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randi_jo's reviews
399 reviews
Shakespeare's Kitchen: Renaissance Recipes for the Contemporary Cook by Tim Turner, Francine Segan, Patrick O'Connell
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I did not expect to find myself amused by tidbits about Elizabethian food culture in a cookbook. I also now have more context to some lines and general information on Shakespeare's plays that are basically food culture related. Still, found some interesting recipes that I plan to try soon.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
I found this to be a very great book that helps women find ways to empower themselves, women in their community, and examine the culture that keeps women and other 'outcast' groups low. In the end I think it was about 100 pages too long for me, many of the topics hardly tangent to the topic in question (and then the topics I wanted more of were really lacking i.e. recognizing our parts in raising privileged and emotionally stunted men). She also has a very specific language she chooses to use for basic things like intuition (Knowing), meditation, and other things.
What I'm saying is Glennon should probably start a cult. She's already halfway there.
What I'm saying is Glennon should probably start a cult. She's already halfway there.
Honey by Isabel Banta
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I dunno how I feel knowing that early the 2000s pop scene and boy/girl band era is historical fiction, but boy did this book really take me back to being a preteen in all the best and worst ways lmfao. It really did capture what it was like to be a teen coming into their sexuality and self in a time when women were built-up to be sexy then slandered for it, and pit against one another for simply existing. βοΈ
Pros:
πΏ Coming of age but also coming into one's sexuality themes. Amber's insecurities were so painfully relatable at times. Her adamant refusal to take responsibility for others' perception of her was great.
πΏ Extremely nostalgic media representation of musical artists in the early aughts. Down to the Seventeen Magazine quizzes omg.
πΏ Happy Ever After romance towards the end, which was nice and left it on such a wholesome note. Loved that.
Cons:
πΏ Sometimes it was a little TOO on the nose. If you've read other female celeb memoirs that cover this decade: i.e. Paris the Memoir by Paris Hilton, Woman in Me by Britney Spears, even Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson, you've already read this book. It doesn't add much, if anything, to the conversation.
πΏ Not a con but a Content Warning forabortion .
Pros:
πΏ Coming of age but also coming into one's sexuality themes. Amber's insecurities were so painfully relatable at times. Her adamant refusal to take responsibility for others' perception of her was great.
πΏ Extremely nostalgic media representation of musical artists in the early aughts. Down to the Seventeen Magazine quizzes omg.
πΏ Happy Ever After romance towards the end, which was nice and left it on such a wholesome note. Loved that.
Cons:
πΏ Sometimes it was a little TOO on the nose. If you've read other female celeb memoirs that cover this decade: i.e. Paris the Memoir by Paris Hilton, Woman in Me by Britney Spears, even Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson, you've already read this book. It doesn't add much, if anything, to the conversation.
πΏ Not a con but a Content Warning for
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Alcoholism and Abortion
A Tale of Whispers and Rogues by Jordan Lee
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I think the best way to describe this book is slow. Slow world building, slow plot progression, slow burn romance. If none of that is appealing to you, then I would skip over this one haha. It was definitely a lot of "on the run" -- okay so like 95% of the book is just them walking and camping out and sometimes running across ne'er-do-wells.
Pros:
π Great character development.
πBelievable slow burn romance.
π Interesting world-lore and magic system.
Cons:
πLittle plot progression until the last 10%.
π Really an almost 500 page camping excursion.
π Bros have so many close calls that it takes the suspense out of it by like, 60%.
Pros:
π Great character development.
πBelievable slow burn romance.
π Interesting world-lore and magic system.
Cons:
πLittle plot progression until the last 10%.
π Really an almost 500 page camping excursion.
π Bros have so many close calls that it takes the suspense out of it by like, 60%.
A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
In this episode of Sister Wives: Vampire Revenge. . .
In all seriousness, I'm still not really sure if I liked this book or not. There were some parts I was just not intoConstanta loving Alexi "like a son" while harboring sexual desire for him; the near incessant use of calling the fledging vamps brother and sisters who also have sex with each other, sometimes calling each other sister/brother WHILE having sex; the fact that the poly relationship seemed to be built and sustained on a trauma bond and not much else yo .
I liked the writing, although it did feel a bit like an inferior Anne Rice imitation at times. I like that she denies the perpetrator a name (even though we're basically told what it is on the back of the book, sigh). But otherwise it . . . well, it just was another vampire story, I guess.
