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luluwoohoo's reviews
473 reviews
Normal People by Sally Rooney
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Normal People by Sally Rooney (audiobook narrated by Aoife McMahon)
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A poignant, complex and human coming-of-age romance that leans into the sharp reality of life
▪️All of the characters are flawed and mostly unlikeable, but despite this I was heavily invested in the relationship between Connell and Marianne. Rooney does a great job of making them believable without veering into whiny teenager territory
▪️The intense and magnetic relationship at the heart of the book was really well handled, but individually I do wish their struggles were given more page time towards the end - Connell's depression begins to have a resolution, but Marianne's mental state isn't addressed enough for my tastes
▪️I feel confident enough to assume that, had I read a physical copy and not listened to the audiobook, I would have struggled much more with it. I'm aware of the creative writing style when it comes to the lack of punctuation, but this choice isn't noticeable from McMahon's fantastic narration
▪️This is far from a traditional romance, but the soul of the book definitely spoke to me.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A poignant, complex and human coming-of-age romance that leans into the sharp reality of life
▪️All of the characters are flawed and mostly unlikeable, but despite this I was heavily invested in the relationship between Connell and Marianne. Rooney does a great job of making them believable without veering into whiny teenager territory
▪️The intense and magnetic relationship at the heart of the book was really well handled, but individually I do wish their struggles were given more page time towards the end - Connell's depression begins to have a resolution, but Marianne's mental state isn't addressed enough for my tastes
▪️I feel confident enough to assume that, had I read a physical copy and not listened to the audiobook, I would have struggled much more with it. I'm aware of the creative writing style when it comes to the lack of punctuation, but this choice isn't noticeable from McMahon's fantastic narration
▪️This is far from a traditional romance, but the soul of the book definitely spoke to me.
"That’s the only part of himself he wants to protect, the part that exists inside her."
"All these years, they’ve been like two little plants sharing the same plot of soil, growing around one another, contorting to make room, taking certain unlikely positions."
I Don't by Clementine Ford
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I Don't by Clementine Ford
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A sharp, witty and informative deep dive into the history of marriage and all of the reasons it's a bit shit
▪️The cultural, economic, emotional, spiritual and physical impacts of a marriage contract are all things I subconsciously knew, but seeing them laid out next to each other definitely made me reassess my perspective on it and examine how it has impacted friends and family members
▪️ Ford's voice throughout is powerful, passionate, often sarcastic and very, very articulate in the way she breaks down the systems that make marriage what it is. I was especially moved in later chapters when she addressed motherhoods connection to it all and how so much of that burden is placed on women without any thought or consideration
▪️My favourite part about reading a Clementine Ford book is gaining new language with which to discuss these difficult topics. Her ability to distill and articulate the issues at hand is so skillful and frankly helpful to those of us forced into conversations by those hoping to instigate conflict
▪️This book is a call to arms, but not in the way most insecure people think it is. I strongly recommend anyone, but especially young women, read this and take to heart the message this book brings.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A sharp, witty and informative deep dive into the history of marriage and all of the reasons it's a bit shit
▪️The cultural, economic, emotional, spiritual and physical impacts of a marriage contract are all things I subconsciously knew, but seeing them laid out next to each other definitely made me reassess my perspective on it and examine how it has impacted friends and family members
▪️ Ford's voice throughout is powerful, passionate, often sarcastic and very, very articulate in the way she breaks down the systems that make marriage what it is. I was especially moved in later chapters when she addressed motherhoods connection to it all and how so much of that burden is placed on women without any thought or consideration
▪️My favourite part about reading a Clementine Ford book is gaining new language with which to discuss these difficult topics. Her ability to distill and articulate the issues at hand is so skillful and frankly helpful to those of us forced into conversations by those hoping to instigate conflict
▪️This book is a call to arms, but not in the way most insecure people think it is. I strongly recommend anyone, but especially young women, read this and take to heart the message this book brings.
