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zazzyb's reviews
52 reviews
Reader I Married Me by Sophie Tanner
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I dithered over the rating this book should have for ages. On the one hand its a well written book that has great character development and a great message
Or the other hand I had to put it down a lot, there are lots of cringe parts and I'm sometimes not in the mood for cringe.
There is a strong message of self love in this book which isn't surprising considering the name of the book. In essence woman tells men she doesn't need them and she loves herself and the world predictively goes apeshit at this.
I really enjoyed the end of the book Chloe got the love she deserved the acceptance that she could love herself and its a beautiful ending
I think this book although it has a great message is just is a bit too full on for my reading taste, hence the low stars, however I believe its still a great read for others. I didn't spot about any typos or formatting issues and it flowed very well.
I got this from aboxofstories book box a while ago, in the end not for me but would recommend to a few friends who like this sort of thing.
Or the other hand I had to put it down a lot, there are lots of cringe parts and I'm sometimes not in the mood for cringe.
There is a strong message of self love in this book which isn't surprising considering the name of the book. In essence woman tells men she doesn't need them and she loves herself and the world predictively goes apeshit at this.
I really enjoyed the end of the book Chloe got the love she deserved the acceptance that she could love herself and its a beautiful ending
I think this book although it has a great message is just is a bit too full on for my reading taste, hence the low stars, however I believe its still a great read for others. I didn't spot about any typos or formatting issues and it flowed very well.
I got this from aboxofstories book box a while ago, in the end not for me but would recommend to a few friends who like this sort of thing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Lord of Eternal Night by Ben Alderson
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Loved the characters, loved the story and the vampire elements. Its an interesting take on a classic tale.
However the plot felt a bit flat at the end and the writing style did cause me to lose pace quite a few times.
However for enjoyment, I did enjoy the book and binged it in a day. I would definitely try some more of his books
However the plot felt a bit flat at the end and the writing style did cause me to lose pace quite a few times.
However for enjoyment, I did enjoy the book and binged it in a day. I would definitely try some more of his books
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
The Shining by Stephen King
dark
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
5.0
I've never read a Stephen king book until the stand uncut. I was terrified and in awe of the writing so I decided to pick this up. I have never seen the movie, honestly I'm not a horror fan. But oh boy.
This was chilling, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I didn't want to put it down even though I was scared out of my mind when I read certain parts.
After reading both this, and the stand I am certainly a Stephen King fan and have already bought some more of his books, heavily recommended by friends. Firestarter, carrie, It and pet semetary if anyone wants to know.
Overall I loved this book and would definitely read again. Its as brilliant now as I imagine it would have been 30 plus years ago
This was chilling, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I didn't want to put it down even though I was scared out of my mind when I read certain parts.
After reading both this, and the stand I am certainly a Stephen King fan and have already bought some more of his books, heavily recommended by friends. Firestarter, carrie, It and pet semetary if anyone wants to know.
Overall I loved this book and would definitely read again. Its as brilliant now as I imagine it would have been 30 plus years ago
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Rebecca Paley, Leah Remini
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.25
Leah Remini is nothing but honest in her tell all tale. She doesn't shy away from admitting her mistakes. She knows she isn't perfect and she doesn't care.
This is the second book I have read about someone escaping scientology and again it all ties together, its interesting to see the prospective of someone within the celebrity centre who was higher up than most.
I really respect Leah remini for her ongoing search for Shelly miscaviage and her work to bring scientology to justice and it really shows how much she has grown from her start in this book.
0.75* knocked off because I did find her discussion around her acting career slightly boring but that's me, I never saw Kings of queens so her comments about her career went over my head,
Overall though an enjoyable read about escaping/leaving the cult of scientology
This is the second book I have read about someone escaping scientology and again it all ties together, its interesting to see the prospective of someone within the celebrity centre who was higher up than most.
I really respect Leah remini for her ongoing search for Shelly miscaviage and her work to bring scientology to justice and it really shows how much she has grown from her start in this book.
0.75* knocked off because I did find her discussion around her acting career slightly boring but that's me, I never saw Kings of queens so her comments about her career went over my head,
Overall though an enjoyable read about escaping/leaving the cult of scientology
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Classism
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez
challenging
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.5
This is certainly a deep and insightful read. Its a book that I think every woman should read, its one I will suggest to my friends and family both men and women.
The author strips back the layers to the basics, men and women and asks us are we biased, we believe we aren't but we truly are.
This is a love letter to all the women who have complained before that their work clothes aren't designed for them and the women who complain that medicine is biased against periods. The women are forgotten in the male centred world.
I would give this 5* which is totally deserves -- but it is very info heavy so can be a little confusing at points and there is a lot of statistics which means I did put it down a few times.
Otherwise this was a fabulous read.
The author strips back the layers to the basics, men and women and asks us are we biased, we believe we aren't but we truly are.
This is a love letter to all the women who have complained before that their work clothes aren't designed for them and the women who complain that medicine is biased against periods. The women are forgotten in the male centred world.
I would give this 5* which is totally deserves -- but it is very info heavy so can be a little confusing at points and there is a lot of statistics which means I did put it down a few times.
Otherwise this was a fabulous read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Conspiracy Theories: A Compendium of History's Greatest Mysteries and More Recent Cover-Ups by Jamie King
informative
slow-paced
1.5
Very interesting read however there was a huge lack of information and details on some of the conspiracy theories, I recognise this is more a list and you could look them up but if the font was smaller, the pages better formatted you could add more detail without adding tons of extra pages.
