willowbiblio's reviews
488 reviews

“Because in real life, unlike in history books, stories come to us not in their entirety, but in bits and pieces, broken segments and partial echoes, a full sentence here, a fragment there, a clue hidden in between.”
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Another excellent Reading is Subjective book club experience! I only wish that I had enjoyed this book as much. 

My biggest critique is that with such rich subject matter at hand I felt very little about the characters or the stories. Shafak attempted to create this ever changing timeline, which I often like, and used the fig tree as a kind of omniscient narrator and constant for the reader. 

Unfortunately, the character of the fig tree left a lot to be desired. This was part of the reason the novel felt so disjointed, and that the time skips weren’t executed quite well enough to be good to me. I felt disconnected when I shouldn’t have. 

To go from a YA perspective (and writing) with Ada to a very intense love affair in the midst of war to an information dumping tree felt like whiplash. I could never fully get my bearings or stay with any character long enough to connect. 

Despite that, there were flashes of brilliance here. This needed a few more rounds of edits for me to really enjoy it.

“Without one word of explanation or apology, he had given me the message he intended. I gave you justice, it said, as I was taught it. And I gave you mercy, too, so far as I could. While I could not spare you pain and humiliation, I make you a gift of my own pains and humiliations, that yours might be easier to bear.”
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This was such a sincere book. The start was immediately engaging and left me excited to read more. Throughout, the pacing of this book was phenomenal and so readable. 

I liked that Jamie was so open hearted, communicative, and in many ways much more emotionally mature than Claire. Their intimacy was very beautiful and tender, and as well written as other sequences in this book. 

I found the contemplation of seriousness of consequences so intriguing. In the modern world a blunder doesn’t mean death like it does in Jamie‘s world. I also thought the inclusion of Duncan as a kind of foil for Claire was a great move. One woman chose to take advantage of “when” she was in a very different way to the other.

I noted that it was interesting the book didn’t end with Claire’s choice to stay, but continued on to the Lallybroch/prison/abbey sequence. It felt like a natural place to pause and continue in a sequel. I wonder what the reason was – to wrap up the Randall storyline?

Speaking of which: I thought Gabaldon’s analogy of Jamie’s inner fortress and how such acute trauma had destroyed it was incredibly apt.

The MacRannoch’s support to Claire and assistance during the snowstorm embodied a beautiful culture of community and kinship that was shown in the Highland culture throughout this book.

I loved this book and struggled to put it down. Really looking forward to reading how the story progresses from here.

“What do you mean you’ve been spying on me, with this thing in my hand that is an eye?”
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This book was so unique and its style. I felt like Lockwood saw right through to the essence of what life is like today, especially the essence of being so online that your references and reality become a segment all their own. 

The prose captures the absurdity of life and society, but also the earnestness – how can you not be moved by stories of loss of complete strangers, delivered in under two minutes? 

The tone of this book and the narrator shifts to something devastatingly serious. Lockwood addresses the legislation around pregnancies and women’s bodies through what appears to be a deeply personal lens. The main character’s father represents many men who believe they *must* know better and more than women and then are confronted with the consequences of their beliefs and no longer want to stand behind them when it is too late. 

The way Lockwood wrote about loving and grieving a child who was wanted, but brought into the world to live only assisted and in struggle felt like such an immense emotional experience to witness. This pivotal experience, this re-ordering of priorities and perspective, left her disconnected from the Portal and her previous self. 

What does any of it matter when you experience something so profoundly altering? Hilarious, zany, sad and thought-provoking. An excellent book.

“Some problems we share as women, some we do not. You fear your children will grow up and join the patriarchy and testify against you, we fear our children will be dragged from a car and shot down in the street, and you will turn your backs upon the reasons they are dying.”
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This was very interesting to read so soon after reading Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, because it was clear that many of the topics Lorde is addressing have still gone unattended and unresolved, despite clear awareness they exist. 

The exhaustion conveyed around having to handhold and teach white people the nature and impact of their harm was really clear. So too were the consistent micro-aggressions (and larger) that Lorde experienced in what were supposed to be progressive and inclusive spaces.

Her essay on raising a man felt so honest and insightful, and reminded me of the movie with Greta Gerwig and Elle Fanning (20th Century Women). Additionally, she made such a strong point about how the master’s tools won’t dismantle the master’s structures. There is no way to enact lasting change when you attempt to use the tools of the oppressor to do so.

I felt a little adrift with the first essay about Russia. I did find the citizen‘s incredulity that people in the US would die if they couldn’t pay for healthcare so sad, because it is the world we still live in today.

“It’s too easy, you know? It’s easy to forget that the system isn’t right. I’m not just talking about these particular homicides. I’m talking about the whole thing. The whole system. Too much power in the wrong hands. Everything out of order.”
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This book was incredible, and I had never even heard of it until Riverhead gifted it. That seems wrong, somehow. Moore dealt with incredibly intense subject matter so well. She captured the subtexts of privilege and poverty, and how a childhood of grief and neglect could reverberate through adulthood. Moore showed how those who are vulnerable are often “easy” victims, and how wrong that is. 

The dialogue and pacing of conversations was brilliant. Additionally Mickey’s own progression and acceptance of how she was harmed and her unwillingness to see the truth led to further harm of those she loved. 

It was infuriating, but real, how many people knew about the abuses of power and did nothing to stop it. I think Moore also captured the realities of addiction so well- how that supersedes anything that could possibly be of importance and how that shame spiral keeps you trapped.

There were some really good twists here that weren’t obvious to me. I felt like the ending was perfect. We don’t get certainty about the future or any specific outcome, because there isn’t any.

I also loved the nod to help people of privilege feel entitled to both gentrify and reject the neighborhoods they are part of. An excellent book.

