Wow this was really compelling. I always feel awful for finding Holocaust narratives so interesting to read, but I also feel like each of these peopleWow this was really compelling. I always feel awful for finding Holocaust narratives so interesting to read, but I also feel like each of these people that writes a memoir deserves to have their story told so I do my best to listen. This is honestly one of the better ones I've read because it was fascinating to hear about life during and after the Holocaust. Absolutely blew my mind to hear her talking about events in 2020 because it kept reinforcing "This person is alive. This person walked in and out of a gas chamber in Auschwitz and is still alive today." Incredible.
Also, hearing from the perspective of a child who was only 4 years old when the strong antisemitism started was eye opening. I can't remember a lot of things that happened when I was that young. These memories of hers are so vivid because of what she had to endure. It's heartbreaking.
Definitely a well written memoir and I would absolutely recommend it....more
Oh wow I just realized I didn't update my reads. I finished this over a week ago and and it didn't leave a lasting impression like the first one. HoweOh wow I just realized I didn't update my reads. I finished this over a week ago and and it didn't leave a lasting impression like the first one. However, I know I enjoyed reading it at the time and I think it's a super cute series featuring an Asian girl who kicks butt at basketball. Whenever the next one comes out, I'll read it. These go down so easy. It's like a junior version of To All the Boys I've Loved Before....more
This was just what I was in the mood for! A super cute middle grade about a girl trying to find her footing in a new school. Pippa comes from a workinThis was just what I was in the mood for! A super cute middle grade about a girl trying to find her footing in a new school. Pippa comes from a working class family and tries to cover up in front of her new, rich, popular friends. It was fast paced, held my attention, and actually left me wanting to hear more about Pippa's experiences in middle school. I will absolutely go onto the next....more
For most of this book, I thought it'd be a 3-star, but I'm bumping up to 4 because of the way it made me think about our culture and how we treat deatFor most of this book, I thought it'd be a 3-star, but I'm bumping up to 4 because of the way it made me think about our culture and how we treat death. I hadn't thought about how turning our heads away from death makes it a bit more taboo and traumatic when it does happen. Maybe if we accepted it as a part of life and weaved it into our culture instead of shutting it away, we all wouldn't be so scared of it.
I also had no idea what goes on in the life of an undertaker so the information was interesting and informative.
Not the typical read I go for, but it was enjoyable and thought provoking....more
Surprisingly, I had a lot of fun with this! I'm not usually into the Groundhog Day trope, but I thought it sounded interesting that two people were stSurprisingly, I had a lot of fun with this! I'm not usually into the Groundhog Day trope, but I thought it sounded interesting that two people were stuck there together and entered the loop at different times. And I was honestly so into the story. I think it's because it wasn't *just* a cutesy romance - it actually got into time travel with a zany professor that had herself erased from the internet and went into friendship/family dynamics too.
Pleasant surprise that I'd recommend to anyone in the mood for a romance with a sprinkle of sci-fi....more
Surprisingly, I was really disappointed by this. I just reread the original trilogy and both novellas to prepare for this one and it was just meh. I tSurprisingly, I was really disappointed by this. I just reread the original trilogy and both novellas to prepare for this one and it was just meh. I thought it started off strong and I wanted it to be more about the family Wren had to leave behind. But instead, I got boring Ash and a bunch of dude characters I just didn't care about.
I feel like I have to give it 3 stars because I still love this world and my ears perked up every time I heard a nod to the characters I already knew. And as I already said, I really liked the beginning. Truthfully, it's probably more of a 2-star but I feel loyalty to The Cruel Prince world lol.
I don't know. I'm disappointed. Not sure if I'll go onto the next....more
This is probably more of a 3.5 since my mind wandered a bit, but I liked it more than my 3 star reads so I'm rounding up.
I liked this premise for a CThis is probably more of a 3.5 since my mind wandered a bit, but I liked it more than my 3 star reads so I'm rounding up.
I liked this premise for a Cinderella retelling - a grifting Cinderella with two partner-in-crime stepsisters who report to an actual evil stepmother complete with love triangle. I also liked the magic/luster added component. Just added a little something extra.
