Ugh. This book. Equal parts beautiful and .... disturbing. The atmosphere is lovely and perfectly captures the feeling of a lazy summer in Italy. Maybe it's because I've been to the region, but I could picture everything here vividly. The atmosphere was almost oppressive and overwhelming. It bothers me how much this book makes me feel like a lovesick adolescence again. I remember the extreme emotions you can have and how everything literally feels like life and death. The all consuming obsession and infatuation you can have for another person. Not love. Just obsession. It's miserable to read. But done so well here.

Revisiting this one - it's been a while since I've read it! Honestly I don't know if I would like this if I were picking this up for the first time in my 30s. But I loved this book so much as a kid, and it really shaped my sense of humor. Admittedly, some of this did not age well since the last time I read this (and some of it hit too hard - e.g., the talk about Presidents), but on the whole it's still great. Still the same one-liners and hilarious observations.

Revisiting this one - it's been a while since I've read it! Honestly I don't know if I would like this if I were picking this up for the first time in my 30s. But I loved this book so much as a kid, and it really shaped my sense of humor. Admittedly, some of this did not age well since the last time I read this (and some of it hit too hard - e.g., the talk about Presidents), but on the whole it's still great. Still the same one-liners and hilarious observations.

Rereading this one again. In my mind it blends right in with the first. Same cast, same one-liners and irreverent plot twists. All the punchlines still land. Still great.

Rereading this one again. In my mind it blends right in with the first. Same cast, same one-liners and irreverent plot twists. All the punchlines still land. Still great.

It's been even longer since I've read this one compared to the first two (middle school, probably?) but I still remember a lot of the jokes and punchlines. This one actually has more of a storyline than the first two - it mostly centers around the planet Kirkket - but it still has the same jumping around and random, wild scenarios happening out of nowhere. But that may actually be to the book's detriment. This still isn't a good series if you're looking for strong character development or a true plot. But there's more time travel, murderous robots, and perpetual murder victim Agrajag. Still some great moments, but I didn't love it as much as the first two.

I liked this, but not as much as the original trilogy. It has more of a plot, but I think that's actually to the book's detriment. It just doesn't feel the same - may be because it's mostly set on Earth and deals with Arthur and his new love interest, Fenchurch. I liked it, but it just didn't seem necessary.

On reread, this one wasn't as good as the second one or his other works. There weren't as many witty one-liners, and the plot was a little convoluted. But it was kind of cool how all of the threads came together in the end.

Revisited this one in audio form, read by Douglas Adams himself. This was actually the first Douglas Adam's work I experienced. Forgot how great it was! So many witty one-liners. It definitely starts off better and peters out a little in the end, but I enjoyed the first 3/4 so much that I still give it 5 stars.

Revisited this one in audio form, read by Douglas Adams himself. This was actually the first Douglas Adam's work I experienced. Forgot how great it was! So many witty one-liners. It definitely starts off better and peters out a little in the end, but I enjoyed the first 3/4 so much that I still give it 5 stars.

Doesn't hit the same as the rest of the series. It's still funny but in a darker and more depressive way. But I still enjoyed it overall.

Short. Adichie had really good things to offer, and said things that needed to be said. Personally, it was kind of preaching to the choir. But good for people to be exposed to.

This was great! The characters were fun and multi-dimensional. And I loved the bi representation/storyline. I also appreciated that both romantic interests were cool people - and that one of them didn't suddenly change just so you don't want the main character to choose them (i.e., I've read too many books where one of the love interests is obviously a terrible person and the other is a saint). The way it all plays out feels more realistic (though obviously heightened because it's a book). Like so many YA contemporaries these days, I wish I would have had this as a teenager.

Part of me thought this was really great - interesting topic, interesting writing, and gave me a lot to think about. But part of me really disliked the way certain things were handled, and thought it felt really disjointed and almost too much. I was most interested in Roya and I don't know that we got enough of her. Still, other parts were unforgettable.

There is a paradox in the new testament: in the four gospels (70-95 CE) Jesus is the christ, immortal, god's co-equal; in Paul's letters (50-55 CE) Jesus is a real person, but only outlined. Akenson states that, if you look closely enough, there may be sayings of the historical, real Jesus in Paul's letters; and that Paul and Jesus were both of a Pharisaic tradition, interpreting sacral laws and using allegory and a background in late second temple understanding of religion and the world around them.

I loved this collection. There's feeling and love and humor here. Some of the stories were harder to read and were more poignant and emotional. And some were just day-to-day moment of life stories. I can tell that she's a poet - there's a lot of beautiful language here. And I love the bits of Anishinaabemowin thrown in. It was quick to read too - I'll probably pick up again.

This was excellent, though a very tough read with some tough truths thrown at you. It's a powerful read.

Another one I think I would have liked a lot more had I read it as a child. I appreciate it, and I found myself rooting for the girls in spots, but it's a little too sappy for 2017 me. I get that it's one of the first books of its kind (to focus on young women in this way) but the girls were just too pure and preachy in some spots. Even when they were "bad" they were pretty angelic. It wasn't always a problem, but it got to me in a few spots. It's also a product of its time--it was a little painful to read about Meg trying to be a good housewife, and the "be a good christian" stuff was a little much. On the other hand, there were some great moments despite the time period. A lot of women putting men in their place, and doing what they want despite their obstacles. Jo especially. I love that she didn't settle for Laurie. (I just wish that she didn't have to end up with the professor--even though I liked him. It just seemed unnecessary).

Hits a little too close to home, maybe.

Overall, I liked this collection, but there were no stand out stories for me. And some of them - and a lot of the sex stuff - I didn't care for. But there's some good stuff that rings true about being native.

This is probably the best written of any fairytale-esque book that I've come across the last few years. There are magical elements, but it's also very grounded in reality, which makes it much more compelling. The characters are entrancing, especially our main heroine Vasya, and the atmosphere is magical. It moved at a slow pace, but in a good way that immerses you in the world and lets the characters grow and breathe. You kind of know what's going to happen, though there are some twists and surprises along the way - I suppose it's like any good telling of a fairytale in that way. I'll definitely have to pick up the second and third in the trilogy.

