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savannahtrice's reviews
59 reviews
No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I can't get over this book and how much it affected me emotionally. Lockwood's fragmented and stream-of-consciousness-ish writing style accurately embodied the mind of someone who spends 5+ hours on social media a day (formerly me). In part one you are laughing and relating and taking pictures of every paragraph to send to post on your story (ironic in hindsight), and in part two your heart is ripped out of your chest and you are feeling every emotion the main character is feeling. It was so comforting to read a book that writes, so beautifully, all of the thoughts I've had about the internet and the culture social media has created, with prose I could only dream of crafting. Read this book if you want to laugh and cry and rethink everything.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Terminal illness
Moderate: Abortion
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg
informative
fast-paced
2.0
I had to read this for AP lang summer reading. I probably would've liked this if it wasn't a collection of speeches that have little to no variation and make vague references that the listener is expected to understand. Like girl, say something new! She does know how to craft a good speech though, so I was able to take a lot away about constructing arguments, but I gained zero knowledge on the climate crisis.
Without Apology: The Abortion Struggle Now by Jenny Brown
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
i really loved this! i feel like i learned a lot, but obviously one book can't cover every single thing about abortion. would recommend to anyone wanting an introduction to abortion rights that ends with a hopeful tone and a sustainable call to action.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, and Abortion
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
this book made me feel so much, so intensely. would automatically be 5 stars if owen's didn't rely so much on racial stereotypes to create the few black characters. overall, i loved it and thought the writing was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Rape
You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down by Alice Walker
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I'm not big on short story collections, and often find it hard to finish them, but I adored this one! Each story was so well written and kept me hooked. While some stories were better than others, all were entertaining at worst. Coming Apart, The Abortion, Porn, Advancing Luna- and Ida B. Wells, and A Sudden Trip Home in the Spring were definitely my favorites. The way Walker takes on controversial and rarely discussed topics head-on, and applies such a thick layer of nuance, is truly something I've never seen before in a writer. I'd cut off a limb if it meant I could write half as masterfully as she does. I can't stop gushing about how incredibly talented she is, and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Abortion
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I went into this expecting a cheesy romance to kick off the summer, and ended up finishing with tears running down my face. I wouldn't even classify this as a romance (if it was, it would be the slowest burn ever), it's just a really depressing journey through 6 months of Lou and Will's lives. The story dragged for a couple hundred pages, but I still enjoyed it a lot, though I probably wouldn't recommend it frequently. There is probably something to say about the message Will's eventual suicide sends out to any disabled readers, but I don't know anything about assisted suicide/suicide amongst disabled people outside of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Ableism
Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Flannery O'Connor is such a talented writer who crafted a lovely meditation on how religion affects different people's lives. I think I would have understood the metaphor of this more, and enjoyed it more, if I had ever read the bible. This was a really great book, but I felt like the incessant use of the n-word was overdoing it a bit on O'Connor and her characters part. Overall, I liked the book, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone on account of how niche it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
I loved this! The story was amazing and well written. I think I would've loved it more if it were written normally, rather than in verse, but I adored Iloh's writing and world building nonetheless. I found myself relating a lot to Ada and cheering her on the whole book. A super quick and powerful read that I would recommend to anyone!
Favorite lines:
-"that when I tell my body to move
it can
when I tell my body to feel
it can
when I tell my body to stretch
it can
when I tell my body to try
it can
and every time
I go a little further
and every time
I learn my body is mine
and every time
I learn my body's wishes
are my command"
-"Words are powerful
unless they're not biblical
unless they're not written by men
unless they're unlike
Jesus's spit itself
why can't I pray outside of his name?
why is my name not enough?"
-"But what I discover now
is that fire can live in your bones
that betrayal can
strike the match and light your
greatest fears ablaze"
-"Mommy could not put her hands where she hurt
she hurt where I could not see
waking in the night's middle
on my weekend visits
would mean waking
to her deep sobs
about something I never would know
when I never knew mothers could
cry like their children"
-"I was waiting for this mama that I know
this mama I've always got to be
careful with
this mama who is more thorn
than rose petal
this mama always a ticking time bomb
ready to explode
this mama who's missing someone
she always hurts
this mama who wishes I'd just
call sometimes
think of her
some days
remember that
no matter what
it's her that I came from
it's still her that I owe
for the pain"
Favorite lines:
-"that when I tell my body to move
it can
when I tell my body to feel
it can
when I tell my body to stretch
it can
when I tell my body to try
it can
and every time
I go a little further
and every time
I learn my body is mine
and every time
I learn my body's wishes
are my command"
-"Words are powerful
unless they're not biblical
unless they're not written by men
unless they're unlike
Jesus's spit itself
why can't I pray outside of his name?
why is my name not enough?"
-"But what I discover now
is that fire can live in your bones
that betrayal can
strike the match and light your
greatest fears ablaze"
-"Mommy could not put her hands where she hurt
she hurt where I could not see
waking in the night's middle
on my weekend visits
would mean waking
to her deep sobs
about something I never would know
when I never knew mothers could
cry like their children"
-"I was waiting for this mama that I know
this mama I've always got to be
careful with
this mama who is more thorn
than rose petal
this mama always a ticking time bomb
ready to explode
this mama who's missing someone
she always hurts
this mama who wishes I'd just
call sometimes
think of her
some days
remember that
no matter what
it's her that I came from
it's still her that I owe
for the pain"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Medical content
Bone by Fae Myenne Ng
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The beginning of the book was great, the middle was dragging, and the end was great. I wasn't a huge fan of this, but I can't deny that Ng is a talented writer. If she wrote poetry, I would 100% read it.
A couple beautiful lines:
"To us, the deformed man is oddly compelling, the forgotten man is a good story, and a beautiful woman suffers."
"Blood and bones. The oldtimers believed that the blood came from the mother and the bones from the father. Ona was part Leon and part Mah, but neither of them could believe that Ona's unhappiness was all her own."
"...sorrow moves through the heart the way a ship moves through the ocean. Ships are massive, but the ocean has a simple superiority."
"I believe in holding still. I believe that the secrets we hold in our hearts are our anchors, that even the unspoken between us is a measure of our every promise to the living and to the dead. And all our promises, like all our hopes, move us through life with the power of an ocean liner pushing through the sea."
A couple beautiful lines:
"To us, the deformed man is oddly compelling, the forgotten man is a good story, and a beautiful woman suffers."
"Blood and bones. The oldtimers believed that the blood came from the mother and the bones from the father. Ona was part Leon and part Mah, but neither of them could believe that Ona's unhappiness was all her own."
"...sorrow moves through the heart the way a ship moves through the ocean. Ships are massive, but the ocean has a simple superiority."
"I believe in holding still. I believe that the secrets we hold in our hearts are our anchors, that even the unspoken between us is a measure of our every promise to the living and to the dead. And all our promises, like all our hopes, move us through life with the power of an ocean liner pushing through the sea."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Sanctuary by Abby Sher, Paola Mendoza
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
This book was so incredible! Mendoza and Sher's world building is incredible. When Vali was describing trekking through the desert, I felt like I was right there with her. I found myself reaching for my water over and over. It had the level of cringe that naturally comes with a young adult book, but that could be overlooked by how entrancing the story was. Would recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about the U.S's history with immigration, but doesn't want to start with heavy non-fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent