Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.55k reviews by:
just_one_more_paige
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
Alright, it’s taken me months to get to reading this sequel. I have no excuse other than being distracted by other books and the inevitably too fast passing of time. Anyways, here we are. And what a sequel it is!
Now, let me warn you that there are likely (read: definitely) going to be spoilers for the first book in this review. I shouldn’t be spoiling anything for this book, but I’m gonna just assume that you’ll only read this review super closely if you’ve already read the first book (or at least know what it’s about). Otherwise, just skip to the last paragraph for my summed up/closing thoughts.
As we figured out towards the end of the first book, our three narrators, Syenite, Damaya, and “you,” all turned out to be the same person, just at different times in their life! Say what?! That was awesome and totally unexpected. Now that we know that, this book continues from the “present” day POV, that of Essun, or “you,” as it’s still written in second person. In addition, Nassun, the daughter that “you” are rushing after to find and save, takes up a spot as narrator. And there is a third narrator added, labeled “Interlude” and I shan’t give away who it is, but you do find out/figure it out by the end of the novel. When we left Essun, she and Hoa had been welcomed into Castrima, the comm located in an underground geode that (more or less) welcomes and lives alongside stone eaters and orogenes, and had found Alabaster there as well! As the Season progresses and conflicts of survival, like lack of food stores, environmental changes, and attacks from other comms affect the members of Castrima, Essun assists in dealing with those, as well as learning more about the history and cause of the Seasons from Alabaster. And as she realizes that he is truly dying, she also learns that she must finish the work he started to basically bring down/reset the world as they know it. At the same time Nassun is found by enemies old and new and reborn…and finds that there is more to orogeny, more bordering on magic, than her mother ever let on/taught her. And so, separately but simultaneously, both mother and daughter learn more about how to control/use the obelisks (and what their real purpose is).
In my review for the first book, I really focused on the fact that Jemisin drops us smack into the middle of a world that we know nothing about without a single lifeline. It took me basically the entirety of the novel to feel like I had a reasonable grasp on what was happening. It was just that the world-building was SO intricate and immersive and impressive, but the effort required of me as the reader was immense. Basically, all that remains true in this second installation, as far as the scope and depth of the world-building. However, there was a major difference – just within the first quarter-ish of the second novel, I already felt like my feet were better planted in this world (and that includes waiting months since the first one to pick this second one up). As Essun questions Alabaster to learn more, and Nassun questions her own “teacher,” I finally felt like I was up to speed with what everyone already knows and was starting to learn what no one knows yet, alongside our protagonists. And what a difference that made for the effort on my part while reading. I was able to let go and just fall into/enjoy this second book much more than I was ever able to in the first. Now, that’s not to say that things got simple or straightforward, oh no. They were just as simultaneously technical and abstract as ever (nothing intuitive about it), but I just felt like I understood it all so much better (dare I say easier? …at the very least, faster).
Along with this, now that the background and stage are more or less “set up,” if you will, the development of the plot was able to begin in earnest. Now, let me know mislead you. At no point do things speed ahead. This is a very methodical unfolding, with occasional jumps in action, and it’s clear that the major “events” are still to come (as with any trilogy, those will come in the final book). But you can absolutely start to feel the build as we move towards that climax. In that respect, this is a very typical middle/bridge novel. This includes a lot of character development in particular. Once you realize that the majority of the character building in book one was for the same character, just over time, (well, and Alabaster) you realize while reading this one that, naturally, more players needed to be introduced/explored. And we get that! Hoa, for one, gets a lot more exploration, along with Nassun, Ykka, Nassun’s “teacher,” a few other side characters, and, naturally, a bit more from Essun herself. In addition, the interpersonal interactions and small unit politics are developed much more, and more widely.
As far as one of the other major things that struck me in the first book, the way this “alternate Earth” has hierarchies between Stills (non-orogenes), orogenes, Fulcrum-trained orogenes, etc. that reflect and comment so strongly on race/socioeconomic in our own world, this second book continues in that vein perfectly. We are introduced to a comm, Castrima, where ostensibly, those hierarchies and prejudices are not “seen,” where everyone is an equal member of the society. And yet…Essun stills wants to teach the young orogenes how to fight back, when the Stills inevitably turn on them. And yet…when things get ugly, the orogene lives become less important. And so we see the way Jemisin moves on from calling out outright racism and moves into calling out structural racism as well. It’s smooth and subtle in its natural momentum, but not in it’s message. Just, extraordinary writing. In addition, one of my favorite new dimensions that is addressed is the “system” (the Fulcrum-based training, like Essun and Alabaster) versus the outside the system (self/naturally-taught, like Nassun and Ykka). I LOVE the perspective that not every person can/should be taught the same things in the same way because that stifles both creativity and growth. This is such a beautiful commentary on the pitfalls of formalized education the way it currently exists (I speak from my own experience, which is the US public school system). Molding all learners to one method or understanding is both unrealistic and stifling – and just think of everything we are losing through all that limitation and pigeon-holing. As a side note, the reasons for the limitation on Essun and Alabaster, the fear and need for control it was built on, is horrific in its own way. Anyways, as an educator, I loved this message about learning/teaching.
