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gossamer_lens's Reviews (1.48k)
Marking as finished so I can review and move to my Did Not Finish shelf.
While I can see this being a life-changing book for many, I found reading the first 3rd to be quite a task. I appreciate the accessibility and emphasis made on women being normal for feeling however they do. However, I find the narrative to be quite tied to the gender binary, ignorant to non-straight relationships, and failing to acknowledge asexual people in any way. I appreciate what this book can do for the majority, but I don't appreciate minorities being unacknowledged and thus lacking any sense of being a current exploration of the topics presented. It feels very mid-2010's which isn't a real problem but is just not super relevant feeling to me. I did skim the book and there were a few nuggets of wisdom that I enjoyed though.
While I can see this being a life-changing book for many, I found reading the first 3rd to be quite a task. I appreciate the accessibility and emphasis made on women being normal for feeling however they do. However, I find the narrative to be quite tied to the gender binary, ignorant to non-straight relationships, and failing to acknowledge asexual people in any way. I appreciate what this book can do for the majority, but I don't appreciate minorities being unacknowledged and thus lacking any sense of being a current exploration of the topics presented. It feels very mid-2010's which isn't a real problem but is just not super relevant feeling to me. I did skim the book and there were a few nuggets of wisdom that I enjoyed though.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2024 - God, oh God. How I love this book. So good in every way.
2023 - The ride was amazing, the quotes spectacular, and the vibes were real as fuck. God I loved this! Such a breath of fresh air and beauty
2023 - The ride was amazing, the quotes spectacular, and the vibes were real as fuck. God I loved this! Such a breath of fresh air and beauty
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Blood, War
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fun and intriguing. I didn't love Corey as a character which brought things down. Idk... He was just a bit much and the main character cared a bit too much about him. Also, the main character's brother felt totally sidelined and forgotten after a bit. Fun, but nothing crazy.
My only wish for this book is for people to read it. I wish that somehow it had fewer pages so that it was more easy for others to pick up and experience. But that would take away from what it is, what it saying, and the perspective given. It is 100% worth the read and I hope more people read it.
I cannot rate such a person's experience. I enjoyed it and found it meaningful. So a 5-star it is.
I cannot rate such a person's experience. I enjoyed it and found it meaningful. So a 5-star it is.
I've been thinking and thinking upon what to even say in review of this book. I could tear this book apart and give it a 4-star. But the fact is that the book really resonated with me. I felt so much while reading this book. The perspective/narrative of this book created a beautiful case study of a family that felt real, raw, flawed, and heartbreaking. I cried several times while reading this book. And for that, I'm giving it a 4.5. Especially as I just keep thinking about it weeks later.
I love his writing. Just always. Some of these short stories hit closer to home than others for me. All were enjoyable/interesting to some degree. None of the stories were misses for me. I would highly recommend this collection, especially if one has an interest in Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes, and Neil Gaiman's American Gods.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this book. My only real complaint is that I wish the main character had more friendships/connections. I think some beautiful friendships/relationships were starting to build in the second half, but I would have loved to see that get more development. I would anticipate that the next book (Saga of Viera Chapter 2) which has been "announced as in the works" will give more time for the relationships to be built and explored. I am looking forward to that!
2023 - I had very limited ways of expressing my feelings in 2009. And in reality, I still do. Collins does an amazing job of keeping things ever moving, providing world-building, and giving us deeply impactful characters with complex emotions and thoughts... all while carrying you on a breathtaking speed run of a story. One of the little blurbs on the book said something about this being "a book in rap" and honestly... I've never agreed more with a blurb. Collins nails it all fully in this and the things that I remember loving are even better now that I read them with more experience. The things I didn't remember are quite vibrant and add such depth and color. I re-watched the movies just a couple of months ago... and they are a wonderful adaptation. But my god. Does this book rock!
2009 - Things are now unfolding that should not be. does she love him Is that what she should do? why? no! A book that is amazing because of the way the Author portrays it!
2009 - Things are now unfolding that should not be. does she love him Is that what she should do? why? no! A book that is amazing because of the way the Author portrays it!
2023 - I cannot. Peta is amazing. He truly shines in this book. We learned so much about Katniss and her anxiety, mistrust, and joys and sorrows in the first book... this one truly gave space for Peta to shine. I remember something about Peta sticking with me for the last 10 years. It was re-reading that let me figure out what it was. Peta is powerful, he is a revolution. But his revolution isn't a weapon or fire. His revolution is how soft, kind, and gentle he is. He is a man in a world without pity who can find a moment to care and show compassion at any point. He is forgiving and loving. There is something about that that is so powerful. Not just in general, but especially to have seen in a male character. I truly loved him as a teen... and I think it's because he was one of the first male characters that really struck me as just... nice. I always wanted a nice, caring, and gentle man. I think Peta was one of the first examples in media that I ever found of that.
But anyway.... the book itself is wonderful. Katniss's view becomes more chaotic as she constantly doesn't know who to trust or how to move forward. But it in no way hurts the POV and I enjoyed it immensely!
2009 - This Book Is Amazing! it is about friendship Hope Joy and Love!
But anyway.... the book itself is wonderful. Katniss's view becomes more chaotic as she constantly doesn't know who to trust or how to move forward. But it in no way hurts the POV and I enjoyed it immensely!
2009 - This Book Is Amazing! it is about friendship Hope Joy and Love!
I enjoyed the magic system, I enjoyed the characters, and I enjoyed the plot. Something about the writing made me feel a little thrown off. At times it felt basic and unsure of itself. The feature of our main character being a teen but also in the college program also felt a little odd at times in how it was handled and discussed. Having taken college classes in person while a teenager, it was a very specific experience and it was odd how youthful all the mentioned students were. But a book not feeling super realistic has never ruined it for me. Just felt a little odd and not as full as I wanted at times.
The topics brought forward in this book were important and handled in an interesting and sensitive way. I do think some people might not realize what the big reveal at the end about the main character was about. But if you know you know and it was very clear to me. I appreciated that painful details were not elaborated on even if I think it could have been spelled out a little more for those in the back.
Overall a good book that I'm interested to read the next installment of. I did pick this up after asking people for a "fun fantasy with POC characters where racial trauma and pain isn't a defining feature of the story"... this book should not have been recommended in response to that query. So that may be something other readers might want to know heading into this.
The topics brought forward in this book were important and handled in an interesting and sensitive way. I do think some people might not realize what the big reveal at the end about the main character was about. But if you know you know and it was very clear to me. I appreciated that painful details were not elaborated on even if I think it could have been spelled out a little more for those in the back.
Overall a good book that I'm interested to read the next installment of. I did pick this up after asking people for a "fun fantasy with POC characters where racial trauma and pain isn't a defining feature of the story"... this book should not have been recommended in response to that query. So that may be something other readers might want to know heading into this.