This story is everything that I love about humanity, disguised beneath the irritable exterior of an antihero. I gave it 5 stars, but it deserves at leThis story is everything that I love about humanity, disguised beneath the irritable exterior of an antihero. I gave it 5 stars, but it deserves at least 7.
I would like to really talk about this story, and the many different themes and meanings. However, it’s almost impossible to do that without spoilers, and I think it’s best to read this one without knowing anything about it.
In the real world, I would probably avoid Ove, due to his prickly exterior and stubbornness, which would be a real shame, as I enjoy him so much on the page. That’s why I love literature and this story, in particular. It tackles a lot of heavy topics in a very heartfelt and clever way.
Gorgeous. I could revisit this so many times and probably love it in new ways each time. The audiobook sounds amazing. This is the kind of book to botGorgeous. I could revisit this so many times and probably love it in new ways each time. The audiobook sounds amazing. This is the kind of book to both read and listen to.
IDK, people. Somehow, I missed the first boat on this one, which launched 21 years ago. But I guess some days you just wake up and think, today’s the IDK, people. Somehow, I missed the first boat on this one, which launched 21 years ago. But I guess some days you just wake up and think, today’s the day I finally want to read Memoirs of a Geisha.
And then you read it and love it and wonder what in the hell was wrong with you on all those other days. Or, at least, that was me, anyway, and if you haven’t read it yet, then I suspect it is also you.
This is an engaging historical fiction novel full of culture and rich setting, with a main character who captured my full attention right from the start. I know some people didn’t enjoy this novel for various reasons that seem to be mostly related to a Western viewpoint on an Eastern culture, blah, blah, blah, etc.
Whatever. It’s fiction. The language is lovely, and the narrative is arresting. I’m happy I read it. It’s an absolute delight.
This is the best discussion of gender that I have read in quite some time, and it gets to the heart of what feminism really should be (outside of all This is the best discussion of gender that I have read in quite some time, and it gets to the heart of what feminism really should be (outside of all the negative stereotypes that are part of the gender divide). It also has quite a bit to say about the harm that culture can do to men, as well.
Some of my favorite comments:
“The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognizing how we are.”
“We teach girls shame. “Close your legs. Cover yourself.” We make them feel as though being born female they’re already guilty of something. And so, girls grow up to be women who cannot say they have desire. They grow up to be women who silence themselves. They grow up to be women who cannot say what they truly think. And they grow up — and this is the worst thing we do to girls — they grow up to be women who have turned pretense into an art form.”
“Masculinity is a hard, small cage, and we put boys inside this cage.”
“A woman at a certain age who is unmarried, our society teaches her to see it as a deep personal failure. And a man, after a certain age isn’t married, we just think he hasn’t come around to making his pick.”
“My own definition is a feminist is a man or a woman who says, yes, there’s a problem with gender as it is today and we must fix it, we must do better. All of us, women and men, must do better.”
“Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.”
“Gender matters everywhere in the world. And I would like today to ask that we begin to dream about and plan for a different world. A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how to start: We must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently.”
This. Is so much. Everything. I can’t. I just. I want to find the right words to explain why, or even how this grabbed me by the throat and squeezed uThis. Is so much. Everything. I can’t. I just. I want to find the right words to explain why, or even how this grabbed me by the throat and squeezed until I forgot how to even breathe and no longer even cared that I couldn’t. But I can’t. I’ll try, but I already know I’m going to fail to do it justice.
This YA fantasy, reminiscent of a Viking culture, is one of my favorite reads of 2018 so far, and I’m already 171 books deep and have read some pretty amazing stuff. I currently can’t name any of those other titles, because I only have eyes for Sky in the Deep right now, and as a result, everything else has suddenly paled in comparison.
This is absolutely brutal and stark, but with so much texture and depth and richness of the world that I want to throw away my flip-flops and messy bun for battle armor and braids. The MC is pure wrath and solid conviction, and I love that her level of ferocity and concept of honor is paired with so much raw emotion.
On a worse note, this novel is so incredible that it has completely crippled me with self-doubt, and I’m now floundering with my current writing project. So I both love that it could destroy me like this, and I hate that I allow myself to be made small in comparison. Probably, in a few days, after I pick myself back up off the floor and stop reeling, I’ll try to resolve this crisis of writing faith. For now, I mostly just want to pick this story back up and bury myself deep inside the world again. And then again and again.
As an aside, if you can’t handle blood, gore, battle, and violence, then you will struggle with this book, but I suggest you find a way to handle those things, if at all possible, as there is so much heart you’ll be missing out on if you pass this one up.
