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elle_reads's Reviews (446)
(Instagram @elle_reads)
BOOK REVIEW
[An American Marriage] A young black couple struggle as one is wrongfully jailed.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Jones' writing is so quotable. I found myself highlighting multiple sentence on one page! Beautiful word choice and connections to every type of relationship.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Ready for an UNPOPULAR OPINION? I DNFed this book at 38% completion. I understand why it interests so many people, but it's just not for me.
/
I couldn't connect to the characters. I empathized with their struggle, but there wasn't enough characterization. I know their jobs, background, problem, but I don't know anything little and cute about them. Do they like tea or coffee? What are their little ticks? Favorite sport? There's nothing for readers to know about the character except small mentions that directly relate to the problem at hand.
/
I cared enough to wiki the end and see if my predictions came true. They did. Not surprised.
//
An American Marriage (by Tayari Jones) 38% DNF
//
#anamericanmarriage #tayarikones #loveandtiming #dnf #unpopularopinion
#ellesbookreviews2019
BOOK REVIEW
[An American Marriage] A young black couple struggle as one is wrongfully jailed.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Jones' writing is so quotable. I found myself highlighting multiple sentence on one page! Beautiful word choice and connections to every type of relationship.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Ready for an UNPOPULAR OPINION? I DNFed this book at 38% completion. I understand why it interests so many people, but it's just not for me.
/
I couldn't connect to the characters. I empathized with their struggle, but there wasn't enough characterization. I know their jobs, background, problem, but I don't know anything little and cute about them. Do they like tea or coffee? What are their little ticks? Favorite sport? There's nothing for readers to know about the character except small mentions that directly relate to the problem at hand.
/
I cared enough to wiki the end and see if my predictions came true. They did. Not surprised.
//
An American Marriage (by Tayari Jones) 38% DNF
//
#anamericanmarriage #tayarikones #loveandtiming #dnf #unpopularopinion
#ellesbookreviews2019
(Instagram @elle_reads)
BOOK REVIEW
[The Poppy Wars] A war orphan goes farther than anyone anticipated.
//
WHAT I LIKED
The cultural references in Kuang's writing were ecstatic! I want more diverse fantasy books like this! Truly wonderful - see my previous two posts.
/
Kuang's play with drugs and magic is dynamic. I like how easily it lends itself to the dangers of power. /
(small first chapters spoiler) I love a good categorized school set-up. Runin's years at the school were definitely my favorite. I want to know more about the different tracks students can choose! I wanted more interaction between Runin and the other students so reader could see how each student grows!
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I got too epic and too tragic after a certain point. I wish Kuang would have taken more time with Runin's schooling years instead of passing a few by within a few chapters. I would have made the events afterward more impactful if readers had even more connections to the characters. It needed more of this foundational love.
/
I wouldn't reread this book, but I do plan to recommend it to my school library purchasing list. I'm interested to see what my Taiwanese students would think of this read!
//
The Poppy Wars (R. F. Kuang) ⚡️⚡️⚡️3/5
//
#thepoppywars #rfkuang
#ellesbookreviews2019
BOOK REVIEW
[The Poppy Wars] A war orphan goes farther than anyone anticipated.
//
WHAT I LIKED
The cultural references in Kuang's writing were ecstatic! I want more diverse fantasy books like this! Truly wonderful - see my previous two posts.
/
Kuang's play with drugs and magic is dynamic. I like how easily it lends itself to the dangers of power. /
(small first chapters spoiler) I love a good categorized school set-up. Runin's years at the school were definitely my favorite. I want to know more about the different tracks students can choose! I wanted more interaction between Runin and the other students so reader could see how each student grows!
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I got too epic and too tragic after a certain point. I wish Kuang would have taken more time with Runin's schooling years instead of passing a few by within a few chapters. I would have made the events afterward more impactful if readers had even more connections to the characters. It needed more of this foundational love.
/
I wouldn't reread this book, but I do plan to recommend it to my school library purchasing list. I'm interested to see what my Taiwanese students would think of this read!
//
The Poppy Wars (R. F. Kuang) ⚡️⚡️⚡️3/5
//
#thepoppywars #rfkuang
#ellesbookreviews2019
(Instagram @elle_reads)
BOOK REVIEW
[Little Fires Everywhere] A mother and daughter shead sparks in a strict, planned community.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Ng's pace is masterfully meandering, but purposeful. She write like we are hearing all the information nonchalantly at a backyard cookout. Her placement of character background and action is amazing!
/
I'm a sucker for a continued metaphor. Ng uses her fire motif expertly. There are little sparks of it in each chapter without bashing the reader over the head with a forced metaphor.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I understand her ending choices, but I wanted more. I don't want to give any spoilers, so read it and message me for more ideas!
