fair enough with j k Rowling but she just said the fans were too old for it, despite admitting she'd never seen the films or read the books), and also doesn't believe in coming out to people 'who cant cope with it'. often her stories involved saying something potentially pretty hurtful to someone because of her lack of filter which didnt seem kind.
- the topic jumps were also a bit jarring at times and I felt the first half had much more flow than the second.
- I also got bored when she spoke for a long time about people and scenes, big lists of films and people I had never heard of, but that's probably my age.
overall, I found her interesting and charming and enjoyed learning about her life.
The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
really enjoyed this book overall, it was very gripping
pros:
- there was a lot of twists and turns from Paige discovering the exact nature of the senshields, Burnish being a spy, the trap in Manchester, the poltergeist in the senshield core being the same one as Paige encountered as a child (I assume), etc. </spoilers>
- it definitely gathered momentum, with the ending being climatic and the riots mirroring Paige's memories; there was a good sense of everything linking together in this book.
- I was gripped by all the drama, even in the earlier parts of the book, and the writing was good, clear and vivid. I liked how Shannon used the slang and created new words, and it felt less muddling in this book. I could definitely imagine the different cities and how they'd been changed by Scion.
- I like how fleshed out the main characters are and how they have their own motivations and wants separate to Paige like Danica running away, Nick wanting to protect Zeke, Maria wanting to burn stuff lol, and the other members of the assembly have different ideas about ruling. And I like that Paige did listen and care about their council
- Of course I enjoyed the magical/spiritual/fantasy aspects, and the angst and whump towards the end which was intense.
cons:
- I felt that the narrative was a bit disjointed with the different events and Paige travelling around the country. She didnt seem to finish what she started in Manchester and it didnt feel very satisfying in the middle of the book, though I was still keen to read it.
- Paige very much frustrated me at the start as she seemed to mess with Warden unnecessarily, pushing him away and back again. it felt like meaningless plot angst without any real reason for it. obviously there is danger from Terebell finding out but she seemed to decide to sack it off for arbitrary reasons.
- certain plot points, like the underground sewer ppl seemed too convenient at times, as well as how Paige received info.
- I felt Paige was foolish a lot of times too with her Manchester trip where she was trying to prove herself due to her pride, and when she "sacrificed" herself at the riots. Even though she had a plan to stick it out and somehow take down senshield while a prisoner, it seemed very flimsy and wouldnt have worked unless for mant lucky breaks, like being sat next to Alsafi. While we can assume she's naive and doing her best, some decisions and lack of insight did frustrate me
but overall, I did enjoy it a lot and will def read the next one.
pros:
- there was a lot of twists and turns
- it definitely gathered momentum, with the ending being climatic and the riots mirroring Paige's memories; there was a good sense of everything linking together in this book.
- I was gripped by all the drama, even in the earlier parts of the book, and the writing was good, clear and vivid. I liked how Shannon used the slang and created new words, and it felt less muddling in this book. I could definitely imagine the different cities and how they'd been changed by Scion.
- I like how fleshed out the main characters are and how they have their own motivations and wants separate to Paige
- Of course I enjoyed the magical/spiritual/fantasy aspects, and the angst and whump towards the end which was intense.
cons:
- I felt that the narrative was a bit disjointed with the different events and Paige travelling around the country. She didnt seem to finish what she started in Manchester and it didnt feel very satisfying in the middle of the book, though I was still keen to read it.
- Paige very much frustrated me at the start
- certain plot points, like the underground sewer ppl seemed too convenient at times, as well as how Paige received info.
- I felt Paige was foolish a lot of times too
but overall, I did enjoy it a lot and will def read the next one.
The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a big bang of a second book! everything ratchets up a notch in this one.
pros:
- very gripping! I read this in two halves - a library copy in Newcastle and an ebook borrowed from my friend in Birmingham - and I was hooked on the book throughout.
- the pacing felt so much better than book 1, which seemed to tumble from one event to another. this one swelled in tension all the way through, steadily building to the finale, the scrimmage, Paige's win and the big reveal of Jaxon's betrayal.
- the mystery was gripping in itself, as Paige tried to figure out who killed Hector, the role of Cutmouth and Ivy, who the Rag and Bone man is and what his role is, the deceit of the Abess, etc. All of these steadily revealed themselves in a way that felt both natural and compelling.
