Scan barcode
theelliad's reviews
201 reviews
If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho by Sappho
5.0
no words she is beautiful I cried I feel so lucky to study this đź•ş
Fantomina; or, Love in a Maze by Eliza Fowler Haywood
3.0
This story low-key slayed, it reads like a fanfic about a man who 'doesn't talk to other girls' and a horny woman who gets what she wants and proves him wrong - let down by the pregnancy trope.
To be a little more critical it is obviously a product of its time *cough cough the initial rape part* but was easy to read and enjoyable and I think Haywood is so interesting love love love
To be a little more critical it is obviously a product of its time *cough cough the initial rape part* but was easy to read and enjoyable and I think Haywood is so interesting love love love
White Teeth by Zadie Smith
3.5
Finally caught up on required reading….for last year :/ Despite only reading this when I no longer had to, this book would be incredible to analyse (almost like the uni have read it and know their shit sometimes). While there were some passages that which were quite uncomfy- I know that’s the point of the book but i’m not talking about instances of racism here, it overall is a good starting point for a lot of conversations and debates that need to be had! Smiths writing style is a perfect blend of captivating and hilarious and the characters feel so human in their flaws and concerns making the story terrifyingly timesless! However going back to my discomfort some moments felt not only pointless but ultimately meaningless and I fear Smith tried too hard to produce a social commentary on every area rather than focusing on what carried relevance…
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
3.0
A Good Girls Guide to Murder involves 18 year old pip working to solve a seemingly already solved murder for her EPQ, remaining far from impartial and getting much too involved in the case.
While this was an enjoyable story, it fell a little flat for me in characters and plot. I felt the twists were pretty predictable and often cycled round too much making any red herrings a little too dismissable, and I can’t help but question how this book was able to feel so fanciful and yet so set within reality simultaneously. The pop culture references felt almost as wildly uncomfortable as the relationships and involvements between Pip and the surrounding characters for some reason? and I honestly just expected a little more. Complaints aside, this was easy to follow and I do want to finish the series (though i’m not entirely sure where the story goes from here) and I do think this will make an excellent tv show. Conceptually it’s very interesting it’s just logistically not the best: Jackson’s writing style is engaging and fun with sarcastic commentary that i thoroughly enjoyed. This novel doesn’t take itself too seriously which is always a bonus.
While this was an enjoyable story, it fell a little flat for me in characters and plot. I felt the twists were pretty predictable and often cycled round too much making any red herrings a little too dismissable, and I can’t help but question how this book was able to feel so fanciful and yet so set within reality simultaneously. The pop culture references felt almost as wildly uncomfortable as the relationships and involvements between Pip and the surrounding characters for some reason? and I honestly just expected a little more. Complaints aside, this was easy to follow and I do want to finish the series (though i’m not entirely sure where the story goes from here) and I do think this will make an excellent tv show. Conceptually it’s very interesting it’s just logistically not the best: Jackson’s writing style is engaging and fun with sarcastic commentary that i thoroughly enjoyed. This novel doesn’t take itself too seriously which is always a bonus.
Orlando by Virginia Woolf
3.5
Orlando is a fictional biography spanning 300 years of Orlando’s existence and grappling with love, convention, literature and most notably gender.
This book is complete and utter chaos in the truest of Woolf fashion. The continental and temporal jumps are all over the place and yet so simultaneously central and irrelevant. As a reader you are blinded by the evocative descriptions and clever meta-fictional and social commentary. Did I have to google a plot summary upon finishing? Yes. Did I love every second of this book? Also Yes. Woolf’s imagery is simply unmatched and for this text in particular I found myself longing to research the tactical employment of clothing and performance in gender! Additionally, this books awareness of its own existence provides a witty critical sub-narrative seamlessy blending with Woolf’s existing works!
This book is complete and utter chaos in the truest of Woolf fashion. The continental and temporal jumps are all over the place and yet so simultaneously central and irrelevant. As a reader you are blinded by the evocative descriptions and clever meta-fictional and social commentary. Did I have to google a plot summary upon finishing? Yes. Did I love every second of this book? Also Yes. Woolf’s imagery is simply unmatched and for this text in particular I found myself longing to research the tactical employment of clothing and performance in gender! Additionally, this books awareness of its own existence provides a witty critical sub-narrative seamlessy blending with Woolf’s existing works!
Dinner by Moira Buffini
3.0
Dinner is the unfolding of a dramatic dinner party from hell, hosted by Paige in honour of her philosopher husbands new book.
This play is extremely funny and innovative. Buffini explores the vacuity and consumerist nature of the rich in a humorous and hyperbolic way. Each character made me want to cringe at least every ten seconds as well as carrying an off weight of philosophical arguments, a revenge plot and the drama of illicit affairs. Honestly trying to explain it is a hot mess but it is 12am and I haven’t slept so that’s on me. While I enjoyed the plot I do feel that it wasn’t shockingly special (I did already know the ending too which didn’t help) however I am so excited to see this on stage as there is so much performative potential!
