࿔*:･ﾟ ❝We're always living days we can never get back. So we make new ones.❞ ･ﾟ:･*࿔
I'm absolutely blown away by this book; even more so than I was the
࿔*:･ﾟ ❝We're always living days we can never get back. So we make new ones.❞ ･ﾟ:･*࿔
I'm absolutely blown away by this book; even more so than I was the first time I read it. I'm blown away by stefania podgórska and everything she stood for and everything she did. I'm blown away once again by the sheer horror of how the jews were treated during wwII, something that no humans should have to go through. and I'm blown away by sharon cameron, her talent and tact at crafting such a meticulously researched and beautiful story. sharon cameron, it seems, understood stefania on a personal level. It truly felt like I was reading a diary or a memoir.
࿔*:･ﾟ ❝The world is beautiful, but people make it ugly.❞ ･ﾟ:･*࿔
imagine that you are living in a small apartment with an SS officer next door and two Nazi nurses sharing one of your two bedrooms. every day when you walk to work you see more officers, and occasionally you'll see the blue body of someone who was hanged for hiding jews. you constantly pass signs describing what will be done to jew sympathizers. your Nazi nurses are extremely annoyed by the rats in your attic.
except they aren't rats. You are hiding thirteen jews in your tiny attic, and you could be caught and shot through the head at any second.
such is the horror and fear that stefania podgórska experienced every day, at every second. It's a wonder she didn't buckle and break under the pressure; I certainly would have. and it's even more of a wonder how many close calls she somehow emerged from mostly unscathed. God had His hand on her, guiding her, and protecting her so she could save thirteen of His people.
࿔*:･ﾟ ❝It was wrong to paint all men the same color. Whether they were Jewish or Polish. Or even German.❞ ･ﾟ:･*࿔
someone without a bone of writing talent in their body could write about this and I would be mesmerized; the story is simply so astounding. But sharon cameron is one of the most talented authors I have read, and she tells this story better than I imagine anyone else could. every minute detail was researched and perfected by reading stefania's secret memoir and talking to people who knew stefania personally. stefania podgórska is the definition of a hidden hero in history, but this novel brings her story to light in a beautiful way. The Light in Hidden Places is a book that I think everyone should read, even if historical fiction isn't your preferred genre or even if you hardly ever read, because it's a story everyone should know.
࿔*:･ﾟ ❝The sky is is full and bright above us, shining down in all the hidden places. Because somehow, in some way, we are alive.❞ ･ﾟ:･*࿔
this book is horrifying, but it’s also fascinating— in a grotesque kind of way. The worst part is that it’s not too hard to believe that this kind of this book is horrifying, but it’s also fascinating— in a grotesque kind of way. The worst part is that it’s not too hard to believe that this kind of thing happened. In fact, events like the ones in this novel do happen in day-to-day life, even if it’s on a smaller scale and done with a bit more shame. But I, at least, can relate to a lot of the characters and their actions quite a bit and it’s an unsettling thing to think about.
the great gatsby is a very thought-provoking read, and even though it’s quite different from most other classics I’ve read, it still 100% deserves the title ‘classic’ and the esteem that comes with it....more
❝Perhaps they were none of them more than what their darkest moments made them...and how they emerged from it when day came again.❞
This is not a 4.5 ⭐
❝Perhaps they were none of them more than what their darkest moments made them...and how they emerged from it when day came again.❞
This is not a fun, swoony romance. This book is heavy. It's rough at times. It deals with some uncomfortable things that most people don't like to read about, but nonetheless something that needs to be addressed. It isn't the deepest and most excruciating book with this topic I've ever read, but I didn't expect much depth in this form at all from this author, so it deeply impacted me.
This book talks about love in a way you don't hear it discussed too often, but it's the reality. Love isn't just an emotion you feel. Love is a choice. Love is a sacrifice. Brice chooses to love Rowena and obey the Lord, and slowly he helps her heal from her brokenness and trauma and learn to love him back and, more importantly, love the Lord.
In the first book, Brice was a bit of a more lighthearted character. Kind of a shameless flirt. But he is given loads more character and depth. He was a flawed man, like everyone, but he had a deep longing to do what the Lord was calling him to do. I loved his character arc and I think he's my favorite Roseanna love interest so far ...more
The whole time I was reading this book, I was telling myself to rate it based on my enjoyment. The flow of❝Save your tears for when your mother dies.❞
The whole time I was reading this book, I was telling myself to rate it based on my enjoyment. The flow of the writing, the way the characters and story are brought to life, and how the grief and loss are portrayed.
But I still feel strange doing it.