If you skipped the rest of review in fear of spoilers, welcome back! To sum up, this novel was an excellently developed continuation of the complex story we began in book one. The character and interpersonal relationship growth were really in focus, as well as a slow build in information gathering and action development to bridge us between the build of the story in the first novel and the conclusion that we’ll get in the third. Although there was nothing about this novel that would be considered fast (so don’t expect to need to finish
in one sitting), it was just as absorbing and immersive as the first. The themes of power and control and subjugation are continued, but put in the context of a greater, eons long conflict between people and the Earth that began the Seasons and may now, finally, be coming to a head. I'm definitely ready to see how everything ends!
And of course, please enjoy some passages that really stood out to me…there are many, as Jemisin is truly an author of unmatched talent:
“…you know better than to trust her just because she’s Your People. You should give her a chance because she’s Your People, though.”
“Life cannot exist without the Earth. Yet there is a not-insubstantial chance that life will win its war, and destroy the Earth. We’ve come close a few times.” (DAMN, that’s deep.)
“This is just how life is supposed to be: terrible and brief and ending in – if you’re lucky – oblivion.”
“But just because you can’t see or understand a thing doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you.”
“We’re the problem, you see – people.”
“…being useful to others is not the same thing as being equal.”
“You just want your life to matter.”
“If she hurts him because she loves him, is that still hurt? If she hurts him a lot now so that he will hurt less later, does that make her a terrible person?”
“The way of the world isn’t the strong devouring the weak, but the weak deceiving and poisoning and whispering in the ears of the strong until they become weak, too.”
Alright, it’s taken me months to get to reading this sequel. I have no excuse other than being distracted by other books and the inevitably too fast passing of time. Anyways, here we are. And what a sequel it is!
Now, let me warn you that there are likely (read: definitely) going to be spoilers for the first book in this review. I shouldn’t be spoiling anything for this book, but I’m gonna just assume that you’ll only read this review super closely if you’ve already read the first book (or at least know what it’s about). Otherwise, just skip to the last paragraph for my summed up/closing thoughts.
As we figured out towards the end of the first book, our three narrators, Syenite, Damaya, and “you,” all turned out to be the same person, just at different times in their life! Say what?! That was awesome and totally unexpected. Now that we know that, this book continues from the “present” day POV, that of Essun, or “you,” as it’s still written in second person. In addition, Nassun, the daughter that “you” are rushing after to find and save, takes up a spot as narrator. And there is a third narrator added, labeled “Interlude” and I shan’t give away who it is, but you do find out/figure it out by the end of the novel. When we left Essun, she and Hoa had been welcomed into Castrima, the comm located in an underground geode that (more or less) welcomes and lives alongside stone eaters and orogenes, and had found Alabaster there as well! As the Season progresses and conflicts of survival, like lack of food stores, environmental changes, and attacks from other comms affect the members of Castrima, Essun assists in dealing with those, as well as learning more about the history and cause of the Seasons from Alabaster. And as she realizes that he is truly dying, she also learns that she must finish the work he started to basically bring down/reset the world as they know it. At the same time Nassun is found by enemies old and new and reborn…and finds that there is more to orogeny, more bordering on magic, than her mother ever let on/taught her. And so, separately but simultaneously, both mother and daughter learn more about how to control/use the obelisks (and what their real purpose is).
In my review for the first book, I really focused on the fact that Jemisin drops us smack into the middle of a world that we know nothing about without a single lifeline. It took me basically the entirety of the novel to feel like I had a reasonable grasp on what was happening. It was just that the world-building was SO intricate and immersive and impressive, but the effort required of me as the reader was immense. Basically, all that remains true in this second installation, as far as the scope and depth of the world-building. However, there was a major difference – just within the first quarter-ish of the second novel, I already felt like my feet were better planted in this world (and that includes waiting months since the first one to pick this second one up). As Essun questions Alabaster to learn more, and Nassun questions her own “teacher,” I finally felt like I was up to speed with what everyone already knows and was starting to learn what no one knows yet, alongside our protagonists. And what a difference that made for the effort on my part while reading. I was able to let go and just fall into/enjoy this second book much more than I was ever able to in the first. Now, that’s not to say that things got simple or straightforward, oh no. They were just as simultaneously technical and abstract as ever (nothing intuitive about it), but I just felt like I understood it all so much better (dare I say easier? …at the very least, faster).
