Sarah
A 3.5 if .5s were offered! I wish I could write a review without giving a star rating but know that'd come across as zero stars. Wildly enjoyable. Some spoilers only if you're expecting a total subversion of romance novels.
Jen DeLuca has cleverly found a loophole to writing a Renaissance Fair romcom while evading criticisms of accuracy from Ren Faire workers or season-pass holders: make the faire only town-wide and acknowledge the hugeness of the Maryland Renaissance festival. (However I”m sure said workers and fans may have their complaints: I enjoy Faire when I've gone but admittedly I'm not immersed in the world.)
A few confessions: I am new to reading romances and I think some things about conventions of the genre are simply facets that don't quite feel romatic to me. I also am a theatre geek who was an English major so some traits of this book I loved are purely subjective.
I prefer praise, so let's start with the cons, shall we?
I felt like the declaration of love came too soon and would've saved it for the epilogue. This couple doesn't really know each other out of the Faire Season. I'm skeptical of their love simply because they don't know each other outside of the Faire Season or rehearsal. I also felt that there may have been one or two many obstacles and the story could've been tightened a bit. A common complaint I have in a lot of fiction is: do these people see a therapist? Both Simon and Emily have been through a LOT and the pre-epilogue resolution came awfully quickly. I need more assurance this will work. I also think we were supposed to feel that the protagonist was totally in the right in one scene and she could've granted more grace to the love interest. A small number of significant moments made me roll my eyes, and felt a tad too over-thet-top but mostly won me over. Perhaps I also noticed this because I was listening to the audiobook, but some of the language was a bit repetitive. (This is small but as a Baltimore City resident, the “I wouldn't let my child grow up/go to school in the city” (paraphrase) did take me out of the book and make me roll my eyes.)
Don't let my critiques fool you: I would definitely recommend this one!
A Ren Faire romcom seems so perfect and almost obvious, I credit DeLuca with coming up with and snatching up the idea!
The chemistry between the two leads is genuine and palpable. I loved how this wasn't simply a story of Emily falling in love with a person but the town (am reminded of Ben from Parks and Rec declaring his newfound affinity for “the town” as his declaration of love for Leslie) and finding her way back to herself. I also love geek romance. Emily and Simon are well-drawn characters: rich and layered, with realistic insecurities. I would definitely befriend both of them and their flaws came with deeply sympathetic backstory that feels honest. The Shakespeare references aren't always the most original, but I could tell how carefully they were selected. In the sex scenes, DeLuca combiness steaminess and earnest, genuine affection beautifully to results both erotic and emotionally moving.
There's no way to write the following professionally: I'll probably enjoy this the best out of the series, partly because guys who are a little shy with a carefree side=heart-eyes emojis for me. And I just saw so much of myself in Emily without her unfortunate ex-boyfriend and bartending skills.
DeLuca's portrayal of the supporting cast impressed me, notably April, Stacie, Chris and one character who I won't name for fear of spoilers but who turned out to be a a delightful surprise. I know for all but Chris and Caitlin, DeLuca was likely setting the stage for the rest of the series, but I'm glad for that!
I'm not a huge audiobook fan, simply because of how my own brain processes information, but gave this one a try. Brittany Pressley served as an excellent narrator. I underestimated how distinctive she'd make the characters sound.
So torn on this one! If only 2.5 stars were an option. The impact of Bechdel's mom on her, her compassionate look at her mother, the issues from their relationship are so moving and fascinating. I even enjoyed the discussions with her therapists. I teared up upon finishing! And yet, the book is hindered by psychological jargon, with too many direct quotes from Freud (suspect already–would've liked some refutation here) and Windicott, when summaries would've done with a small amount of select quotes peppered in. I enjoy heady but it gets a bit extreme and inaccessible here. Bechdel knows she's trying to be her own therapist, an impossible task though I sympathize with the desire, but how she communicates it distracts from the overall piece.
I really wish I could give this 3.5 stars! I'm writing this as a new reader of romance so perhaps some of my issues may be genre conventions. There's much to love about this novel: the richness of the characters, the struggles, the chemistry, the fully-realized nature of the supporting characters and the found family created. McQuiston really lets you inside August's head and she's so relatable. I love how she built August's New York community
Like other readers have said, there were a few moments of political naivete but that's not a major deal.