- Shannon's writing felt just as good, if not better, the settings painted vividly and the tension set very well. The fight at the scrimmage was really well written, better than fight scenes in book 1 I think, both clear and gripping.
- I liked that Warden gave us some more background context when it came to his history and the history of how the Rephaim got involved with human affairs.
cons:
- again, I did get muddled with the sheer amount of terms, worldbuilding and characters. I forgot the names of the voyants who made it out of the penal colony and I dont really remember who the Wicked lady was, except with how she appeared near the end as a puppet for the abbess and rag and bone man. I lost track of Paige's powers and the others' a bit too.
- I felt that the characters relationships definitely took a massive step back in this one, which was primarily about Paige figuring stuff out and coming into her power. her relationships pretty much all stayed the same and even her time with Warden didnt even result in more than a forbidden kiss and Paige still calls him Warden for some reason.
overall, a very good and gripping follow up to book 1 and I cant wait to read the next one!
pros:
- very gripping! I read this in two halves - a library copy in Newcastle and an ebook borrowed from my friend in Birmingham - and I was hooked on the book throughout.
- the pacing felt so much better than book 1, which seemed to tumble from one event to another. this one swelled in tension all the way through, steadily building to the finale,
- the mystery was gripping in itself, as Paige tried to figure out
- Shannon's writing felt just as good, if not better, the settings painted vividly and the tension set very well.
- I liked that Warden gave us some more background context when it came to his history and the history of how the Rephaim got involved with human affairs.
cons:
- again, I did get muddled with the sheer amount of terms, worldbuilding and characters. I forgot the names of the voyants who made it out of the penal colony and
- I felt that the characters relationships definitely took a massive step back in this one, which was primarily about Paige figuring stuff out and coming into her power.
overall, a very good and gripping follow up to book 1 and I cant wait to read the next one!
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
a solidly good book, pretty gripping and will read the next one
pros:
- the worldbuilding is very imaginative, with the whole mix of clairvoyance, angels, emim, ghosts/poltergeists and rephaium. I liked all the different types of clairvoyance and reading about Paige using her gift. the Rephs were also imaginative, seeming to be a strange mix of vampire/angel/demon/clairvoyant.
- I thought the main relationships, friendship and romance, were nicely built up and not rushed, but sign posted well. I did expect that Warden would be the love interest, but it developed nice and slowly and I could see why Paige began to trust him slowly.
- the writing was overall clear and gripping with moments of being poetic. i wanted to keep reading, once I was 50 or so pages in.
- I did like the side characters, Liss, julian, seb and Michael were all interesting.
cons:
- the biggest issue I think was the feeling that the plot wandered too much. it felt like we tumbled from one event to another without any particular structure, and so the tension felt off, as big events happened without any build up.
- lost track of who everyone was with such a big cast, and I was also still unsure about what exact powers paige and the rephs had.
- it felt like there were a lot of holes in explanations, with a lot of slang used without being explained. a certain amount makes sense, but I feel that it tipped over into too much. i had a lot of questions and even when there were answers, they seemed somewhat arbitrary. also why was Arcturus still being called Warden at the end?
- there was also a big worldbuilding dump at the start, which I was told about and wasnt too bad, but it definitely could've been handled smoother.
- I know that this was written in 2013, so it's not really surprising, but there were serious issues with the age gaps in Paige's relationships, with Nick driving away with her from school when shes like 15? and Arcturus being very very much older.
- also, if I'm being honest, I didnt find paige very interesting. yes shes spunky and she is shown as being kind to Seb, Liss and Julian, and yet she still felt extremely 2D, I didnt really feel for her as a full person and the emotional impact of some events was definitely lessened bc of it.
(- I'm definitely curious to see what Shannon changed in her new rewriting of the book)
overall, a gripping and pretty original thriller, but with some shaky plotting and too big cast. but I've got the mime order and will most likely be reading it!
pros:
- the worldbuilding is very imaginative, with the whole mix of clairvoyance, angels, emim, ghosts/poltergeists and rephaium. I liked all the different types of clairvoyance and reading about Paige using her gift. the Rephs were also imaginative, seeming to be a strange mix of vampire/angel/demon/clairvoyant.
- I thought the main relationships, friendship and romance, were nicely built up and not rushed, but sign posted well.
