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casstalksbooks's reviews
256 reviews
Auē by Becky Manawatu
unfortunately i’ve had to DNF this book at about 1/4 of the way through. while the writing was immensely moving and hauntingly beautiful, the book was ultimately too violent and sad for me to continue. in the very first chapter, there was a scene that left me feeling sick to my stomach (and that was like page 4!!)! i think i may have been able to handle it better if, like most traumatic books i’ve read, it eased into the violence and anguish.
i’m grateful to Better Reading for giving me early access to this book in Australia, i just was not prepared for the intensity of this read.
i’m grateful to Better Reading for giving me early access to this book in Australia, i just was not prepared for the intensity of this read.
On Sun Swallowing by Dakota Warren
5.0
i read Dakota Warren’s ‘On Sun Swallowing’ in practically one sitting. i devoured this book, while simultaneously, it devoured me. i drank from its pages like it was an insatiable wine; it was intoxicating.
this book combines Dakota’s poetry, prose, and journal extracts, and the result was brilliant. i don’t often read poetry collections, but this was poignant and raw, while also hedonistic and darkly mysterious. her writings felt incredibly relatable at times, showing a deep understanding of youth, heartbreak, and pain.
Dakota, this is an incredible debut and i am SO proud of you for this!! ✨
this book has changed me. i now long for the feeling of Dionysian euphoria, i speak only in metaphor, and i, on calloused hands and grazed knees, devote myself to a life as a darkly academic, poetic enigma.
excuse my dramatics. but seriously, read this collection right now.
this book combines Dakota’s poetry, prose, and journal extracts, and the result was brilliant. i don’t often read poetry collections, but this was poignant and raw, while also hedonistic and darkly mysterious. her writings felt incredibly relatable at times, showing a deep understanding of youth, heartbreak, and pain.
Dakota, this is an incredible debut and i am SO proud of you for this!! ✨
this book has changed me. i now long for the feeling of Dionysian euphoria, i speak only in metaphor, and i, on calloused hands and grazed knees, devote myself to a life as a darkly academic, poetic enigma.
excuse my dramatics. but seriously, read this collection right now.
Henry V by William Shakespeare
3.0
never read a shakespeare history before and meh, it had its moments (by moments i mean the leek scene okay)
but do watch the hollow crown version of this where tom hiddleston plays Henry because it’s very well done and you get so stare at tom for over 2 hours
but do watch the hollow crown version of this where tom hiddleston plays Henry because it’s very well done and you get so stare at tom for over 2 hours
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
4.0
(4.5 stars)
have you ever felt as though your only companion is loneliness? have you ever felt like a bad friend? have you ever felt like you’ve changed, and not for the better? then you will relate to Marin, the main character of this story.
when Marin’s life is changed forever, she runs away to New York to start her college experience without telling anybody where she was going or what she was doing. she takes three things with her: her phone, her wallet, and a picture of her mother. Marin is set on starting a brand new life in New York, where nobody knows her history or anything about her. but when her best friend, Mabel, comes to stay with her for a few days, she has to face the truth. she has never told anybody what happened in the last few weeks before she moved away—nobody.
this book had so many great aspects: a relatable protagonist, sapphic rep, the ‘one bed’ trope, “kissing practice”, and an intensely interesting plot line. for a novel of only 234 pages, i was hooked on every word.
the only reason i didn’t rate this 5 stars was because i just felt that there was something missing from the Marin & Hannah storyline, and just Hannah’s character development in general. at the start, she seemed like such an important character and while she was a great character, i wanted more.
ultimately, this book shows how even when you think solitude is your only friend, there are people who care about you and you will be okay.
have you ever felt as though your only companion is loneliness? have you ever felt like a bad friend? have you ever felt like you’ve changed, and not for the better? then you will relate to Marin, the main character of this story.
when Marin’s life is changed forever, she runs away to New York to start her college experience without telling anybody where she was going or what she was doing. she takes three things with her: her phone, her wallet, and a picture of her mother. Marin is set on starting a brand new life in New York, where nobody knows her history or anything about her. but when her best friend, Mabel, comes to stay with her for a few days, she has to face the truth. she has never told anybody what happened in the last few weeks before she moved away—nobody.
this book had so many great aspects: a relatable protagonist, sapphic rep, the ‘one bed’ trope, “kissing practice”, and an intensely interesting plot line. for a novel of only 234 pages, i was hooked on every word.
the only reason i didn’t rate this 5 stars was because i just felt that there was something missing from the Marin & Hannah storyline, and just Hannah’s character development in general. at the start, she seemed like such an important character and while she was a great character, i wanted more.
ultimately, this book shows how even when you think solitude is your only friend, there are people who care about you and you will be okay.
As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson
5.0
oh my god. oh my god. oh my god.
my heart is full, i was so worried about the ending but the last page has given me the biggest serotonin boost of my life.
RAVI SINGH I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU ARE THE MOST PERFECT HUMAN BEING EVER AND AHHH
HOLLY JACKSON I LOVE YOU TOO!!!! thank you so much for this series. this trilogy is engrained in my soul, and i cannot stop thinking about it. ravi & pip are one of the greatest book couples i have ever seen portrayed.
the friendships in this series, in this book especially, are so important to me. the strong bonds, the trust, and the emotional support systems in this series are so special.
i’m never gonna stop thinking about this bye-
my heart is full, i was so worried about the ending but the last page has given me the biggest serotonin boost of my life.
RAVI SINGH I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU ARE THE MOST PERFECT HUMAN BEING EVER AND AHHH
HOLLY JACKSON I LOVE YOU TOO!!!! thank you so much for this series. this trilogy is engrained in my soul, and i cannot stop thinking about it. ravi & pip are one of the greatest book couples i have ever seen portrayed.
the friendships in this series, in this book especially, are so important to me. the strong bonds, the trust, and the emotional support systems in this series are so special.
i’m never gonna stop thinking about this bye-
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
lots of misogyny and slutshaming, some farce though which was funny
shaw was a hitler sympathiser and so i’m not rating this (had to read it for uni
shaw was a hitler sympathiser and so i’m not rating this (had to read it for uni