It’s been a hot sec since I picked up the first one. I thought I made a mistake not rereading book 1, but after about 10%, I was fully immersed back into the world. There’s more action and adventure in this book, but it was just as magical and still has the winter vibes of the first one. Vasya is such a fierce character. I loved how she grew and developed in this story, and enjoyed her arc hiding as Vasilii the Brave. It was also good to see more of Sasha and Olga - even though part of Olga’s story crushed me. And the parts with Vasya’s niece and grandmother were great too. I will definitely pick up the third book!

This book holds up to the first two! What a great series. This one feels even more magical and dreamy than the first two. There's also more action in this one. But the characters are the highlight! I enjoyed Vasya's journey so much and how she's grown and become her own woman. And I love her relationship with her siblings. This one also had some interesting dynamics with the brothers Morocco and Medved. And Konstantin was a great villain. What a fantastic series all around!

I really enjoyed this. It moves slow and just kind of meanders along, but I enjoyed the slow ride. There were so many passages I wanted to tab and underline. A lot of this deals with grief, so it's not exactly a fun read, but I was captivated. There's just a slow discomfort and unease throughout the entire thing that worked really well, too.

I don't know a ton about Jesus (except what I've learned through cultural osmosis), so appreciated the information. Definitely I learned a bit about Palestine and the Jewish faith at the time. The thesis of the book is that - largely through the letters of Paul - Jesus has been transformed from a revolutionary Jewish nationalist into a pacifistic spiritual leader. Aslan starts from what we know about Jesus in historical fact (which is admittedly not much) - as the book explains, most of the words written by Jesus come from people who never actually knew Jesus. He gives his conclusions on which parts of the New Testament seem plausible and which parts you need a bit more faith to believe (there's a lot of contradictions or different tellings of the same story). And he explains what Jesus most likely meant (with the words we have) based on the culture of the time, and how parts of the story changed based on the context of who was telling those parts. It's certainly interesting.

This was so charming and heartwarming. Dora may only have half a soul but she is such a whole wonderful person. There's a lot of fun banter and chemistry with her new friends and with Elias the Lord Sorcier. There's also some magic and fairies in between the ball gowns and parties and matchmaking. A lot of the regency details aren't super authentic based on what I know, but it's a fantasy world so it doesn't bother me too much. There's some heavier issues explored, but on the whole the book is just so light and cozy and quick and fun to read.

The style of the book made it difficult to follow sometimes, yet I read the book in basically one sitting. Was very intriguing, but something kept holding me back from really getting into the story. Maybe I couldn't get over how quickly the world changed from "normal" to this crazy dystopia--maybe it would have benefited from being set even further in the future.
On the other hand, recent events make this book seem much more plausible... Rereading this in Nov 2024 for no reason at all.... it hits even harder now. That's all.

The style of the book made it difficult to follow sometimes, yet I read the book in basically one sitting. Was very intriguing, but something kept holding me back from really getting into the story. Maybe I couldn't get over how quickly the world changed from "normal" to this crazy dystopia--maybe it would have benefited from being set even further in the future.
On the other hand, recent events make this book seem much more plausible... Rereading this in Nov 2024 for no reason at all.... it hits even harder now. That's all.

I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this book. There's something about the cruelty of school girls that makes for captivating reading. The prose was really intriguing--detailed, but not too detailed, and though the book was almost 500 pages, it read quickly. There was something almost... ominous about the air of the book. However, I was much less interested once she graduated high school. Something about her just-married struggling-artist troubles didn't connect with me. But I liked reading about grown-up, in her sixties or late fifties Elaine.

Loved this, has the most reference of social norms, interactions between different classes and classifications of gentility (something somewhat blurred in P&P).

This was great - not my favorite Austen, but a classic. Great villains - I particularly enjoyed hating Fanny Dashwood and her control over Mr. Dashwood. Great side characters. And I enjoyed the contrast between Elinor's sense and Marianne's strong opinions and emotions!

A favorite.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

A favorite.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

Revisted this book again by listening to the audiobook.
Still my absolute favorite book. I get something new every time!
Cannot be topped.

I still liked this, and I think this might be her most technically well written of her books, but I personally enjoyed this the least of the six. It's as long as Emma, but it's just not as justified in its length. And there just isn't a cast of endearing characters. Fanny seems to be the only sensible, kind person while everyone else is terrible! Even Edmund. And even then, Fanny isn't a very fun character to follow. She's kind of a wet blanket. On the other hand, I get that we're supposed to find Mary immoral - and I am on Fanny's side - but she was a fun character. She actually kind of reminds me of Lizzy Bennet - only more insolent...! (Too bad she's a tactless, selfish liar.) The pacing of the book is also totally off. There's a decent set up and then it drags and then there's the play and then in drags and then some exciting stuff happens right at the end, super quickly! The ending is so abrupt!

Even with all her flaws, I can't help but love Emma. Yes, she's a shallow, stubborn, spoiled brat who meddles where she shouldn't - but her heart is in the right place and she eventually gets it. On reread, it hit me how Jane Fairfax is more similar to the typical Austen heroines, so I enjoyed getting that different perspective in Emma! The book can never rank as high as Pride and Prejudice for me, but it's still great. It has the social commentary and wit that I expect!

Even with all her flaws, I can't help but love Emma. Yes, she's a shallow, stubborn, spoiled brat who meddles where she shouldn't - but her heart is in the right place and she eventually gets it. On reread, it hit me how Jane Fairfax is more similar to the typical Austen heroines, so I enjoyed getting that different perspective in Emma! The book can never rank as high as Pride and Prejudice for me, but it's still great. It has the social commentary and wit that I expect!

One of the first classics I've read where I didn't already know the general plot/ending. I was sucked in. Even though I've read P&P many times, I haven't read any of her other novels. This one was just as witty.

One of the first classics I've read where I didn't already know the general plot/ending. I was sucked in. Even though I've read P&P many times, I haven't read any of her other novels. This one was just as witty.

