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hfjarmer's Reviews (394)
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Prophet Song" presents a poetic exploration of dystopian Ireland, embroiled in civil war following a tyrannical government's rise to power. Eilish, a mother of four, finds her life shattered when her husband is abruptly taken by the Irish secret police. As the conflict between government forces and rebels escalates, Eilish struggles to protect her family amidst the chaos. One of the novel's most compelling elements is Eilish's dual struggle: resisting the injustices of war while ensuring her family's safety. Lynch’s writing style is poetic and allegorical. He is descriptive and you come to see this war as a living breathing entity which has wormed it’s way into the lives of Irish citizens.
While I completely see the merit in this novel and understand why it is loved by many, I personally found its pace unbearably slow for a dystopian tale. The formatting reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, with dense blocks of text and minimal page breaks, hindered my reading experience. Additionally, Lynch had many abrupt shifts in narrative direction, I often felt like there were three or four more sentences missing from each page break, we would just end up in an entirely new part of the story in the next “paragraph” leaving things feeling unresolved. While these narrative disruptions may be an attempt to emulate the disruption war brings to everyday life, but it just felt like poor story telling to me.
While "Prophet Song" may appeal to readers seeking a blend of literary fiction with a dystopian setting, ultimately it wasn’t for me.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
White Tears Brown Scars is required reading for white women and recommended for everyone. You might see the title and subject and think, "I'm not racist, why should I read this?" To those with such thoughts, I urge you to set aside preconceptions about yourself and the racial dynamics at play, and read it anyway. Though at times this book felt uncomfortable, the greater historical context alongside personal aecdotes provided by Hamad offers a fresh perspective on feminism. As Hamad puts it, "We consider a challenge to our racial worldviews as a challenge to our very identities as good, moral people. Thus, we perceive any attempt to connect us to the system of racism as an unsettling and unfair moral offense."
Ruby Hamad delivers a thoughtful and well-researched narrative, unraveling the multifaceted nature of white feminism and its ongoing disenfranchisement of women of color. What struck me most was Hamad's use of historical context to reveal the roots of white feminism and its enduring impact on society. She repeatedly demonstrates that white women are complicit in white supremacy, not merely products of it. The juxtaposition between the imagery of a helpless, pure, chaste, white woman and a promiscuous, animalistic, Jezebel black woman forms the foundation of white society's racial hierarchy. It also serves as the basis for how white women, consciously or unconsciously, wield this imagery to win arguments and gain undeserved support. Hamad highlights, "Whiteness, then, is more than skin color. It is, as race scholar Paul Kivel describes, 'a constantly shifting boundary separating those who are entitled to have certain privileges from those whose exploitation and vulnerability to violence [are] justified by their not being white.'"
Hamad explores how terms like "nonwhite" imply whiteness as a neutral default and discusses the lengths to which different groups attempt to assimilate themselves into white society, for instance skin bleaching practices in Asia, caste systems based on skin color in Mexico, and the concept of "passing". She goes beyond the white versus black dichotomy, exploring global implications and incorporating examples from women of black, indigenous, Arabic, and Asian descent and the ways in which imperialism and colonialism have impacted every corner of our society.
I would give this book 4.5 stars. There were moments when Hamad seemed to write in circles, repeating themes and information. I would have preferred a more focused discussion on specific details or a deeper exploration of actions that could counteract the harmful effects of white feminism. Nevertheless, I feel there is much to say about this book and I've really only scratched the surface, and anyways if you read it for yourself, you'll be all the more educated. I highly recommend White Tears Brown Scars to everyone, it is an excellent step in anti-racism education.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
*The Bluest Eye* is a novel which, supposedly, follows Pecola Breedlove, a self-proclaimed “ugly” black girl, who grows up in a home with her abusive father and a mother who admittedly does not love her, despite her best efforts. All Pecola wants in the whole world are the “beautiful blue eyes” of a white woman. She believes wholeheartedly that blue eyes would cure her of ugliness, and make her somehow “clean”. This brings us to the central theme of Morrison’s novel - internalized racism and the injurious effects of a society which centers and reveres whiteness as good, clean, and beautiful. My favorite character in this novel was Claudia who, at the young age of 9, has already recognized the problematic centering of whiteness and so takes it upon herself to rebel against the idea that white equals beauty by knowing for a fact she is beautiful herself just as she is. We see this again when Claudia is discussing Pecola’s pregnancy with Frieda, saying “More strongly than my fondness for Pecola, I felt a need for someone to want the black baby to live—just to counteract the universal love of white baby dolls, Shirley Temples, and Maureen Peals.”