"This is the problem with treating marriage as a reflection of a woman's value rather than something she might decide to do in addition to all the other experiences her life will provide. If the world tells you you're worthless without the love of a man (and then mocks you as some kind of maladapted weirdo if you disagree), then you learn to do the work of patriarchy by hating yourself if it doesn't work out."
"One of the most crucial tasks we can undertake as women is to unearth the history of ourselves that has been hidden. Listen to its whispers. Kill the things that you've been taught to believe in, starting with the version of womanhood men have written for us. That is for their reality, not ours."
Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Learned By Heart by Emma Donoghue
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️An interesting and emotional exploration of young love spoiled by time and circumstance
▪️ Inspired by the diaries of real life Anne Lister, Donoghue proves to have done ample research into her life and the period itself, though oftentimes the narrative is lost amongst the intricate details. They certainly help to sell the story, but the relationship at its heart didn't get as much time as I wanted in the beginning or end
▪️Raine and Lister's constantly redefined relationship is handled beautifully. The throes of young love and the subsequent heartbreak are written with care, but it lacked a certain follow through that would have taken it emotionally to the next level
▪️The pacing of this book was problematic. The entire first half is weighed down with what feel like unnecessary scenes of lessons and life at school before Lister's impact takes hold, and though the second half is better in this regard, the dual structure of Raine's letters doesn't feel as mysterious or tension building as they're probably intended. I cannot fault Donoghue's skillful writing though; her restraint is masterful at times
▪️I'm not always taken by historical romances, and though this is a good one, I found the surrounding elements too demanding and not in balance of my tastes.
☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️An interesting and emotional exploration of young love spoiled by time and circumstance
▪️ Inspired by the diaries of real life Anne Lister, Donoghue proves to have done ample research into her life and the period itself, though oftentimes the narrative is lost amongst the intricate details. They certainly help to sell the story, but the relationship at its heart didn't get as much time as I wanted in the beginning or end
▪️Raine and Lister's constantly redefined relationship is handled beautifully. The throes of young love and the subsequent heartbreak are written with care, but it lacked a certain follow through that would have taken it emotionally to the next level
▪️The pacing of this book was problematic. The entire first half is weighed down with what feel like unnecessary scenes of lessons and life at school before Lister's impact takes hold, and though the second half is better in this regard, the dual structure of Raine's letters doesn't feel as mysterious or tension building as they're probably intended. I cannot fault Donoghue's skillful writing though; her restraint is masterful at times
▪️I'm not always taken by historical romances, and though this is a good one, I found the surrounding elements too demanding and not in balance of my tastes.
"At night, how my heart throbs. Sleep is a distant shore, quite out of reach. I pace, turn, look at my narrow bed. You rise so vividly before my eyes that I can scarce believe you're not here, yet the moment I stretch out my hands you dissolve like some phantom. Memory's pleasures are insidious; it's moonlight unfits me for the sunshine of real life, and I fear I've lived too long amongst its shadows."
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Crying In H Mart by Michelle Zauner (audiobook narrated by Michelle Zauner)
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️An intimate and raw exploration of love and grief through culture and food that packs an emotional punch
▪️Zauner's primary focus in this memoir is breaking down her relationship with her mother, inspecting all of the ways she influenced her life, most especially through food and beauty. The course of their relationship was never smooth and Zauner doesn't skim over the rough patches and harrowing truths of illness
▪️The writing style is easy and approachable, which is elevated by Zauner's narration into something almost comforting to listen to. Her intricate descriptions of the Korean food of her childhood is heartwarming and really presents a clear narrative through line for this book
▪️Zauner goes to some dark places throughout, detailing her father's difficult past, her own mental breakdown as a teen, and most obviously the slow decline of her mother due to cancer. All of this is balanced with some moments of humour, but ultimately this feels like a cathartic exercise to process her grief in a truly beautiful way
▪️As someone with an indescribable love for her mother, this moved me greatly and made me call her immediately to talk and say that I love her.