I enjoyed this one. It felt like Jane Austen, but also it didn't? There's a weird vibe. But the wit and satire are still there! The book breaks the fourth wall and the narrator talks to us at times - and defends novel reading! Catherine even believes she's in her own gothic novel. She gets so into it that she started to annoy me near the end - but that's right when she gets some sense and grows out of it. She has a good heart, but most of the humor in the book comes from watching her get so many things wrong! The side characters are great - I loved Henry and Eleanor, while John and Isabella were fun to hate. I don't love it for the same reasons as I love other Austen novels - but I appreciate it for what it is.

This book was so exciting when I read it as a kid. A proper wealthy victorian girl ends up joining the crew of this old mutinous ship! She learns how to be part of the crew and how to use a knife and how to do sailing stuff. And she's accused of murder!
It still mostly holds up. As an adult, it kind of strains credulity, but it's still a lot of fun. The writing is pretty good, and it still makes me want to go on an adventure (though probably not on a ship). Charlotte is more annoying that I remember at the beginning of the novel, but I warmed up to her as her values change throughout the book. Would recommend this to kids looking for a quick adventure story.

This was a really weird book. I'll say upfront it was really well-written and it's clear the author is talented. Still, I don't know if it was a good experience or a bad experience - but it was certainly an experience. I read it in one day, so it had that going for it. I picked it up because it was in a "so you like the secret history" type recommendation list. Maybe I would have thought it was less weird and I would have liked it more if I had known what I was getting into. I was expecting a slow murder mystery or boarding school memoir. But what I got instead was like a surreal fever dream? I took the plot literally and maybe it wasn't literal? But if it wasn't, then I don't know what the author was going for here. So overall conflicting thoughts, and I won't forget it, but I can't say that I liked it.

This was a wild ride. It’s not as crazy as Bunny, but there’s still a weird aura over the whole book. I’m getting Black Swan vibes? Miranda is not a likable character, but she’s still intriguing - you can't quite tell if she’s crazy or not! It's a strange book.

I remember being really affected by this as a kid. As an adult, it doesn’t have quite the same impact (and is much quicker to read!). But the writing is still strong and the story is still good. I remember being crushed about Winnie’s fate in the epilogue. Why wouldn't she want to run off with this guy (who she had like 3 conversations with and knew for one day) and his family? But now it makes more sense to me. Still bittersweet, but makes more sense.

Loved this. I read another one of his books and didn't care for it, but glad I gave the author another chance since the premise (an amateur bank robber tries to rob a bank not knowing it's a cashless bank and ends up accidentally holding an apartment full of people hostage) sounded interesting. The writing was relatable and funny and the story was captivating. I had no idea where we were going a lot of the time, but it was such a fun ride. The characters were all dislikable and dumb in their own way but they were still endearing enough to read about. And I loved the dialogue. The book was mostly funny, but there were some interesting ideas about the human condition and some heartfelt moments too.

I've been putting this one off because I knew it would be sad. And it was sad, but it was also very good. There's a lot of books about sad Americans in Europe, but this one has great writing. I could feel the loneliness and the struggle. In some ways it reminds me of the Talented Mr. Ripley, which I read recently and was written around the same time, but with less murder and sociopaths. I'll be thinking about this one for a while.

This is a great resource. It's full of red flags to watch for when starting a relationship, what tactics abusive men use, how to get yourself out of those relationships, and it clarifies a lot of misconceptions about abuse and what constitutes abuse. It goes into depth about the reasons men abuse women - and it's mostly to do with his own fundamental value system, which is very very difficult to change. It's over 20 years old, so there is some outdated language here, but the majority of the book holds up well.

A little late to the party, but I’m jumping on the train to read this before I start watching the Netflix series. Enjoyed it more than I expected to! For better or for worse, it feels exactly like a ya fantasy book - chosen one, magic school, dark one - nothing too surprising here. But it was well done and didn’t miss any beats. The tone and world of the novel feel consistent and enchanting, and I enjoyed the writing. The characters all sort of fit into the normal ya fantasy mode, but I had fun reading about them. And I know she's making the right choice, but am I a bad person for kind of wanting Alina to run off with the Darkling and rule the world together? He's not entirely wrong... I’ll have to pick up the other ones and see what happens!

Liked this as much as the first one. It was a little slower paced, but for its length it still went by quickly (though not a lot happened for the whole middle period of the book). The plot was a little more fun and way less "magic girl goes to magic school." Alina's still great - and still conflicted. I don't really care for Mal, and think he's just as controlling in this one. I still kind of want her to ditch him and run off with the Darkling (even though I know she made the right choice in the first book and he's terrible, but the heart wants what it wants...). I loved Nikolai too - he was a fun addition to the story (and he would also be a better choice than Mal ha!). We'll see how it all wraps up in the next one.

This was an interesting end to the trilogy. She really went there in a couple of places! I had fun with the side characters, and was still fascinated by the Darkling. I didn't love all the choices at the end, but I get why it all wrapped up that way - and it does fit the story. Still not really a fan of Mal though.

So I've tried to read this a couple of times over the past several years, but could never get into it. The first chapter or two were just so hard to get through - just so many names and characters and fantasy words. But now that I finished Shadow and Bone and know a little more about the Grisha verse, I gave this one another shot. Once I actually got into it, it was so great! I'm surprised at how much I ended up enjoying this one. I love a good heist story, and this one is so fun. I ended up loving all of these scrappy characters - but especially Inej and Kaz and Nina. But the whole squad had such great character dynamics that were so fun to read. Buying the next one to read immediately.

My biggest complaint is the ages of all the characters... as a teenager, I probably wouldn't have questioned it. But as an adult I just couldn't picture these kids so in my head, I just aged them all up ten years.