This is a fantastic read, just like How They Croaked, which I read (by force, for a committee I served on--because why would I want to read a dry nonfThis is a fantastic read, just like How They Croaked, which I read (by force, for a committee I served on--because why would I want to read a dry nonfiction book about how people die--yuck), and then absolutely loved (by choice--because I absolutely wanted to read every single word in both that and this funny, fast-paced, honest book that tells the truth about historical figures).
I hope they will create more books to match the first two. I would definitely read them all, when normally nonfiction has me taking a step back and giving books the cranky side eye
I highly recommend this to anyone, though it's great for the middle grade crowd. You don't even have to like history all that much to be interested and amused by these charming, well-told stories. I suspect you'll find that if you open the book and read just one story, nothing will stop you from reading the entire thing. This is a clever concept and format, and I'm completely captivated and always learn something new when I pick up one of these books. Highly Recommended
This is still glorious. I'm just rereading in preparation for book two, which I'm really excited about. Since it's such a unique world and magic systeThis is still glorious. I'm just rereading in preparation for book two, which I'm really excited about. Since it's such a unique world and magic system, I wanted to make sure I remembered everything before moving forward.
The audiobook narration is fantastic and spot on. There's so much texture and variety in Bahni Turpin's voice, and she brings a lot of drama and emotion to the storytelling. I just love it.
PREVIOUS REVIEW: This story slayed me in all the ways. It’s so compelling that I want to clutch it close, in case it would try to slip away from me. I just finished the novel, and I almost want to go back and start it all over again, right now, as I’m not ready to let go of this world.
I was so captivated by this YA West-African inspired fantasy novel that I couldn’t stop reading once I started, and this is not a small book. Despite that, I still read it straight through, and wow. I just have so many wild feels that I’m not even sure I know how to write this review, but I want to write it now, while the magic and heartache is still fresh in my mind.
Things I loved and/or cried over:
--The characters and all of their uniqueness and intricacies
--The storyline and fast-paced plot, despite the length of the novel
--The captivating world and fascinating setting
--The magic system is A+, and I can’t wait to learn more about it in future novels
--The cover of the book, which is just stunning. I’m honestly obsessed with it, and I don’t know how much of the time that I spent just looking at the cover while I was listening to the book.
---The audiobook narrator: Bahni Turpin, who brings such life to the words
--The author’s note at the end of the book, which made me cry twice in just a matter of minutes
-- The title and its meaning to the story. I could reread/replay that segment right at the end over and over and over again, because it’s so perfect and gorgeous
--The ending, which really delivers, in all kinds of emotional ways
--They way 4 POVs are handled so well, and with so much unique voice that I always knew whose part of the story I was on, even when we switched between characters
--The characters names, which felt so perfect for them
--The ferocious feline beasts that I sometimes want to snuggle
--The fact that this is a debut novel, and it’s so incredible (no offense to other authors, who have also had some amazing debuts, but wow!)
--The fact that this lived up to absolutely all of the hype and it’s so easy to adore this book
--And obviously the diversity. I’m feeling pretty cheated that this is the first Nigerian inspired fantasy novel I’ve ever read, and I hope I see many more in the future. In case it’s my fault that I’ve never read one before, I’m going to go out and research this topic as soon as I finish this review, to see if there are any others that I’ve missed.
As far as I’m concerned, this book is perfection. It’s what YA fantasy novels should be. Honestly, in my opinion, it’s what all fantasy novels should be, regardless of category. And there better be more of this world heading my way in the near future. Preferably lots more.
Holy. Wow. This book is majorly badass. I love when a second book stands up and delivers. YA Sci-Fi is so wickedly delightful these days.
Nemesis shouHoly. Wow. This book is majorly badass. I love when a second book stands up and delivers. YA Sci-Fi is so wickedly delightful these days.
Nemesis should be my new bestie (sorry Laurie!). I mean she's absolutely ruthless when it comes to protecting Tyrus, and I love that. At the same time, for being considered as something less than human, she's so painfully human that it's almost uncomfortable at times.
And that ending. It was like plot twists upon plot twists upon plot twists. My brain is still swirly from how many unexpected moments occurred in just the last few chapters.
I am in love with this series. The only negative is that I have to wait another year to get my hands on book 3, and I'm desperate for it right now.
Just listened to this old favorite again, while commuting to work. I’m happy to be back in this world. I love how the first book focuses primarily on Just listened to this old favorite again, while commuting to work. I’m happy to be back in this world. I love how the first book focuses primarily on the MC, and her journey and evolution, and the boys are all secondary to that, at this stage.