This is an incredibly personal book. The writing is extremely raw and the author's grief flows through every word she writes. It felt less like a book written to tell a story and entertain an audience than a therapeutic process for the author and a last homage to her mother and all that she taught her. Reading it was like drawing back a curtain and looking through a window at Michelle Zauner's relationship with her mother and her last cry for her to be with her again, even though it's impossible. And now the curtain is back over it, but the image will always be burned into my memory.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I rated this 4 stars for my own personal enjoyment. But I don't think it's appropriate to list my likes and dislikes and opinions when the simple truth is this: It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because this author lost her mother and if writing this book held any kind of healing or any balm on her wound for her, then that is all that matters.
Crying in H Mart is a beautiful, poignant, story of grief and loss and trying to find a place in this world. It is a story of a life, and I applaud Michelle Zauner for being brave enough to expose herself to the world.
❝For the rest of my life there would be a splinter in my being, stinging from the moment my mother died until it was buried with me.❞
**content and trigger warnings** obviously this is a very heavy book with a lot of grief and loss and anxiety. I don't feel eligible to say what is triggering or what isn't but if you or someone close to you had cancer or sickness or if you lost someone close to you I urge you to look up more detailed trigger warnings lists. As for content, there were f-bombs dropped throughout the story, as well as s--t, a--, and d--n. There's several brief mentions of sex and sexual innuendos. Characters get tipsy/drunk repeatedly.
♨ pre-review ♨
THE FOOD DESCRIPTIONS HAD ME SALIVATING. BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN JUST LIKE THE ENTIRE BOOK!!!!
frtc!
♨ tbr review ♨
I am prepared to sob <3
I'm not Korean but I LOVE Korean food so that's another bonus ...more
if a girlie says that marissa meyer is her favorite author give her an anti-stress face mask, emotional support squishmallow, and back rub immedi4.5 ⭐
if a girlie says that marissa meyer is her favorite author give her an anti-stress face mask, emotional support squishmallow, and back rub immediately. This is not a joke, nor a drill. This is not the first time nor the last Marissa has broken my heart and then stomped on it.
“omggg she’s so dramatic” NO I’M ACTUALLY NOT. AND IF I AM, I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE. *ugly cries and flops down onto bed*
Like girl, this isn’t even the last book in the series. This isn’t even the one that traumatized every poor soul on this app who has this book under “read”. I’m actually reading that right now, and preparing to have my broken heart fractured.
BUT. THIS BOOK IS STILL SO EVIL.
Ahem. To preface, I have still never read the full Rumplestiltskin story. I knew the basics before I read the book, some guy is told some girl can spin straw into gold so he gives her a loom and a pile of straw and a death threat but she can’t, so she’s gonna die, but then some little man shows up that CAN and she make a bargain with him to do it for her in exchange for her firstborn child. Or something.
That was the extent of my knowledge.
(Aye yo, it’s not my fault that Disney never made a movie out of it. I’m simple minded.)
But my POINT IS, I was nearly completely ignorant of the original fairy tale before I read the book. Which means two things. a) I had not a clue what was coming, and b) I probably did not appreciate in full all the twists Marissa is so fond of made on the fairy tale.
HOWEVER, these aspects did not take away from my enjoyment of nor utter brokenness over the book.
I mean, it’s a fractured fairy tale retelling threaded with a Gothic twist and woven with German mythology. Add to that Marissa’s signature cinnamon roll characters, captivating plots, and obsession with shocking twists, and you have a tapestry of my love.
*spits out water* Lydia I thought we decided to stop with the idiotic and nonsensical metaphors in your reviews don’t you want followers? FRIENDS?? omg ahhhh ok we can still salvage this just pretend you didn’t say that ok…
Um um uh, I loved this. It would be a very tall order to ask me NOT to love this. *ignores my inner self glaring at me*. It was just so good. All of it. So good. *hand gestures to bring across the point of my love for it and how it was so good*
they probably get the point Lydia MOVING ON!
Our story begins with Serilda, our stunning and adorable star of the show, a outcast to society and a storyteller, with twin braids and golden wheels on her black irises that cause many suspicions to arise about her, spinning a dark and wild tale for her rapt listeners, the children of the small and superstitious town of Märchenfield. She spends nearly all her time with these kids, because as aforementioned, she is an outcast to society due to her strange eyes and penchant for telling stories.
Or, more to the point, telling lies.
