A rather insightful train wreck story, with some important themes written with a great balance of comedy and heart.
Queenie is a chaotic black woman beA rather insightful train wreck story, with some important themes written with a great balance of comedy and heart.
Queenie is a chaotic black woman being undermined by everyone around her. She's 'too -' everything - too loud, too bold, too sensitive, too ... HER.
Now if that doesn't resonate, this book might not be the one for you.
While I can't relate to Queenie's Jamaican-British heritage in any way, I can relate to the experience of people trying to silence you because you make them uncomfortable.
Sure, Queenie doesn't respond the best to some situations - making for some great comedic moments, as well as some more tragic results - but she is constantly undermined and subjected to racism and sexism, both blatant and more subtle. I felt for her and what she was experiencing, and I was glad there were characters who loved her exactly as she was anyway.
This is not a story about fitting in. This is a story about being loud and (eventually) proud; of owning who you are, even if there are some problematic behaviours while you figure out how to do that. There's a respect for mental health, and this book raises some interesting topics around it.
There's no guidebook to life, and Queenie is figuring it all out the best way she can. I loved that, even if it didn't always go Queenie's way. This book understands the messiness of life, and treats it with respect, humour, and unconditional love.
The writing finds a great blend of seriousness while still remaining comedic; it raises multiple topics and treats them with respect and insight, yet still finds a way to keep things lighthearted and amusing.
I really enjoyed reading this one as it gave me a better understanding of racial challenges as well as just a fun time watching this human trainwreck from a safe distance. It's easy to cringe and judge some of her decisions, but ultimately Queenie is a character you will root for and embrace.
This was Book 4 of my Advent Calendar Challenge...more
To be honest, this didn't do as much for me as I wanted it to.
It's the 'epic' adventure of a forgotten daughter, shunned by all because of a birthmarkTo be honest, this didn't do as much for me as I wanted it to.
It's the 'epic' adventure of a forgotten daughter, shunned by all because of a birthmark on her face. She wants to find love, but is cursed to betray the husband that's been chosen for her.
What follows is a bit of a soft adventure in which everyone and everything tells her she needs to love herself, society is gonna hate her no matter what, etc. It gives the message of loving yourself then doubles down, then TRIPLES down. It is really hammered home again and again and it was just a little too overbearing for my tastes.
There's also maiden goddess Artemis following along, and the relationship between the two felt a little odd. None of it was subtle, but Artemis also never acts like a goddess unless she's getting mad about something so it didn't really convince me.
The art style doesn't add much to the story - it's basic, black and white with splashes of red. I didn't really understand the symbolism of the colouring - I get the reasoning behind colouring in her birthmark and other oddities, but clothing and action marks seemed like odd choices to colour. So that might have been a little over my head. Instead, I was just a bit bored by the style. A fantastic adventure in black and white is a bit of a washed out thing.
There's an interesting idea here, but the delivery didn't really work for me. Those interested in forgotten myths may enjoy this little piece of creativity, and those who need it hammered home that they're worthy of love no matter their appearance should definitely give this one a go.
I was unaware whose crimes this was actually based on, and I appreciated that the author chose not to name him. This isWhat a fantastic read this was!
I was unaware whose crimes this was actually based on, and I appreciated that the author chose not to name him. This is a fictional account that considers the lives he destroyed, and I think it's a powerful statement to refer to him simply as The Defendant.
The story is told by two women - Pamela, who witnessed the perpetrator leaving the crime scene after the brutal assaults and murders of her sorority sisters, and Ruth, a victim. Pamela's story switches between 2021 - 43 years later - and 1978, the year of the murders.
I enjoyed the rounded approach to the storytelling, though at times it did get a little confusing jumping back and forth. Sometimes during the 1978 chapters, Pamela would reflect as though she were writing from present day which made it even more confusing. There's also a main character that is involved for both girls, which didn't help.
Aside from trying to keep everything straight, though, this was a fantastic read. This is very much about the fallout, and the treatment of the victims. There's definitely a feminist angle, where the treatment of Pamela becomes increasingly frustrating as she's clearly intelligent yet is often treated like a 'hysterical woman'.
