Take a photo of a barcode or cover
aliciaclarereads's Reviews (1.25k)
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book with "love" in the title
Oh Alyssa Cole, you manage to steal my heart every damn time. And this time with a queer love story! The woman can write anything! This novella suffers from the same fate of all novellas: it's just too short. Fabiola and Likotsi are really wonderful characters and I would have relished a full novel focusing on their love story. We've already met Likotsi, but Fab gets to be really dynamic and fleshed out, which is quite the accomplishment considering how short the novella was!
Because the concept of the book is focused on these character's second chance at love together, we get the two time points of Spring & Winter covering their whirlwind first time together and their unexpected reunion. I did prefer the Winter chapters because I'm a sucker for the angst of running into an old flame, and I did feel a little like a ping pong ball bouncing back and forth (although Fab and Likotsi's confidence in the Spring chapters... so damn hot). But the story wrapped up very sweetly, and I thought Cole did an excellent job pulling in some topical issues.
I adore this series so, so much. I wish it would never end!
Because the concept of the book is focused on these character's second chance at love together, we get the two time points of Spring & Winter covering their whirlwind first time together and their unexpected reunion. I did prefer the Winter chapters because I'm a sucker for the angst of running into an old flame, and I did feel a little like a ping pong ball bouncing back and forth (although Fab and Likotsi's confidence in the Spring chapters... so damn hot). But the story wrapped up very sweetly, and I thought Cole did an excellent job pulling in some topical issues.
I adore this series so, so much. I wish it would never end!
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book that makes you nostalgic
This remains one of my absolute favorite books. Anne Shirley is one of the most delightful fictional characters, and Rachel McAdams's narration just let me experience one of my favorite stories in a new way. Every beat of this story feels like coming home. I remembered so much, but also forgot so much. It was just a delight to relive all of Anne's mishaps and hijinks.
In conclusion: GILBERT. BLYTHE.
This remains one of my absolute favorite books. Anne Shirley is one of the most delightful fictional characters, and Rachel McAdams's narration just let me experience one of my favorite stories in a new way. Every beat of this story feels like coming home. I remembered so much, but also forgot so much. It was just a delight to relive all of Anne's mishaps and hijinks.
In conclusion: GILBERT. BLYTHE.
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book set in Scandinavia
This was fun and fast-paced, but ultimately just okay! I was really engaged with this story, but I didn't find any of the characters particularly interesting or dynamic. The main character was kinda boring and also a giant hot mess, without much reason to be? Not that she needed a dramatic backstory but it felt like there were some underlying issues the character had, besides just dealing with anxiety, that were never addressed. Also this book was published in 2016 - taking anti-depressants is hardly unique. It felt a bit far-fetched that it would instantly be the reason the main character was deemed to be making up her story. Not to say there's no stigma, but I don't know. It's just not like she was taking an anti-psychotic or a harsher or more unusual medication...
The reveals were interesting enough but didn't seem particularly fascinating or breath-taking.I mean rich man kills wife for fortune? Yeah never heard that before. But it was interesting that we never heard from Richard after discovering the plot. and I like that Carrie kills him and makes off with the money This was getting a bunch to comparisons to [b:The Girl on the Train|22557272|The Girl on the Train|Paula Hawkins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490903702s/22557272.jpg|41107568] which I found so underwhelming (the only thing I remember liking was the voice actors for the audiobook...), so I did go into this book not expecting much. Which is probably why I feel fine after finishing this; my standards were not high enough to be let down.
The best bit was certainly how Ruth Ware wrote anxiety. As someone who struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, I found that incredibly realistic, to the point that I could feel anxious based on the character's spiraling. Not quite uncomfortably, but Ware really tapped into what anxiety feels like.
I'd read another Ware book. I'm not a big thriller reader in general, so I don't expect picking up another book by her anytime soon. But I'd love to get the chance for her to really wow me.
This was fun and fast-paced, but ultimately just okay! I was really engaged with this story, but I didn't find any of the characters particularly interesting or dynamic. The main character was kinda boring and also a giant hot mess, without much reason to be? Not that she needed a dramatic backstory but it felt like there were some underlying issues the character had, besides just dealing with anxiety, that were never addressed. Also this book was published in 2016 - taking anti-depressants is hardly unique. It felt a bit far-fetched that it would instantly be the reason the main character was deemed to be making up her story. Not to say there's no stigma, but I don't know. It's just not like she was taking an anti-psychotic or a harsher or more unusual medication...
The reveals were interesting enough but didn't seem particularly fascinating or breath-taking.
The best bit was certainly how Ruth Ware wrote anxiety. As someone who struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, I found that incredibly realistic, to the point that I could feel anxious based on the character's spiraling. Not quite uncomfortably, but Ware really tapped into what anxiety feels like.