Its great to have a list but you could get a list off google, also some of the conspiracy theories do come across strangely written like the author believed some to me true and others not and that effected how they wrote them down.
overall interesting but too basic in information
Its great to have a list but you could get a list off google, also some of the conspiracy theories do come across strangely written like the author believed some to me true and others not and that effected how they wrote them down.
overall interesting but too basic in information
The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
I'm very torn on this book because
1) it is diaries of carrie fisher but
2) its just poems from carrie fisher albeit written when she was younger
its definitely a misleading book, its not about when she was making star wars but more about the affair she and Harrison ford had during making star wars.
It is a good read, but I feel the book could have been longer, the poems could have been shorter. If you need a good description of how little star wars is really discussed, mark hamill was mentioned maybe 3 times in the book. This should have been really marketed as a book about their love affair.
Another reason I have reviewed it so low is he depiction of fans which is brutal in parts and is highly descriptive in others.
“When I was initially approached about going to Comic-Con, the giant comic book convention, I said, 'I wouldn't be caught dead at one of those has-been roundups." But, as it turns out, I've been caught alive at those roundups often enough to wish I was dead.”
While I appreciate not all fans are nice, the discussions around even what seem like nice or mildly nice fans is hard to stomach.
Overall 3.25* for the nostalgia and the insight into carrie fishers mind during her younger years but a disappointing read.
1) it is diaries of carrie fisher but
2) its just poems from carrie fisher albeit written when she was younger
its definitely a misleading book, its not about when she was making star wars but more about the affair she and Harrison ford had during making star wars.
It is a good read, but I feel the book could have been longer, the poems could have been shorter. If you need a good description of how little star wars is really discussed, mark hamill was mentioned maybe 3 times in the book. This should have been really marketed as a book about their love affair.
Another reason I have reviewed it so low is he depiction of fans which is brutal in parts and is highly descriptive in others.
“When I was initially approached about going to Comic-Con, the giant comic book convention, I said, 'I wouldn't be caught dead at one of those has-been roundups." But, as it turns out, I've been caught alive at those roundups often enough to wish I was dead.”
While I appreciate not all fans are nice, the discussions around even what seem like nice or mildly nice fans is hard to stomach.
Overall 3.25* for the nostalgia and the insight into carrie fishers mind during her younger years but a disappointing read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling, Newt Scamander
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
not much to say on this, its just a beastiary, a hogwarts library book with a bit of extra info, nothing much, just meh. not really memorable. I had forgotten half the creatures by the end of the book. I listened to the audiobook and yes it is narrated nicely by Eddie Redmayne but there isn't anything special or fantastic about the book.
I'm honestly stunned how a trilogy of movies was made around this character, I was bored, but I was also bored by the fantastic beasts movies which had none of the magic that I expected.
Harry potter fan here saying its just ok.
I'm honestly stunned how a trilogy of movies was made around this character, I was bored, but I was also bored by the fantastic beasts movies which had none of the magic that I expected.
Harry potter fan here saying its just ok.
King of Immortal Tithe by Ben Alderson
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a hard book to review for me, I really do enjoy the premise of the Darkmourn universe and I'm always going to try and read M/M because LGBT books are something I am diving more into.
However I put this book down so many times and I was really looking forward to it, I had preordered it and everything.
The universe was very interesting, the plot interesting but I just couldn't vibe with Arlo as a main character, he was 80% well written but missing something I can't put my finger on. Probably the teenage angst that was turned up to 11
Again I found with the end of the book the plot was tidied up but the ending was too similar to The first book Lord of eternal night and I predicted the end only a few chapters in. (view spoiler)
I certainly will look at getting the next darkmourn book but I hope the author improves on both the writing style and the premise.
However I put this book down so many times and I was really looking forward to it, I had preordered it and everything.
The universe was very interesting, the plot interesting but I just couldn't vibe with Arlo as a main character, he was 80% well written but missing something I can't put my finger on. Probably the teenage angst that was turned up to 11
Again I found with the end of the book the plot was tidied up but the ending was too similar to The first book Lord of eternal night and I predicted the end only a few chapters in. (view spoiler)
I certainly will look at getting the next darkmourn book but I hope the author improves on both the writing style and the premise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Murder
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
first thoughts ----Holy crap this family is messed up. Her sister is a true psycho.
I really enjoyed this book, I started it years before, gave up and it lived on my bookshelf for ages.
So dec came and I was nowhere near my yearly target so manic short book reading it was. I will say this book felt very short, I would have liked it to have been longer and more detailed.
Braithwaite really manages to draw you into her world, you want to know who the next victim will be, will Korede ever get her happy ever after. Its full of slight twists and you really do feel for this woman who puts her family first without any thought to her happiness.
Great read and a really interesting concept, wish it was longer and more in-depth however
I really enjoyed this book, I started it years before, gave up and it lived on my bookshelf for ages.
So dec came and I was nowhere near my yearly target so manic short book reading it was. I will say this book felt very short, I would have liked it to have been longer and more detailed.
Braithwaite really manages to draw you into her world, you want to know who the next victim will be, will Korede ever get her happy ever after. Its full of slight twists and you really do feel for this woman who puts her family first without any thought to her happiness.
Great read and a really interesting concept, wish it was longer and more in-depth however
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Police brutality