//
Little Fires Everywhere (by Celeste Ng) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️4/5
//
#littlefireseverywhere #celesteng
#ellesbookreviews2019
BOOK REVIEW
[Little Fires Everywhere] A mother and daughter shead sparks in a strict, planned community.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Ng's pace is masterfully meandering, but purposeful. She write like we are hearing all the information nonchalantly at a backyard cookout. Her placement of character background and action is amazing!
/
I'm a sucker for a continued metaphor. Ng uses her fire motif expertly. There are little sparks of it in each chapter without bashing the reader over the head with a forced metaphor.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I understand her ending choices, but I wanted more. I don't want to give any spoilers, so read it and message me for more ideas!
//
Little Fires Everywhere (by Celeste Ng) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️4/5
//
#littlefireseverywhere #celesteng
#ellesbookreviews2019
(Instagram @elle_reads)
BOOK REVIEW
[Black Leopard, Red Wolf] A tracker follows a boy through a time of betrayal, happenstance, and magic.
//
WHAT I LIKED
I definitely have a book hangover from this read. I definitely can't pick up another today, and I'm not even sure I can start another one tomorrow.
/
The characters were amazing. Each one spoke through their actions, and every action the characters took had a purpose. I never felt like I was reading fluff. There were plot twists I didn't see coming, and the ones I saw coming were heart wrenching.
/
Marlon James beautifully conquers so many multi-layered themes - truth, stories, family, identity...just wow.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Beware: there are some loooooong paragraphs in this book. I'm not a total hater of long paragraphs, but I wish James would have been more selective with them. It would have given those few moment more emphasis. Instead, I reread and paused to keep myself accountable, lest I skim through important moments.
//
Black Leopard, Red Wolf (Marlon James) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️5/5
//
#blackleopardredwolf #marlonjames
#ellesbookreviews2019
BOOK REVIEW
[Black Leopard, Red Wolf] A tracker follows a boy through a time of betrayal, happenstance, and magic.
//
WHAT I LIKED
I definitely have a book hangover from this read. I definitely can't pick up another today, and I'm not even sure I can start another one tomorrow.
/
The characters were amazing. Each one spoke through their actions, and every action the characters took had a purpose. I never felt like I was reading fluff. There were plot twists I didn't see coming, and the ones I saw coming were heart wrenching.
/
Marlon James beautifully conquers so many multi-layered themes - truth, stories, family, identity...just wow.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Beware: there are some loooooong paragraphs in this book. I'm not a total hater of long paragraphs, but I wish James would have been more selective with them. It would have given those few moment more emphasis. Instead, I reread and paused to keep myself accountable, lest I skim through important moments.
//
Black Leopard, Red Wolf (Marlon James) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️5/5
//
#blackleopardredwolf #marlonjames
#ellesbookreviews2019
(Instagram @elle_reads)
[book review] Children of Blood and Bone
Zelie is a diviner racing to restore magic in a world set against maji.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Overall, the skeleton ideas of the book were appealing. Racism based on the "tell" white hair of inert magic blood sounded promising.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Everything was overdone. The theme was layered too thick. It was just caked on with 'majestic' one liners. The main female character was too angry. The teenagers' backgrounds were too tragic. Just too many tropes.
/
I finished 30% and quit. The first chapter was my favorite, but it quickly digress from there. I hope other enjoy it more than me! The themes are important, just not portrayed well.
//
Children of Blood and Bone (by Tomi Adeyemi) DNF
//
#childrenofbloodandbone #tomiadeyemi #toothick #dnfbook
#ellesbookreviews2019
[book review] Children of Blood and Bone
Zelie is a diviner racing to restore magic in a world set against maji.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Overall, the skeleton ideas of the book were appealing. Racism based on the "tell" white hair of inert magic blood sounded promising.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Everything was overdone. The theme was layered too thick. It was just caked on with 'majestic' one liners. The main female character was too angry. The teenagers' backgrounds were too tragic. Just too many tropes.
/
I finished 30% and quit. The first chapter was my favorite, but it quickly digress from there. I hope other enjoy it more than me! The themes are important, just not portrayed well.
//
Children of Blood and Bone (by Tomi Adeyemi) DNF
//
#childrenofbloodandbone #tomiadeyemi #toothick #dnfbook
#ellesbookreviews2019
(Instagram @elle_reads)
[book review] The Epic of Gilgamesh
A king finds the truth of immortality.
