Marki
The Green brothers are some of my favourite parasocial relationships and with John Green, he's the kinda person where I prefer his nonfiction to his ficiton (I have the same relationship with Neil Gaiman). This book was a perfect fit.
I really love the format of connecting a specific human thing, an event or a song, with bigger ideas about life and the general tone of these essays seems to be really calming, zooming out from our little individual experiences into the vastness of general existence.
I give The Anthropocene Reviewed four and a half stars.
Uuuf. Tohle není dobrá kniha.
Jediná postava není sympatická, snad kromě Adama, se kterým jsem musela soucítit že má všeho dost a občas sestry Emy. Nejlepší kamarádka je naprosto protivná a nerespektuje, že Viktorie nechce trajdat po rande (a pak se “obává o její orientaci” (55))
S hlavní postavou je hrozně těžký soucítit - možná ze začátku to jde, ale když vlastně celou knihu nedojde k posunu a čtenářstvo jenom sleduje, jak všechny od sebe odstrkuje, tak je to sice realistický, ale jako knižní zážitek maximálně frustrující. Její vnitřní pochody se v podstatě také jenom opakují. Taky mi přišlo trochu cringe jak její jediná charakteristika kromě jejich problémů bylo, že je #notlikeothergirls tim nejvíc stereotypním způsobem a i Adam říká že proto se mu líbí. Yikes. Vztah s Adamem jde z 0 (“nikdy mě kluci nezajímali fuj nechci na rande”) na 100 (“ale on je krásnej a skvělej”). A taky je v knize naznačeno že láska vás vyléčí z depresí (“Od té doby co jsem zamilovaná zmizely i deprese” (82) “Milovala jsem intenzivně. Ta láska mě léčila.” (186)) což prostě není pravda.
Černooká figurující v názvu hraje v příběhu důležitou roli hlavně v přibližné poslední čtvrtině. Dialogy působí hrozně nepřirozeně, jak mezi teenagery, tak z úst doktorstva. Největší bizar formulace bylo “Jako kůň ve stáji stojím ve sprchovém koutě” (43). Ty dvě hvězdičky jsou za to, že místy je vyzobrazeni deprese přesný (špatný spánek, málo energie, všechno se zdá k ničemu, pocit viny), ale repetitivnost, špatně postavy a podprůměrné psaní a pár dalších problematických věcí prostě na víc nedosáhnou. Hledání po dobrým českým autorstvu pokračuje.
Co se psaní týče, tahle knížka je nanejvýš průměrná. Ale ty témata, co nese, uf. Už jsem toho o feminismu načetla mraky, ale prostě zase jsem u týhletý knížky řvala. Celou dobu jsem přemýšlela nad třema hvězdičkama, třema a půl, ale ten konec mě rozsekal, takže čtyři.
Jsem moc ráda, že i v YA příbehu o feminismu se mluví o intersekcionalitě, ale pořád jenom okrajově, přitom tam figuruje dost rozmanitých postav (a ve filmové adaptaci je tohle ještě posíleno o holku na vozíčku a trans holčinu ♥), možná kdyby bylo pár kapitol z pohledu ostatních, dobře by to podtrhlo rozmanitost oblastí, které může feminismus řešit.
Love interest hlavní postavy je takovej nemastnej neslanej, stejně tak samotná “romance”, ale slouží dobře k zobrazení toho, že být ally neznamená, že všechno dokonale chápete.
Ještě v kontrastu s filmem, kterej toho dost vynechal, jsem si uvědomila, co všechno je v knížce přítomný - ženská* solidarita, intersekcionalismus, chyby v systému, zpochybňování výpovědí obětí sexuálního násilí, navazování na práci předchozích generací feministek a zároveň zanechávání lepšího světa pro lidi, co přijdou po vás, různý způsoby protestu, ať už přímý a hlasitý nebo tišší a nenápadnější, každej po svym.
Pokud feminismus není vaše láska a hobby, klidně vynechte, ale pokud jo, tak Moxie doporučuju.
3,5*
Tři a půl hvězdičky, s tím, že větší část knihy jsem si myslela, že to budou dvě. První dvě třetiny knihy sledujeme Queenie, jak se snaží zaplnit díru během pauzy se svým (ex)přítelem tím, že spí s naprostými slizouny, kteří se k ní chovají příšerně. A zároveň říká, jak nesnáší doteky lidí, celkově. Je vidět, že tam něco neštimuje. Jenže až do poslední čtvrtiny knihy, kdy se Queenie vydá na terapii, haleluja, nevíme proč a proto mě její chování neskutečně frustrovalo a chtělo se mi s ní pořádně zatřást, nerada vidím jak si lidi hází sami sobě klacky pod nohy. Mám pocit, že kdyby se nějaké náznaky vysvětlení proč se děje, co se děje, mihly už během prvních tří čtvrtin knihy, třeba v podobě mini-vzpomínek nebo flashbacků (jako to bylo s vyobrazením vztahu mezi Queenie a Tomem), byla by většina knihy mnohem snesitelnější.