There's not much detail about the crimes themselves, so true crime junkies might be a little disappointed by that. I myself enjoyed the fresh perspective - the focus on the people who matter rather than the scumbag who would be better off forgotten by all.
This was a great read to get the wheels turning, and for women in particular I think it's a truly valuable read. There are parts that are quite sickening to read, but it's those parts that hammer home the impact of the book.
I really got a lot out of reading this one, and was fascinated to follow up with a little research. Some women survived and have gone on to lead courageous lives, which I think is truly inspiring.
Highly recommend this for those interested in crime stories that focus on the lives of the victims, and I think women in particular will get a lot out of the empowering subtext....more
Thought-provoking, but a little too jumbled to hit as hard as it could have.
Another novel that focuses on the women behind crime, this book follows RuThought-provoking, but a little too jumbled to hit as hard as it could have.
Another novel that focuses on the women behind crime, this book follows Ruth as she investigates the three women that may be connected to the murder of her friend 19 years ago.
I did enjoy the angle and I really love the way this author considers the impact of murder from multiple angles. There's some interesting insight here into the women vs women mentality that is so common in today's society, and I really enjoyed turning those thoughts over. Ruth is not a perfect heroine - her thoughts are flawed and coloured by her own traumas, and so it was interesting to try and read between the lines of what she was saying and doing.
That said, involving the other women did make this feel rather complicated, and it was hard to keep the stories straight. There seemed to be a lot of questionable coincidence, and I lost the thread a few times.
The writing was wonderful and lyrical, with some beautiful phrases and a powerful atmosphere, particularly where we met Rose. I did enjoy losing myself in the language, even if the story felt a little stilted.
I felt the idea was really clever and the themes important, but I think ultimately it was too much to keep straight. It was beautifully written for what it was, but I feel the important parts got lost a little bit in an over-complicated story.
Not quite the follow-up I'd hoped for after the standout debut, Before You Knew My Name but still some solid ideas here with beautiful writing. Worth a shot for the crime fans looking for something a little deeper.
Narrated by Nathalie Buscombe Presented by RB Media
This was good fun!
A feminist novel about murder and mayhem - yes please!
The story sees serial killerNarrated by Nathalie Buscombe Presented by RB Media
This was good fun!
A feminist novel about murder and mayhem - yes please!
The story sees serial killer Saffy taking a break to find love - and she'll do whatever it takes to bag him.
A truly intriguing premise, and I loved getting to know the characters. Saffy is smart and sassy, and makes some wise observations from the female viewpoint. Jon is an interesting fellow, and the two together make an interesting couple.
There are some clever, tongue-in-cheek moments, and a great blend of action, story and character development.
Narration was fantastic - Saffy's accent put me off at the start, but references to it in the text helped out a bit there. Otherwise it was lively and fun, and easy to differentiate between characters.
There's a fun crime story here, but the feminist stuff often caught me by surprise and actually boosted the story for me. It was quite subtle, but hit home when things came up. So bonus points there from me.
Delivery was excellent, and I think there'd be extra enjoyment in reading this one physically, just based on the structure at times. I really enjoyed the audio, but I think physical suits this book.
Highly recommend for crime fans looking for something a bit different!
I wanted badass but I got ... mopey. Not quite what I wanted, and sadly kind of dull.
When I think of Hera, Queen of the Gods, I think of petty vengeanI wanted badass but I got ... mopey. Not quite what I wanted, and sadly kind of dull.
When I think of Hera, Queen of the Gods, I think of petty vengeance and ferocity. I think of her as bold, brave, and confident.
I was excited for a book that would take these things and show us a villain in a new light, but instead this book tries to make her something of a beaten-down heroine? It really didn't work for me.
I didn't like Hera as a character here at all, and I felt the story really washed her out and turned her into a victim. It seemed to be fighting so hard to tell a feminist story that it forgot women can be villains, too. Hera is well-known for her wrath and it was so washed out, here.
The storytelling was also to blame, I feel. It takes all the big stories from Greek mythology and mostly glosses over them all in a sentence or two - as though it was essential to include all these things but the author didn't really want to. I would have preferred less references in lieu of further detail. As a consequence of the sparse detail, it feels like nothing really notable happens - it's just the bland passing of time.