☀️☀️☀️☀️⛅
▪️An intimate and raw exploration of love and grief through culture and food that packs an emotional punch
▪️Zauner's primary focus in this memoir is breaking down her relationship with her mother, inspecting all of the ways she influenced her life, most especially through food and beauty. The course of their relationship was never smooth and Zauner doesn't skim over the rough patches and harrowing truths of illness
▪️The writing style is easy and approachable, which is elevated by Zauner's narration into something almost comforting to listen to. Her intricate descriptions of the Korean food of her childhood is heartwarming and really presents a clear narrative through line for this book
▪️Zauner goes to some dark places throughout, detailing her father's difficult past, her own mental breakdown as a teen, and most obviously the slow decline of her mother due to cancer. All of this is balanced with some moments of humour, but ultimately this feels like a cathartic exercise to process her grief in a truly beautiful way
▪️As someone with an indescribable love for her mother, this moved me greatly and made me call her immediately to talk and say that I love her.
"Sometimes my grief feels as though I’ve been left alone in a room with no doors. Every time I remember that my mother is dead, it feels like I’m colliding with a wall that won’t give. There’s no escape, just a hard surface that I keep ramming into over and over, a reminder of the immutable reality that I will never see her again."
Artemis by Andy Weir
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Artemis by Andy Weir
☀️☀️⛅
▪️What should have been a fast paced heist story ended up being a boring and frankly insulting imitation of Weir's own work
▪️Our main character Jazz is quite literally Weir ripping off his own character - Mark Watney worked perfectly well in "The Martian" but taking his personality and ascribing it to a Saudi woman in her mid twenties was genuinely awkward to read
▪️There are some moments of Weir's well written humour but they're hidden amongst a lot of really lazy jokes that are often sexist, racist and homophobic. It honestly felt like a bunch of fifteen year old guys wrote a list of "funny" things and melded it into this weird not-quite caper with an equal mix of too complex science and toilet humour
▪️The last quarter was the only interesting part of the plot, and although it was relatively enjoyable from a tension standpoint the last few pages undid a lot of that work
▪️ This ended up being a quick read but I'm genuinely surprised this came from the same talented author of two 5⭐ reads. This particular book is not something I'd recommend.
☀️☀️⛅
▪️What should have been a fast paced heist story ended up being a boring and frankly insulting imitation of Weir's own work
▪️Our main character Jazz is quite literally Weir ripping off his own character - Mark Watney worked perfectly well in "The Martian" but taking his personality and ascribing it to a Saudi woman in her mid twenties was genuinely awkward to read
▪️There are some moments of Weir's well written humour but they're hidden amongst a lot of really lazy jokes that are often sexist, racist and homophobic. It honestly felt like a bunch of fifteen year old guys wrote a list of "funny" things and melded it into this weird not-quite caper with an equal mix of too complex science and toilet humour
▪️The last quarter was the only interesting part of the plot, and although it was relatively enjoyable from a tension standpoint the last few pages undid a lot of that work
▪️ This ended up being a quick read but I'm genuinely surprised this came from the same talented author of two 5⭐ reads. This particular book is not something I'd recommend.
"By the end of it I had a plan. And like all good plans, it required a crazy Ukranian guy."
"Several families had obnoxious kids bouncing off the walls. In this case, 'bouncing off the walls' is not just a figure of speech. The overstimulated kids were literally bouncing off the walls. Lunar gravity is the worst thing to ever happen to parents."
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 40%.
Overwritten to the point of verging on pretentiousness with an overreliance on t e specificity of Brisbane landmarks which didn't help to sell the story
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
☀️☀️🌤️
▪️The next installment of this fantasy series, which had so many opportunities to build upon genuinely interesting bones, manages to go backwards in every respect
▪️This novel suffers from a lot of flaws, the biggest one being it's length. The pacing is completely off to the point that even the better structured last third feels bloated and drawn out despite the actual notable plot points being so few. It's repetitive to a fault in several ways, which isn't helped at all by the downgrade in writing quality to a basic YA level which accentuates how juvenile most of this actually is
▪️ Almost every single character in this story was given no character development, and the ones that did were so predictable and trope-y that it was unsatisfactory. For a remarkably simple plot (that could have easily been done by cutting 200+ pages), Yarros fails to engage any of the formwork she built in book one to make the threats emotional and compelling (though I will admit that the final twist is decent in itself)
▪️The relationship between Violet and Xaden was never my favourite but it became downright impossible to root for them with the severe overreliance on miscommunication and lacklustre chemistry compared to the first book
▪️This series had so much potential but Yarros has wasted the opportunity by writing something generic, predictable and disappointing.