- the writing was overall clear and gripping with moments of being poetic. i wanted to keep reading, once I was 50 or so pages in.
- I did like the side characters, Liss, julian, seb and Michael were all interesting.
cons:
- the biggest issue I think was the feeling that the plot wandered too much. it felt like we tumbled from one event to another without any particular structure, and so the tension felt off, as big events happened without any build up.
- lost track of who everyone was with such a big cast, and I was also still unsure about what exact powers paige and the rephs had.
- it felt like there were a lot of holes in explanations, with a lot of slang used without being explained. a certain amount makes sense, but I feel that it tipped over into too much. i had a lot of questions and even when there were answers, they seemed somewhat arbitrary. also why was Arcturus still being called Warden at the end?
- there was also a big worldbuilding dump at the start, which I was told about and wasnt too bad, but it definitely could've been handled smoother.
- also, if I'm being honest, I didnt find paige very interesting. yes shes spunky and she is shown as being kind to Seb, Liss and Julian, and yet she still felt extremely 2D, I didnt really feel for her as a full person and the emotional impact of some events was definitely lessened bc of it.
(- I'm definitely curious to see what Shannon changed in her new rewriting of the book)
overall, a gripping and pretty original thriller, but with some shaky plotting and too big cast. but I've got the mime order and will most likely be reading it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, Grief, Kidnapping, Body horror, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, War, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Slavery, Drug use, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Torture, and Violence
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I whistled through these very disturbing little stories.
pros:
- they're definitely gripping, and the writing style is sparse but clear and evocative, with the descriptions being vivid.
- the stories felt self contained and satisfying overall, even as many ended in tragedy.
- the last book of short stories I read, i struggled to jump from one story to another, maybe because they were so different and by different people. this one wasnt like that at all, and i had no problem reading straight through, pretty much.
- i liked the variety in length and themes of the stories, from birth horror, to supernatural, to fantasy fairy tale and modern criticisms on feminism and capitalism. i think i mainly read very on the surface and didnt look hard at metaphors and such, a reread might help me see this more.
- I liked the sheer imagination though and how Chung makes you care for characters who often arent even given a name.
cons:
- the first two stories especially, but a lot of them overall, were pretty horrible and graphic. they did their job in making you feel things! but it reminded me too much of just horrible nightmares and intrusive thoughts and I wouldnt read those two again.
- I also felt there was generally a lack of hope in the stories, but that's personal taste I guess.
overall, well written and gripping but too horror for me and dont think I'll seek out more of her work, but I might reread this in time.
pros:
- they're definitely gripping, and the writing style is sparse but clear and evocative, with the descriptions being vivid.
- the stories felt self contained and satisfying overall, even as many ended in tragedy.
- the last book of short stories I read, i struggled to jump from one story to another, maybe because they were so different and by different people. this one wasnt like that at all, and i had no problem reading straight through, pretty much.
- i liked the variety in length and themes of the stories, from birth horror, to supernatural, to fantasy fairy tale and modern criticisms on feminism and capitalism. i think i mainly read very on the surface and didnt look hard at metaphors and such, a reread might help me see this more.
- I liked the sheer imagination though and how Chung makes you care for characters who often arent even given a name.
cons:
- the first two stories especially, but a lot of them overall, were pretty horrible and graphic. they did their job in making you feel things! but it reminded me too much of just horrible nightmares and intrusive thoughts and I wouldnt read those two again.
- I also felt there was generally a lack of hope in the stories, but that's personal taste I guess.
overall, well written and gripping but too horror for me and dont think I'll seek out more of her work, but I might reread this in time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infertility, Car accident, Incest, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Child death, Grief, Gore, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Bullying, Medical trauma, Sexism, Violence, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Slavery, Toxic friendship, Torture, Pregnancy, Body horror, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
one of the gay characters ends up dead by accidental overdose, and there is the threat of hanging
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I picked this up because it was on sale in Blackwell's and just liked the sound of it. Damn, I'm glad I did!
pros:
- writing is poignant, powerful and weaves a compelling narrative, while never being especially verbose or wandering too far. The dialogue felt real enough for the period, but still intense and readable.
- the characters were all brilliant, they come to life gradually and several change over the period of the story, sophey from cruel to an ally, Nethe from cold to loving, henne from a decent man (in comparison to Plater) to cold and unlocking although many of these are more the revealing of the true character that had been buried by trauma (apart from the latter of course).
