elizlizabeth's Reviews (242)

While I appreciate the author's intention, the book felt very surface level and even distasteful at times. The inclusion of gruesome details that by her own admission didn't even happen in the timeframe of the book felt like she was incongruously leaning on the shock factor that she criticizes from news outlets. It is not a bad book, just immature in its writing and lacks awareness overall. Would've been greatly improved with research and interviews with other refugees, since currently it seems to be dealing only with the author's perception of what the conflict is/was and how it has affected her co-nationals based on secondary sources.

Eh. As an essay I think some of the interludes were making a point, but the rest of the fiction does 't support it at all so it ends up kinda mid to be honest.
I'm ok with the Helen-bashing because Penelope is very young at first so this feels like a fitting attitude for a teen, but this girl just does 't get along with a single person here! Like girl at some point you have to see that YOU are the problem...

Plot twists were interesting but delivered in such a manner that I was cackling at the ridiculousness of it. Overall I think Asimov could've spent less time describing people getting brainwave pics and more time with the action and scheming that happens offscreen.

Thanks to Storygraph and the author for the giveaway in which I got this ebook. 
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It’s a good entry level text about poverty, I would use it with my high school students. I believe that being a bit more critical of capitalism as a system would’ve given it a good insight. Coming from a marxist-leninist perspective it sure is useful to see what the other side is saying but I have to say for some of these it was quite tone deaf, I’m still reeling about the idea of “exploring a burgeoning market” in menstrual products as if these ought not be a human right. Alas, it does a good job of compiling poverty theories and worldwide experiences fighting for its eradication so kudos on that.

Lovely read. The audiobook is narrated beautifully, I would highly recommend it. My only complaint is that the author doesn't seem to have written anything else since and I've badly fallen in love for her writing. Alas...

It was ok. Some of the raising the stakes events came a bit out of nowhere so I found it a bit hard to suspend my disbelief. I feel like there were missed opportunities to make it a more natural progression from fake dating to the real thing.

This book makes me feel thorn because even though I think it's brilliant, it's not necessarily an enjoyable experience. It's very cathartic but not in a power fantasy way. I like the open ending because it leaves so many questions for you to ponder, which I think it's always positive in a story.

Lo leí para una clase de la uni. Los principios de la logoterapia, así como del psicoanálisis, me parecen cuestionables; como memoria está muy bien escrita.

A very melancholy read, tragic without sending the gays to (communist) super hell. I don't know much about Poland's history but I feel like the plot is understandable even without much context.

What a rollercoaster of emotions! (pun intended?) They way it's divided makes it so that you get 1.5 books instead of one: the first with a definitive conclusion and the other that leaves you expectant for what's next. I don't think this is all that positive since the last half was a slog to go through until I got to the plot twists. 
I would like more female representation but tbh I feel like the whole series struggles a bit with even variety of character archetypes so maybe that's asking too much.