Along with this, now that the background and stage are more or less “set up,” if you will, the development of the plot was able to begin in earnest. Now, let me know mislead you. At no point do things speed ahead. This is a very methodical unfolding, with occasional jumps in action, and it’s clear that the major “events” are still to come (as with any trilogy, those will come in the final book). But you can absolutely start to feel the build as we move towards that climax. In that respect, this is a very typical middle/bridge novel. This includes a lot of character development in particular. Once you realize that the majority of the character building in book one was for the same character, just over time, (well, and Alabaster) you realize while reading this one that, naturally, more players needed to be introduced/explored. And we get that! Hoa, for one, gets a lot more exploration, along with Nassun, Ykka, Nassun’s “teacher,” a few other side characters, and, naturally, a bit more from Essun herself. In addition, the interpersonal interactions and small unit politics are developed much more, and more widely.
As far as one of the other major things that struck me in the first book, the way this “alternate Earth” has hierarchies between Stills (non-orogenes), orogenes, Fulcrum-trained orogenes, etc. that reflect and comment so strongly on race/socioeconomic in our own world, this second book continues in that vein perfectly. We are introduced to a comm, Castrima, where ostensibly, those hierarchies and prejudices are not “seen,” where everyone is an equal member of the society. And yet…Essun stills wants to teach the young orogenes how to fight back, when the Stills inevitably turn on them. And yet…when things get ugly, the orogene lives become less important. And so we see the way Jemisin moves on from calling out outright racism and moves into calling out structural racism as well. It’s smooth and subtle in its natural momentum, but not in it’s message. Just, extraordinary writing. In addition, one of my favorite new dimensions that is addressed is the “system” (the Fulcrum-based training, like Essun and Alabaster) versus the outside the system (self/naturally-taught, like Nassun and Ykka). I LOVE the perspective that not every person can/should be taught the same things in the same way because that stifles both creativity and growth. This is such a beautiful commentary on the pitfalls of formalized education the way it currently exists (I speak from my own experience, which is the US public school system). Molding all learners to one method or understanding is both unrealistic and stifling – and just think of everything we are losing through all that limitation and pigeon-holing. As a side note, the reasons for the limitation on Essun and Alabaster, the fear and need for control it was built on, is horrific in its own way. Anyways, as an educator, I loved this message about learning/teaching.
If you skipped the rest of review in fear of spoilers, welcome back! To sum up, this novel was an excellently developed continuation of the complex story we began in book one. The character and interpersonal relationship growth were really in focus, as well as a slow build in information gathering and action development to bridge us between the build of the story in the first novel and the conclusion that we’ll get in the third. Although there was nothing about this novel that would be considered fast (so don’t expect to need to finish
in one sitting), it was just as absorbing and immersive as the first. The themes of power and control and subjugation are continued, but put in the context of a greater, eons long conflict between people and the Earth that began the Seasons and may now, finally, be coming to a head. I'm definitely ready to see how everything ends!
And of course, please enjoy some passages that really stood out to me…there are many, as Jemisin is truly an author of unmatched talent:
“…you know better than to trust her just because she’s Your People. You should give her a chance because she’s Your People, though.”
“Life cannot exist without the Earth. Yet there is a not-insubstantial chance that life will win its war, and destroy the Earth. We’ve come close a few times.” (DAMN, that’s deep.)
“This is just how life is supposed to be: terrible and brief and ending in – if you’re lucky – oblivion.”
“But just because you can’t see or understand a thing doesn’t mean it can’t hurt you.”
“We’re the problem, you see – people.”
“…being useful to others is not the same thing as being equal.”
“You just want your life to matter.”
“If she hurts him because she loves him, is that still hurt? If she hurts him a lot now so that he will hurt less later, does that make her a terrible person?”
“The way of the world isn’t the strong devouring the weak, but the weak deceiving and poisoning and whispering in the ears of the strong until they become weak, too.”
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
This was absolutely an impulse pick-up at the library a few weeks ago. I mean, I’d had it on my radar, but I had totally planned to read Stone’s first novel, Dear Martin, before reading this one. I mean really, they have nothing to do with each other, so I have no idea why I felt that way…sometimes publication order gets in my head. But anyways, this was on an end-cap display for Pride month and I actually had had no idea, until then, that Stone identified as queer (mostly bisexual, but not uniformly). Anyways, knowing that, and the general premise of this book, really pushed me over the edge into checking it out and starting to read immediately. And it was absolutely the right call. (Of note, I still plan to read Dear Martin, and even more so now that I’ve seen what a competent writer Stone is, but I’m very happy with my decision to pick this one up first.)