The thing I liked most about this story is that the stakes were real. She didn't escape the wedding at the last second, children were not immune from evil, etc. Uncomfortable things happened. It's not that I want to sit in discomfort, but I liked that things weren't wrapped up neatly with a bow.
I do think it was a touch too long and some of the middle could be chopped, but overall, I enjoyed it. ...more
I tried to care but I just didn't. I couldn't connect with any of these characters. I found them boring and kind of annoying. Not a good sign when youI tried to care but I just didn't. I couldn't connect with any of these characters. I found them boring and kind of annoying. Not a good sign when you don't care that someone's about to drown on the Titanic. ...more
I'm so glad I listened to my friend who told me to read this physically because of the illustrations. It felt like I was reading a child's book of talI'm so glad I listened to my friend who told me to read this physically because of the illustrations. It felt like I was reading a child's book of tales with a moral hidden in every story.
I really liked how I had the parts filled in that I wanted more information for (Cardan and Nicasia's relationship as well as her relationship with Locke) and it gave me more sprinkles of the future with Cardan and Jude.
Quick read, good stories, great illustrations....more
I liked this even more than the first one! It was heartbreaking and yet so romantic. I love that it took place 3 years after Mia's tragedy and the flaI liked this even more than the first one! It was heartbreaking and yet so romantic. I love that it took place 3 years after Mia's tragedy and the flashbacks didn't feel jarring at all. I think it flowed really well and I so enjoyed hearing things from Adam's perspective. I like both Adam & Mia and I just rooted for them to find their way back to each other for the whole book.
I don't know how I haven't read this one before. I've heard people talk about it or at least reference it, but it's one of those ones that slipped pasI don't know how I haven't read this one before. I've heard people talk about it or at least reference it, but it's one of those ones that slipped past me. I honestly really enjoyed it. It's a short book with a lot of heart and it really makes you question what you would want to do in her situation. This was such a pleasant surprise - I didn't expect a YA written in 2009 to hold up today, but I do think this is one I'll mull over for a while....more
I'm going with 3.5 rounded up. Honestly, for most of this book, it was a total 4 star. But about 75% in, it just felt long winded and that it should hI'm going with 3.5 rounded up. Honestly, for most of this book, it was a total 4 star. But about 75% in, it just felt long winded and that it should have been done by then. For the last quarter of the book, I thought it'd be a 3 star, but really, there were things I loved in here so I'll bump it up.
First off, how Kitty came to be was genius. I loved it so much. I thought it gave such a strong reason for why Kitty always seemed like Lydia's sidekick. I also loved that Lydia's character wasn't exactly different than what we had come to believe, but her witch background and her naivety as a kid provided some context for it.
The conclave of witches also reminded me of Angelica Huston in The Witches so I enjoyed that. It also gave me a little bit of what I loved in The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton - women willing to sacrifice anything to be beautiful.
I do think some stuff went off the rails though. The stuff with Wickham and the jewel was a bit much and I'm also not sure I understood the point of Georgiana Darcy as a side character. After a while, it just felt like there was so much going on and all I really wanted to hear about was Lydia and her cat.
This is a book club pick for next year and I think I'd read it again before the time comes just to refresh my memory because I know I'm going to forget a lot since there was a lot going on towards the end. Maybe I'll read it physically though to see if my brain tunes in better....more
This was fine. I was really into it in the beginning, but it lost me somewhere along the middle and I'm not sure why. I liked the premise - girl born This was fine. I was really into it in the beginning, but it lost me somewhere along the middle and I'm not sure why. I liked the premise - girl born into a powerful magical family has no magic and then starts to discover her latent abilities at a magical boarding school. That's the kind of thing that has me written all over it so again, I'm not sure why this one lost me. It wasn't bad by any means, it just didn't grip me....more
I hadn't read this one and I'm glad I did. I often skip novellas if they don't propel the story forward, but I really liked seeing how Taryn & Locke bI hadn't read this one and I'm glad I did. I often skip novellas if they don't propel the story forward, but I really liked seeing how Taryn & Locke began. It was not at all as romantic as Taryn made it out to be in the first book and I enjoyed seeing how devious Locke was (even though I already knew he was). I also liked the presentation of the novella itself: it was Taryn speaking directly to Jude, which gave it a different coloring....more
I found this hard to follow. There were honestly parts in here that interested me, but the writing felt kinda of jumpy at times which made me constantI found this hard to follow. There were honestly parts in here that interested me, but the writing felt kinda of jumpy at times which made me constantly question what exactly was happening. That may have been the point, but I like books that flow a bit smoother than that.