I just love this goofy found family of thieves so much. Each of these characters are great to read about individually, and when you throw them in the same room, I love their dynamics together. All of the characters have their own little character development arcs, but at the end, they're all still clearly themselves. Like Kaz is never magically cured of his sensitivity to skin on skin contact, but slowly is able to move forward enough to hold Inej's hand. . I love them all, but again Kaz and Inej are standouts for me.
The plot here moved faster than the first one, but for some reason I found it less engaging (though it was still very entertaining). The biggest flaw (besides the age thing) is that it doesn't feel like there were enough consequences for any of our characters. Every one of the crows ends up being the best at their thing or outsmarting the best at their thing or landing in a very conveniently summoned net
except for Mathias, obviously .
Also I messed up by not finishing the shadow and bone books first because there were some major spoilers for that series in this one! Oh well.

This was interesting and eerie, if not a bit slow. I did not like Galaxy "Alex" Stern, and would not care to meet her in real life, but I enjoyed following her around on this chase. I also didn't like Daniel "Darlington" Arlington, but I absolutely loved his point of view. I wish we got more from his perspective - hopefully in future books? I also wish we got more depth about the secret societies, but there was a lot to set up - I hope we get that in future books too.

I think I enjoyed this more than the first one. I felt more connected to the characters and enjoyed learning more about them. I'm excited for the next one!

Some of this was pretty elementary and some of it was new and made me think, but the tone of the book fell a bit flat for me. I assumed it would cover bisexuality and gender, but it goes into other binaries too. There were some helpful ideas but some of it was stretched too much. Still, helpful as a primer on those topics.

This was lovely. Great writing, great vibes, great characters. There's witches, and dragons, and magic and babies, and a swamp monster. Everything I want in a children's book! I loved the messages in this book too - love, stories, and not blindly following tradition.

This was a unique novella about generational trauma and domestic violence. It's unsettling and parts of this hit hard. I hear this is a retelling of "The Crane Wife," which I wasn't familiar with, but this works on its own. It's a short, beautiful, dark tale.

This slowly crept up on me. I wasn't super into it in the beginning - and it took a long time to figure out the characters - but by the end I really cared for this goofy team of girls. It's funny, but also full of heart and camp. I don't know if I've ever read a book in first person plural before, but it totally worked.

This one starts slow, but ends up being an over-the-top, gay, messy, wild ride. Most of the characters here are terrible in their own way, but I had a good time following them around. I enjoyed the dark humor and how unhinged it got. Even though I saw some of the twists coming, it still subverted my expectations in some ways. The relationship between Alex and Wren was interesting (and unhinged). And I liked the stuff about writing. Just don't take it too seriously.

The first few poems in here resonated with me, but then I sort of lost interest. Not a bad collection! But not for me.

Enjoyed this collection, especially the poems about literature. Very imaginative and dreamlike.

I don't know what it is about this series that calls to me - nothing really happened, but still I tore through it. This book feels so nostalgic and yet distant at the same time. And Selin's thoughts are so mundane but also so funny. I accidentally read the second one first, but I don't know if that made any difference.

I did not know that this was a sequel until after I finished it. I don't know if I'll pick up the first one or not, but I guess it worked well enough on its own! Nothing really happens in this book, but I enjoyed it. You get to know the main character well and you get deep in her head. It kind of reminds me of those old boarding school books like Catcher in the Rye or a Separate Peace. But Selin is a woman in college in the 90s who reads a lot of books - so I know most of the pop culture and literary references and I can relate to a lot of her thoughts and musings.

This book is so valuable--though I hope I never have to use the information here. It was published in 1997, but has aged well. It explains how to keep yourself safe and follow your instincts. Violence is not random--there are almost always warning signs. This book describes those warning signs in the context of strangers, coworkers, and people you know. Say "no" to people who intrude, and don't give qualifiers. It was hard to listen to some of the violent examples, but I understand why they were included. He also has some thoughts on how violence is portrayed in the media and on the news -- and in tv shows and movies. He also has some great thoughts on anxiety-type "fears" and actual fear--and how to distinguish the two. It tells you to trust your intuition-- those nagging feelings, persistent thoughts, humor, wonder anxiety,curiosity, hunches, gut feelings, doubt, hesitation, suspicion, apprehensions, and Fear.

Cute premise with my favorite tropes: fake dating with a bad first impression! And it’s sapphic with bi representation! And also some very light holiday/christmas stuff, which makes it perfect for this time of year.

There are parts of this book that are totally goofy and it gets a bit corny and has too many cute references (like Harry Potter and all the zodiac stuff) but it works. I loved the chemistry between Elle and Darcy.

Even though I absolutely love Pride and Prejudice, it took me an appallingly long time to realize this was a take on P&P - even though they are named Elizabeth and Darcy and they make illusions to Jane Austen #facepalm. But that actually makes it one of the better P&P type books I read since it isn’t trying to force certain elements in there…. They feel like their own characters! It’s more about the character archetypes and not about following the plot of Austen.

This was really good. I watched the tv show on netflix. I'll admit I haven't read any Marvel comics before, but am mostly familiar with the characters through the various movies, tv, etc. The comic wasn't quite what I was expecting, and Killgrave was not the plotline of this first volume, but I really enjoyed it. The dialogue was wonderful to read--full of sarcasm and quite retorts. The art is pretty, even though the characters aren't always. Jessica is flawed--both in the show and in the comic--but she has a good heart.

This one was good, but not as good as the previous one. It starts with one of the more interesting issues I've seen yet with JJJ. It's written almost like a script with pictures. Liked the change. In the rest of it, Jessica is looking for Spiderwoman III. Liked the meta commentary about female recreations of male superheroes. The storyline has an interest resolution that parallels some of the darker problems involving the selling of teenage girls. Jessica also continues to date Scott Lang in this one. They're good together.

Liked this one even better than the first. The mystery was intriguing, and I liked seeing Jessica's reaction to the mystery girl. Actually showing the sketchbook was pretty cool. It's interesting to see her do stupid things (like the cop) but still root for her. Also, her date with AntMan was pretty... sweet. I liked it a lot more than I would have anticipated.