Honestly, I am devastated to say I did not really like this book. I enjoyed Morrison’s poetic writing style which flowed together well in spite of the disjointed nature of the narrative itself. By dissecting the novel so the reader has to put the pieces together for themselves, Morrison takes away the reader’s ability to really connect with the characters. This is something Morrison herself points out in the afterward of her novel. I spent so much time trying to understand who was being talked about and why we are talking about them that I was unable to enjoy the story of it all. For a novel about Pecola Breedlove, we know nearly nothing about her, and are never given the opportunity to hear from her directly. While this could be seen as an example of a young woman robbed of her voice, I just think it was a poor narrative decision and I found it overall to be frustrating.
I have heard many wonderful things about Toni Morrison and I certainly don’t doubt them, but this one simply didn’t work for me. I will read another book by Morrison though, rest assured.
Honestly, I am devastated to say I did not really like this book. I enjoyed Morrison’s poetic writing style which flowed together well in spite of the disjointed nature of the narrative itself. By dissecting the novel so the reader has to put the pieces together for themselves, Morrison takes away the reader’s ability to really connect with the characters. This is something Morrison herself points out in the afterward of her novel. I spent so much time trying to understand who was being talked about and why we are talking about them that I was unable to enjoy the story of it all. For a novel about Pecola Breedlove, we know nearly nothing about her, and are never given the opportunity to hear from her directly. While this could be seen as an example of a young woman robbed of her voice, I just think it was a poor narrative decision and I found it overall to be frustrating.
I have heard many wonderful things about Toni Morrison and I certainly don’t doubt them, but this one simply didn’t work for me. I will read another book by Morrison though, rest assured.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
A beautiful and vivid collection of poetry in which Mans explores the intricacies of her identity. She navigates the intersections of her various identity labels - woman, black, queer, daughter and more - offering insights into how each label has individually and collectively influenced her experiences and shaped her worldview. It provides a mirror in which readers are able to see themselves, even when their identities may not match perfectly to Mans’s. She weaves together childhood memories, cultural phenomena, politics, and personal experiences to create a collection that is at once nostalgic, funny, educational, and ultimately emotional.
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My honest review: BOOOOOOOO. Waiting three years for this book was a big disappointment, and honestly, House of Flame and Shadow feels like a cheap version of what we know SJM to be capable of. I had three major issues with this book. First, everything in the plot lined up way too perfectly. One page they need something to happen so that x y or z can occur; the next page, that exact thing they need to happen somehow magically works out. I know it's a book, and books tend to have idealized plots, but this is not the same writing we see from SJM in Throne of Glass or even ACOTAR, where she plants the seeds early and often for the big payoff. Second, in addition to the plot lacking depth, I felt the writing was cheesy and rushed. Hunt and Bryce were on my last nerve; I honestly never truly liked them as a couple. I think they lack chemistry and emotional maturity, especially compared to the other main couples we see in SJM's other work. If I had to read that one or the other swelled with pride one more time, I was going to throw my Kindle across the room. So many things were just repetitive and old. How many times did we have to read about Perry’s cinnamon and strawberry scent? How many times did we need to be reminded that Ruhn, Hunt, Lidia, Tharion, and Ithan hated themselves or didn’t deserve the life they had or whatever they were complaining about? The book would’ve been 100 pages shorter if she had just stopped writing in circles. My third complaint is all the unnecessary side plots. Sigrid? Tharion getting married?? Lidia randomly having kids?? Ithan magically becoming Prime???? Hypaxia’s whole thing??? None of it made sense or really had any bearing on the plot whatsoever. If she had cut some of that out, maybe we would’ve seen a better plot and more character development.