//
WHAT I LIKED
I'm a sucker for ancient texts. Getting back to some of the earliest words with my Gilgamesh reread was exactly what I needed. I love that epic heroes rarely say why they do things. Readers have to figure it out by their conversations and actions. While I also love a good psychological profile (Murakami), there's something so honest and unapologetic about ancient hero's unexplained decisions.
/
The themes are great. The first line prepares the reader to focus on the themes of information through storytelling as well as the dichotomy between city and country as the hero embarks on a strenuous journey. It immediately emphasizes the “tidings” as the singular idea gained by the hero in his venture. Hence, the hero will be changed to the point of homeward return by and with words - not a precious artifact or monstrous head. The hero then writes his tale and begins to build a wall. He creates a division between the city of Uruk and the surrounding countryside. The gigantic wall creates a firm line between the land of his journey and the land of his homecoming. The line is of such importance that he uses it to house his story of the journey beyond. The clay walls are compared to copper, just as the hero places his story in a copper box. The knowledge with which the hero returns is perpetually set between the wilderness where it is born and the city where it is used through the brain of the king. In this way, the hero acknowledges the danger and power of his labors.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I want to know more about the tavern keeper at the end of the world.
//
The Epic of Gilgamesh (by who knows, translated by Andrew George) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️5/5
//
"He who saw the Deep, the country's foundation [who] knew...was wise in all matters" (1033)
//
#theepicofgilgamesh #gilgamesh #edxcourse
#ellescommonplacebook2019
#ellereadstheword
#ellesedxcourse
[book review] The Epic of Gilgamesh
A king finds the truth of immortality.
//
WHAT I LIKED
I'm a sucker for ancient texts. Getting back to some of the earliest words with my Gilgamesh reread was exactly what I needed. I love that epic heroes rarely say why they do things. Readers have to figure it out by their conversations and actions. While I also love a good psychological profile (Murakami), there's something so honest and unapologetic about ancient hero's unexplained decisions.
/
The themes are great. The first line prepares the reader to focus on the themes of information through storytelling as well as the dichotomy between city and country as the hero embarks on a strenuous journey. It immediately emphasizes the “tidings” as the singular idea gained by the hero in his venture. Hence, the hero will be changed to the point of homeward return by and with words - not a precious artifact or monstrous head. The hero then writes his tale and begins to build a wall. He creates a division between the city of Uruk and the surrounding countryside. The gigantic wall creates a firm line between the land of his journey and the land of his homecoming. The line is of such importance that he uses it to house his story of the journey beyond. The clay walls are compared to copper, just as the hero places his story in a copper box. The knowledge with which the hero returns is perpetually set between the wilderness where it is born and the city where it is used through the brain of the king. In this way, the hero acknowledges the danger and power of his labors.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I want to know more about the tavern keeper at the end of the world.
//
The Epic of Gilgamesh (by who knows, translated by Andrew George) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️5/5
//
"He who saw the Deep, the country's foundation [who] knew...was wise in all matters" (1033)
//
#theepicofgilgamesh #gilgamesh #edxcourse
#ellescommonplacebook2019
#ellereadstheword
#ellesedxcourse
(Instagram @elle_reads)
When I finished this book, I was exhausted from reading and rated it a 2. Looking back at all my meaningful highlights, I have to give it a 4.
[book review] Anna Karenina
Russian society is scandalized when a young woman forsakes her son and husband for her lover. Societal ties unravel.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Tolstoy has amazing themes! My favorite was the duality of living for pleasure versus finding pleasure in honest, repetitive work. I have a weakness for good o’ fashioned philosophical analysis through character conversations. In this, Tolstoy does not disappoint.
/
There is deep, deep, deep, deep character development. Tt happens so slowly you don’t even realize it - just like the characters! In reflection, even I can see the small budding of the characters’ epiphany moments as well. Furthermore, I can happily relate every character to someone in my life. Truly timeless.
//
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Oh man. I’m still panting from this continual book marathon. Anna Karenina is an exhausting read. I even wonder if the beautiful metaphors rippling through this book (which each take a paragraph in themselves) could have been shortened to a few words. But then would they have the same concise meaning? I'm not sure.
//
As I read it, rated it two. When I first finished it, I rated it two. Now that I’ve let all the content simmer in my brain and I’m only reading the marvelous quotes I highlighted…four.
//
Anna Karenina (by Leo Tolstoy) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️4/5
//
#annakarenina #tolstoy #leotolstoy #russianli #russianliterature
#ellesbookreviews2019
#ellereadstheword
#readingkarenina @eatingb00ks @ani_elizaveta
When I finished this book, I was exhausted from reading and rated it a 2. Looking back at all my meaningful highlights, I have to give it a 4.
