Laurel

The best way I can describe this book is beautiful. It's beautifully written, set in a beautiful space, with beautifully real characters. It seemlessly takes you from a world of magic to a world of science. It almost feels like you and the character transcend time.

The main character feels her way through the world using her extraordinary sense of smell. She is a wild child who is thrust into the modern world and must find her way.

I honestly didn't expect to love this book as much as I do. I'm so glad to have read it and I definitely recommend it.

Originals studies non-conformists on an individual and group basis. It also provides practical tips on how to be a non-conformist and cultivate originality within your own life and the groups around you.

I found this book really interesting and highly recommend reading it. I especially enjoyed the focus on the good in humanity, not just making money. I read it right after The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle and the two complemented each other well.

The Culture Code is a sociological examination of what makes a successful culture within businesses and other groups.

Very interesting! I really enjoyed reading about the different strong, cohesive cultures and how they were curated. I recommend this read.

Non-fiction book that gives advice and tricks on how to deal with those people who are just not good to be around. It focuses primarily on the work environment, but could easily be applied to every part of life.

This is a follow-up to the No Asshole Rule, which I haven't read. I think I should have, as it's referenced often and may have improved my reading of the book.

Overall, I'm neutral. There were some interesting notes and tricks, but nothing that really blew my mind. If you do read it, I suggest you read No Asshole Rule first.

Overall I ended up neutral about this book. It was very well crafted and successfully covered an immense amount thematically. I just never really connected. It definitely earns it's name with teeth being prominently featured throughout the novel.

This is the story of two families. Two families outside of the “norm” of London both in culture and color. One family, Bengali, struggling to hold on to their roots and still live a London life. One a Jamaican mother and English father whose cultures fight against each other but also are not strong enough to win.

This is a great book to offer a different perspective on life or if you crave something to tear into for deeper meaning (if you're a lunatic like me).

This is author, Zadie Smith's, debut novel and she writes like a master. Smith is a British novelist, born to a Jamaican mother and English father. She now teaches at New York University.

Exactly what you expect from a DC Comic featuring its villains. Dark, violent, and funny. This is made up of shorter stories which all tie to an overarching bigger story. I enjoyed it. Definitely a fun read!

Meh. This book is a neutral for me. I didn't hate it. I didn't like it. Modern twist on a Pretty Woman like story. Young bodega clerk falls for rich pop star. But this book is mostly about finding yourself and dealing with the modern-day trials of being a young twenty-something trying to make it with today's challenges like social media and crippling debt. And it's about carving alternative paths through the world. Good themes. Not great execution.

The main character is annoying - I found him too whiny and dishonest. Though he does grow.

The main relationship is not healthy and I had a hard time being supportive of it.

Overall, not a bad book. An easy story. Can't think of anyone to who I would recommend it, so I can't really tell you to read it either.

This book is not great. Outdated, sexist, and pretty close minded, actually.

The conversations are so contrived they're laughable.

I only gave two stars because I guess it could be helpful if you have never considered communication and seeing a relationship from someone else's POV, which is all this book really says. It's really short and too long.

After feeling guilty for not having read this book as I should have long ago, it was underwhelming. I understand why it was important. It was well written. The symbolism is way too obvious for me and the characters are all pretty unlikeable, with the exception of Jordan Baker - but she is not that crucial to the actual story.

But I read it and no longer have to pretend I did. At least it's very short!

I was SO excited to read this book. It's on all the lists and getting raving reviews from everyone.

It was... good. Not amazing. Not bad. Just good. I wanted it to be more unique than it was. The story was rather predictable. It's classified as a dark comedy - along the lines of Dexter, but not as sarcastic. It just didn't thrill me and I'm pretty disappointed. I went in expecting to love this book.

It is a page-turner, I read it in a few hours - the first book I've done that in a while with.

Oyinkan Braithwaite is a Nigerian- British author. This book takes place in Nigeria.

I loved this book. It's a great inspiration and reminder of how to love you for who are and be whatever it is you're meant to bring to this world. It provides practical ways to achieve this (if you do the work) and is also fun to read.