This is far from SJM’s best work. I must say I am curious about the next ACOTAR book’s release, seeing as House of Flame and Shadow tees up another potential storyline for Nesta. Given that ACOSF was also about Nesta, I will be surprised if she is the main character in a second book . Time will tell; I hope that it is better than this one.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a compelling and important memoir that offers a glimpse into the author's career as a lawyer and the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson masterfully presents various cases he worked on, shedding light on the glaring flaws within the American justice system. Through these cases, readers gain insight into the injustices faced by many, particularly people of color and those economically disadvantaged, when facing legal action. Stevenson specializes in the mitigation of death row sentences, especially those related to children under 18, and has won several cases under the Supreme Court.
Stevenson's narrative serves as a poignant introduction to the systemic issues within the U.S. legal system, notably the injustices surrounding death sentencing and broader inequities of racial and economic bias. It is impossible not to be pissed off the entire time you read this book. Stevenson leaves his readers wondering: What am I doing to stop injustice?
While Stevenson's message is powerful, the book's layout could be improved. The frequent transitions between cases within the same chapter can be confusing and disrupt the flow of the stories. A more organized structure, perhaps thematic or chronological, would enhance readability and comprehension. I read and listened to the audiobook simultaneously to increase my comprehension and I must say that while Stevenson excels as a lawyer and writer, he is not a gifted narrator. Despite this drawback, the importance of the book's content cannot be overstated, even if its narrative falls short in some aspects, in my opinion.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 Stars
"Foster" is a work of fiction that eloquently illustrates how love has the power to reconnect us with our true selves. The main character grows up in a large family with too many siblings and not enough of anything to go around, especially when it comes to parental attention and affection. Sent to spend the summer with the Kingsellas, who, having suffered the loss of their own child in a tragic accident, cherish every moment with the young girl, showering her with the love and attention she has seemingly lacked her entire life.
The girl quickly learns what it is to be loved so completely and without strings attached. We witness her individuality blossoming in the newfound space to simply be a child. Despite the brevity of its 89 pages, "Foster" is a remarkably powerful story that delves deep into the characters' lives.
As my first encounter with an Irish author, some of the turns of phrase were a little lost on me, yet this did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the story. "Foster" stands as a compelling example of why I typically avoid short stories, as I find myself becoming emotionally attached to the characters and the narrative, only for it to end so soon. If you're seeking a short read to fulfill your reading goals or simply want a refreshing break between longer books, "Foster" would be an excellent choice.
"Foster" is a work of fiction that eloquently illustrates how love has the power to reconnect us with our true selves. The main character grows up in a large family with too many siblings and not enough of anything to go around, especially when it comes to parental attention and affection. Sent to spend the summer with the Kingsellas, who, having suffered the loss of their own child in a tragic accident, cherish every moment with the young girl, showering her with the love and attention she has seemingly lacked her entire life.
The girl quickly learns what it is to be loved so completely and without strings attached. We witness her individuality blossoming in the newfound space to simply be a child. Despite the brevity of its 89 pages, "Foster" is a remarkably powerful story that delves deep into the characters' lives.
As my first encounter with an Irish author, some of the turns of phrase were a little lost on me, yet this did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the story. "Foster" stands as a compelling example of why I typically avoid short stories, as I find myself becoming emotionally attached to the characters and the narrative, only for it to end so soon. If you're seeking a short read to fulfill your reading goals or simply want a refreshing break between longer books, "Foster" would be an excellent choice.
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75 ⭐
Another not-quite-a-four-star-read in the books for 2024. Emma Cline's "The Guest" had me on the edge of my seat, earning a spot on my "weird little books with unhinged FMCs" shelf. The narrative revolves around Alex, living up to the title as a wandering guest in everyone's lives. With an innate understanding of people's desires, she adopts a chameleon-like persona, seamlessly integrating into the lives of strangers in order to fulfill her needs—be it money, shelter, new clothes, you name it.