SPOILERS:
My main criticism is that in the last chunk of the book: one too many things lined up perfectly. I'm not opposed to a happy ending, but it was one too many elements. I also kept thinking, “what if they don't work out?” in the events after the book. I also really don't believe in love at first sight so “loved you from the moment I met you” personally made me roll my eyes. It's still a lovely and worthwhile read, though.
CW of this book for depictions of fatphobia and disordered eating
This is third book of Broder's I've read (others being SO SAD TODAY and THE PISCES)and I adore how she writes neuroses/obsession. She's so fearless about perceiving its ugliness, the toll it can take on people. Broder rolls around in the sludge of emotions and negative thoughts in a way that's refreshing and I find addictive to read. (It reminds me of Chris Krauss of I LOVE DICK.) As a deeply feeling person, it can be even liberating to read. I also love Broder's spiky protagonists. I find complaints that they're unlikable to be tired and to be a whiff gendered: yes, and...? They're compelling. I really wanted the best for Rachel. I hurt for her. This is not quite a love story (to nab from Fleabag, another broken and spiky protagonist) but one that's a search for nourishment.
On a personal note, I also loved how Jewish the book was. I appreciated the protagonist struggling with myths she'd learned and adored the gollem and the rabbi which added to the book's poetic aspects, and the protagonist's struggle for wholeness.
Thoughts based on reading some other comments here: It was nice to see a fat body written as attractive, though I did understand how readers could see it as fetishizing. I think it's fairly clear (as another reader here said) that it's the character fetishizing but in a world with such crappy fat representation, there's not a ton to choose from and impact does beat out intent (thus knocking a star off.) Miriam could've been a little more well-developed but I'm torn if that would've made the book as clear about Rachel's mental unhealthiness.
I struggle with how to review this book (another I would've given 3.5 stars if I had the option.) Because I went from sort of plodding along to being unable to put it down. And it's a book that requires a lot of trust from the reader, the kind of trust I partly had because Brodesser-Akner's other writing is so fabulous. I ultimately love what she does, and I understand why, but I think the first part is still simply too long and I could've done with maybe 40 pages less. I understand the negative reviews, given my frustration with characters in that part. And yes, it's a very privileged world but that also feels very intentional, especially when you learn more about one of the characters. Brodesser-Akner's commentary is sharp, pointed and still empathetic with really layered people. If you find yourself getting annoyed early, push through. Because it really is incredibly rich and, like her feature writing, compassionate. And the structure mirrors the point she's making, though sometimes (again could be solved by a shorter length of Part 1) if there's a tiny bit of what she's meaning to subvert. But subvert she still does, and beautifully so.
This lacks the sheer excellence of the KILLING EVE television series (sorely missed if you saw the show first are Carolyn Martens and Bill Pargrave), but it's still a fun, zippy, addictive read. A palate cleanser, in a way.
I don't know if I'd think this if I hadn't heard it, but you can sort of tell it's written by a man. I also agree with what someone posted under CODENAME VILLANELLE: SHANGHAI that there's a disappointing bout of transphobia (that starts out promisingly).
Not a bad story to tell, but it's impossible not to compare it to HIS DARK MATERIALS, which is superb. There are some real moments of beauty, and thought-provoking ideas, but not necessarily worth the 600-something pages it took to read this. I suppose I'll have to wait until the trilogy concludes. I was also disappointed that Alice and Hannah, who I adored from BELLE SAUVAUGE, and Farder Coram, were pretty much sidelined.
I was going to give this 4 stars because it's not “GREAT LITERATURE.” But there's something to be said for a book knowing itself and I thought of the gendered nature of how we qualify what we read. This beautiful tale centered on a woman who I felt like was a friend: Evvie and the other characters are so well-drawn. I haven't read a lot of books with romance at the center lately, but I swooned for Evvie and Dean. The basic plot could have been cheesy, but the emotional honesty and specificity are what really make this book special. It also covered some serious topics, like mental health and bereavement. The book and characters are funny and smart and kind. The relationship between Evvie and her straight male best friend, Andy, is almost subversive. The entire book is irresistible, I couldn't put it down, but now I have and I'm slightly sad about it.