I just wanted so much more story than what I got. It was disappointing to get to the end and feel that I hadn't really felt anything at all.
An ambitious goal, but I do feel it fell flat. Others may appreciate this more sympathetic take on the famous Queen, but it didn't quite meet my expectations.
It's going to be difficult to put into words how greatly this affected me and why, but I'll do my best!
This is part poetry, part comic, part picture bIt's going to be difficult to put into words how greatly this affected me and why, but I'll do my best!
This is part poetry, part comic, part picture book ... but mostly 'word-blurt'. Just a random assortment of words thrown together and labelled as art.
Now, normally that's the kind of 'literary' work that does my head in completely and frustrates me to tears but somehow there was such a profound meaning to these thrown together words that I suspect maybe they were thrown together with intentional exactness. A logic to the nonsense that hid so cleverly I felt it more deeply once I understood. This was, in my humble opinion, actually art.
Accompanied by an assault of naked portraits from a self-proclaimed fat woman this should have greatly offended me and yet I absolutely delighted in the raw honesty of it all. I adored this brutal self-reflection that almost brought me to tears. I languished over the words and enjoyed teasing out the meaning. And the meaning I was able to draw from these words and images made such an impact on me that I spent almost the entirety wanting to hug this woman or high five her or just nod and say, 'I understand.'
This is absolutely not what I was expecting from this book and I'm thrilled by it. More than a 'feminist manifesto', this spoke to me most because of the accounting of a fat woman. For the detailed experiences caused by a woman's body and society's negative connotations with the idea of 'fat'. SO MANY of the experiences she details are ones I've experienced myself and for that alone I was moved. I felt so much compassion, yet was somehow also inspired. Something about the way she relates her experiences speaks to me of a willingness to heal; a secret positivity that lurks behind even the most self-deprecating words.
With the personal reflections, an accompaniment of women and feminism from many angles - many of which I had to Google. I actually learned a lot reading this, and I enjoyed the delivery immensely. It scratched the surface of an awareness I've only recently felt springing to life so I enjoyed chasing all the leads and learning more about these other women and their stories.
Raw, brutal and utterly captivating.
It shouldn't have worked for me, but it absolutely won me over wholeheartedly....more
This was a solid, 5-star read until it bad-mouthed Wonder Woman.
The concept is this: how would our lives be different if women had been telling the stThis was a solid, 5-star read until it bad-mouthed Wonder Woman.
The concept is this: how would our lives be different if women had been telling the stories along with men all these years? So many of our myths and legends come from the mouths and minds of men, yet women have been having different experiences right alongside them the entire time, so how could fair representation of this shared experience shape the world we live in??
What I appreciated most about this feminist book is that it's NOT anti-men. It's about EQUAL contribution, which happens to involve allowing women more space to speak and share. It talks about the traditionally 'female' traits of care, compassion, nurture; expressing feelings and being open; and how we encourage these traits in men yet criticise those who show vulnerability. I really appreciated that this book took the time to raise those kind of points while still emphasising how women's voices have been silenced over the centuries.
The first part of the story focuses on myths featuring well-known women - Eve, Pandora, Galatea and Cassandra. Easily my favourite part to read, this delves into how these myths are reflected in today's male-dominated society. I really enjoyed reading the comparisons and implications and honestly I wish there were more. I thought this would make up more of the book but sadly it represents only half.
When we got to the discourse on Wonder Woman, and how perhaps she should have used her godly powers to get everyone to sit down and talk about their feelings, I started to disagree a little, and the shine wore off. I understand where the sentiment was coming from, but Wonder Woman was created for entertainment, and she's already an inspiring character to so many, including myself. I don't think I'd be quite as interested in reading comics about people sitting around talking about their feelings, even if this would be a better use of superpowers in the real world. Reality is, action serves the comic format better than dialogue. So while I get the point of wanting less violence driving entertainment, this was a bad example. As such, I found myself more open to disagreeing with what I was reading, instead of just absorbing it as truth.
