readclever's reviews
337 reviews

Russian lit is not for me, apparently.

The main male character spends the entire story complaining of women's greed, right to an opinion, laziness, while openly coveting the titular Ariadne without examining his own emotional responses. Ariadne might as well not exist as she's only ever really talked about, not thoroughly shown to be a real character. I wasn't expecting such a depressing read.

I received an advanced reader copy from Flatiron Books and NetGalley for an honest review.

Of all the books I've read so far this year, Ariadne hits the top. Strong writing, consistent characterization, effective plot devices, and a clear knowledge of the Greek mythology.

Jennifer Saint takes time to develop the strong bonds of women in a family full of scandal and scorn. And family can be found and created, as gods and their heroes are want to do. There's a feminist thread, of women pushing against their expectations after reaching that breaking point, that runs throughout. Yet there's a clear stopping line that fits the society that Ariadne and Phaedra are forced to participate in.

The last twenty percent took my breath away, so engaged, that I couldn't stop reading. It's not a happy tale because women in mythology among the Greek gods weren't afforded such options. But the book does a great job of showing how self-autonomy can be freeing yet binding at the same time. That rights were often at the decision of the men around the women.

Trauma binds so many people. Even years apart. When those bonds are shattered, needing to be rebuilt, it's not always easy. Saint does a terrific job of unraveling and rethreading both women's stories into a solid book. There were some slow passages that were forgiven as the story resumed between. Dual point of view definitely helped.

There are trigger warnings for child abuse/murder, violence against women, rape/sexual assault, and animal torture. The book does start with the Minotaur tale, after all. Mythology is filled with such topics and this book spans over three decades, so please be advised before reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Valerie June Hockett for the chance to provide an honest review for a copy of the audiobook.

Valerie June Hockett provides a view into her thoughts and personal philosophies in this poetry collection. A sense of optimism and hope as she writes about humans and our space within society, large and small. The poetry flows across, letting you feel less alone, when listening to her voice bring the words to life. Part may be the fact she's got a twang, which for this southern woman far from home, feels like comfort. Hockett's words are soothing.

It's not like my usual style and love--Emily Dickinson for those don't know--yet the contemplation of life seems tangible. Like you're looking inside a private notebook of thoughts. The feelings of belonging, of nature, of life, match so perfectly to what I need. My favorite section is probably Earth and Other Worlds. However, the final section really spoke to me as well. I found the calls to action among the words to be very appealing.

I really "The Words" the most. Reminded that words travel through time and space, in how we still discuss lives millennia between.

Content: 4.5/5 stars.
Narration: 3.5/5 stars.

I had to speed up the narration. Sounded like they slowed the twang down too much. That twang is what really sells the work, frankly. There's a feeling of truth in that space.

I wanted to refresher on lit theories; however, this book felt more like a lecture than an intro book. Too dense without decent transitions.

Gave it 2.5 stars because the last 80 pages were a much easier read. Concise, gave relevant info, was able to see the threads. I wish the author had talked about intersectionality and interdisciplinary themes more. Too many boxed concepts when many worked together.

Don't recommend for beginners or people just needing a refresher. Good for college students midway through a 101 course.

I love the idea of different POVs by established fairy tale characters. Can really round out the stories. Unfortunately, the prose is somewhat clunky, rushed, and a bit too Ever After at times.

Anna had a lot I potential and was easy to understand. I appreciated her efforts to not be as expected. And there was genuine warmth for Cinderella.

However, Cinderella is not evil. There's no real establishment except her grief and the cruelness of her stepmother. Possibly whiny but Anna thought being a maid would be good for Cinderella, so.

The falls flat on plot. And the ending made little sense and no lead up, really. Three stars for Anna overall and the pretty decent plot concept. Execution comes up short.

Cute. Easy read for age group in a new setting. Fun, energetic illustrations. Solid read for little girls with nice messaging.

The bit about being too young to get married is a nice counter to a lot of media.

4.5 stars.

Honestly, I was intrigued by the philosophy and morality of animatronics and human lives. There's a lot of great references to theme parks and musical theater. I imagined the Cinderella set to be somewhere between Broadway and Magic Kingdom.

What really worked was the fact Maddie grappled with the worries and fears of fitting in versus standing out. And that makes sense. The world building was fantastic, including the impact on characterization. Maddie is coded in a way that neuroatypical readers can see why she becomes overloaded.

Honestly, this a favorite of April for me. Just for the story depth. Easy 4.5 stars. Only taken down a bit based on some minor snags in ending, due to first person POV.

Too short for the ending. Needed another 10-15 to really flesh out the romance and need for time travel. Mid 3 star based on writing inconsistency.

I did enjoy the almost Death Becomes Her style story in the beginning. If the story had stayed similar, I would have bumped to a 4 star.

I liked the mental fog and redoing a moment that changed everything. The couple connection needed to be stronger.

If you love animal hijinks...

This was a fun read. Eloise, the story's Cinderella, is a kindhearted, efficient young woman who loves animals more than her cold and cruel family. The hero, Charles, is rather distant and judgmental in the beginning. And very tired of pushy mamas.

However, the two find common ground and genuine connections. I loved when they were working with her barn of misfits. And the minor but relatable conflicts. There were a lot of great character moments that moved the plot.

My only issue was the romance timing. Felt a bit rushed and not quite fitting. But I did enjoy the ending. And Albert. He was fantastic.

Solid 4 stars.

I wanted to like this poetry because vulnerability speaks to my soul. There are poems, like "The Cycle," that are very real and authentic. It wasn't a repeated lament. Instead a deeper look into a hard breakup is easier to understand for those that have lost their heart and had it shattered.

And there are terrific lines that encompass the desire to be a good partner. One line that stood out was in "Tiny Desk," where the narrator talks about what she thought she offering, feeding for the soul. "I started to believe I would be good for him/I wasn't candy, I wasn't pork; I was greens and fish/I would be good for him."

In general, the poems read more like a journal entry. "Adam," the final one, felt too long and unedited. Too many times that the narrator discusses how bad the ex-boyfriend. I wanted to read about the healing, the way she moved on from his betrayal and dismissiveness.

Low three stars.

Talent was there and the emotional impact could work. Just needed more editing and tightening of theme. Maybe retool some of the poems to be a dual perspective, past and present. Not a bad first poetry book.