These four volumes went by way too fast!
This one was great as well. Frankly, I think most of us show watchers were waiting for this one, and although it was different from the show, it played out well. Purple man was such a great, creepy villain. The flashbacks here were told exceptionally well. The only thing I didn't really get, though I enjoyed it, was why the purple man kept interjecting with the meta-commentary. Didn't really seem to fit what we knew about him.

This is a great collection of tales. Some I'm familiar with and some are new to me. I like the way the stories are told - like someone is telling them to you in person. Would recommend if you want an intro to some of these tales.

Great book of short stories. All of the stories involve women and some kind of exotic animal. There's a lot of tough things explored that I've never had to deal with: motherhood, parents with dementia, etc., and it was done very well. The first story, about the African Grey, particularly stuck with me.

This one was interesting. There was a lot of Freudian analysis to wade through, and some of the conclusions were a bit of a stretch. E.g., lizards are an obvious phallic reference and the number three is an obvious phallic reference (one shaft and two testicles) and dwarves? Also an obvious phallic reference (they "skillfully penetrate into dark holes"). It got to be a bit of a joke for me - trying to guess how the next story was oedipal and/or phallic. It's a little much in places.

But part of this were fascinating. I like the idea that fairy tales are their own special genre and that unlike fables, the moral of the story should be left ambiguous because the child will get different things out of it during different tellings. That the "dark" versions of a fairy tale can really help a child face their conscious and unconscious fears. But it was hard to wade through the Freudian stuff to get to the interesting ideas.

Loved the core messages here. There's some great advice. A lot of it is common sense, but still it's good to have a reminder to actually DO the things. Like me, she spent years working in a law firm environment as a young lawyer and a woman of color, so she really gets it. I appreciate the way she presents her principles, but recognizes that everyone can't be their "authentic" self all the time, and that there may be reasons to adapt depending on the circumstance. But even if you can't do whatever you want to all the time, it's important to be as authentic to yourself as you can, and to move away from performing for other people.

I loved this. It's still a YA book, but I expected more romance and angst - instead it was more about the schemes and family drama and revenge and murder. All the characters are terrible or morally grey. The fairies are tricksters - they can't lie, so they twist their words. They're wicked and play tricks and murder and want power. The main character Jude is human, but because Jude and her sisters grow up in Faerie (after their parents are brutally murdered), Jude becomes just as deceptive and power hungry as the fairies. It's not as fast-paced as I expected and takes a while to get anywhere, but I enjoyed the whole journey.

This was a fine end to the series but it felt like it all went a little too quickly. There was also some weird stuff that happened that I didn't care for but on the whole it was quick and fun.

This was another fun ride. Everyone is scheming in this book. The tension between Cardan and Jude is great. And the side characters are also fun - even though I kind of hate Taryn, Madoc, Nicasia, Locke, etc., I want to know what they're going to do next. It's a fun, quick, addicting read.

This is the book I wish I'd written (though my version wouldn't be nearly as good). It overlaps so many of my interests! I love the themes here about colonization and I love a good magical school tale. And there's dragons!! Kasaqua is so precious.
As someone who grew up on the reservation and ended up at a school for an "elite" profession, I relate so much to Anequs' journey. Though she's way bolder than I ever was. But she's also so kind hearted and strong! (Maybe too perfect). The side characters are all fun as well.
My only problem was that it was a little too black and white and Masquapaug is too much of a utopia. But that's a small gripe.
I like the historical setting with its slight steampunk vibes. I loved the queer relationships. And I look forward to the rest of the series!

Not as much happened as in the first one, but I still really enjoyed it. It was more about the school than I was expecting - so not sure if the third one will venture out or not. Either way, I'm really enjoying this series and all the characters.

This was great. I loved the leads together and the side characters were all well developed too. I cared about the romance but also the other things that were going on with Delilah and Claire. And looking forward to seeing more of Astrid in the next book.

This was good but the tv show stuff was pretty goofy. But I liked Astrid's arc and her relationship with Jordan. Not too much to say about it though.

I liked this one as much as the first two. This was cute and I had a great time reading it. As this book acknowledged, it's hard to have a modern fake dating trope because it can get silly really fast. This just sort of leaned into it and pulled it off. Fun series.

I had kind of lower expectations for this book based on what I heard about the hype (and the backlash to the hype), but I still wanted to check it out. I ended up loving the characters and the different magic systems and the intrigue. There’s secret societies and competition and moral dilemmas. The ending was a little clunky, but otherwise the plot was engaging and I couldn't wait to see what happens next. The characters really made up for any other missteps - I didn't love all the characters right away, but by the end each of the six characters were intriguing in their own way.
Also it’s a bunch of young hot arrogant people stuck in the same place for a year, so it was fun to watch who was getting together. I really had no idea who was going to hook up (or who was going to kill each other) because they all had amazing chemistry and tension and almost any character could have gotten together with any character. I'll be interested to pick this up again once it's traditionally published and polished.

I enjoyed this. Very cozy. There's not a lot of plot or direction at all - just characters and vibes and lots of talk about books and bookstores. It's a little preachy and overly sweet and it talks down to you just a tad, but the cozy vibes outweigh that. It does make me want to quit my job, though.

This was a fun novella with a lot packed into not that many pages. There's dragons and a knight quest, but also some twists and turns. I enjoyed it!

Short and surprisingly funny! It's not exactly a thriller, but there is some violence. Both sisters are very flawed people, but they are fun to read about. The sister dynamic is relatable in its dysfunction - even though Ayoola is worse than most siblings, since has a bad habit of killing her boyfriends. There's some biting commentary about social media, violence against women, and looking out for family. Poor Korede has to deal with her jealousy of her sister, and realizing that her crush is the same as the other men who fall for Ayoola for superficial reasons. The subplot with the coma patient was a little clumsy, and so was the ending, but it was a fun read.

This book made me sad and happy. For what was lost but also because it exists to help remember. My grandma had this book in her library, which I inherited. I never would have picked it up otherwise, but I'm glad I read it.

This was a dark twisted story with witchy vibes. I was rooting for Abitha and enjoyed reading about Slewfoot. But parts of this were a bit slow for my liking, and I just don't know if it will stick in my brain.