PREVIOUS REVIEW: This is such an excellent series! I adore it. I am so happy to be rereading this. The plot is interesting. The world building is spot on. The characters are fascinating! I've been listening to the Audible books, and the narration is good. I'm totally in love with this world, and these characters, all over again.
PREVIOUS REVIEW: This was fantastic, and the cover does it no justice. In fact, I refrained from reading it, not even knowing what it was about, as I wasn't sure it was going to be good...just another book with sword and faces on the cover. That is so overdone, even though the cover is nice, that it put me off.
But wow, I was wrong. This is the first series to have really caught my full attention this past few months, and it grabbed me right from the start. I pretty much don't want to do anything but listen to this series, and as soon as I hit stop on book one, I started book 2. I'm even annoyed that work exists, because it is getting in the way of this world and all of its mysteries.
World building= A
Characters = A+ (especially the non-human characters)
Action & Excitement = A
Drama = A (Not overly dramatic, but plenty of real, solid drama that is not just silly nonsense)
Lack of characters named Becky = C-
Variety of paranormal creatures = A+
Ratio of male to female characters = B- (almost every character is male, except the MC--that's not bad, and I get it. I had far more guy friends in high school than girls, and there is a reason for the gender difference. But still. I hope book 2 turns out some more believable female side characters)
Hell Hounds = A+++++ (Please can I have some of my own? Pretty please?)...more
Book 2 is fabulous! I love this series so much. I think I could read these over and over again and still be amused. These stories are so creative, chaBook 2 is fabulous! I love this series so much. I think I could read these over and over again and still be amused. These stories are so creative, charming, hilarious, and absolutely lovable. Pair that with plenty of action and intrigue, and you'll find yourself reading this story straight through.
I adore this concept/series and hope it never ends. All the historical references and dated pop-culture references totally crack me up. This may have been written for teens, but it is absolutely perfect for adults, especially those in my age range (born in 1980).
This graphic novel is clever and amusing. It's also subversive and flips your expectations for a typical comic book hero/villain. That gives it a moreThis graphic novel is clever and amusing. It's also subversive and flips your expectations for a typical comic book hero/villain. That gives it a more modern feel and cuts away at some of the old stereotypes, which I love.
I also love the artwork, and this is a quick, exciting read.
This is so damned charming and heartfelt, while still being full of adventure. I could read it a hundred times and never get sick of th#BecRereads2019
This is so damned charming and heartfelt, while still being full of adventure. I could read it a hundred times and never get sick of this one.
Book 33 read in 2019
Pages: 513
PREVIOUS REVIEW: This novel has so much voice, the kind that’s funny and unapologetic. I really do want to hug this book, which is problematic since I listened to the audiobook.
The MC is a charming rake who gets himself into mess after mess, and I adore the fact that one of the side characters is his sister. That’s so rare in YA these days…to have a really relevant character be a sibling, and for that sibling to go along on the adventure. It added a nice dynamic.
These teenagers were appropriately teenagery, and I loved how the dated time period still felt so fresh and easy to exist within. These are the kind of characters who steal away little pieces of your heart, and you don’t even mind....more
So happy this YA Dystopian/Sci-Fi series is having an amazing rebirth, but I'm equally traumatized that I have to wait at least a year to find out what comes next.
And Kenji. All my heart eyes for that boy.
Book 100 read in 2018 (I really love that my 100th book was something I devoured with glee. It was a purely accidental pick, since I didn't realize I was on book 100.)
This YA contemporary story has an honest, authentic voice, and the storyline is relevant and timely. It would be a great companion read to THUG by AngThis YA contemporary story has an honest, authentic voice, and the storyline is relevant and timely. It would be a great companion read to THUG by Angie Thomas. It would be nice if everyone in America decided to read both stories.
Even though it is a short book, there is a lot to consider and reconsider with this one. It navigates through difficult topics, in particular American race relations, in a way that is easy to follow and captivating.
I'm happy this story exists. Teens everywhere needed this story, and so do adults. If it changes the way anybody thinks or reacts, then that is even better.
This is one of those books that is beautiful in a painful sort of way. I would definitely reread this, as it approaches grief in a way that feels so hThis is one of those books that is beautiful in a painful sort of way. I would definitely reread this, as it approaches grief in a way that feels so honest, and some of the perspectives are refreshingly different from other YA Contemporary stories centered around grief and loss.
The writing is excellent, and I adore the characters. There was even something that took me by surprise, because I was so buried in the story that I didn't even bother making predictions or assumptions while I read. I was just completely along for the ride on this, and I think that was the right way to experience it. Because, after all, grief itself is rather unpredictable.
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