- Lisbet showed great growth both through her own bravery and strength, and through Eren, Nethe, Ida, Friedrich and Sophey's support of her. She is able to let go of her lifelong guilt, her grief for her mother, she is able to believe that she deserves better than Henne, she accepts and loves both a 'Turk' and a 'sodomite', because of who they are as people, and these are all huge things for her and yet the growth felt right and natural
- the setting, the history and the depiction of the dancing mania was all extremely evocative and intense, I could picture it all so well and you feel as if you're down there in the pulsing, dangerous crowds, or drowning in the smell of melting beeswax.
- lisbet's alliance with the bees and later the dog, Ulf, added another beautiful layer to her character and her skills as a beekeeper helped her realise her own worth, beyond being a wife and a mother.
- I loved the women's friendships, Lisbet's true love for Ida despite her mixture of jealousy and awe towards her friend, and Nethe's developing care and love for Lisbet, despite her initial fear of closeness.
- the significant tragedies of the book are balanced with successes, which stopped me from feeling betrayed at the end, which I sometimes am with tragic books. bitter sweet, I can do!
- Plater's grim awfulness is written in a way that is familiar but still ghastly, and the dread of his arrival is tangible every time he arrives.
cons:
- it did plague me a few times that despite Lisbet's obvious love of Ida's children, she does leave them alone several times, when going to the forest or with Eren. I suppose we assume they are safe with the eldest daughter and ida's father, but I thought it odd that Lisbet didnt spare a thought
- also wish that the role of the eldest daughter as a replacement mother might have been examined a little.
- I wish it hadnt ended like that with Eren, though of course I am glad Plater died. but it felt so unfair that Eren was blamed like that (though historically plausible I know) and there was no hint that those two might reunite, I thought. I know we see Lisbet's dissatisfaction with Henne and her love for Nethe, but I wish there had been a hint of the future. how could the two women leave now theyve got not just Lisbet's baby but all of Ida's children too? that's not ideal for running after Eren. so that was a bit of a shame.
- it was of course upsetting, though somewhat expected from how saintly she is set up as, that Ida died. as Lisbet and Eren survived, couldnt Nethe and Ida have? it fitted with the story ofc, but it's a shame that it continues the 'bury your gays'
overall, I truly loved this haunting, sad, and powerful historical novel about the power of female friendship and love against loss, hardships and intolerance.
pros:
- writing is poignant, powerful and weaves a compelling narrative, while never being especially verbose or wandering too far. The dialogue felt real enough for the period, but still intense and readable.
- the characters were all brilliant, they come to life gradually and several change over the period of the story,
- Lisbet showed great growth
- the setting, the history and the depiction of the dancing mania was all extremely evocative and intense, I could picture it all so well and you feel as if you're down there in the pulsing, dangerous crowds, or drowning in the smell of melting beeswax.
- lisbet's alliance with the bees and later the dog, Ulf, added another beautiful layer to her character and her skills as a beekeeper helped her realise her own worth, beyond being a wife and a mother.
- I loved the women's friendships, Lisbet's true love for Ida despite her mixture of jealousy and awe towards her friend, and Nethe's developing care and love for Lisbet, despite her initial fear of closeness.
- the significant tragedies of the book are balanced with successes, which stopped me from feeling betrayed at the end, which I sometimes am with tragic books. bitter sweet, I can do!
- Plater's grim awfulness is written in a way that is familiar but still ghastly, and the dread of his arrival is tangible every time he arrives.
cons:
-
- also wish that the role of the eldest daughter as a replacement mother might have been examined a little.
-
- it was of course upsetting, though somewhat expected from how saintly she is set up as, that Ida died. as Lisbet and Eren survived, couldnt Nethe and Ida have? it fitted with the story ofc, but it's a shame that it continues the 'bury your gays'
overall, I truly loved this haunting, sad, and powerful historical novel about the power of female friendship and love against loss, hardships and intolerance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Hate crime, Infertility, Lesbophobia, Sexism, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Violence, Death of parent, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Outing, Child death, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Xenophobia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Racism, Terminal illness, War, and Bullying
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Addiction, Police brutality, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Medical content
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
a really fascinating and informative book
pros:
- a lot of really interesting information throughout, on fungi (obviously), lichen, ecosystems, the history of evolution, and how mycology is studied and used today.