There are some great examples and some wise suggestions, but I think there's also a bias present that wasn't accounted for; the author talks of how prevalent war metaphors are, but I don't see it so much. I think that's perhaps because the author's generation grew up with war playing such a large part in their lives, so the metaphors may be common amongst her and those she speaks with but my experience isn't the same. She's also American where I'm Australian, and we all know how obsessed the USA seems to be with guns and violence. Here in Australia, we have metaphors about creeks and paddles, wool blindfolds and intercourse with spiders. (Also a whole bunch of other stuff I didn't realise was exclusive to Australia - thank you, Google.) So I think a geographical bias needs to be considered, as well as age and other factors that go towards determining a person's character beyond gender.
On the whole, though, this was a fantastic exploration of how the female influence could lead to more peaceful solutions and better equality amongst all humans. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend to those after a feminist novel that isn't curse with the 'angry feminist' vibe....more
Ah, my friends! This book is so good for the soul!
Such a moving, thought-provoking novel that drew me into a unique, fascinating world.
The story introAh, my friends! This book is so good for the soul!
Such a moving, thought-provoking novel that drew me into a unique, fascinating world.
The story introduces us to 28-year-old Jo, whose mother disappeared fourteen years ago. Unfortunately, this combined with her black skin makes her a prime suspect for being a witch, leading to discrimination and the constant hounding from her father to ensure she's married (and therefore under the careful watch of a man) before she turns 30 (it's a long story).
That's a very brief, unworthy description and there is a lot more to unpack that drags you deep into this world of injustice. Yet it's never too much; the words are eloquent and precise so there's nothing superfluous - every sentence has meaning.
I really loved how much this got me thinking without trying too hard. The story presents the themes and deals with them realistically, and we're left to make our own assumptions and feel our own feelings. GOD I FELT FEELINGS.
There is a large focus on witchcraft, obviously, but the main focus is freedom. I loved how this novel delved into the meaning of freedom, and explored the limitations of freedom that comes with conditions.
I honestly don't know how to properly convey the affect this story had on me. It was whimsical and fun, sad, honest, diverse, thought-provoking, and uplifting.
This is a witchy tale of feminism and freedom and easily one of the most moving novels I've read this year. Highly recommend....more
A profoundly moving, heart-wrenching story that will have women nodding their heads as they ache with sadness. I felt this story in the depths of my sA profoundly moving, heart-wrenching story that will have women nodding their heads as they ache with sadness. I felt this story in the depths of my soul.
How do I even begin to explain how brilliantly insightful this novel is?
You know the story: A girl runs away to New York and, not long after, a body turns up. The girl has been raped and murdered and now the cops have to figure out the who, and the why.
But have you ever heard the story told by the dead girl? Or by the jogger who found her? Have you ever stopped asking, 'who did it?' in favour of asking, 'who was she?'
This novel is a lament for all those who have had their futures stolen from them by violence. By getting to know the dead girl, we're forced to confront all that was lost - her hopes and dreams, the connections to others, the impact she would have made on other lives. We get to think - really think - about who she might have become.
It's a powerful exploration of all the things we generally forget to consider in favour of morbid curiosity.
There's also the feminist angle - the stark reality of women all over the world, woven into the narrative. The fragile egos we must carefully manage or risk violent retribution; the unwanted advances that can lead to spiteful words like, 'uptight' or 'tease'; saying yes because the consequence of saying no is terrifying. Walking alone, being out late, wearing specific clothing - all these things and more will have women reading this story nodding along, remembering all the times they, too, have found themselves in similar situations. Just because a situation doesn't end in violence, it doesn't become any less terrifying a situation to experience. This novel explores it all so cleverly, honestly, and with great heart.
There is certainly the mystery associated with who committed the murder and why, but this novel takes great pains to focus instead on the woman whose life was ended, and the woman whose life was altered by finding the body.
This is a book that will stay with me for a long time, and not only do I recommend it, I URGE people to read it. Particularly women, but men also. There is so much here that deserves our attention, and I will be recommending this one to everyone in the hopes that others will be moved as much as I was.
It made me more aware of my own ignorance as a white female living in Australia - so many of these things I hadn't eveAn intelligent, insightful read.
It made me more aware of my own ignorance as a white female living in Australia - so many of these things I hadn't even considered - and it made me feel a little ashamed, to be honest.