But the children love her stories, so here she is, telling them one of the wild hunt they know so well. You see, there is a whole different realm out there, one full of demons and ghosts and the “dark ones”, as they are called. And normally, there is a magical veil that separates the two worlds and protects the humans from the evil spirits. But once a month, every full moon, the veil is lifted. And a collection of demons and ghosts and even kidnapped mortals emerge to embark on a ruthless night of hunting and killing. Animals, normally, but once in a while, they’ll take a man or woman or even a child right from their beds, in a trance, to join their hunt. Sometimes, they return home. But more often, they are never seen again.
So even these young children know. Lock your doors and board up your windows and pray to the gods that you are spared of drawing the attention of the hunt.
But in this story, it is no mere full moon. It is the Endless Moon. And on this night, the gods take beastly forms and enter the human world and become susceptible to the hunt. And the hunt will indeed try to capture them, because as the myth goes, if you capture a god on this night, they will grant you a wish.
Now, the hunt had wounded a god and was about to capture it. But the god managed to escape, and was found by a miller. And because this kindhearted miller helped the god, he was given an opportunity to be granted a wish. And what did he wish for?
Well, he wished for love. He wished that the girl he loved would take notice of him and they would marry and give birth to a child together. So his wish was granted, the child born.
But the child was no ordinary thing. It had a blessing from the god. Or, as the child would grow up to think of it, a curse.
What was the blessing/curse? That would change with the telling of the story. When Serilda tells the children this story, the god was the god of stories and tricks and lies, and the blessing/curse is the ability to magically spin stories and lies at will.
But later, on a night of a full moon, when Serilda was hiding two moss maidens, victims of the hunt, in her cellar, and had to explain to the leader of the hunt, the Erkling, why she was outside at this haunted hour, the god became the god of labor, and the blessing became the ability to spin straw into gold.
The only similarity is that the child cursed or blessed in the story is Serilda herself.
Now, the Erkling was satisfied by this explanation and withdrew to continue his hunt. Serilda convinced herself she was fine and safe and would be forgotten.
But on the next full moon, the hunt again come to her door. And when they depart for the castle they take refuge in, they carry Serilda with them. She is thrown into a dungeon with straw and a loom and ordered to spin the straw into gold before the sun rises and the veil falls again over the spiritual world. Or else she will die, and her father along with her.
In her desperation, Serilda accidentally summons a mysterious boy to her aid. A boy with the gift of spinning any substance into gold. A boy who will help her. But only for a price.
And even when the straw is spun, the Erkling will not forget Serilda or her so-called abilities so easily. The more time Serilda spends inside their realm, the more questions are asked and stakes raised. And Serilda finds that there are many more layers to the story she is weaving than she could imagine.
*wipes sweat off of my forehead* wow, that took forever to explain. But now that it is explained, everyone who took the time to read it knows that the plot is AMAZING and IMPECCABLE! I haven’t even begun to explain the intricacy of the story and twists! It’s beautiful and haunting and heart-pounding!
Now, first off, we have Serilda. Your honor, I love her with my everything. She’s brave and quick-tongued but still sweet and adorable. She deserves an easy life and a true love and living to a ripe old age. ...more
I've been thinking about this book a lot and I'm changing my rating from 3 to 3.5, but still rounding down to 3. This was defi3.5 stars
~edit~ 04/14/23
I've been thinking about this book a lot and I'm changing my rating from 3 to 3.5, but still rounding down to 3. This was definitely a super interesting book, but a lot of things in it weren't my proverbial cup of tea (i.e. the writing, overall plot, tropes, and some of the characters). Again, there were great themes and messages and if the premise interests you I definitely recommend checking it out! And I recommend reading Nadine's fantasy novels over this one because I enjoyed them sm more!
~Lydia has officially decided that she is not a dystopian kind of gal.~
happy reading m'dears (and don't mind how dramatic and emotional my original review is, I was in a mood).
~original review~ 04/10/23
Pain. Death. Sadness.
This book is made up of these things. It’s a horrifying, knife-wielding story. It’s a broken Clock ticking furiously even though every number is a bloody red zero.
Broken shalom.
The world is full of it. Since the Garden, when Adam and Eve defied their God, the perfect shalom He created broke.
This book paints that in a terrifyingly bright color.
This books testifies to how, in this sinful world of broken shalom, Christians are Radicals, transformed by God, fighting to the end of their invisible Numbers to bring the perfect shalom back, to bring everything to the way God meant it to be.
Invisible Numbers.
We don’t know the days we die. We don’t know how long we have. But in this book, we do. Before Jesus returns, we might.
If we lived in the USE, in the world this book brings to life, and we knew exactly when we’d die, would our lives be different then they are now? Would we be more motivated, more God-fearing, and more prepared?