- 90% of it I didnt know, but was explained in very accessible terms, with everything clearly defined. the footnotes were more complex and required some googling, but were also very interesting.
- I liked how he talked us through the development of the field, and the history of how fungi helped the rest of the world grow, exploring older lines of thought before bringing us to the present.
- the environmental applications for fungi tech is huge, and theres still so much unknown, it creates both frustration and excitement, as Sheldrake says.
- the writing is poetic and striking, making use of visual language, his own experiences and emotions, complex and far ranging metaphors, and how they affect how we view fungi.
- I liked how he pulled from everything from neural networks, to queer theory to computing, it was interesting to view fungi from all different sides.
- I also really enjoyed the section on radical mycology, with the teams of amateur mycologists around the world coming together to help with discoveries and creating environmental solutions.
cons:
- I felt at times that Sheldrake's biases came through, that sometimes he gave options of different theories or thoughts, but not always, and he seemed to dismiss some very fast. I would have been interested to read some more contradictory arguments.
- sometimes I did get confused, the writing was academic in places, but I think that's fair, it's an in depth book. the metaphors were maybe a little strong at times, but mostly I enjoyed them.
- I would have enjoyed more pictures or illustrations (though the ones we got were great), so I can understand why he's put out an illustrated version.
overall, fascinating facts and exploration of a huge range of topics - fungi is really so wide and Sheldrake did a great deep dive into lots of aspects. would certainly read other books like it, or more of his work.
pros:
- a lot of really interesting information throughout, on fungi (obviously), lichen, ecosystems, the history of evolution, and how mycology is studied and used today.
- 90% of it I didnt know, but was explained in very accessible terms, with everything clearly defined. the footnotes were more complex and required some googling, but were also very interesting.
- I liked how he talked us through the development of the field, and the history of how fungi helped the rest of the world grow, exploring older lines of thought before bringing us to the present.
- the environmental applications for fungi tech is huge, and theres still so much unknown, it creates both frustration and excitement, as Sheldrake says.
- the writing is poetic and striking, making use of visual language, his own experiences and emotions, complex and far ranging metaphors, and how they affect how we view fungi.
- I liked how he pulled from everything from neural networks, to queer theory to computing, it was interesting to view fungi from all different sides.
- I also really enjoyed the section on radical mycology, with the teams of amateur mycologists around the world coming together to help with discoveries and creating environmental solutions.
cons:
- I felt at times that Sheldrake's biases came through, that sometimes he gave options of different theories or thoughts, but not always, and he seemed to dismiss some very fast. I would have been interested to read some more contradictory arguments.
- sometimes I did get confused, the writing was academic in places, but I think that's fair, it's an in depth book. the metaphors were maybe a little strong at times, but mostly I enjoyed them.
- I would have enjoyed more pictures or illustrations (though the ones we got were great), so I can understand why he's put out an illustrated version.
overall, fascinating facts and exploration of a huge range of topics - fungi is really so wide and Sheldrake did a great deep dive into lots of aspects. would certainly read other books like it, or more of his work.
Infamous by Lex Croucher
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
a brilliant romp, feeling new and fresh even when treading on well worn paths, and with emotional depth.
pros:
- the writing flows well, is light and amusing and plows along with all Eddie' eagerness. I liked the banter and the dialogue, the descriptions were visual and conjured up vivid scenes, especially Saint Bede's island in the dark, Rose's appearance, the clothing, the crumbling house, etc.
- I really liked Eddie and Rose as main characters, and all the side characters are fleshed out and real, with all their depths and foibles. Eddie is very much an unreliable narrator and its through her eyes we get to realise that Albert is a decent guy and Nash is the worst. Though the signs for the reader are all there, it's still gripping to see how itll unfold and satisfying when Eddie realises.
- the characters of Kitty, Valentine, Dayo, Liza, Albert, etc. all had their own motivations and quirks, and their own relationship with the other characters, including Nash. Dayo's campaign to bring about abolition was a good inclusion, and we got to hear about Kitty's passion for painting, Albert's rabbits (a reoccurring joke that I nonetheless thought wholesome). Juno the dog was even a fun character in herself, though I rather expected her to dig up some ominous bone or get stuck or find a ghost in the forest.