[book review] Anna Karenina
Russian society is scandalized when a young woman forsakes her son and husband for her lover. Societal ties unravel.
//
WHAT I LIKED
Tolstoy has amazing themes! My favorite was the duality of living for pleasure versus finding pleasure in honest, repetitive work. I have a weakness for good o’ fashioned philosophical analysis through character conversations. In this, Tolstoy does not disappoint.
/
There is deep, deep, deep, deep character development. Tt happens so slowly you don’t even realize it - just like the characters! In reflection, even I can see the small budding of the characters’ epiphany moments as well. Furthermore, I can happily relate every character to someone in my life. Truly timeless.
//
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Oh man. I’m still panting from this continual book marathon. Anna Karenina is an exhausting read. I even wonder if the beautiful metaphors rippling through this book (which each take a paragraph in themselves) could have been shortened to a few words. But then would they have the same concise meaning? I'm not sure.
//
As I read it, rated it two. When I first finished it, I rated it two. Now that I’ve let all the content simmer in my brain and I’m only reading the marvelous quotes I highlighted…four.
//
Anna Karenina (by Leo Tolstoy) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️4/5
//
#annakarenina #tolstoy #leotolstoy #russianli #russianliterature
#ellesbookreviews2019
#ellereadstheword
#readingkarenina @eatingb00ks @ani_elizaveta
(Instagram @elle_reads)
[book review] Caraval
//
WHAT I LIKED
I read this without leaving my couch. Not even to refill my tea.
/
The continually growing interplay between truth and deceit astounded me! I still don't 100% know what was truth or fake. Bonus: all of this was wrapped by Garber's rich, vivid imagery. It was like watching dew drops of magic eventually cover everything in sight with tiny jewels. Everything made perfect sense and no sense at the same time.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I wish there was more character development outside of the main character. I know the readers' aren't really supposed to have an idea of what the other actors/competitors are thinking, but I think Garber could have included more clues beyond the slightly stereotypical YA romance relationship. I felt some characters only grew in relationship to the main character, not on their own at all.
//
#ellesbookreviews2019
#caraval #stephaniegarber #sisterlove
[book review] Caraval
//
WHAT I LIKED
I read this without leaving my couch. Not even to refill my tea.
/
The continually growing interplay between truth and deceit astounded me! I still don't 100% know what was truth or fake. Bonus: all of this was wrapped by Garber's rich, vivid imagery. It was like watching dew drops of magic eventually cover everything in sight with tiny jewels. Everything made perfect sense and no sense at the same time.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
I wish there was more character development outside of the main character. I know the readers' aren't really supposed to have an idea of what the other actors/competitors are thinking, but I think Garber could have included more clues beyond the slightly stereotypical YA romance relationship. I felt some characters only grew in relationship to the main character, not on their own at all.
//
#ellesbookreviews2019
#caraval #stephaniegarber #sisterlove
(Instagram @elle_reads)
[book review] Killing Commendatore
A painter kinds his purpose is life with a Gatsby-esk mentor.
//
WHAT I LIKED
I read over 150 pages in which a man broke up with his wife and drove around Japan. That was all that happened and I was happy with it.
/
Murkami is a master of themes! He clues readers in right off the bat, and keeps you guessing all the way through. I especially loved his play with these themes: one person holds many different angles and how do we see the line between who we are and who we aren’t.
/
As always, his vivid descriptions of music and art lend a richness to his works. This strength is accentuated through the painter main character. Readers can form their own ideas of the painter’s works while still have an image that fits with the plot.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
/
Murakami’s books are usually an automatic 5 star for me, but his magical realism was a little off in this book. I found myself skimming through what should have been the climax of the piece. It felt like there was a long period in a dark world where the character developed little.
/
Normally, Murakami’s arguable male gaze doesn’t bother me. I see reasons for this choice and often the same feeling is reciprocated by female characters as well. However, I didn’t see much point in the conversations about a young girl’s breast size. It just wasn’t worth the pages it took.
/
Killing Commendatore (by Haruki Murakami) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️4/5
//
#ellesbookreviews2019
#ellereadstheword
#killingcommendatore #harukimurakami #murakami
[book review] Killing Commendatore
A painter kinds his purpose is life with a Gatsby-esk mentor.
//
WHAT I LIKED
I read over 150 pages in which a man broke up with his wife and drove around Japan. That was all that happened and I was happy with it.
/
Murkami is a master of themes! He clues readers in right off the bat, and keeps you guessing all the way through. I especially loved his play with these themes: one person holds many different angles and how do we see the line between who we are and who we aren’t.