The 3* is provisional i will reassess post seeing it :))
This play is extremely funny and innovative. Buffini explores the vacuity and consumerist nature of the rich in a humorous and hyperbolic way. Each character made me want to cringe at least every ten seconds as well as carrying an off weight of philosophical arguments, a revenge plot and the drama of illicit affairs. Honestly trying to explain it is a hot mess but it is 12am and I haven’t slept so that’s on me. While I enjoyed the plot I do feel that it wasn’t shockingly special (I did already know the ending too which didn’t help) however I am so excited to see this on stage as there is so much performative potential!
The 3* is provisional i will reassess post seeing it :))
How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
3.5
How to Kill Your Family is the account of serial murders told from the perspective of the killer as she serves jail time for a murder she didn’t commit.
The narrative voice of this novel is hilarious and sarcastic and truly kept me engaged, alongside this the dual timeline of the story is handled well and it was structurally enjoyable and followable. That said, I was disappointed by the ending, the twist was not the best but I thought fitted the story well, it was rather the transformation in Grace (the protagonist) in the final chapters. The self sufficient, powerful and somewhat narcissistic personality she has established falls victim to the writers need for a conclusion becoming submissive, easily forgiving and a bit boring as the final events of her life are recounted; it was this, more so than the plot twist, which didn’t feel right to me. However, that said I did enjoy this book enough to speed through it in a matter of days and so I cannot judge it too harshly!
The narrative voice of this novel is hilarious and sarcastic and truly kept me engaged, alongside this the dual timeline of the story is handled well and it was structurally enjoyable and followable. That said, I was disappointed by the ending, the twist was not the best but I thought fitted the story well, it was rather the transformation in Grace (the protagonist) in the final chapters. The self sufficient, powerful and somewhat narcissistic personality she has established falls victim to the writers need for a conclusion becoming submissive, easily forgiving and a bit boring as the final events of her life are recounted; it was this, more so than the plot twist, which didn’t feel right to me. However, that said I did enjoy this book enough to speed through it in a matter of days and so I cannot judge it too harshly!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Murder, Grief, Gaslighting, Violence, Stalking, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Classism, Cancer, Misogyny, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Body horror, and Blood
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
3.5
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is Maya Angelou’s autobiography, exploring the challenges and triumphs of her life.
This was required reading for my module last year and despite really enjoying what I read of it, I never got round to reading the full book until now. Angelou’s writing is so beautiful and captivating, especially when read by herself, I literally had to finish this in one sitting! I’m not typically a non-fiction reader and so the narrative exploration and descriptive attention to detail felt as immersive and entertaining as any fiction. Her coming to terms with herself, her trauma and the struggles of those around her is made both painful and relatable even for those who have never or will never experience the things she did. This is a case study in self writing and Angelou truly is someone to be studied and remembered. I don’t however understand the purpose of making an autobiography 7 <200 books? Perhaps that is just how storygraph classifies it but this book alone definitely didn’t feel complete which was annoying, I would happily have endured a longer cohesive piece instead of having to spread the reading across multiple books. (note post finishing: apparently there is audio editions of all 7 in one so that’s my bad i just didn’t realise it had 7 parts so didn’t think to look) Overall an enjoyable read :))
This was required reading for my module last year and despite really enjoying what I read of it, I never got round to reading the full book until now. Angelou’s writing is so beautiful and captivating, especially when read by herself, I literally had to finish this in one sitting! I’m not typically a non-fiction reader and so the narrative exploration and descriptive attention to detail felt as immersive and entertaining as any fiction. Her coming to terms with herself, her trauma and the struggles of those around her is made both painful and relatable even for those who have never or will never experience the things she did. This is a case study in self writing and Angelou truly is someone to be studied and remembered. I don’t however understand the purpose of making an autobiography 7 <200 books? Perhaps that is just how storygraph classifies it but this book alone definitely didn’t feel complete which was annoying, I would happily have endured a longer cohesive piece instead of having to spread the reading across multiple books. (note post finishing: apparently there is audio editions of all 7 in one so that’s my bad i just didn’t realise it had 7 parts so didn’t think to look) Overall an enjoyable read :))
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Racism, and Ableism
Moderate: Child abuse, Body horror, Body shaming, Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abortion and War
The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
4.5
I have quite honestly never cared about chess so much…
The Queens Gambit is the story of Beth Harmon a young chess prodigy as she battles being orphaned, adopted, addiction, sexuality and overall being viewed as less within her world due to her gender!
This story was beautifully narrated and I found Beth to be very relatable in her struggles and very human within her circumstance! The depictions of addiction are handled well, especially the institutional abusive use of it. The scenes of chess were long and confusing at times but all the more beautiful for it - Beth’s inner voice came through and I felt I understood it even when I didn’t! Safe to say i’m off to watch the netflix show and learn to play chess now….
The Queens Gambit is the story of Beth Harmon a young chess prodigy as she battles being orphaned, adopted, addiction, sexuality and overall being viewed as less within her world due to her gender!
This story was beautifully narrated and I found Beth to be very relatable in her struggles and very human within her circumstance! The depictions of addiction are handled well, especially the institutional abusive use of it. The scenes of chess were long and confusing at times but all the more beautiful for it - Beth’s inner voice came through and I felt I understood it even when I didn’t! Safe to say i’m off to watch the netflix show and learn to play chess now….
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Drug abuse, Misogyny, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Abandonment, Sexism, Grief, Car accident, Bullying, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Violence