Nešťastný chování hlavní hrdinky bych řekla, že je pro mě největším mínusem a protože trvá fakt velkou část knihy, tak to shodilo z hodnocení tolik.
Klady!
✨úvodní scéna mi přišla skvělá, úderná, vtipná
✨Queenie rodina - sestřenka Diana jako kontrast oproti zbytku rodiny, který je konzervativnější hlavně v přístupu k psychickému zdraví, děda, co tajně fandí i babička a teta se svými výstřednostmi
✨skupina kamarádek okolo Queenie
✨moc mě bavilo využití SMSek jako dalšího formátu, navíc to dodávalo na realističnosti
✨Queenie BLM aktivismus, i když mám pocit, že se dal víc využít/dalo se jít víc do hloubky, připadal mi tam tak trochu bokem
Doporučuju ♥ ale obrňte se trpělivostí na první dvě třetiny.
Skvělá, krásně inkluzivní kniha. I když má v názvu slovo “sex”, sexem se zabývá jenom jako jedním z témat, nijak nezachází do mechanických detailů. Věnuje se tělům, dotekům, soukromí, zamilovanosti, sexualitě. Poskytuje otázky nad kterými se malé čtenářstvo může zamyslet a vysvětluje například co to znamená když je někdo sexy - užitečné!
3,5*
I kinda got what this book was trying to do, by the formatting and language at least. But I didn't really get it story wise.
I liked the vibes and the more postmodern form, but I really had to push myself to finish it and this book is really short!
Well, wanted to read it because of Women's Prize and I did! Have to decide if I'll keep it or sell it.
I enjoyed this book AND it helped me realise what I don't like when reading horror stories!
Pros: family themed horror, nice plot twists (even though at the end I anticipated some of them), good pacing, cursed object theme
My personal cons: too much explicit violence/brutality, drawn out action scenes where I couldn't really keep up with who was doing what where
I say these are my personal cons, because they were actually well written, I just realised that I enjoy the atmosphere and scenery of horror stories much more than explicit violence and gore in them. However if you enjoy horror stories, where you can read word by word how the enemy is trying to kill the protagonists in an action scene, then this is for you!
I still give it 4*, enjoyed it nevertheless
Pros: Cute and cozy, found family, great sense of humour, enjoyed the writing.
Cons: I wasn't happy with how much of the book the romance took up, because I don't really care for romance as a genre, but I know that's just me and it's forgivable, considering how giddy the rest of the world made me feel ♥
I was hesitating to pick up this book, because I didn't know if I'd enjoy a book, where the protagonist is in love with chemistry (silly, I know, but high school left its mark on me). Boy am I happy I decided to give it a shot!
The premise is fairly simple - Elizabeth Zott vs. the patriarchy and sexism of 1950s. Elizabeth is a chemist, she's unmarried and later has a child out of wedlock. She's direct, says exactly what she thinks and calls people out on their crap. Her refusal to play the game and stroke men's egos and patiently pretend she's not bothered by the discrimination and sexual harrassement is what costs her her opportunity to obtain a doctorate. When she becomes pregnant, she's given the sack. A new opportunity arises when she (after some hesitation) becomes the host of a new cooking show, where she decides to teach women some chemistry on the side and mainly their worth.
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is so good, it felt like nothing is just fluff. I especially applaud Bonnie Garmus on her chemistry/science lingo, since from what I gathered she herself is not a chemist. I feel like there was really good balance between the narrator's voice, which felt kind of snarky at times and it was amazing, and direct speech combined with looking into the character's point of view or their inner thoughts. The book is also funny and the humour is dry and kind of sassy, just like Elizabeth herself.
The characters were also super well written, none of them were flat and I think all of them were interesting - except for Calvin, who was kind of boring to me (sorry Calvin). I can see how Elizabeth could be annoying to some readers, but because the book has such strong feminist theme, she makes me feel connected to all the women before me who stood up for women's rights (and she is also shown supporting the civil right's movement), she just feels like an adopted ancestress. Her daughter is the “kid genius” kind of trope, but she still reads as a child and is likeable. I also appreciated that the men in the book have a variety of character and are not as despicable as Elizabeth's boss.
The only thing that was a bummer was the beginning - it takes a whole half of the book to get to the cooking show, which is presented as the main premise. I feel like the backstory of Elizabeth and Calvin dragged on a bit and I'd welcome if it were swifter. Also sometimes the role of Six-Thirty, Elizabeth's dog, seemed a bit off, can't quite say why. But except that I feel like the story was very well built, it included one of my favourite tropes, the found family. And the ending was splendid.
All in all, I really recommend!
Pros: The way this books reads like a classical novel (which is something Clarke know very well how to do), the language is so pretty.
The setting of the House has its charm - freely flowing water, thousands of statues, star constellation named Good mother, the Lamppost, the Rose; fish and clams and an octopus.
I liked the protagonist - he is trusting, practical, kind, curious and in general I feel like he embodies the good in human nature.
The plot and the way it unravels and is reflected in the language.
Cons: I'd love more lore! Not that this is necessarily a flaw but I'm sure I'm not the only one who is left wondering about a lot.