The answer is probably yes.
It should be no.
We should be living like there’s no tomorrow and be spending every waking minute of our lives radically transforming others through the Giver of shalom.
This book shows that, and so much more.
It was not a perfect book (see my 3-star rating) but underneath its flaws it's a powerful story of fear, pain, absence of hope, and broken shalom.
It really touched me in a far corner of my heart! I hope it would do the same for you.<3
❝ Every lemon will bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out. ❞
—alexa, play marjorie by taylor swift <3
This book slaps so hard, and I thi❝ Every lemon will bring forth a child, and the lemons will never die out. ❞
—alexa, play marjorie by taylor swift <3
This book slaps so hard, and I think it's because it's real and it's true. It isn't like The Hunger Games, where we can laugh it off and say "well, let's hope we never come to that point!" Because we did come to this point. Humanity sunk so low that while people were bombing schools and hospitals and homes and picking off random people on the street just for who they were, everyone else pretended like it wasn't happening. But it did happen and it's still happening in some places and it's horrifying.
Katouh tells the story of her homeland with incredible grace and beauty. She creates a cast of messed up, broken humans that still find it in their shattered hearts to have love and hope for one another despite everything that is happening to them. I cried alongside the characters, I smiled, I gasped, and I finished with a hole in my heart as wide as the Pacific Ocean for everything that took place in Syria and could have been prevented if we had taken notice of what was happening.
If what's going on in Israel is anything like this, then I fervently hope and pray that it will have a different outcome because the silent pain Syria suffered through should never happen again.
This is one of those books that everyone should read in their lifetime. I can't recommend it highly enough.
❝ Nothing lasts forever. Not even our pain. ❞
side note: please look up content and trigger warnings before reading! As beautiful and essential of a book it is, it's very heavy and emotional. Not something to be taken lightly. Stay safe and ilysm ...more
❝Show me debauched nightmares or sunniest daydreams. Come not as you are but as you wish to be seen.❞
This book does what it wants to do so well.
Hauntin❝Show me debauched nightmares or sunniest daydreams. Come not as you are but as you wish to be seen.❞
This book does what it wants to do so well.
Haunting, spellbinding, atmospheric, and eerily confusing, this is one of the scariest books I've ever read. I don't read many scary things because I know I'll regret it, lying in bed that night, but this was delightfully creepy. I must just have to look into more fantasy horrors.
Wow. I'm speechless. This is my new favorite book ever.
The characters, the world, the plot, the writing, the villain"Murderer, martyr, monarch, mad."
Wow. I'm speechless. This is my new favorite book ever.
The characters, the world, the plot, the writing, the villainous arc,, the romance-- it's all absolutely impeccable. Amazing. The romance and storyline were beautiful and heartbreaking, yet strangely doomed from the start. Even the happiest of happy Cath & Jest scenes were tinged with a melancholy note, like even they knew their hopes and dreams could never work out. I spent the majority of the book turning pages as fast as I could while also feeling devastated for these oblivious lovebirds and hoping against hopes, even though I know it's a villain backstory for the Queen of Hearts, that somehow their fate would change and they could have a happy ending. Every time they made a choice that stalled their running away and securing a happily-ever-after I screamed out loud. I wanted them to hurry up and get married before something went wrong and they were doomed to be separated forever.
This book seized me from the very page and took me on a breathless journey with the characters. It wrenched my heart from my chest and beat it up, then shoved it back again. And if I'm crazy for wanting other people to go through the same experience I did, well, I guess I'm crazy.
Again, this is simply amazing. I don't care how old you are or what genres you like, I think everyone should reads this book. If you're eligible to have Goodreads, you are certainly eligible to read -and love- -and be heartbroken by- this masterpiece.
This was so amazing. I love these broken, messy characters. I love them so much *cries into hands*
I can't really think of anything else to say. This iThis was so amazing. I love these broken, messy characters. I love them so much *cries into hands*
I can't really think of anything else to say. This is an extraordinary heck of a book. That's it. Just 4.5 stars because of content.
**content warnings** it's definitely heavy, with strong themes of grief. It includes things like abuse and broken family dynamics, as well as mentions (but no on-page use) drugs and alcohol many times. Characters swear (b---h, a--, s--t, d--k, d--n, and h*ll) throughout the book. The characters find pictures of a man and a woman, naked, waist up. As for trigger warnings, there are quite a few. Please be careful reading this if you've experienced abuse, lost someone close to you, tried to, or witnessed someone try to, take your or their life, or been in a car accident. Those are all I can think of right now but I'm sure others have more detailed lists. Love you all ...more
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