I'd read another Ware book. I'm not a big thriller reader in general, so I don't expect picking up another book by her anytime soon. But I'd love to get the chance for her to really wow me.
read for Popsugar 2019 Advanced Reading Challenge: read a book during the season it is set in (summer)
This book is so damn charming. The art was beautiful, the story was heart-warming, and I have melted into a puddle of happiness. Absolutely perfect for all ages, and wow just put it in every school's library.
This book is so damn charming. The art was beautiful, the story was heart-warming, and I have melted into a puddle of happiness. Absolutely perfect for all ages, and wow just put it in every school's library.
"Why is my humanity only seen or cared about when I share the ways in which I have been victimized and violated?"
This is a sentiment that allies need to start digesting. We need to practice the same level of empathy and support even when the story is all sunshine and rainbows.
I sincerely hope that Vivek Shraya publishes a full length memoir.
This is a sentiment that allies need to start digesting. We need to practice the same level of empathy and support even when the story is all sunshine and rainbows.
I sincerely hope that Vivek Shraya publishes a full length memoir.
Popular%20Culture.jpg)
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book with "pop," "sugar," or "challenge" in the title
Guy Branum is someone who has been in the periphery of my pop culture consumption. I've heard him on the podcasts My Favorite Murder and Pop Culture Happy Hour, his podcast ads Maximum Fun network shows I listen to, and his writing on various TV shows I've enjoyed over the years. People whose opinions I really respect have been widely recommending this book, so I wanted to pick it up in the spirit of Pride and it's ability to fit a kind of hard reading challenge.
What a joy this was! Branum is a fantastic writer. He's insanely smart without being elitist or exclusionary; he brings the reader along for the journey of his long winded stories and pop culture analysis. He makes several side stops and imparts a lot of weird an obscure knowledge (of which I'm always a fan). We get stories on the formation of Canada, various goddesses, and the importance of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which lead to Branum's revelations on his difficult relationship which his sister, his coming into his identity as a gay fat man, and why media representation is essential.
Branum was an incredible narrator of this audiobook. he got to be a little silly in his interpretation, and he was bursting with emotions when discussing his strained relationship with father. That essay was probably my favorite, because I was completely blown away by his compassionate writing. I did like Branum's use of footnotes, except it often made the flow a little difficult to follow in the audiobook, but that's just part of the format. There's not really a way to turn off the footnotes while you hear the full sentence and then go back to reread with footnotes - ah well.
Branum is just so smart when it comes to talking about our culture. He has incredibly sensitive analyses that takes gender, sexuality, race and all its intersectionalities into consideration (which is really important coming from a cis white gay man!). He's also someone whose gone through a lot of shit, but has come out the other side and wants to let you know, you're gonna make it.
I truly enjoyed the nine hours I spent listening to Branum and I could see myself picking this up again in the future, as well as any other book he writes.
Guy Branum is someone who has been in the periphery of my pop culture consumption. I've heard him on the podcasts My Favorite Murder and Pop Culture Happy Hour, his podcast ads Maximum Fun network shows I listen to, and his writing on various TV shows I've enjoyed over the years. People whose opinions I really respect have been widely recommending this book, so I wanted to pick it up in the spirit of Pride and it's ability to fit a kind of hard reading challenge.
What a joy this was! Branum is a fantastic writer. He's insanely smart without being elitist or exclusionary; he brings the reader along for the journey of his long winded stories and pop culture analysis. He makes several side stops and imparts a lot of weird an obscure knowledge (of which I'm always a fan). We get stories on the formation of Canada, various goddesses, and the importance of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which lead to Branum's revelations on his difficult relationship which his sister, his coming into his identity as a gay fat man, and why media representation is essential.
Branum was an incredible narrator of this audiobook. he got to be a little silly in his interpretation, and he was bursting with emotions when discussing his strained relationship with father. That essay was probably my favorite, because I was completely blown away by his compassionate writing. I did like Branum's use of footnotes, except it often made the flow a little difficult to follow in the audiobook, but that's just part of the format. There's not really a way to turn off the footnotes while you hear the full sentence and then go back to reread with footnotes - ah well.
Branum is just so smart when it comes to talking about our culture. He has incredibly sensitive analyses that takes gender, sexuality, race and all its intersectionalities into consideration (which is really important coming from a cis white gay man!). He's also someone whose gone through a lot of shit, but has come out the other side and wants to let you know, you're gonna make it.
I truly enjoyed the nine hours I spent listening to Branum and I could see myself picking this up again in the future, as well as any other book he writes.
read for Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter
I love the podcast My Favorite Murder so much, that there was no world in which I wouldn't enjoy this book. This book isn't about true crime, but just about Karen and Georgia telling us about their lives. They cover the good, the bad, and the ugly by being completely open with their audience about their drug addictions, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and all the other fucked up stuff that they've managed to survive and thrive in spite of. Karen and Georgia's delightful conversational, nothing's held back, vibe shines clear and through in this book. Fans of the podcast will love this, but if you're not so much into true crime, it's a great book about two women coming into their adulthood and incredible success, and how much they stumbled and fell along the way.
