ellemnope's Reviews (2.4k)

John Green simply has a way of getting me interested in anything. I don't pick up nonfiction very often, but this is the second time he has gotten me hooked on...reality. Hmm. Not my usual state.

There is a lot of information packed into this slim read. There are amazing historical tidbits and it is very clear that Green did his research. The history is presented in a way that is linear and not overwhelming, despite its being woven between chapters settled in the present. The construction of the narrative is really well done.

Focusing on Henry as the alternate storyline to the medical facts is absolute perfection. There is a clinical side and a personal side to the read. Yes, you receive all of the "boring" information about tuberculosis, but then you also witness how that presents in a real person's life. And keeping that to one individual rather than a group of people seals that intimacy incredibly tight. There was a lot of emotional impact to my read because of Henry's story that would not have been drawn out by simple statistics.

The writing is just what I would expect from a John Green book. The words are stripped down to their truest form and what the reader is presented is confident, bold, and approachable language. There isn't a lot of flowery prose or an intricate medical journal style. Everything felt natural, like a conversation with a friend. And the emotional impact felt by Green with regard to the situation is palpable. This is not lip service, John Green is very passionate about this topic.

In the current state of the world, it is easy to feel like things are out of control, chaotic, and unmanageable. But the information in this book draws it out simply...tuberculosis should NOT be an epidemic anywhere in the world. No one should die from this disease. It is relatively simple to diagnose and treat and...like many other things...those who are suffering are in that state through no real fault of their own. The world has plenty of prosperity to share, yet so many times there are people who are pushed aside, forgotten. This is a situation that, with attention and promotion, could easily be managed. Humans frankly just need to get their act together.

I highly recommend the audio on this one (as I usually do for nonfiction...especially when narrated by the author). 

Well...that was weird. Completely wacky premise, but absolutely flawless execution. A mixture of goofball comedy and action thriller that kept me absolutely hooked. Sentient cats, sassy dolphins, and world domination all rolled in to one novel? I had to read this book as soon as I heard about it and I have no notes. Super fast pace and packed with action. Not a dull or normal moment to this baby. John Scalzi is now on my must read list for exploring the backlists of new-to-me authors. 

Oh. This book hurt me.

If you've read the Hunger Games trilogy, then you already more or less know the ending to this book. You'd think that would weaken the excitement of the read and the tension building toward the final moments, but it absolutely did not. This book is an absolute rollercoaster of emotions and the realistic results of each endeavor just make it more endearing, though the also make it more painful.

To follow Haymitch through this absolute hell of a trial is a gift. Collins knows her characters so innately. They are dynamic and whole and representative of so much more than just words on a page. Haymitch's character development in this novel is achingly raw, both beautiful and brutal. I found myself so proud of him in some portions of the action, only to feel myself so defeated and heartbroken over and over again. The narrative is rich with description of internal dialogue and the tangibility of it all made me really contemplate the situations he was in. How would I have reacted to the things he saw, heard, had to do, and had done to him? Would I have survived? Had I survived, would I in any way be whole?

This background information to the series is incredibly eye opening. It explains so much of the characters in the original trilogy. Characters I never really connected with or had little sympathy for are made incredibly endearing. It is a magnificent piece of work.

Beyond being a wonderfully crafted fiction novel, this book also serves heavily as a discussion piece. It encourages internal exploration and the ability to see the parallels between fiction and reality. It is a fire stoker, a kindling of emotions...anger, fear, sadness, determination. The effect this read had on my heart is unreal. I'm ready to dive in and start the series all over again. I would rate this 6 stars if the ratings would allow.

Wow. 

Not terrible, not great. This one is okay for a guilty pleasure or a relaxation (low pressure) read, but be prepared to suspend reality...a lot.

My top issue: this book felt like 2 completely different novels smashed together. With the dual timeline, things just didn't mesh for me. So...since it felt like two different books, I'm going to review the two pieces separately.