“In life you have to learn to count the good days. You have to tuck them in your pocket and carry them around with you.”
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This was a really fun and surprisingly insightful read. Osman has quick, deadpan, quite British humor which I enjoyed. He did an excellent job of setting up multiple suspects and I had to guess along with the characters. That suspense and uncertainty made the journey of discovery truly enjoyable.

I found the legacy political/cultural mindsets a little off-putting: weird comments about women and various ethnic groups. I get that the characters are reflective of their generation, but it didn’t add any value to the narrative for me.

I loved Chris’ character and how he struggled to value or adequately care for himself. That was a really surprising level of depth for what at surface level is a whimsical retirement mystery tale. This was extremely readable and entertaining. I enjoyed how many layers there were to each scenario.

Osman also addressed some really interesting topics specifically related to aging. How do you decide when your loved ones need higher care? How do you live with the fear and anxiety about the potential decline of your own mental and physical faculties? How do you find joy and excitement in the sunset of your life? I found myself pondering these questions as I read, and thinking about how I would respond were I in their position.

I am looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series and seeing how they compared to this one. Great start so far. 

 "I'm a trauma reporter. People like me work in the uneasy space between what is and what should be. My stories offered no solutions, no proposed salvation. I did not traffic in hope."
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I am still somewhat shocked that, until I read this book, I had no idea these extrajudicial murders were happening on such scale in current times. Evangelista's voice felt quite disassociated from the emotional context of her work, like she still cannot process the horror of what she has witnessed. Despite that, her prose made clear other people's feelings and conveyed the grief of families well.

I really appreciated that Evangelista provided a brief and thorough overview of the Philippines, to put into context the current political landscape. She also did a remarkable job of reiterating the message that there were state-sanctioned murders, and that President Duterte was explicitly calling for this violence. I felt very aware of her danger in pursuing the truth of these stories.

I also appreciated how she brought in her "friendship" with Domingo, and how someone so jovial with her was responsible for some of the more horrific acts contained in her timeline. I loved her parallels to 1984 and the inclusion of ideas like doublethink and pseud0-events that allow people to both commit these heinous acts and feel justified in their fear. I will be following news about the Philippines more closely now and keeping the grieving families and victims in my thoughts. Excellent reporting.

 

"Being liked, loved, and appreciated has felt threatening for many survivors. Visibility is a kind of exposure. Appreciate can bring up feelings of shame. The contrast between someone's high opinion of you and your own self-hatred can be intolerable. And feeling positive about yourself- feeling worthy, deserving, and proud - may seem fantastically out of reach."
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Whew, this was an incredibly difficult and challenging read. I'm grateful that I took it slow and persevered to the end. Maybe it's something I will revisit in a few years to see how I have progressed in my own journey. As a survivor of about a decade of CSA, I felt extremely seen and validated by this book. I loved the awareness that abuse and recovery look different for everyone.

I couldn't tolerate the poems and some of the short stories from other survivors, but that didn't make this book less helpful to me. I learned a lot and strongly identified with many of the symptoms and consequences survivors live with. I did some of the writing exercises and mindfulness activities. Others filled me with a kind of irrational rage. Maybe one day, or never, I'll attempt those.

I'm glad I read this. Difficult is actually an understatement, but I'm proud I made it through and grateful this exists.

 "But nothing is ever equal with humans, really- we give and we take, the scales ever tipping. That's just the way of it. I am what he has, and he is what I have- there's no point in keeping score."
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I truly could not put this book down, I read it in less than 24 hours. This was exactly the kind of book I needed to read right now. It had such a strong open with the introduction of mysticism and the knowledge that Liska carries shame and is an outsider in her village. It immediately raised questions and intrigue. There was such excellent imagery throughout this book as well; the stag rotting, creatures transforming, and woods themselves. I loved the enrichment of the story and immersion in Polish culture/folklore through foods, names, and more.

Jaga was the best! I thought the relationship between the main characters was so wholesome and audience appropriate. I really appreciated how tasteful the intimacy was because the audience here is YA, not adults. I also loved how at the end we got the Leszy's POV of the moments that were special to the characters and reader.

The use of magic as butterflies, giving additional meaning to the phrase "butterflies in my stomach" was inspired. I also appreciated the nod to feminism. Men said women would go mad if they used power because they were stronger, and Kazimiera was proof of that lie.

In general, this was such a lovely and immersive tale of a young woman learning to love every aspect of herself, stand up against bigotry, and face really hard problems by not doing it alone. Really beautiful messaging. I look forward to reading Poranek's future work. So glad this was gifted! 

 "Too often white feminism lies to itself. It lies about intent and impact; it invests more in protecting whiteness than in protecting women. It's not a harmless lie either; it does direct harm to marginalized communities. Being harmful is a source of power some white feminists have embraced in lieu of actually doing any real work."
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I believe very firmly that any white woman who believes she's a feminist *must* read this book with an open heart and in the spirit of listening and learning. This book was incredible. Kendall addressed such a broad scope of issues that aren't recognized by mainstream feminism as feminist issues, but very much are. Some topics were poverty, hunger, transphobia, economic inequality, and more. She voiced this very real and fair mistrust of white feminists, because of how often marginalized women have been failed by them.

"We" are absolutely fighting different fights, and we shouldn't be. To her point, what does it matter who is in the board room when some women literally do not have enough to eat on a regular basis. Kendall also addressed something I'd never really thought of until now. The women who are interested in elected office or public-facing who are working to dismantle feminism and increase the oppression of marginalized groups are benefitting and able to do that ***because of feminism***.

She also made the (very accurate) point that mainstream feminism often only cares once they are impacted, and don't intervene earlier when it's only marginalized women being harmed An excellent book, I learned so much.