This book is like nothing else I've read. Honest and both tender and strong, Chung writes of her search for self before she brings a new life into the world. I've never read anything in the perspective of the adoptee and her writing is clear and often funny. It's also deeply empathetic: there aren't really any “villains” in this piece. It's an easy read due to the clarity, but difficult due to the subject matter: a scene on the playground is especially brutal emotionally. I really tore through this one and would highly recommend it.
It should have been called Sisterhood Codependent. Oh, how I wanted to love this one. Spoilers below:
For context: I'm 31, and read the first 2 books of the series in high school. My coworker told me there were 4+one for adults (the same generation) so I thought it'd be fun to reread the first 2 and finish the series. I tore through the first 4. While imperfect, they were charming, thoughtful, intelligent, and hopeful. I had trouble with how insecure the girls were, but they were 16-19, so it was accurate and honest! But at about my age, of our sisters are in really bad mental places, even if some are finding professional success. I don't mind bleakness, but there didn't seem to be a point to their misery. I guess they were miserable because they were out of touch: but that's not a sisterhood, that's codependency. I was also frustrated with this book from a mental standpoint. SPOILER:
Perception of suicide as a plot device is a disservice to the readers. I don't mind a death, but the fact that they thought it was suicide and it wasn't, feels undeservedly manipulative and cheap. And then te ending is too happily ever after. We're supposed to think Bee is ok without therapy or dealing with her mental health issues? 3/4 of them end up with their high school boyfriends? For my money, the only interesting one is Brian. 2 stars as I enjoyed the last third, and shed some tears, but a pretty unsatisfying conclusion to the sries/
Disclosure: I am friends with the author BUT if I'm very honest so if I didn't like his work, I wouldn't share a review! Dave K.'s “...Brides” is completely unique with its narrative voice and style, but somehow it also manages to combine that uniqueness with shades of Poe's “The Fall of the House of Usher” and Oscar Wilde's “Picture of Dorian Grey.” It's very compelling, and there are elements I didn't understand until the end, but it's certainly worth the wait and the payoff is strong. I wouldn't say the book needs to be read on drugs, but I began it in a tired, foggy mindset due to a 3-hour flight delay, and it was perfect.
I wanted to like this book more than I did (in my head it's more of a 2.5 stars). Undoubtedly, it's worth reading for the information it contains and for Gore's own thoughts but I wished the author would have let the information speak for itself. I liked that he confessed to being a fanboy, and I sympathize and am often the same way, but the best way to honor someone of who you're a fan is simply to share their story.
I found Tolliver's commentary somewhat excessive and unnecessary. I felt that he tried to add more drama than was there, not by stating actual events, but the ways he wrote his descriptions. There were also extraneous analogies or tangentially related items that didn't contribute much to the story. I'm glad a biography of Gore exists, she was a fascinating and intriguing lady, I only wish there had been another editing session.
1.5 if that were an option. Oh, I was so hoping the astute Goodreads users would be wrong. But alas, I agree with those who say this book is wholly unnecessary to the Anne saga, and I too wonder where our beloved heroine has gone. I do not mind her not working for a living, but I feel that she isn't even using her creativity as a hobby! I was hopeful the last few chapters she would have a realization that she should still being creative, like her “rival” mentioned: her rival who had a point! I wish Anne turned out a tad bit like Christine! Of course, there are moments the Anne we know and love in this and in her children, but they are sort of a rarity. I have thoroughly enjoyed every other book in the sage and only read this to read all of the series and as a lead-in to Rainbow Valley. Anne has become judgmental and self-righteous, unfortunately, there are shades of racism and classism in this, as well. I hear the series picks back up again with Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside, and since they were part of why I read this, I'll read them too. I do know that this was written after those, and I heard that Montgomery didn't WANT to write this and it shows. Does anybody know why she did?
I was drawn in from the first three pages: Noah is an expert storyteller and simply an extremely interesting person. I was hugely impressed with the way Noah mixed his personal, specific, multi-toned story with the tragic history of the apartheid, and then mixing that with the ability capture the humor and awkwardness of teen and childhood years. This book is a fascinating, quick read - enjoyable and but not without its difficult content (not simply the apartheid but also his family's situation, etc.) If you don't know a ton about the apartheid, that's sort of the expectation of the book so it's very educational, too. Even if Noah hadn't reached the success of hosting the Daily Show, this would be well worth a read and is one of the best things I've read in awhile.