Piece 1: The past.
These parts of the book worked for me. A bit of a Daisy Jones and the Six flavor from the groupie perspective, plus a sisterly conflict. The characters got a little bit of feet underneath them and there was complexity surrounding their individual situations. There was character tension and some movement in the plot. While I fully admit that the character of Cassie was like nails on a chalkboard for me, this section of the book really could have stood as the basis for a full fledged novel. I'm really giving this part a lot of credit for potential. This story was what I wanted to be reading...just more.

Piece 2: The present.
What??? This section was a bit of a fever dream. Things were totally random and the characters behaved completely erratically. It was madness and far too over the top. Things were not super believable and I'm pretty sure I rolled my eyes several times. The characters that I had enjoyed being developed in the past section just became annoying and none of the situations that occurred in this timeline were really fully explained. It was constant whiplash.

Also, let's discuss the ending. I'm picky with my endings and...no. Just no. Unless this book is meant to be the start of some kind of duology or series, this is not an ending. This is cliffhanger nonsense and it left me bordering on angry. I invested time and I wanted no loose ends. I get the motivation behind thinking "hey, this is an awesome idea for an ending", but as a reader...it just pissed me off. Keep your clever ideas to the other pieces of the plot. I need me a solid ending. 

This book is completely macabre and completely engrossing. I found it incredibly interesting to read, with so much cultural diversity. I love a nonfiction book that can keep me learning about amazing human experiences without making everything sound severely technical. Somehow, Caitlin Doughty makes death and cremation...fun?

A definite book to read as a companion to Mary Roach's Stiff. There is a little bit of overlap in a topic or two, but these books fit together like lock and key. And they're both written by women with serious backbones and an amazing amount of disturbing, yet totally awesome, knowledge. 

Based on an idea that the author garnered from an episode of The Twilight Zone, Needy Little Things is an absolute ride of a read. This book has an awesome premise. Girl can sense what a person needs before that person even knows it...and usually it's something totally weird. Incredibly interesting and my hopes for a stellar execution were highly met.

It may be YA, but it hit seriously hard. The pace was quick and the tension snapped tight from beginning to end. Things just kept me guessing and there were zero moments of slog.

Sariyah is a fantastic character with a lot of fleshing out details. She is complicated and weighs her gift with the optimistic AND pessimistic qualities with logic appropriate to a teenager.

The plot is complex and tackles quite a few social issues in a unique way. I may not have always agreed with the character actions, but Desamours writes them in such a way that you can understand their motivations and intents. There is a lot of emotion crafted into the pages.

The ending was action packed and had me holding my breath as things unraveled. I did figure out a thing or two along the way, but did not quite see what was coming. It was intense. Though there weren't really any loose ends, the ending was written in a way that left things open for the possibility of a sequel. I am hoping that Channelle Desamours writes one because this premise continues to excite me and her plotting/writing (especially considering that this is a DEBUT novel) is fantastic. 

These are such fun, fast-paced mysteries. Enola is a fantastic character who gains maturity and wit with each endeavor. The mysteries are simple enough to follow without being completely transparent. They are witty and quirky, but not condescending to the younger reader. Perfect for the older middle grade or lower YA mystery lover, but clearly an adult can enjoy them as well. A nice little palate cleanser and something enjoyable that you can finish in a day. 

Great short & creepy read that for the most part has stood the test of time. It definitely shows its age, but the vibes are still immaculate. The pacing is really well done, quietly lulling you into the end. And even if you kind of have a clue what's happening, it's still just so well delivered that you can't help but feel a bit of a gut punch with the ending. Excellent read for dystopia lovers as well as horror/thriller readers. 

It's a bit of a weird one, but a good one. It requires some suspension of disbelief along the way, but I just let it wash over me and enjoyed the ride. There is something about this book that just gripped my heart and held it in a vice. Though written in a bit of a disjointed way without a smooth "normal" organization of plot, the narrative pulled me in slowly until I was whole-heartedly attached to these characters. The anguish and love that pours through the words made me ache for August and Jack. The pace is fairly quick and the ending was stellar.