/
As always, his vivid descriptions of music and art lend a richness to his works. This strength is accentuated through the painter main character. Readers can form their own ideas of the painter’s works while still have an image that fits with the plot.
//
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
/
Murakami’s books are usually an automatic 5 star for me, but his magical realism was a little off in this book. I found myself skimming through what should have been the climax of the piece. It felt like there was a long period in a dark world where the character developed little.
/
Normally, Murakami’s arguable male gaze doesn’t bother me. I see reasons for this choice and often the same feeling is reciprocated by female characters as well. However, I didn’t see much point in the conversations about a young girl’s breast size. It just wasn’t worth the pages it took.
/
Killing Commendatore (by Haruki Murakami) ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️4/5
//
#ellesbookreviews2019
#ellereadstheword
#killingcommendatore #harukimurakami #murakami
(Instagram @elle_reads)
[book review] Lilac Girls
//
Do you believe ugly obstacles lead to beauty?
//
This self-proclaimed optimist thinks they do. Isn't everything learned from what we overcome a source of great and horrid beauty?
//
Martha Kelly's lilac field nods to her title and expresses this theme through the character's conversation. Kelly beautifully mentions her theme as soon as page 21, "it was hard to understand how such a sad situation could lend itself to the prettiest scene." Surprisingly, this line brought Edgar Allen Poe to the reading party. "The death of a beautiful woman in, unquestionably, the most poetic topic in the world." Poe would find this book equally poetic and tragic.
//
Lilac Girls follows a female cast: a Nazi surgeon, New York philanthropist, and Polish prisoner. My favorite part of Lilac Girls was simply learning Ravensbruck existed. If anything, it sparked my curiosity for further research. Why hadn't I heard of the camp before? I'd read many Holocaust account, researched the topic in high school, discussed the ethic of Nazi doctors in class, etc. But I'd never heard of the Rabbits.
//
Simply put, Ravensbruck is hard to categorize. It doesn't fit in. Unlike other camps, it didn't have a large number of Jews - but it did have many survivors.
//
The story itself was just okay. It wasn't super noteworthy, but I enjoyed the pace. I like the multiple perspectives and Kelly's determination to end each short chapter with a brutal cliff hanger. However, Kasis's perspective was the only journey with character development. Caroline and Herta had conflicts, but they didn't seem to change from anything.
//
Lilac Girls (by Martha Hall Kelly) ⚡️⚡️⚡️3/5
//
S/O to @laurasloaninglibrary and @booksandmarga for inspiring me to read it!
//
Synopsis: Three women from different walks of life are drawn together for better and worse through the existence of Ravensbruck, the Nazi's only woman concentaion camp.
//
#ellesbookreviews2019
#lilacgirls #marthakelly #marthahallkelly
[book review] Lilac Girls
//
Do you believe ugly obstacles lead to beauty?
//
This self-proclaimed optimist thinks they do. Isn't everything learned from what we overcome a source of great and horrid beauty?
//
Martha Kelly's lilac field nods to her title and expresses this theme through the character's conversation. Kelly beautifully mentions her theme as soon as page 21, "it was hard to understand how such a sad situation could lend itself to the prettiest scene." Surprisingly, this line brought Edgar Allen Poe to the reading party. "The death of a beautiful woman in, unquestionably, the most poetic topic in the world." Poe would find this book equally poetic and tragic.
//
Lilac Girls follows a female cast: a Nazi surgeon, New York philanthropist, and Polish prisoner. My favorite part of Lilac Girls was simply learning Ravensbruck existed. If anything, it sparked my curiosity for further research. Why hadn't I heard of the camp before? I'd read many Holocaust account, researched the topic in high school, discussed the ethic of Nazi doctors in class, etc. But I'd never heard of the Rabbits.
//
Simply put, Ravensbruck is hard to categorize. It doesn't fit in. Unlike other camps, it didn't have a large number of Jews - but it did have many survivors.
//
The story itself was just okay. It wasn't super noteworthy, but I enjoyed the pace. I like the multiple perspectives and Kelly's determination to end each short chapter with a brutal cliff hanger. However, Kasis's perspective was the only journey with character development. Caroline and Herta had conflicts, but they didn't seem to change from anything.
//
Lilac Girls (by Martha Hall Kelly) ⚡️⚡️⚡️3/5
//
S/O to @laurasloaninglibrary and @booksandmarga for inspiring me to read it!
//
Synopsis: Three women from different walks of life are drawn together for better and worse through the existence of Ravensbruck, the Nazi's only woman concentaion camp.
//
#ellesbookreviews2019
#lilacgirls #marthakelly #marthahallkelly