After a misstep with her recent suitor, Simon, leaves her stranded in the Hamptons and pursued by the mysterious "Dom" she left behind in the city, Alex decides to bide her time in the Hamptons until Simon cools off and wants her back. Drifting through the Hamptons, she continues doing what she does best - using the people she encounters to satisfy her needs. Alex remains a guest in everyone's life, including her own.
The book is teeming with tension, possessing a train wreck quality that makes it impossible to stop reading. Despite Alex's morally grey intentions, readers find themselves rooting for her, intrigued by the question of how she will extricate herself from the challenges she faces.
Until Goodreads grants us the coveted partial star system, I rounded up my rating, giving “The Guest” 4 stars, simply because I enjoyed it that much. However, The end of the book was left a LOT to be desired. There was no true climax, no resolution, it’s as if the publisher just forgot to publish that last 30 pages. The Dom situation just feels like a loose thread that the author wasn’t sure how to finish and we never learn if Alex’s reunion with Simon was magical or delusional. While this plays into the dissonant feeling of the narrative, given how invested I was in the story, I was really wanting much more of a conclusion.
Another not-quite-a-four-star-read in the books for 2024. Emma Cline's "The Guest" had me on the edge of my seat, earning a spot on my "weird little books with unhinged FMCs" shelf. The narrative revolves around Alex, living up to the title as a wandering guest in everyone's lives. With an innate understanding of people's desires, she adopts a chameleon-like persona, seamlessly integrating into the lives of strangers in order to fulfill her needs—be it money, shelter, new clothes, you name it.
After a misstep with her recent suitor, Simon, leaves her stranded in the Hamptons and pursued by the mysterious "Dom" she left behind in the city, Alex decides to bide her time in the Hamptons until Simon cools off and wants her back. Drifting through the Hamptons, she continues doing what she does best - using the people she encounters to satisfy her needs. Alex remains a guest in everyone's life, including her own.
The book is teeming with tension, possessing a train wreck quality that makes it impossible to stop reading. Despite Alex's morally grey intentions, readers find themselves rooting for her, intrigued by the question of how she will extricate herself from the challenges she faces.
Until Goodreads grants us the coveted partial star system, I rounded up my rating, giving “The Guest” 4 stars, simply because I enjoyed it that much. However, The end of the book was left a LOT to be desired. There was no true climax, no resolution, it’s as if the publisher just forgot to publish that last 30 pages. The Dom situation just feels like a loose thread that the author wasn’t sure how to finish and we never learn if Alex’s reunion with Simon was magical or delusional. While this plays into the dissonant feeling of the narrative, given how invested I was in the story, I was really wanting much more of a conclusion.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I approached this novel with minimal knowledge about the history of the Congo or its people—an educational gap that I acknowledge is my responsibility to fill more thoroughly by delving into non-fiction works about the subject, rather than relying solely on a work of fiction by a white author. Nonetheless, it served as a good introduction to the topic.
I started this book on three separate occasions, each time setting it aside once I began Rachel’s narrative. I couldn’t tell if all the misused words were a serious publishing error or if the character was just…stupid, a truth I learned quickly once I was able to get into the book in earnest.
I could have read about the Price family forever. “The Poisonwood Bible” is lengthy and admittedly slow-moving, but Kingsolver’s writing is so vivid and gripping that I could have read 1000 pages of the same story.
Recently, I have read several books that, to me, underscore the dangerous world of religious fanaticism, especially concerning white men who, throughout history, have often assumed not only that their way is the best way but also the only way. Nathan Price illustrates the consequences of blending white supremacy with proselytization, resulting in a deafening ignorance. Many lower-star reviews appear to criticize Kingsolver for her anti-missionary narrative in "The Poisonwood Bible"; to those people, I would say that they seem to be missing the point entirely.