☀️☀️🌤️
▪️The next installment of this fantasy series, which had so many opportunities to build upon genuinely interesting bones, manages to go backwards in every respect
▪️This novel suffers from a lot of flaws, the biggest one being it's length. The pacing is completely off to the point that even the better structured last third feels bloated and drawn out despite the actual notable plot points being so few. It's repetitive to a fault in several ways, which isn't helped at all by the downgrade in writing quality to a basic YA level which accentuates how juvenile most of this actually is
▪️ Almost every single character in this story was given no character development, and the ones that did were so predictable and trope-y that it was unsatisfactory. For a remarkably simple plot (that could have easily been done by cutting 200+ pages), Yarros fails to engage any of the formwork she built in book one to make the threats emotional and compelling (though I will admit that the final twist is decent in itself)
▪️The relationship between Violet and Xaden was never my favourite but it became downright impossible to root for them with the severe overreliance on miscommunication and lacklustre chemistry compared to the first book
▪️This series had so much potential but Yarros has wasted the opportunity by writing something generic, predictable and disappointing.
"The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity."
Bellies by Nicola Dinan
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bellies by Nicola Dinan
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A wonderfully vulnerable coming of age tale that examines complex relationships through a compassionate lens
▪️The way this novel exemplifies the emotional journey of these twenty-something's during moments of transition in their lives is perfectly relatable, namely the literal transition of Ming but also the stagnation post study and during grief
▪️The core relationship between Ming and Tom was really well explored as their dynamic continued to shift and change, which is truly the highlight of this story. There are also touching supporting characters - Rob and Cindy being my favourites - who guide the themes of empathy, forgiveness and love
▪️My biggest criticism of this book is the writing style's inconsistency. Some sentences are powerhouse statements that tie the story together, but most of the writing is so literal in its descriptions of things and their placement that I lost emotional connection in those moments
▪️A powerful debut that doesn't pull any punches, and is definitely one I'd recommend, though the emotional impact was somewhat stunted by the writing itself.
☀️☀️☀️☀️
▪️A wonderfully vulnerable coming of age tale that examines complex relationships through a compassionate lens
▪️The way this novel exemplifies the emotional journey of these twenty-something's during moments of transition in their lives is perfectly relatable, namely the literal transition of Ming but also the stagnation post study and during grief
▪️The core relationship between Ming and Tom was really well explored as their dynamic continued to shift and change, which is truly the highlight of this story. There are also touching supporting characters - Rob and Cindy being my favourites - who guide the themes of empathy, forgiveness and love
▪️My biggest criticism of this book is the writing style's inconsistency. Some sentences are powerhouse statements that tie the story together, but most of the writing is so literal in its descriptions of things and their placement that I lost emotional connection in those moments
▪️A powerful debut that doesn't pull any punches, and is definitely one I'd recommend, though the emotional impact was somewhat stunted by the writing itself.
"Four months was a long time. Four months to learn my boyfriend's name, or other name, or old name. Four months wasn't a lie, but it made me anxious. This seemed entitled, so I buried it."
"At each corner of life I am reminded of the ways in which I haven't collected the things I need."