That being said, the point of this book is not to shame, but to educate. She talks about issues that feminism supposedly tackles and then describes how badly feminism is missing the mark when it comes to women of colour. Apparently racism is more powerful than misogyny. I'm very vocal when it comes to women standing up for women, particularly when it comes to sexual violence, so when I encountered this particular quote regarding rape culture, I was horrified:
When you can't count on solidarity for women in danger, when bystander intervention isn't a solution because white female bystanders may feel that a Black woman's plight doesn't deserve their attention because race has a more powerful effect than gender, then we aren't really battling rape culture.
The scariest part was that, as disgusting as the idea of that is to me, I had to take the time and make sure I wouldn't be someone who stood back. I want to make sure that I don't have any of these subconscious racist notions myself. (I do feel confident that I would help someone in trouble, no matter the colour of their skin. I truly hope so.)
That's such a big part of why this book was so powerful to me. Because so many of these things I hadn't even considered, because my white privilege has kept me safe. I have a home, a family I can rely on, a steady job, and an income that allows me basic needs as well as some things I want. I'm not afraid to walk around the neighbourhood, or hang out in parks, and if I'm really in trouble I'm confident that law enforcement will help. I'm not afraid of being incarcerated for making a mistake, and no one has ever implied that I will be unfit to raise children when the time comes. All of these things I have taken for granted, and if you have too I encourage you to read this book.
This book is begging for accomplices - not just allies. It's not enough to send thoughts and prayers. It's not enough to 'hope things work out'. This book asks us to stop putting the responsibility on the marginalised groups to stand up for themselves and make our own efforts to change how they're treated. They need allies in positions of power to be moved by their plight - to understand that supporting women of colour won't cost them their white privilege - and then actually make changes for the better. They need action from those of us who have had the fortune to be born white.
I've honestly never felt so powerless. I wish I was in a position to do more.
But wishes aren't enough, either, so in the absence of that I intend to educate myself as best I can, and this book was a great introduction. It covers a lot of important subjects in a calm, rational and educated manner. There's even a little humour, and the author uses anecdotes from her own life to help demonstrate the issues.
My only complaint really is that it was too intelligent for me - I could have used a glossary because there are so many terms in here that I'd never heard of before. However that does also highlight once again how naive I was before I picked up this book.
If you're looking to educate yourself on real issues that Black women face, this is a really good starting point because it covers things so comprehensively. Some of it is quite heavy reading, and you may need a dictionary on hand for some of the terms, but it's well worth the time.
I'm grateful to find books like this that can help me learn, and grow, and further understand the struggles of others....more
It's just so much fun! I mean, don't get me wrong - there is a lot of blood and disturbing things, buThis is the vampire novel I didn't know I needed.
It's just so much fun! I mean, don't get me wrong - there is a lot of blood and disturbing things, but it's kind of hilarious at the same time. What do you expect from a book with this in the author's note:
I wanted to pit Dracula against my mom.
It begins with Southern charm and a handful of housewives who get their thrills from books about murder mysteries. When a stranger moves to the neighbourhood and unusual things begin to happen, Patricia faces facts with practicality, determined to do whatever is necessary to protect the children of the town.
From the beginning, I loved how no-nonsense Patricia is about everything. She has that maternal instinct that means as much as she might not want to do things, if it means keeping her kids safe she'll knuckle down and get it done. Her husband, Carter, is a bit of a jerk who quite clearly takes her for granted, so I was really happy that she wasn't beaten down and cowardly. She stands up for herself and for those she believes to be in danger, and it makes her such a likeable protagonist. She is a fierce woman.
Being set in the South in the 90s, there are also some interesting observations on racism, and while it's not a focus of the novel it does well to raise sympathy and provoke the reader to consider the unfairness of it through cleverly not really talking about it at all:
At the end of the day, some rich white people lost their money. Some poor black people lost their homes. That's just how it goes.
There is also obviously a lot on the lives of housewives, and sexism is rampant among these husbands who think their 'silly' wives should be cleaning more and reading about murder less.