I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing this story through the perspectives of the five women of the Price family and observing how distinct each one was in their understanding and coping with their new surroundings. It served as an excellent testament to the diversity within the same family when you strip away the fabric of their upbringing. I found myself wanting to throttle Rachel throughout the entire novel, and the fact that her narrative style does not age or mature as she does only highlights the ignorance she harbors. Rachel was the capitalist, materialistic version of her father, good looks and pretty things were her gospel. While Adah’s perspective fascinated me, I resonated most with Leah’s character. Her constant struggle to find balance, harmony, and justice in all things is something I personally grapple with. Although Leah’s worldview was visually exceptionally black and white, she never quite seemed to be able to reconcile the fact that justice is gray and that waiting for bad things to happen to bad people and good things to happen to good people is no way to live, you’d die waiting. She held a baseline anger, even early on in the mission, about the seemingly unfair and unchangeable truths of the world.
This story discusses themes of education, colonization, racial tension, the role of women in society, consumerism, and much much more. Given my lack of education on the subject, I really cannot speak to the political events that underpin this novel, but I was fascinated and unsurprised by what I learned about the Congo and its relationship with white nationalists.
When I reached the end of their time in Kilonga and saw there were still over 100 pages left, I wondered what on earth we could still have to read about. However, I’m glad that Kingsolver gave us the opportunity to see how the Price family aged, how they transformed their upbringing to fit into their individual view of the world. Each daughter’s narrative (and Orleanna’s) felt so authentic to who the characters were, that I couldn’t have imagined them doing anything other than the endings Kingsolver wrote for them.
I started this book on three separate occasions, each time setting it aside once I began Rachel’s narrative. I couldn’t tell if all the misused words were a serious publishing error or if the character was just…stupid, a truth I learned quickly once I was able to get into the book in earnest.
I could have read about the Price family forever. “The Poisonwood Bible” is lengthy and admittedly slow-moving, but Kingsolver’s writing is so vivid and gripping that I could have read 1000 pages of the same story.
Recently, I have read several books that, to me, underscore the dangerous world of religious fanaticism, especially concerning white men who, throughout history, have often assumed not only that their way is the best way but also the only way. Nathan Price illustrates the consequences of blending white supremacy with proselytization, resulting in a deafening ignorance. Many lower-star reviews appear to criticize Kingsolver for her anti-missionary narrative in "The Poisonwood Bible"; to those people, I would say that they seem to be missing the point entirely.
I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing this story through the perspectives of the five women of the Price family and observing how distinct each one was in their understanding and coping with their new surroundings. It served as an excellent testament to the diversity within the same family when you strip away the fabric of their upbringing. I found myself wanting to throttle Rachel throughout the entire novel, and the fact that her narrative style does not age or mature as she does only highlights the ignorance she harbors. Rachel was the capitalist, materialistic version of her father, good looks and pretty things were her gospel. While Adah’s perspective fascinated me, I resonated most with Leah’s character. Her constant struggle to find balance, harmony, and justice in all things is something I personally grapple with. Although Leah’s worldview was visually exceptionally black and white, she never quite seemed to be able to reconcile the fact that justice is gray and that waiting for bad things to happen to bad people and good things to happen to good people is no way to live, you’d die waiting. She held a baseline anger, even early on in the mission, about the seemingly unfair and unchangeable truths of the world.
This story discusses themes of education, colonization, racial tension, the role of women in society, consumerism, and much much more. Given my lack of education on the subject, I really cannot speak to the political events that underpin this novel, but I was fascinated and unsurprised by what I learned about the Congo and its relationship with white nationalists.
When I reached the end of their time in Kilonga and saw there were still over 100 pages left, I wondered what on earth we could still have to read about. However, I’m glad that Kingsolver gave us the opportunity to see how the Price family aged, how they transformed their upbringing to fit into their individual view of the world. Each daughter’s narrative (and Orleanna’s) felt so authentic to who the characters were, that I couldn’t have imagined them doing anything other than the endings Kingsolver wrote for them.