Because of my love of the podcast, I had to get this on audiobook. Six and a half uninterrupted hours of Karen and Georgia talking with me? Sign me up! And their narration was great (as well as some surprise moments from Paul Giamatti, which I don't know why or how, but I'm into it). It's also the source of my biggest annoyance with this book: the live recordings.
Look (listen), live recordings of podcasts are not good (unless it's a show that is always recorded live ala Wait Wait Don't Tell Me). I mean they aren't bad! It's exciting that my favorite podcasters are able to go on tour and perform. I went to a live show of MFM and had so much fun! And I understand why podcasters share those episodes. It's gracious to let the rest of us be included in something we couldn't attend, and I completely understand having a live episode up to give themselves a break. Understandable! But that doesn't change the fact that these episodes aren't good. Podcasts are a deeply intimate experience. You have voices chatting to you while you comute, cook, run errands, etc. You develop a personal attachment that hearing a live audience giving feedback ruins! And live shows do have visual elements that the listener will never get to be a part of. Live episodes can make you feel somewhat excluded.
This book had about three or four sections that were recorded before a live audience. I cannot understand this decision by the producers of the audiobook. Sure MFM has great success with their tours and it's a shout out to the dedicated audience. But I don't want to have to laugh or cry or 'awwwww' at the same time as an audience. I want uninterrupted time with the narrators. I wnt to feel like they're talking only to me, even though we all know millions of others are listening. And while Karen and Georgia are great in front of a crowd, these live readings did not add anything to the audiobook performance. Yes, Karen cracked with emotion at one point, and I felt for her, but her reading could have been the same in a booth.
Okay I had a lot of built up feelings about live recordings...
Look (listen), in spite of my one beef with this book, I absolutely enjoyed my time listening. I know it's a book I'll go back to and relisten to certain sections (Georgia's Top 10 Therapy Revelations is a great chapter in particular). I still highly, highly recommend this book, especially the audiobook because these ladies have such a fun personality that jumps off the page and they're wonderful to listen to.
Also, this book is the true official confirmation that I am a Georgia (without the adolescent meth addiction).
I love the podcast My Favorite Murder so much, that there was no world in which I wouldn't enjoy this book. This book isn't about true crime, but just about Karen and Georgia telling us about their lives. They cover the good, the bad, and the ugly by being completely open with their audience about their drug addictions, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and all the other fucked up stuff that they've managed to survive and thrive in spite of. Karen and Georgia's delightful conversational, nothing's held back, vibe shines clear and through in this book. Fans of the podcast will love this, but if you're not so much into true crime, it's a great book about two women coming into their adulthood and incredible success, and how much they stumbled and fell along the way.
Because of my love of the podcast, I had to get this on audiobook. Six and a half uninterrupted hours of Karen and Georgia talking with me? Sign me up! And their narration was great (as well as some surprise moments from Paul Giamatti, which I don't know why or how, but I'm into it). It's also the source of my biggest annoyance with this book: the live recordings.
Look (listen), live recordings of podcasts are not good (unless it's a show that is always recorded live ala Wait Wait Don't Tell Me). I mean they aren't bad! It's exciting that my favorite podcasters are able to go on tour and perform. I went to a live show of MFM and had so much fun! And I understand why podcasters share those episodes. It's gracious to let the rest of us be included in something we couldn't attend, and I completely understand having a live episode up to give themselves a break. Understandable! But that doesn't change the fact that these episodes aren't good. Podcasts are a deeply intimate experience. You have voices chatting to you while you comute, cook, run errands, etc. You develop a personal attachment that hearing a live audience giving feedback ruins! And live shows do have visual elements that the listener will never get to be a part of. Live episodes can make you feel somewhat excluded.
This book had about three or four sections that were recorded before a live audience. I cannot understand this decision by the producers of the audiobook. Sure MFM has great success with their tours and it's a shout out to the dedicated audience. But I don't want to have to laugh or cry or 'awwwww' at the same time as an audience. I want uninterrupted time with the narrators. I wnt to feel like they're talking only to me, even though we all know millions of others are listening. And while Karen and Georgia are great in front of a crowd, these live readings did not add anything to the audiobook performance. Yes, Karen cracked with emotion at one point, and I felt for her, but her reading could have been the same in a booth.
Okay I had a lot of built up feelings about live recordings...
Look (listen), in spite of my one beef with this book, I absolutely enjoyed my time listening. I know it's a book I'll go back to and relisten to certain sections (Georgia's Top 10 Therapy Revelations is a great chapter in particular). I still highly, highly recommend this book, especially the audiobook because these ladies have such a fun personality that jumps off the page and they're wonderful to listen to.
Also, this book is the true official confirmation that I am a Georgia (without the adolescent meth addiction).