I could appreciate what this book was trying to say about being caught in an abusive relationship, but the "mystery" wasn't actually a mystery, which is what I picked up the book for in the first place....more
This was just what I wanted - half telenovela, half real world romance. Easy read, quick pace, likable characters. Honestly, it felt like I was watchiThis was just what I wanted - half telenovela, half real world romance. Easy read, quick pace, likable characters. Honestly, it felt like I was watching reality television about two characters who star in a TV show together and that's right up my alley....more
This is a memoir that could easily be in the horror section of a bookstore.
I know these people exist, but reading about them from someone who was broThis is a memoir that could easily be in the horror section of a bookstore.
I know these people exist, but reading about them from someone who was brought up by them is just mind blowing. People who believe that their god has blessed them with pain and that they aren't allowed to cure it with medicine (which their god has also created, if you think about it). It's nuts. And yet, they exist.
Shawn is the stuff of nightmares. TRIGGER WARNING - stabbing death of a German Shepherd. I. was. not. prepared. I really can't handle dog deaths, especially such vicious and inhumane ones and I'm so incredibly upset that this is a true memoir. I understand that this is a part of Tara's life that she had to tell, but it doesn't make it any less painful to read.
I think why this is 4 stars for me instead of 5 stars is because I was left with the impression that she would accept her parents' apology if they offered one. After reading all of that and knowing how they were accomplices in her abuse and how she suffered such maltreatment at their hands, I think they should be left in the dust. I'm not one of those "forgiveness is divine" people. I operate by the theory of "leave the toxicity behind you." Although Tara seems to understand now what it means to be educated and has come leaps and bounds from where she was, it still gave me the impression that she's waiting for their call. It's just a little disappointing.
However, I can't tell someone how to live their life and I'm just appreciative of the fact that she chose to share it.
Big yikes. I'll be thinking this over for a while....more
Eh, this one is my own fault. I saw the comparison to Handmaid's Tale and I was intrigued. The beginning was actually super interesting even though itEh, this one is my own fault. I saw the comparison to Handmaid's Tale and I was intrigued. The beginning was actually super interesting even though it was disturbing. However, I should have paid more attention to the publication date: 2011. I swear, during this time, it felt like every YA dystopian book was about a girl running away to escape her fate, falling in love with a boy she meets in the rag tag group of rebels, and being hunted.
I might have liked this one if I read it when it came out, but I'm burnt out on this trope 12 years later....more
I knew nothing about this book going into it - the only reason I picked it up is because I realized my library had 30+ copies of the audiobook and I wI knew nothing about this book going into it - the only reason I picked it up is because I realized my library had 30+ copies of the audiobook and I wanted to know why. When I returned it, I noticed the number of library copies went down to 2. I have no idea what happened in these past 2 days, but my guess is that someone at the library made a booboo.
But I'm truly glad they did.
This story felt like high school to me. I'm not sure if it was the way it was written or the depiction of high school relationships, but it really resonated with me. It felt entirely accurate without leaning hard into stereotypes (which many YA books do) and I just loved this sweet friendship between Finny and Autumn.
I loved that this book spanned several years and that it didn't feel like it at all. Again, it seemed to truly represent high school to me - it may seem long since so many dramatic things happen in the life of a teenager, but it's really over in the blink of an eye.
As for what I didn't like - this isn't a major focal point, but I personally don't like pregnancies in YA books so that knocked it down a peg for me. It's not a huge part of the book - the plot is not about a girl who gets pregnant or anything like that - but I've just found that I inwardly groan whenever there's a pregnancy in a YA book. Just a personal preference thing.
But man, what an unexpected good read. I'm so pleasantly surprised. Thanks to whoever screwed up at my library branch and ordered 30+ copies for a day....more
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