I was really torn on how to rate this. Not as good as A Good Girl's Guide to Murder but still a really solid YA mystery!
Pros:
Red, Simon and Maddy were cool characters. Simon was my favourite, he was funny, I liked his characterisation as an Asian American theatre kid who goes against his dad who frowns upon his career choice, also Simon's film geekiness and being a party boy. Maddy was super sweet optimist girly who took her less fortunate best friend under her wing. And I did like Red, I've seen many people write that they found her annoying, but I did like her trope of broken/weird girl with a tragic past and trippy mind and felt for her.
The plot twists. The author just knows how to write them and they were so good.
When the sniper shot Joyce and Don. It was so well written, emphasising that they have a grandchild, and then when the sniper showed he wasn't fucking around and meant his threats, it was just such a tragic and tense moment.
The ending. Endings can make or break a story and Jackson just delivers big time in each of her books on the ending. This ending had me tearing up, she just knows how to get me.
Cons:
Generally, I felt the pacing was a bit worse than in Jackson's other stories. The first half really dragged. But halfway through, when they try to escape and the sniper says there's two of themthat's when it picked up the pace I like Jackson's books for.
Oliver. I understand having a harsh, unlikeable character, but I feel he got too much space, it got really fucking annoying how he was bossing everyone around and put himself in charge for far too big portion of the book. After he threw Red out out of the RV and then told Reyna what happened is all her fault, I really just wanted him to fricking die. And well, he did at the end and it was satisfying. I know it's cruel to say that, but he was just such a dick I felt good when he got shot.
I was hesitating between 3 and 4 stars, but the pros outweighed the cons, so I give this 4 stars and still would recommend it to fans of Holly Jackson's work and other mystery enthusiasts.
tropes: weird girl (light)
literary references: Lord of the Flies
4,5⭐
A marvellous tale of dealing with change, connection between living creatures and pushing through hard times with a very special protagonist.
First of all. An octopus as one of the main characters AND chapters from his POV? I was so excited when I read the first one from Marcellus's point of view in first person. I love this book just for that concept and giving Marcellus an actual voice of his own.
The characters were nicely fleshed out and diverse, at least considering ages and lifepaths. I apprecited all of them, I liked reading the stories of older people like Tove and Ethan,but I especially Aunt Jeanne, the sailor-mouthed old lady still getting some and I wish we would've seen more of her.
The plot was nicely balanced between the mystery and the inner workings and struggles of Tove and Cameron especially.
I read this in one day and I recommend it wholeheartedly. Dive deep into the story if you happen to swim across it :)
I think I'm not the target demographic and yet it somehow hit deep.
First things first. I think that marketing this as a love story/romance is misleading, it leads to an expectation of the romance being the main topic of the story. Yes, Dante is in love with Ari. Yes, their relationship somehow develops throughout the book. However, I'd say that it stays more in the background until the very very end.
The main focus is the angsty inner world of the POV protagonist, Ari. It feels iceberg-y. I feel like it's aimed at people who are going through the same thing (or have gone), of endlessly doubting yourself, feeling like you don't belong, that maybe you're not fit for this whole life thing etc. Those people read one sentence and feel a thousand things. I have to admit that at times it hit home too. My favourite relatable moments were winding someone up just so you get any kind of reaction, “I thought that if I chose the right words in the right language, he will hear me” and the most of all “You go to a councilor, dad goes to a councilor. And maybe after that, I'll go to a councillor.”
But I also have to admit that quite often I was at the limit of how much depressing, self-deprecating dialogue and pushing away your loved ones just cause you're angsty I could bear. The sentiment “the problem with my life is that it was someone else's idea”on page 8 pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the book. Don't get me wrong, it is illustrated very well why Ari is the way he is, why he's used to running away from communication and closeness and opening up - his parents have done it to him his whole life. Still, sometimes Ari's behaviour got really fucking annoying. Nevertheless I can imagine that maybe if I had read this 10 years back, I would've found it mostly relatable, so I'm putting this annoyance aside, knowing it's one of the books that I might just have read too late.
That aside, other things I liked was the character of Dante and sometimes I thought his POV might've been more interesting as Ari's often got repetitive and honestly, at the beginning of the book I thought that their POVs are going to switch intbetween chapters, might've been interesting if they did. I liked the portrayal of two families, one troubled, one less so, the gentleness of Dante's parents was so nice. Also the subtle touch on immigrant struggles was cool.
concerning the format and pacing - the chapters are short (and I am a fan of shorter chapters), there is quite a lot of quick exchange dialogue. The beginning was pretty light, the middle section got pretty heavy with all the injury and depressiveness. I felt the ending was the strongest - it made me tear up.
All in all, I don't think I'm going to re-read this or read the sequel. And even though it was at times too angsty for me, I still gotta give it 4 stars.
tropes: troubled family, coming of age, teenage angst, fear of intimacy, inability to connect
lit mentioned: Heart of Darkness, William Carlos Williams poetry, Bless Me, Ultima, The Grapes of Wrath, War and Peace, The Sun Also Rises