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sareidle's reviews
134 reviews
The Name-Bearer by Natalia Hernandez
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.
The premise was interesting, but the prose over explained things. The royal decree at the start of the book provided a great, in universe explanation for the role of the name-bearer and how they are cut off from their parents. It was not necessary to re-explain that process at length just a few chapters later. While the main character is young, it took her such a long time to realize what was going on, plus the narrator's high pitched voice for her was grating. Once I realized I wasn't enjoying the story, I decided to cut my losses and move on to something else.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A very charming follow-up to The Guncle. Each of the character's has a distinct voice and personality that rings true to my experiences with family and taking care of children. Maisie and Grant are very endearing and I loved reading about their adventures across Europe with their GUP. The author handles difficult topics of grief, a parent's remarriage, and self-sabotaging relationships very tactfully and I was tearing up at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Misogyny and Lesbophobia
Minor: Cursing and Alcohol
Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
Deborah Heiligman crafted an excellent, readable narrative of the Van Gogh brothers. Like the author, the letters between Theo and Vincent stood out to me when visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The brothers' story is deeply moving as they navigate challenges and figure out their relationship. I gained a greater appreciation for Vincent's art and the great effort his sister-in-law Jo took to make sure his name was remembered long after his lifetime.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth by Natalie Haynes
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I love how Natalie Haynes retells Greek myths and explains how the stories evolved over time. The chapter on Hestia and her invisible labor was fascinating and I appreciated the tie-ins to modern versions of the goddesses to show how these characters still resonate to us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Incest, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Honestly, I had a difficult time with this book. The prose is written in Southern dialect and frequently includes the n-word. I had to slow down to figure out what was being communicated for the first third of the book, and the repeated racial slurs were tough to see again and again. The purpose of the book was clear, and you could see the same patterns repeating with different characters as Jane's life progressed. While this makes a powerful point about how slavery died in name but not in practice, it made it hard to connect to new characters as I knew their fate would not be pleasant. I did enjoy a few passages of Gaines' writing, especially Ned's sermon on the river. In conclusion, while this book is important and uses the lens of one woman's (long) life to show how much has stayed the same from 1863 to 1963, it was not a book that fully connected with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Murderbot is fantastic! I love how their main priority is watching content and having some downtime, but humans keep pulling them into complications. Artificial Condition is a pleasant sci-fi story that I would recommend to just about anyone!
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
But Everyone Feels This Way: How an Autism Diagnosis Saved My Life by Paige Layle
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.0
A very informative and moving description of life with autism. Paige describes how her thoughts and experiences are shaped by autism, in a very visceral and creative way. The content is quite dark, as Paige details her struggles with mental health and social isolation even after being diagnosed with autism. I'm glad I read it, but I recommend it with caution due to the heavy topics covered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, and Suicide attempt
Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing by Emily Lynn Paulson
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
2.75
Emily Lynn Paulson provides a unique perspective to the MLM story as someone who made it to the highest ranks of the business. The story moved quickly until she realized some of the major problems with "Rejuvinat," yet continued to make excuses for why she couldn't leave. I don't think she has fully reflected on the harm she caused to others by bringing them into the MLM and persuading them to stay even when they were losing money. Further, she lacks depth when it comes to discussing white supremacy in MLM culture. Beyond citing a few studies about racial demographics, she doesn't engage with how and why white supremacy goes hand-in-hand with direct selling companies. In conclusion, Emily's story, while interesting, does not provide the depth that the subtitle "Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy and Other Lies..." indicates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual assault
I'm No Philosopher, But I Got Thoughts: Mini-Meditations for Saints, Sinners, and the Rest of Us by Kristin Chenoweth
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
4.5
A very charming and reflective read. I highly recommend listening to the audio version read by Chenoweth as she's vulnerable and adds a lot of emotion to the text.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide and Medical content