Never do I recall wanting to break into applause after reading a book! [b:Men Explain Things to Me 18528190 Men Explain Things to Me Rebecca Solnit https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1393447237s/18528190.jpg 26233826] is marvelously interdisciplinary: author [a:Rebecca Solnit 15811 Rebecca Solnit https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1251330691p2/15811.jpg] intertwines history, art, literature and ancient mythology. She draws parallels I never would have thought of before, and gives form to feelings I've felt. A manifesto of sorts, I didn't find it preachy, only compelled to feel more brave. This is a very important book in understanding today's feminism, she takes care to praise the young feminists and smartly refutes detractions. The second book I've read this summer (the first being [b:The Cook Up: A Crack Rock Memoir 27416063 The Cook Up A Crack Rock Memoir D. Watkins https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1456091202s/27416063.jpg 47465150] by [a:D. Watkins 6282805 D. Watkins https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]) that should be required reading.
We need more stories like this, for young adults and...adults in general. The word I keep going back to is “tender.” There is such a pure tenderness about it, even though the strife and harshness. Wonderfully written, with deft, real, and nuanced characters. A wonderful representation of many identities made invisible: a diversity of weight, race and gender identity (and its difference from sexual orientation). Strikes me as an honest portrayal of domestic abuse, too. Nice and surprisingly un-cliche use of [b:Romeo and Juliet 18135 Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327872146s/18135.jpg 3349450] I'm rather sad I've finished it. I'll miss the characters.
Two Gentlemen of Lebowski is so much more spot-on than necessary. Full of hilarity for any Shakespeare/Lebowski joint fan (there are a surprising amount of us), Bertocci includes not simply raunchy jokes, but SHAKESPEARE'S brand of raunchiness. There are Shakespearean quotes sprinkled throughout the text, which are a joy to find, and apparently a reference to everything in Shakespeare's cannon. Bertocci shows how Lebowski is a Shakespearean tale simply written later: thievery, mixed identity, senseless deaths? The book is a delight, and even sheds new insight into some characters. (Why does Maude seem more poignant here?) Recommended.
Know I'm way behind the curve as a theatre geek, but this was truly an amazing read. I'd love to see it sometime. McDonagh”s darkness is always fantastic. I have some questions though...
This tremendous book came out last year, but it feels like a classic-in-the-making with riveting prose, stirring images, surprising dark humor, and strong, haunting critiques of racism and capitalism/classism. I also appreciate that Ruffin doesn't shy away from addressing toxic masculinity and sexism, either.
It's described as “for fans of Get Out and Paul Beatty's The Sellout” but there are elements reminiscent of The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Boots Riley's Sorry To Bother You, and Misha Green's Lovecraft Country (based on the book by Matt Ruff, which I haven't read yet). As you can guess, it's not a particularly easy read but I'm still disappointed I finished it.
EDIT: removed a star because I found it more frustrating the more I thought about it.
I couldn't put this book down and read it in 24 hours which is so pleasurable. It was compelling, the characters felt real, I could visualize it all perfectly, it delightfully made me want to crawl out of my skin and yet...I expected more from the ending (which I I lowered it two stars for.) feel like I thought the ending was fairly predictable. It sounds hyperbolic on my part but I did feel a slight sense of betrayal, and I wish I had been more surprised. (Edit includes I don't know if it's still worth a read...] Still worth a read, I just don't recommend reading it solely for the ending. Details on my issues with it below.
SPOILERS:
I don't know how I feel about bout mental-illness-as-gimmick, I'm a bit over it, but it wasn't NOT sympathetic. And a stage show I like did something similar but there mental illness was the centerpiece of the whole show: it was also done a decade ago, when it was fresher. I also know MPD is not always represented in a great way, and I've even read that UNITED STATES OF TARA, which is compassionate, is still not super accurate.
I also felt “betrayed” on a because we have the fascinating, complicated young woman who turns out to be...a facet of a man.