This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.25
This Is How You Lose The Time War by
Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (audiobook narrated by Cynthia Farrell and Emily Woo Zeller)
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
▪️A re-read of this fantastic short story, this time in audiobook form, reinforced the positive aspects of its narrative and style as a love story for the ages
▪️My first attempt a few years ago left me feeling a bit confused by the depth of its metaphors and layers of complexity, but reading a second time with a bit of context really helped me appreciate it more
▪️ Though the prose, at times, can feel overworked or pretentious, it is undeniably a highlight of this book that is a creative calling card. It's rich and overindulgent and really enjoyable to read if you can give it the focus it demands
▪️The love story at this book's heart is wonderful in the restraint of physical interaction - all of their mutual appreciation must be stolen in tiny moments and dwelled on afterwards. Like last time, I'd have liked to see both characters before their meeting, but I understand why we're not given it
▪️An indisputably unique tale with such narrow focus on the love story, which is wonderfully written, that you don't even miss the world building.
Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (audiobook narrated by Cynthia Farrell and Emily Woo Zeller)
☀️☀️☀️☀️🌥️
▪️A re-read of this fantastic short story, this time in audiobook form, reinforced the positive aspects of its narrative and style as a love story for the ages
▪️My first attempt a few years ago left me feeling a bit confused by the depth of its metaphors and layers of complexity, but reading a second time with a bit of context really helped me appreciate it more
▪️ Though the prose, at times, can feel overworked or pretentious, it is undeniably a highlight of this book that is a creative calling card. It's rich and overindulgent and really enjoyable to read if you can give it the focus it demands
▪️The love story at this book's heart is wonderful in the restraint of physical interaction - all of their mutual appreciation must be stolen in tiny moments and dwelled on afterwards. Like last time, I'd have liked to see both characters before their meeting, but I understand why we're not given it
▪️An indisputably unique tale with such narrow focus on the love story, which is wonderfully written, that you don't even miss the world building.
"I love you. I love you. I love you. I'll write it in waves. In skies. In my heart. You'll never see, but you will know. I'll be all the poets, I'll kill them all and take each one's place in turn, and every time love's written in all the strands it will be to you."
The Roughest Draft by Austin Siegemund-Broka, Emily Wibberley
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A promising concept that pushed hard to break the romantic envelope but, in doing that, spoiled it's charm
▪️The idea of writing about talented, celebrated writers means that when we as the audience read their work, we need to be moved and impressed. To be completely honest I wasn't, and it shadowed my perception of the book overall. The writing was fine, but nothing special, and it pushed the 'roughest draft' theme WAY too hard at the end
▪️This novel is a classic example of why I'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope - the entire plot hinged on our main couple making assumptions and just not doing anything about it for four years. The tension was well done but I didn't completely buy into the chemistry, nor did I ever buy into Kat's relationship with Chris who is painted so plainly as a villain it's a bit boring to read
▪️The structure was good, unfolding both timelines at once, though some choices of flashback scenes towards the end (Kat's date with Chris) really puzzled me as to why they were even included
▪️ Overall this was a moderately enjoyable, quick read but it leaned way too much into facets of romance I don't enjoy, and tried too hard to be literary high art when it should have embraced it's place as a simple romance.
☀️☀️🌤️
▪️A promising concept that pushed hard to break the romantic envelope but, in doing that, spoiled it's charm
▪️The idea of writing about talented, celebrated writers means that when we as the audience read their work, we need to be moved and impressed. To be completely honest I wasn't, and it shadowed my perception of the book overall. The writing was fine, but nothing special, and it pushed the 'roughest draft' theme WAY too hard at the end
▪️This novel is a classic example of why I'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope - the entire plot hinged on our main couple making assumptions and just not doing anything about it for four years. The tension was well done but I didn't completely buy into the chemistry, nor did I ever buy into Kat's relationship with Chris who is painted so plainly as a villain it's a bit boring to read
▪️The structure was good, unfolding both timelines at once, though some choices of flashback scenes towards the end (Kat's date with Chris) really puzzled me as to why they were even included
▪️ Overall this was a moderately enjoyable, quick read but it leaned way too much into facets of romance I don't enjoy, and tried too hard to be literary high art when it should have embraced it's place as a simple romance.
"There's no truth to these pages, but the trick of fiction is to make you think there is. I let myself fall for it as often as I can."