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katietotallybooked's reviews
765 reviews

The Secret History of Audrey James by Heather Marshall

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emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

From Novelist:
Genre: Canadian fiction; Historical fiction
Themes: Chosen family; Inspired by real events
Storyline: Parallel narratives
Mood: Moving
Style: Character-driven; Atmospheric 

What a woman wore was always important, no matter how skilled-or inept-she might be. The right outfit had a way of validating a woman. Whether that fact was fair or not was irrelevant. Anyone who denied it was a fool. p.18

In Germany, there were plenty of times I thought I was about to die at any moment. Had I known I was going to make it out alive, I wouldn't have had the sense of imperativeness that I did. There's a lot to be said for the power of raw nerve, of adrenaline, in pushing a person to the verge of her ability. p. 133

Raising Securely Attached Kids: Using Connection-Focused Parenting to Create Confidence, Empathy, and Resilience by Eli Harwood

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informative

5.0

This is by far the most impactful parenting book that I have read to date. It as taught me SO MUCH about attachment and attachment theory that I never knew before. 

Attachment truly is a cornerstone for how our children turn out. It also has played a big role in how I am as a parent and in my own relationships. I have so many tabbed pages and I know I will come back to this one as my daughter grows. 
Becoming a Matriarch by Helen Knott

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reflective fast-paced

3.0

What a moving memoir. I appreciated the generational story she was sharing as she explored the maternal relationships in her life. I am glad to have heard her voice on the topics of motherhood and Indigenous culture.

The last few chapters were my favourite and resonated with me the most. 
The Change by Kirsten Miller

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

 This one was interesting. It’s my work book club pick this month. I enjoyed the mystery and womanhood elements. The writing was great. It was good on audio. However, I find I get lost in books with a lot of social commentary. I am a reader who wants it to all be on the page and I don’t like having to make a lot of inferences while reading. So while I appreciate the feminism manifesto and the “screw the man” agenda here, it wasn’t a book that was terribly for me. 
A Magical New York Christmas: A Novel by Anita Hughes

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
Just not into it. 
Interesting Facts About Space by Emily Austin

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

At times, I didn’t follow the story well and at times I was really engaged. The writing felt choppier with all of the page/paragraph breaks. 
I enjoyed the character of Enid and her growth throughout the book. 
The audio narration was good too. 
The Drowning Woman by Robyn Harding

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

4.0

I’m feeling ashamed that it has taken me years to read this book. It is an informative and insightful look into the treatment of the Indigenous community. It has opened my eyes to the racism that has been prevalent in my country and province. It is heart breaking that the deaths of the seven Indigenous youth were brushed under the rug and that families were left without answers and closure after the losses of their loved ones. 

The book is so well written. I really appreciated the narrative writing style. I agree with the claims on the back cover that this is a must read for all Canadians. 🇨🇦 

I am so glad that I brought it to my library book club this month. 
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

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emotional mysterious relaxing sad tense 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? No

4.5

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

It was horribly entertaining and I both loved it and hated it. Parts of it had me cringing, thinking WTF. But I also was so hooked and entertained until the very end. There wasn't a single character who I trusted, yet I connected with both of the main characters.