WHYYYYYYY have I slept on this series for so long?!?! I loved it. Hibbert's writing is funny and warm and so hopeful. I loved these characters, and I WHYYYYYYY have I slept on this series for so long?!?! I loved it. Hibbert's writing is funny and warm and so hopeful. I loved these characters, and I am looking forward to reading the other two Brown Sisters books....more
SO GOOD. I accidentally stayed up until 4 a.m. reading this, and even then, I wanted to continue staying up to finish it, adult responsibilities be daSO GOOD. I accidentally stayed up until 4 a.m. reading this, and even then, I wanted to continue staying up to finish it, adult responsibilities be damned!
The characters were charming, and I really, really enjoyed it. ...more
This is a good introduction to Charles and Anna, though I wish it had just been the first three chapters of Cry Wolf instead of a separate story. This is a good introduction to Charles and Anna, though I wish it had just been the first three chapters of Cry Wolf instead of a separate story. ...more
Really good, very intense. The beginning has a pretty harrowing, though not exactly graphic, depiction of rape and a female circumcision ritual.
It miReally good, very intense. The beginning has a pretty harrowing, though not exactly graphic, depiction of rape and a female circumcision ritual.
It might have been nice if Okorafor had come down a little more definitively against the female circumcision; everyone was and remained a little too ambivalent and blasé about it for my (modern, white, American) tastes. Also, there was a lot more sex in this book than I was expecting. Okorafor is never graphic about it, but they certainly talk about it a lot, and it plays a pretty big role in some side stories.
I wish I had read this and The Book of Phoenix a bit closer together, so I could see how they fit together. ...more
This was an intense, compelling read. As the attack was getting closer in the text, I found myself simultaneously wanting to stop reading and unable tThis was an intense, compelling read. As the attack was getting closer in the text, I found myself simultaneously wanting to stop reading and unable to put it down....more
I'm having a hard time figuring out how I feel about this book. It's beautifully written, but it's a tough read. Zarin's life (and death) feel so hopeI'm having a hard time figuring out how I feel about this book. It's beautifully written, but it's a tough read. Zarin's life (and death) feel so hopeless so much of the time, and I spent a lot of time aching for her that the best she could hope for was to marry Porus when she turns 18. I'm glad to have read this and be given the peek into a teen girl's life in Saudi Arabia.
On a purely superficial note, that cover is GLORIOUS. ...more
SO GOOD. I stayed up all night finishing this because once I got into the story, I could.not. put it down. Rani is such a great character. I 4.5 stars
SO GOOD. I stayed up all night finishing this because once I got into the story, I could.not. put it down. Rani is such a great character. I loved her and felt for her and wanted to be her Get A Grip Friend. I kind of want to listen to the audio to see if the narrator actually performs her raps or just reads them aloud. ...more
The writing in this was really good, and the story was fairly engaging and compelling. Unfortunately, I had ZERO connection to any of the characters. The writing in this was really good, and the story was fairly engaging and compelling. Unfortunately, I had ZERO connection to any of the characters. Maybe because we know from the start what happens to them all, so there was no wondering what happened to them?
Also, the author kept doing this thing where she would write a sentence followed by several fragments of descriptiony words: "I enjoyed walking on the beach after dinner. The sand and sea. The sunset on the clouds." First, every.single.time, it pulled me out of the narrative, and second, she did this *at least* once a chapter, which is just a little too much, if you ask me.
Generally, this book was fine. I liked it, but after I was done and thinking about, all I could think was that the writing was Trying Too Hard. It was very consciously pretentious, with no real substance to it. ...more
I am having a hard time giving this a rating. The writing is really well done, and once the story got going, it was totally engrossing, but I didn't *I am having a hard time giving this a rating. The writing is really well done, and once the story got going, it was totally engrossing, but I didn't *like* it. First, pretty much all the characters are terrible people, but more importantly, the topic is SO heavy and tough and just really fucking depressing. Like terrible.
(view spoiler)[The ending is ambiguous, with the story concluding the morning after Emma decides to drop the rape charges to make things easier for her family. She hasn't dealt with her trauma in any meaningful way, and her inner monologue as she makes the decision makes it pretty clear that it's unlikely now that she'll ever really recover. It's heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]
I do like the discussion this book has about rape and consent and victim blaming, though it doesn't necessarily call any of that out by name. The narrative is primarily about Emma's own sense of being at fault, as well as the rest of her community blaming her for her bad behavior and decisions. Though the author never explicitly says that this attitude is wrong, it's pretty clear from the text that these mindsets are fucked up and damaging for the victims. ...more
Bishop certainly likes her powerful, innocent ladies who have to be protected & educated by strong, powerful men, doesn't she? I'm not exactly knockinBishop certainly likes her powerful, innocent ladies who have to be protected & educated by strong, powerful men, doesn't she? I'm not exactly knocking it, because I thought it was really compelling, and I enjoyed all the characters, but Janelle is basically a younger version of Meg from Written in Red (or the other way around, since this came first).
The exposition on this blows. It was confusing and boring and did not do a good job of drawing me into the story. The STORY did a good job of drawing me into the story. ...more
Ugh, this book is infuriating. It's really well written and engaging, but so frustrating to read firsthand accounts of the way this country handles raUgh, this book is infuriating. It's really well written and engaging, but so frustrating to read firsthand accounts of the way this country handles rape cases.
Previously read: 08/26/2015
This book is so well written and intense and full of fucking terrible people. It's a totally engrossing read and such an important topic. I'll be suggesting this for a book club read. ...more
This was really enjoyable. It was tough pulling into the driveway right as the climax was starting yesterday. Heloise is a great character, and I loveThis was really enjoyable. It was tough pulling into the driveway right as the climax was starting yesterday. Heloise is a great character, and I loved the arc Lippman took her through. ...more
I love Robin McKinley. This book is so beautifully written, and I love her super descriptive, resonant prose. There's not a lot of dialogue in this, bI love Robin McKinley. This book is so beautifully written, and I love her super descriptive, resonant prose. There's not a lot of dialogue in this, but Lissar also spends a lot of time by herself. The abuse is horrific and hugely affects Lissar's life, but I also appreciate that it's not super in-your-face the entire time. McKinley gives both Lissar & us time to recover a bit from what was done to her.
I was not sure about this one when I started it. It's about two girls growing up in a weird religious commune and the summer they realize that it's noI was not sure about this one when I started it. It's about two girls growing up in a weird religious commune and the summer they realize that it's not actually that great. It's told in alternating viewpoints, and each girl has a unique voice. I spent the first 40 or so pages not thinking I'd finish it, and next thing I knew I was halfway through it. ...more
A little slow, but a really lovely historical fiction about how you can choose your family. Della is sort of awful, but she suffered so much as a chilA little slow, but a really lovely historical fiction about how you can choose your family. Della is sort of awful, but she suffered so much as a child, so I can't blame her too much. Talmadge is such a lovely man, and I feel so sad for him throughout much of this book. ...more
I ... don't know how I feel about this book really. It's beautiful and heartbreaking and so so sad, sometimes funny but mostly just ... a little depreI ... don't know how I feel about this book really. It's beautiful and heartbreaking and so so sad, sometimes funny but mostly just ... a little depressing. I can't stop hoping that somehow Bone beat her upbringing and made a better life for herself, but I also have to acknowledge how unlikely that is. ...more
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