I've put off reading this one for a while because everyone complains about having to read it in high school. But I really enjoyed this one--especially the first third or so. One thing that struck me is how things are not described to us--for instance, you don't realize a character is crying until another character points it out in dialogue. I also enjoyed the independent 1800 woman aspect. The ending felt a little too coincidental, and too cliche almost. If the ending had held up, would have been 5 stars for sure.

I picked this up after watching Brene Brown's TED Talk on the power of vulnerability. This book is a good reminder for me to work on some things. To stop feeling inadequate and to worry less about "fitting in" and think more about "belonging." To examine why I criticize others sometimes. To live wholeheartedly. I didn't get something from every chapter in the book, but the nuggets I picked up along the way were very thought provoking. it offers some advice on how to be a better person, leader, boss, parent.

This took me forever to get through. It's not a happy read. And it's pretty depressing to hear stories of genocide and betrayal and provocation happen over and over again. Still, glad I finally picked this one up - even if I've read so many books that have come out after this was written, that the broad strokes of most of the stories were were pretty familiar to me.

There is so much good stuff in here, I may have to reread a couple of times. It's equal parts philosophy and self-help and there's so much here to think about. But basically, it says to live in the moment and acknowledge that you won't be able to do everything. I'll definitely be revisiting this one.

I loved this story as a kid. I still like it now, but perhaps it's mostly nostalgia. The characters are generally very black and white. Sara is the nicest, kindest child in the whole world, where Miss Minchin is an evil hag. However, I can't help but like the story. It is beautiful, and sad, but also heart warming.

This story is pretty simple, but still feels magical. A young orphan gets sent to a giant house on the moor with no friends and no one to talk to. But she and her cousin discover magic in the secret garden. It's almost corny. Or would be if the writing wasn't so engaging. The descriptions of the garden are wonderful, and the children are great, well-developed characters, who feel like they're their own characters. Sometime about this story strikes a chord with me.

I enjoyed this, though I admit I was primed to like it by Rebecca Romney. It took a while to get into the right headspace to read this one and the epistolary format strained my credulity at times, but the story itself was fun once I got into it. Evelina's missteps are entertaining and I enjoyed her interactions with Lord Orville and the other characters. (Sorry to say it's no Austen though).

This was given to me by someone who said it might be useful to me.
I related to a lot of the stories in this book, and it was great to read a compilation of professionals and students "like me." I actually wish I would have found it when I was in middle school or high school--would have helped me feel less "broken." I think it will be useful to revisit the chapters on communicating with kids--whether we end up having introverts or end up having extroverts. It was also interesting to see her perspective as a big city big law lawyer and how most of the rainmakers were extroverts. (The midwest lawyers I know tend to all be introverts--even the higher ups). I enjoyed reading the anecdotes and some of the studies/experiments about extroverts and introverts, but the book was a little sparse on the science. Still appreciated her insights, and will take some of the advice to heart.

The book is made up of these 55 prose poems broken up by interludes between Kublai Khan and Marco Polo. Not sure I really "got" this one, but it had some great dreamy imagery.

There’s some really interesting ideas in here! But some reorganization would have helped a lot. I had trouble following the ideas here - apparently this is basically a transcript of a PBS special, so maybe it makes more sense in video format. But to me the good ideas sometimes got lost in basically a lot of rambling. The book just jumped around so much! And there’s a lot - especially the stuff about women - that didn’t completely sit right with me.

Trying to read more poetry and this spoke to me. Some of the poems in this collection were funny, some were erotic, some were sweet, some were political. Read together, it's a great collection.

Will have to revisit this one. Stuck with me for a few days. The apathy of the main character was almost overwhelming.

This is a slow build with haunting magical elements and touches on some big themes. Loved the historical setting in a remote house in Mexico. Definitely gave me gothic horror vibes. Also there's a hot priest!

Like The Hacienda, this started off too slowly for me. I ended up really enjoying it in the end though, but it took a while to get there, and I don't know if it ever really picks up. But I really enjoyed the historical Mexican setting. It's just a slow, eerie atmosphere. The romance plot between Nana and Nestor was intense and melodramatic, which I enjoyed. And though I was expecting more vampires based on the title, I did like the way that the vampires were implemented.

Just listened to it after having not read it for a decade or so. (It's strange to listen to, as the text references pictures several time.) It's much funnier than I remember! Or maybe I understand more of the jokes. Strangely, I relate a bit more to Alice than I did when I was younger.

These are kind of dark "subversive" retellings of fairy tales like Bluebeard, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Red Riding Hood. Like any short story collection, some of these were better than others. I really loved the first couple of stories but they seemed to get more convoluted and harder to read as the stories went on. And most of the stories about wolves I didn't like. Some of these were great though!

This was such a great YA fantasy novel. This was a little slow to start, but it ended up being so, so good! Katsa was so stubborn and infuriating sometimes, but she also really cares about people and doing the best for them. Katsa and Prince Po made a wonderful team, and it was fun to see them off on an adventure. I loved the magic system - it was so cool how everyone had a different power/grace (and sometimes, you were wrong about what your grace was). There was also a really interesting villain in the last half.

I love a good fake dating book. The set up of this one is totally goofy, and I love it. It was actually pretty funny, and the dynamic between the lead characters was great. Easy, fun, quick read.

Overall, I liked this one, though it did feel both longer and more YA than I was expecting. Nahri, the con artist, was fun to follow and as learns about the djinn and this whole other world. I instantly disliked Dara, but following Ali - the younger brother of the King's heir - made up for it.

This was a cozy, quiet little story about purpose and existence and the point of it all. It's dedicated “For anybody who could use a break.” And let's just say this hit me at the right time.

This was just what I was expecting after the first one. Dex and Mosscap were just as great to read about as in the first one. I loved this series so much! It's just so cozy and warm. There's some human emotions like being lost and sad, but it's still light and comforting.

Read through this in two days. Was totally riveted. The book reads like a novel, and the writing is really easy to read. Completely pulled in by the story.