I especially love the chapter conclusions of “Love Yourself”. I will probably turn them into affirmations.

Anyway. Read it. Grow. And, of course, Love Yourself.

Read. This. Book.

That's really all I have to say. This is A book about activism. It's a book about injustice. It's a book about history. It's important. It's informative. It's raw. It's inspiring.

Buy it. Read it.

A story primarily about sisters, but also about family, love, abuse, neglect, healing, and addiction. It's well crafted and put together. The last third is very emotional - or at least was for me- read with tissues.

Would recommend to a few but not everyone. It was interesting to see how the story unfolds.

This book is a must-read for anyone considering marriage or already married. It goes through several types of marriages but mostly teaches us to relinquish shame surrounding why you marry, how long you're married, and how your marriage works.

Be honest and open with your partner and set the rules which work for you. No marriage is a “failure”.

Let's redefine what a successful relationship is and just let each other be happy - whatever that means to you.

Anyway, read this. It's not conventional, but not really unconventional either. It's realistic and important.

A coming of age story for the feminist movement. This book is not a page-turner; I started it in December 2019 and just finished last week. That said... It is a good book. It's very well written and realistic, covering the lives.of two women who are actively trying to make women's lives better. It covers all types of relationships, but definitely focuses on female relationships the most. I can't say it's an amazing book. But it's good.

This book is unintentionally timely. About a slave who is kidnapped into the underground railroad because of his abilities to move people with a power called conduction, this book is heavy and sad. But also disjointed. It's not a style of writing that I enjoy and left me wanting more detail and history. The magical elements were not well blended or explained. Overall... It's an okay read, not one I'd likely recommend.

As always, I simply love her books. These follow the characters of the Finishing School Series into adulthood and are simply fun short reads. They are steampunk urban fantasy. This installment is wonderful and fun.

Historical Romance. This book well is written and gives a beautiful slice of Cuban history, making me want to learn more about Cuban history and culture. However, the story was predictable and rather trite. I did not like reading the parallel storylines, they were too similar. I do believe this is the first book in a series. I will not be reading the rest.

Beautifully written and a beautiful story. Historical fiction. You can tear into and pick this book apart or just read it and enjoy. Just a good book. I definitely recommend.

This book took me a long time to read, mostly because the author is so extremely negative and tends to offer mostly problems. There are some good ideas and things to learn and think about; so it's worth the read. However, there are also fallacy arguments and points made more with assumptions and leaps than actual connection. Definitely a strong bias, so read with a grain of salt.

Good read! Nothing extraordinary, nothing bad. Told in first-person narratives with unreliable narrators. It has a few only slightly predictable twists. But good overall. Part of the “Gone Girl” genre; part mystery, part thriller.

A classic road novel. Lots of sex, violence, and drugs. First person narrative that talks about the fringes of American life. Themes include: racism, drugs, parental responsibility, family, criminal justice system, love.

Not my type of novel, but it is very good for the type of novel it is. Do not read if you want a clear cut narrative with distinct detail - you won't get it here. Do read if you like seeing the same world through a different lens and like to tear books apart digging into themes and symbolism.

This is a great thriller / who dunnit, with a twist that you know who did but the characters don't. It's more about how death effects those who are left. Good read. Not a favorite.

Really, I'd give it 2.5. I found it predictable and shallow.

I don't know if it's my age, the current political climes, the fact that I'm not cramming the book in with who know how many other books I was reading for school, or if it's a combination of the above, but this book was so much better upon re-reading. I remember liking this book, but finding it lacking...something. Now, I really enjoyed it and feel like it's something we should all read. “We” as the collective we, not just women, but men as well. This book tackles many problems of the modern world and show how they can be eliminated in the most terrifying way. It addresses: sexual equality; gender equality; environmentalism; corporate medicine; capitalism, in general; totalitarianism; religion; declining birth rates; materialistic practices; and terrorism. It's really, just a very poignant book. I'm really glad I re-read it. It definitely improved with the second experience.