Most of all, it's just a fantastic, horrifying story about a group of book club ladies taking on the town monster and it is a lot of chaotic fun. The action comes fast and it easily becomes addictive, yet there's time to get to know and love (or loathe) the characters, too. The classic ideas about vampires are completely twisted, too, so it makes the story highly unpredictable. No garlic here, folks.
It's written brilliantly and intelligently, and I had so much fun reading it. It was also extra fun doing it as a buddy read over at Horror Aficionados because it's been great fun to discuss all the bits and pieces along the way!
Highly recommend this for horror lovers and for fans of dark humour. If you're into vampire stories, read this one for a fresh twist. And if you're just after an intelligent, creepy, slightly gruesome - yet humourous - novel to pass the time quickly with, this one is a must....more
A powerful story that will resonate with a lot of women.
Here's the plot: Before - Oli wakes on a boat with no memory of how she got there. It leads to A powerful story that will resonate with a lot of women.
Here's the plot: Before - Oli wakes on a boat with no memory of how she got there. It leads to a lifetime friendship and a love of being on the sea. Then - A few years later, she takes a job on a boat with five guys which is naturally a recipe for disaster so things go badly for her. After - Now she has to deal with the consequences.
That's just a summary of the blurb, but it's also the entire story. The novel is divided into three parts and each is richly detailed with colours and descriptions. The language is beautiful and the colours add a vivid quality to a story that's actually pretty dark.
My heart was aching for Olivia from the very beginning, so I was really glad to meet Mac straight up, who was such a loving, warm sort of character. Aside from him and Maggie, it's hard to really love anyone in this story. The rest are either jerks or kept at a distance from Oli and what she's going through.
What's she going through? Trauma.
I don't even know how to properly explain how much I loved the way this was addressed. It's not a black and white incident, and Oli has a lot of thoughts that I think many victims of assault may understand. There are layers to her feelings and it really broke my heart reading it. At the same time, I think this is a really important novel to help explain to people with no experience of sexual assault just how cloudy everything can become. It's a painful story, but necessary.
There are no great action sequences, or adventures, or even that much depth to Oli's background and life. It's mostly a snapshot of one incident, and how it ripples through her life. It's words and images and colours and feelings and is moving and lyrical and emotional. It will make you feel. I really felt this story in my soul.
I do want to talk about the ending, though.
(view spoiler)[I actually hate ambiguous endings. Or endings that I'm supposed to interpret my own way. Because my feeling is that her choosing to breathe in is actually her drowning because, hello, she's under water? But why would she do that when she's finally found a bit of closure? When she's having fun with these other women? But also the prologue talks about her dying. But also it's first person so maybe it's a spiritual death? Is that what happened? She 'died' by getting rid of her burden and now she's born again as a happy, free soul??? I'M SO CONFUSED. (hide spoiler)]
It's a lyrical novel that uses language to convey feeling and depth to a story that you need to be emotionally connected to. If you don't feel for Oli, you're gonna have a bad time. I honestly could not care less about all the boat stuff but I was so appreciative of the way her story was told. I'm rating this higher than I normally do literary fiction because of how much I connected to her story.
If you're after a fast pace, this won't be for you. If your preference is for beautiful words and themes that will have you feeling deeper emotions, this is spot on. If you've experienced trauma, this may be a tough read but it will also make you feel heard and hopefully empower you. I hope you find some meaning in it.
Honestly I'm not a hugger but this book makes me want to hug all women who have ever been through an experience like this. I feel for you, ladies. Your pain is acknowledged. You are loved.
She's a funny lady, sure, but this book also shows that she's down to earth, genuine, honest and just trying to give life her best shot, WHAT A QUEEN.
She's a funny lady, sure, but this book also shows that she's down to earth, genuine, honest and just trying to give life her best shot, like the rest of us.
I loved it. I loved the honesty, but also that - and bear with me on this - it's not a book that's trying too hard to be funny?
She's a comedian, sure, but this is a biography - not a sketch. It's her life, and it's told with honesty. Of course there's her own brand of humour lacing the stories to make them more fun, but it's not over the top outrageous; instead it's dialled back so that her story can actually be told.