This was great! I loved Ying, even though she was a bit too reckless and headstrong. And the other characters were great, especially Ye-Kan. I loved the world and the engineering with the airships and clockwork things and mechanical beasts. And I always am up for a good contest - even though it wasn't the sole focus of the book, it played a big part. There's also a Mulan-esque plot where she needs to disguise herself as a boy, a mysterious prince, and a bit of a murder mystery. It was a great time!

Very interesting and well-researched - I learned a lot. I liked the approached that Chen took here. My big takeaway is that emotional desire and attraction are separate from sex drive, and that it's all on a spectrum. You don't need to add in caveats - asexuality is not the same for everyone. Things also change over time. She talks about the unique issues that come with being asexual if you're non-cis or a person of color or have a mental or physical disability. There's some interesting stuff about feminism and the sexually liberated woman and also about masculine gender roles. She talks about ace representation in pop culture, and "gold star" aces and how the power of the ace movement does not depend on purity of origin (it doesn't matter why/how you choose to identify as ace).

Fantastic biography. I knew a lot of the history here through school and (of course) watching/listening to Hamilton about 1000 times. But there were still a ton of new things I didn't know. It was almost too thorough in some places. I guess I get it - there are so many things Hamilton did that if he had done just one of those things he would be worthy of a biography (if that makes sense). But he did them all. He established or was a major influence on the treasury and national bank, the coast guard, our military system, a ton of our legal precedent, the federalist papers, the constitution, the two party system, American capitalism and industry, his ghost writing for Washington. For better or for worse, he was the mastermind behind a ton of workings of our current government system. Not to mention his "came from nothing immigrant story" or the first major sex scandal, his history with Burr, or his love story with Eliza - which would interesting books in themselves.

I'll keep this book at a 4 star rating just because this book meant so much to me as a teenager, especially those times when I was anxious and lonely. The idea of being a spectator in life instead of participating stuck with me. The book touches on a lot of heavy topics, but not in a preachy way. On the other hand, it doesn't really go into any of those topics in depth as much as it could have. That might have more to do with the voice of the novel, which feels way more constructed rereading it now. Charlie's inability to read social situations but still getting multiple girlfriends and accolades about how brilliant he was was a little too much for me at times.

I'll keep this book at a 4 star rating just because this book meant so much to me as a teenager, especially those times when I was anxious and lonely. The idea of being a spectator in life instead of participating stuck with me. The book touches on a lot of heavy topics, but not in a preachy way. On the other hand, it doesn't really go into any of those topics in depth as much as it could have. That might have more to do with the voice of the novel, which feels way more constructed rereading it now. Charlie's inability to read social situations but still getting multiple girlfriends and accolades about how brilliant he was was a little too much for me at times.

This one was strange. It’s very slow moving with a sort of dreamy atmosphere.
From the title, I thought this would be more like a fairy tale fantasy - and it does have those vibes - but it’s set in more modern times. It still has dark magical elements, but it’s not what I was expecting. I’d actually put this in the horror category over the fantasy category.

Anyway I loved both the story about the toxic marriage and the story about the toxic friendship between Azure and Indigo. But somehow the way the two stories were put together didn’t quite work for me. I think I would have liked it even more if had been just the story of the girls. Still I really enjoyed this one overall!

This was great! There's a fun spin on the "chosen one" trope where the chosen one... kinda sucks since everyone spoils him and treats him like a god. So the badass mentor figure begrudgingly has to take over his training even though she's sick of everyone and doesn't want any part of it. I really enjoyed Taishi and Jian's perspectives - even when Jian is being a spoiled brat, he's endearing. I wish we had more of the two of them together, but the parts we got were fantastic. Salminde was an interesting perspective and Qisami was just plain evil - I hate her, but in a fun way. We also meet a bunch of other characters who added to the story. The humor is a bit goofy, but I enjoyed it. The fighting was also pretty cool. Just great all around!

This was just as good as the first. It's pretty silly at times, but still heartfelt and action-packed. I love the world building. But the best part is the characters! Wen Jian and Taishi's relationship is so entertaining to watch, and I love those idiots so much. Qisami was a pleasant surprise too - I really enjoyed her arc in this book. I did think this was a duology but at some point I realized there wasn't enough time to wrap everything up, so I guess the series continues! I'll be there.

This series was so good! I really enjoyed this last book. I just adore these characters so much! The series is goofy and funny, but also has action and heart and emotion. And I love how the characters have grown throughout the series. The ending worked for me, and it was great to see how everyone's story wrapped up. Taishi and Jian are great as ever and I really felt for both of them and the decisions they had to make. And Qisami was a highlight - I just love reading her deluded point of view. I think this series knocked it out of the park - and I'm sad to leave these characters behind!

I appreciated parts of this, but it's more like a bunch of thinly connected short stories than a novel. And the vignettes are short! I was very interested in Esperanza, but I feel like I didn't get enough of her. Overall, this was good, but also emotional.

This was a weird book. It's short enough that I basically read it in one sitting. I had a lot of questions while reading this - it felt a lot like you were walking through the labyrinth that our main character lives in. It's told in first person through journal entries and the language he uses is really fun. It's very atmospheric and fantastical. But it's also kind of boring at the same time? If it was any longer, I probably wouldn't have liked it at all. But I'm sure I'll keep thinking about this one.

I hadn't heard of this book (it was a book club pick), but it ended up being great. I liked both Elisa and Marisol's points of view, and how the two stories lines related to each other. The romance parts of the story were mostly good, though there was a little too much insta love in both cases - though it was maybe a bit more understandable in Elisa's case, given the turmoil and uncertainty during the revolution in Cuba. I loved the atmosphere of the book and the information about what life is/was like in Cuba. I think it could have been a little shorter and tighter, but overall a great read.

So I didn't know anything about the Manson murders until after reading this, if I had known more, maybe I wouldn't have liked it so much. There was good tension and intrigue, but the best part was getting inside Evie's head, and focusing on girlhood. For better or for worse, this book made me remember what it's like to be a 14 year old girl--especially the scenes where Evie is trying to put herself into the conversation.