In all seriousness, I'm still not really sure if I liked this book or not. There were some parts I was just not into
I liked the writing, although it did feel a bit like an inferior Anne Rice imitation at times. I like that she denies the perpetrator a name (even though we're basically told what it is on the back of the book, sigh). But otherwise it . . . well, it just was another vampire story, I guess.
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
So, I am very biased and that will likely come across in my review, but Ina Garten could punch me in the face and I would thank her, then ask her to sign my bruise.
I loved the audiobook for this. Because 1) hearing Ina Garten curse in 4k was an amazing experience. and 2) hearing Ina Garten call her group of friends "our squad" was surreal and adorable.
But I mostly loved how genuine and driven Ina came across as during the memoir. Learning about her past and all the challenges she faced not only as a woman, but as someone who constantly craves emotional and spiritual fulfillment, was heartwarming and inspiring. What an icon.
I loved the audiobook for this. Because 1) hearing Ina Garten curse in 4k was an amazing experience. and 2) hearing Ina Garten call her group of friends "our squad" was surreal and adorable.
But I mostly loved how genuine and driven Ina came across as during the memoir. Learning about her past and all the challenges she faced not only as a woman, but as someone who constantly craves emotional and spiritual fulfillment, was heartwarming and inspiring. What an icon.
The Blue Plate: A Food Lover's Guide to Climate Chaos by Mark Easter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 5%.
ARC version that was not edited or cohesive to the point of near illegibility. Plus the assumed knowledge threshold was a bit too high.
The Book of George by Kate Greathead
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
[Advanced warning: I am a hater.]
Do you want to read a very subjective character study on that one middle-aged white guy you know who is always bumming on couches and doing odd jobs for cig money and talks a lot about "almost having it all" but then invariably loses it at some point? Do you want the writing to be stoic, to the point where the most emotionally reactive things you will read are about a man who gets a hair stuck in his urethra or has a wad of toilet paper trapped in his ass-hair that then calcifies to his anus? Do you want to hear the "your generation" diatribe of the last bazillion years between boomer and millennial reduced to a couple of characters doing finger pointing and saying, "Your fault!" Do you want an extremely unsatisfying ending where the most annoying and pathetic character in the world doesn't even get hit by a car for some kind of divine retribution for wasting 275 pages of your time?
If you said yes to one or all of these things, then this is the book for you.
Do you want to read a very subjective character study on that one middle-aged white guy you know who is always bumming on couches and doing odd jobs for cig money and talks a lot about "almost having it all" but then invariably loses it at some point? Do you want the writing to be stoic, to the point where the most emotionally reactive things you will read are about a man who gets a hair stuck in his urethra or has a wad of toilet paper trapped in his ass-hair that then calcifies to his anus? Do you want to hear the "your generation" diatribe of the last bazillion years between boomer and millennial reduced to a couple of characters doing finger pointing and saying, "Your fault!" Do you want an extremely unsatisfying ending where the most annoying and pathetic character in the world doesn't even get hit by a car for some kind of divine retribution for wasting 275 pages of your time?
If you said yes to one or all of these things, then this is the book for you.
I Ran Away to Evil by Mystic Neptune
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Super neutral feelings on this one overall.
Pros:
π° Cute and cozy. Great for stress free reading.
π° Has some good laughs strewn about.
π° Great comeuppance ending.
Cons:
π° Very serialized feel, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.
π° Some POV issues in later chapters where first and 3rd povs were mixed.
π° Romance was very chill and while normally not a negative, there wasn't much of anything else in the almost 500 pages so maybe more passion? (not smut, but like actual pining idk)
Pros:
π° Cute and cozy. Great for stress free reading.
π° Has some good laughs strewn about.
π° Great comeuppance ending.
Cons:
π° Very serialized feel, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn't.
π° Some POV issues in later chapters where first and 3rd povs were mixed.
π° Romance was very chill and while normally not a negative, there wasn't much of anything else in the almost 500 pages so maybe more passion? (not smut, but like actual pining idk)
Dog Man: The Scarlet Shedder by Dav Pilkey
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Talk about nostalgia about reading Captain Underpants in middle school. Same vibes tbh. Know I know why my kiddo loves this series.