It was the more honest moments that I think I enjoyed the most - her blunt delivery of her own #metoo stories, and her opinion on feminism, and women supporting women. How her Instagram started, and of course the dirty deets on her relationship with #hothusband.
I think part of the reason she is loved by so many is because she's just an average Aussie lady. That doesn't mean she isn't wonderful, or achieving amazing things, etc. Rather, it means that every other person who considers themselves average can be inspired to be wonderful and achieve amazing things.
This is the story of a woman with a dream, who set out to achieve it and never let anyone stand in her way. She backed herself, stood up for what she believed in, and blocked out the negativity trying to bring her down. She found her own light and now it's a gift that lights the world.
It's not bellyache-from-laughing funny, but it is witty, insightful and enlightening. A truly enjoyable read that I would recommend to people looking for inspiration with a good dose of humour....more
This was a really difficult one for me to read emotionally, and as such it's difficult for me to rate.
Plot: An all-boys, elite boarding school has jusThis was a really difficult one for me to read emotionally, and as such it's difficult for me to rate.
Plot: An all-boys, elite boarding school has just agreed to take on the challenge of becoming co-ed, and has a handful of girls starting there for the first time. Things start out smoothly but then there's a Halloween party and next thing you know one of the new girls is waking up in hospital with a horrible hangover and signs of assault. Suddenly a lot of lives have changed.
The title of the story suggests the big theme: morality. Who is to blame, who isn't, what is the right thing to do? Who should be doing it? etc. A lot of questions are raised and I won't lie - this is gonna be pretty triggering if you've ever had something similar happen to you, or someone you're close to. Read with caution.
Things I felt reading this: Rage. Sorrow. Pity. Frustration. Understanding. Sick.
At the same time, it was blunted by how the story was written. It was very much told, meaning most of the feelings I had were less because of the writing and more because of my own feelings towards this kind of occurrence. I found it really strange that with all these people and conflicting POVs that there was very little feeling to the story. It was quite cold and direct, and no real attachment to the characters through the writing. Maybe that was intentional - the writer choosing not to take any kind of side - but it felt a lot like an opinion piece told through fictional characters. It's a relatively short book, coming in at just under 300 pages, and I wonder what sort of emotions could have been dragged out of me by taking the time to really explore the characters. There were a few expansions that I was desperate for - particularly in the case of Vivienne, Jamie and Chase - and then there were some that made little sense to me and seemed kind of inappropriate and cheap, considering the rest of the book.
The setup was also really abrupt for me. The incident occurred unbelievably fast, and I found it hard to swallow. It felt rushed and unrealistic. There was a lot of talk about alcohol poisoning which made me wonder what the hell they were really sharing around. (Remind me to have two sips of tequila next time I want to get blackout drunk.)
However I overlooked the sketchy setup because I knew this was a book about the consequences. The point was not how much alcohol had been consumed - the point was how much consumption of alcohol excuses one's actions. Along with a ton of other moral questions.
That's probably the big thing here: I felt like the story was written pretty bluntly, and was nothing special, but the questions it makes you ask yourself are quite intense. This is less about the way this story is told and more about the way this story makes you feel.
Personally, it made me feel terrible. Depressed, really.
If you're triggered easily I'd probably give it a miss, and if you're looking to connect with characters on a deeper level you'll probably be disappointed. But if you're interested in moral questions and right vs wrong in horrible situations, this will get the wheels turning upstairs. I can't say I enjoyed reading it, but it definitely made me think hard about what it was saying.
I'm definitely gonna need something fun after that emotional rollercoaster.
I wanted more than this random collection of seemingly unrelated goddess things.
The title literally begins with 'A little bit' so I don't know why thI wanted more than this random collection of seemingly unrelated goddess things.
The title literally begins with 'A little bit' so I don't know why this tried to cram so many concepts into 100-odd pages. This would have been better focusing on one specific idea and doing it well. Instead, it's just a messy amalgamation of ideas.
In the middle, there's a comprehensive list of Goddesses and then it jumps back into more random ideas? Who planned this, honestly.
It's also choc-full of info that was just too much to retain, so at the end of it I felt like I really hadn't learned anything at all.
Ultimately, a disappointing and pointless 'introduction to the divine feminine.'...more