The book does not posit a specific reason as to why the bronze age collapsed. Instead, it lists several factors that could have caused the collapse, and weighs the evidence supporting each. The theory of the book is that many, if not all, of these factors in combination caused a system collapse that led to the upheaval in the titular year. Along the way we get fascinating details such as letters sent between kings, palace intrigue recorded and left to history, and some thoughts on whether the devastation of Troy was part of this general systems collapse.

I think I liked this more when I was younger. Now I'm kind of finding it exhausting to be that negative. I understand the girls a bit better this time around though. They both seem a bit spoiled in some ways. But they're just trying to figure it all out.

I think I liked this more when I was younger. Now I'm kind of finding it exhausting to be that negative. I understand the girls a bit better this time around though. They both seem a bit spoiled in some ways. But they're just trying to figure it all out.

This was a great collection of essays. I enjoyed the essays about the essays just as much as the essays themselves. Some ideas were a little repetitive and a teeny bit outdated, but I enjoyed this collection.

This was wonderful. It's about a bachelor-type dating show, but the "prince" starts to realize he has better chemistry with his producer than with the princesses. It was very cute and charming.
I appreciated the discussions about mental health too, even if it felt a bit after school special-y in places. Actually, it was all a little corny in the end, but given the premise, it worked.

Quick and cute. The story was intriguing, but I was hoping for a different ending. The philosophy's a little bit too much "the secret" for me to get behind.

I remember this seeming like the longest poem ever when I read it in school, but it's actually shorter and more interesting than I remember. Fantastic imagery and it's fun to read!

I've read this book a few times. It's a fun, quick read. I meant to just look up a passage, but was immediately sucked in and ended up rereading the whole thing in an afternoon. Katniss can be infuriating at times, but I enjoy reading from point of view because she can be really dense and can miss the point a lot. I wished Collins wouldn't hammer the forced love triangle so much, but it is YA, so what are you going to do?

I've read this book a few times. It's a fun, quick read. I meant to just look up a passage, but was immediately sucked in and ended up rereading the whole thing in an afternoon. Katniss can be infuriating at times, but I enjoy reading from point of view because she can be really dense and can miss the point a lot. I wished Collins wouldn't hammer the forced love triangle so much, but it is YA, so what are you going to do?

I've read this book a few times. It's a fun, quick read. I meant to just look up a passage, but was immediately sucked in and ended up rereading the whole thing in an afternoon. Katniss can be infuriating at times, but I enjoy reading from point of view because she can be really dense and can miss the point a lot. I wished Collins wouldn't hammer the forced love triangle so much, but it is YA, so what are you going to do?

I've read this book a few times. It's a fun, quick read. I meant to just look up a passage, but was immediately sucked in and ended up rereading the whole thing in an afternoon. Katniss can be infuriating at times, but I enjoy reading from point of view because she can be really dense and can miss the point a lot. I wished Collins wouldn't hammer the forced love triangle so much, but it is YA, so what are you going to do?

Didn't like this one as much as the first, but it's still an entertaining and quick read. I like seeing our old favorites, and we get some great new characters introduced as well, especially Finnick and Joanna. Poor Katniss is still as unreliable and blinded as ever.

Didn't like this one as much as the first, but it's still an entertaining and quick read. I like seeing our old favorites, and we get some great new characters introduced as well, especially Finnick and Joanna. Poor Katniss is still as unreliable and blinded as ever.

Didn't like this one as much as the first, but it's still an entertaining and quick read. I like seeing our old favorites, and we get some great new characters introduced as well, especially Finnick and Joanna. Poor Katniss is still as unreliable and blinded as ever.

I hated this one when it first came out. But with the benefit of hindsight, I don't think there was a better way to progress the story. It's still a little painful to read though.

I hated this one when it first came out. But with the benefit of hindsight, I don't think there was a better way to progress the story. It's still a little painful to read though.

My original thought when this came out was "why do we need this?" But I should not have doubted Suzanne Collins. It ended up being a really interesting story. (And if it was a cash grab, she would have picked a more popular character). I was invested in how conflicted Snow was, and loved the dynamic between him and Lucy Gray. But at the same time, Snow isn't romanticized or redeemed - you can see inside his head, and a lot of his characteristics and selfishness and entitlement have always been there. You start to understand him (somewhat). But it's not one of those "villain redemption stories."

I think the story was a bit too rushed and a little underwhelming at the end. But overall, I enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected to!

This one felt more brutal than previous books, but also had more heart and human-ness. The propaganda themes were a bit heavy handed - but looking at the US right now, maybe we need more heavy handedness. We should pay attention to the themes of manipulation of narratives in the media....!

I was wondering why we even needed this book, since we basically knew what happened - but turns out that what we knew about Haymitch's games before was propaganda! And Suzanne Collins still managed to throw in some fun twists and turns. I loved the characterizations of the younger versions of characters we know, and love the new ones as well. And, it answers a lot of questions like "why didn't the districts fight back for 74 years?" I thought the book was well thought out and well done!

This was one weird and pretty grotesque in places. And I'm not quite sure what we're supposed to take away from this - Monstrilio is a monster that bites people, and so some of the things (I think) the book was exploring falls apart a little. But I did really enjoy parts of this. The four perspectives were interesting, even if I thought all four were bad people in their own ways. I'd classify it as horror, but it moves slow and is more tragic than scary.

This was so much fun, even though Finlay is a big mess and makes horrible decisions. There's a convoluted set up and a series of escalating events - and as long as you don't take it too seriously, you're gonna have a good time! Finlay's narration is darkly humorous, and the story on the whole is fun and light (even though it's full of murder and other bad intense stuff). It was a great quick read!

This was super fun to read. It's actually way more similar to the movie than I was expecting. There were differences, but the main plot was the same. John Hammond was evil and crazy and I kind of enjoyed that. It made more sense to me to that the kids were younger too. I can forgive younger kids for being annoying I guess. I enjoyed the additional science parts, and the deeper dive into philosophy and chaos theory and the like.