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splitdice's Reviews (151)
funny
informative
fast-paced
i feel like my biggest critiques 1. I should've read cultish before this book and 2. the chapters lack an overall theme and fail to be connected 3. I didn't 100% agree or even see why she came to all the conclusions she did, I feel like she could've spent more time on that
that being said, this was a really engaging listen! I actually don't love audiobooks but this is one where I feel like I got a lot more from listening, especially since montell reads this herself. glad I read this, I am definitely going to read her other works
that being said, this was a really engaging listen! I actually don't love audiobooks but this is one where I feel like I got a lot more from listening, especially since montell reads this herself. glad I read this, I am definitely going to read her other works
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so let me start out with saying the first third of this book is incredible. 2 strong female characters, immaculate winter folklore vibes, great eastern european background and jewish traditions.
then it ruins it by having some of the worst pacing I've ever read
i commend novik for wanting to make a standalone, but this should have either had half of the content cut out or expanded into 2 or 3 books. so much goes on but it's so hard to care because everything is super surface level, and the pacing is either extremely slow at times or way too fast. there are too many povs with lack of a distinctive voice, and a lot of the time you see the same scene from 2 or 3 different people. the romances were awful, don't know why any of these women want to stay with men who treat them horribly for most of the book. all the good stuff happens at the very end or off screen. novik attempts political intrigue with characters we see once or twice and it doesn't even matter at the end. not sure why we spent so much time on worrying who is marrying who because it DOESNT MATTER 😠its actually amazing how little I care about anyone in this book, especially with how great the first third is. honestly this would be getting a lower score if it wasn't for that.
honestly just read up to when miryam is made queen of the staryk because nothing after that is worth reading
then it ruins it by having some of the worst pacing I've ever read
i commend novik for wanting to make a standalone, but this should have either had half of the content cut out or expanded into 2 or 3 books. so much goes on but it's so hard to care because everything is super surface level, and the pacing is either extremely slow at times or way too fast. there are too many povs with lack of a distinctive voice, and a lot of the time you see the same scene from 2 or 3 different people. the romances were awful, don't know why any of these women want to stay with men who treat them horribly for most of the book. all the good stuff happens at the very end or off screen. novik attempts political intrigue with characters we see once or twice and it doesn't even matter at the end. not sure why we spent so much time on worrying who is marrying who because it DOESNT MATTER 😠its actually amazing how little I care about anyone in this book, especially with how great the first third is. honestly this would be getting a lower score if it wasn't for that.
honestly just read up to when
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
was it stupid? yes. but it was very entertaining
informative
medium-paced
like others on here said, read the book and get it as a workbook rather than reading it for solid information or history.
I think there are some useful practices for groups, but the book seemed weirdly anti education but I don't think it was trying to be? also weird tribal exceptionalism in the first part (namely a quote that amounted to something to the tune of "indigenous people have done mutual aid successfully before white people came in!"). reminder that, as an indigenous person, we are never and never were a monolith.
that kinda brings me to my next point that this book really skimps on examples/evidence of why their ideas work. if youre already deep into leftist theory and history then I think it's useful for the exercises, but not helpful to those who are starting for the first time in the space. really it's just the middle part that I find having useful information. ymmv based on your background and if you get the book rather than listening, and if you already are looking into building a mutual aid group
I think there are some useful practices for groups, but the book seemed weirdly anti education but I don't think it was trying to be? also weird tribal exceptionalism in the first part (namely a quote that amounted to something to the tune of "indigenous people have done mutual aid successfully before white people came in!"). reminder that, as an indigenous person, we are never and never were a monolith.
that kinda brings me to my next point that this book really skimps on examples/evidence of why their ideas work. if youre already deep into leftist theory and history then I think it's useful for the exercises, but not helpful to those who are starting for the first time in the space. really it's just the middle part that I find having useful information. ymmv based on your background and if you get the book rather than listening, and if you already are looking into building a mutual aid group
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
i think this would've gotten a much higher rating from me had i read this book rather than listened- which i really want to do at some point. it is kind of difficult to listen to as there are so many people to keep track of and a lot of things that happen at once. however I will say I appreciate how in depth keefe covered every side of the ira side of the troubles. I know he doesnt talk a lot about the loyalist/british side however I feel like that would've dragged this book even longer. would love to read up about that side though
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not as weird or as gross as I was expecting based on reviews I read. confusing, sure. but I really enjoyed the ending.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
family sagas should be written by women and pachinko is the perfect example of this 😠even after characters leave the narrative their echos ring throughout the book and haunt these characters. genuinely felt like I was watching a movie. so much love i hold for all of these characters, so many tears cried.
i read east of eden (my favorite family saga) earlier this year and I can't help but to see how they tackle the same themes of good vs evil and of course the abel and cain story... so so so good
my only complaint is that pacing is a little lopsided and important events happen at weird times... though it almost gave a sort of texture to the book. also i don't think the last 20% was super effective but I think the other 80% is still really solid and strong
HE WAS NOA BECAUSE HE WAS THE ARC THAT BRIDGED SUNJA FROM KOREA TO JAPAN
i read east of eden (my favorite family saga) earlier this year and I can't help but to see how they tackle the same themes of good vs evil and of course the abel and cain story... so so so good
my only complaint is that pacing is a little lopsided and important events happen at weird times... though it almost gave a sort of texture to the book. also i don't think the last 20% was super effective but I think the other 80% is still really solid and strong
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the audience for this book imo is very niche (lesbian milf lovers with mommy issues who love toxic relationships) however I fit that to a T so I can't help but love it.. i also think the writing was so readable and digestible, kinda reads like emily austin but darker and more sexually explicit
i guess my only complaint is that it's kind of disappointing that greta is one of the few fmcs who is over like 25 but she acts like a teenager. I get why but it just feels like a missed opportunity
i guess my only complaint is that it's kind of disappointing that greta is one of the few fmcs who is over like 25 but she acts like a teenager. I get why but it just feels like a missed opportunity
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
was gonna be like a 4.5 but the ending saw what i saw and gave me everything then took it away🥹
other than that.. honestly it isn't weird as I thought it was gonna be and not hard to follow at all... if you read any kind of weird horror or weird japanese litfic you'll be fine
other than that.. honestly it isn't weird as I thought it was gonna be and not hard to follow at all... if you read any kind of weird horror or weird japanese litfic you'll be fine
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think i need to read this again at some point... I liked a lot of the aspects by themselves (the kind of unlikable narrator, Rebecca, the narrative voice) but I feel like it kind of missed the mark execution wise? But idk I might just need to reread it later down the line