- I liked the setting and the Regency time period, with the contrasts of different levels of proprietary and the dropping in of real historical people, like Shelley and Byron.
- Even though I feel most twists were fairly evident: that Nash only wanted to have sex with Eddie, that she and rose were in love, that Nash had stolen the manuscript, the maid being murdered by Nash's father, etc.. I still managed to be surprised by others, like Albert being gay (which I really should have seen coming), the murdered maid being Henry's mother, Nash publishing Eddie's manuscript, etc. which were fun to discover.
- I liked Eddie and Rose's different journeys and how they found themselves at different times. their friendship/budding romance was so well written, i loved the ebb and flow and the depiction of their tension, quarrels, intimacy, sexual attraction, forgiveness, etc. That was so well done.
cons:
- the start felt slow and a bit shallow. I didnt much like Eddie at all and it was all too Brigerton at that point. it really picked up for me as Eddie got drawn in and the stakes went up, with more dark edges to Nash and debauchery.
- I thought there was a real lack of resolution with Henry and Nash both. I wish Henry could have challenged Nate about the locket, his mother, and the assault. I felt it was glossed over that Nash sexually assaulted Henry, though that threat lingers in the latter half of the book against Eddie. It was left unclear whether anyone got shot with the pistol and I'm not sure Eddie got to see Henry after that. that was a bit of hanging loose end unless we're meant to think that Nash murdered Henry and just cleared him away, which doesn't seem likely, but if it was then....
- it's frustrating that Nash never got any more severe punishment for stealing Eddie's manuscript, lying, cheating on Liza, verbally abusing Eddie, nonconsensually kissing her, and force feeding her drugs... she should have slapped him at least, and then got him denounced in the papers. instead we get a lacklustre end note. guess I'm more vengeful but I definitely didnt feel he got taught any lesson!
but overall, this was a thrilling and gripping ride with great writing and I enjoyed it :)
pros:
- the writing flows well, is light and amusing and plows along with all Eddie' eagerness. I liked the banter and the dialogue, the descriptions were visual and conjured up vivid scenes, especially Saint Bede's island in the dark, Rose's appearance, the clothing, the crumbling house, etc.
- I really liked Eddie and Rose as main characters, and all the side characters are fleshed out and real, with all their depths and foibles.
- the characters of Kitty, Valentine, Dayo, Liza, Albert, etc. all had their own motivations and quirks, and their own relationship with the other characters, including Nash. Dayo's campaign to bring about abolition was a good inclusion, and we got to hear about Kitty's passion for painting, Albert's rabbits (a reoccurring joke that I nonetheless thought wholesome). Juno the dog was even a fun character in herself, though I rather expected her to dig up some ominous bone or get stuck or find a ghost in the forest.
- I liked the setting and the Regency time period, with the contrasts of different levels of proprietary and the dropping in of real historical people, like Shelley and Byron.
-
- I liked Eddie and Rose's different journeys and how they found themselves at different times. their friendship/budding romance was so well written, i loved the ebb and flow and the depiction of their tension, quarrels, intimacy, sexual attraction, forgiveness, etc. That was so well done.
cons:
- the start felt slow and a bit shallow. I didnt much like Eddie at all and it was all too Brigerton at that point. it really picked up for me as Eddie got drawn in and the stakes went up, with more dark edges to Nash and debauchery.
- I thought there was a real lack of resolution with Henry and Nash both. I wish Henry could have challenged Nate about the locket, his mother, and the assault. I felt it was glossed over that Nash sexually assaulted Henry, though that threat lingers in the latter half of the book against Eddie. It was left unclear whether anyone got shot with the pistol and I'm not sure Eddie got to see Henry after that. that was a bit of hanging loose end unless we're meant to think that Nash murdered Henry and just cleared him away, which doesn't seem likely, but if it was then....
- it's frustrating that Nash never got any more severe punishment for stealing Eddie's manuscript, lying, cheating on Liza, verbally abusing Eddie, nonconsensually kissing her, and force feeding her drugs... she should have slapped him at least, and then got him denounced in the papers. instead we get a lacklustre end note. guess I'm more vengeful but I definitely didnt feel he got taught any lesson!
but overall, this was a thrilling and gripping ride with great writing and I enjoyed it :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gaslighting, Cursing, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Vomit, Blood, Classism, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Addiction, Death, and Grief
near drowning