Odd One Out is the story of three friends. Two of them, Jupiter and Courtney (Coop), have been best friends since they were little. Like, it is one of the closest relationships I’ve ever read about. Rae is the new girl – she just moved to town and both Jupiter and Coop both welcome her into their friendship (after a bit of a rough start with Coop, anyways). But Rae’s presence really starts to change the status quo between Jupiter and Coop. Jupiter likes girls. She’s always known that. Coop has a thing for Jupiter, though he knows it’s impossible (and his friends are doing everything they can to get him to move on). And Rae, well, Rae is struggling because it turns out she might have feelings for them both. Which looks like it’s going to really mess things up, because it seems like they both might have feelings for her right back. Tensions start to grow as all our characters work to try and figure out their own feelings (and sexuality).
Honestly, I thought this book was spectacular. The novel is told in three sections, one from each character’s POV, and every single one of them rang so genuine and authentic (though, if I had to guess, Jupiter is the character with whom Stone most closely aligns). I loved being able to see each of their thoughts, in turn, as they all worked through some of the most complicated intertwining emotions. It added great depth to the narrative, as well as providing the perfect amount of empathy in the reader for each of their predicaments and decisions. All three were so alive and real for me – it was really well executed writing. They all had a number of questionable teenage moments/comments/reactions, yet, at the same time, showed very realistic moments/comments/reactions of great maturity. The juxtaposition was, basically, spot on for high schoolers. I also loved some of the phenomenal normative writing around feminism, autonomy (and respect for each other’s agency), healthy masculinity, sexuality and just general multiculturalism. It all just…was. In fact, overall, this was one of the most inclusive and representative novels, both in terms of race and sexuality, that I’ve ever read. And none of it felt, in any way (at least to me – so take that with a grain of salt for my biases), like tokenism. That is cultural goals – I wish this fictional microcosm was more representative of reality. Anyways, I know that there are many sexualities that aren't addressed (and ending options that could have been taken), but within the context of the novel and what's realistic in a book of this length, I think the author did alright with it. And there are some comments made by characters that were/could have been hurtful...but that's part of growing up/into yourself, learning boundaries, and more. I think it has to be ok to question or else how will you ever know?
As far as the plot, this is a very relationship focused story…which should really be obvious, but I’ll state it anyways. There were a great many coming-of-age moments, both interpersonally and internally, that played out with quite a bit of drama, but in a realistic way. I loved that there was no holding back about how difficult some of these relationship decisions and sexual awakenings can be, both for the person themselves, and who they thought themselves to be, and in the way that one person’s “not knowing” can both purposefully and inadvertently hurt those closest to them. There are some really tender moments and some really cringe-worthy ones, which (in my experience) sums up high school dating in general, but all with a wonderful LGBTQ lens, which does nothing if not make everything at that age even more confusing. But in the end, the messages from the author about who it’s ok to love take centerstage, in an accepting, albeit complicated finale. Everyone gets hurt and everyone hurts someone else, but in the end, the important thing is to take the time to learn and accept and be proud of who you are and love who it feels right to love…and I can’t think of anything more real than that. In a massive shift, I also want to reiterate how much I loved the way healthy masculinity was normed, especially within groups (i.e. – athletes) who are typically cast as the exact opposite. Coop’s respect for Jupiter, and his support of her choices and announcements, despite his own feelings for her, is so commendable. And I just loved his two friends, side characters Britain and Golly, who give advice and offer no strings attached support (for a number of characters) despite how easy to would be to alienate or take advantage, was everything. Finally, I love the ending. Even though in some ways it doesn't seem as if much has actually happened or changed, and I definitely feel bad for some of the characters' storylines, I also think it was honest, realistic and, as is often the case, reflects the fact that most big internal changes are not externally visible.
In an interview with the author that I read, Stone mentions her goal with this book was to write the book she wished she has when she was a young adult, struggling to figure out her own sexuality and to answer the question of “who it’s ok to love.” And, if my opinion matters at all, I have to say that she crushed it. I wish I had this in high school, or college, and even, to be honest, I’d rather have found it now (at thirty) than not at all. It takes a lot of strength and courage to accept and fully be who you are. I read, in that same interview, that Stone came out to her husband only after getting married…and she commented on how much his support and acceptance of that meant to/did for her. I lived that exact same experience and I too would just like to take this moment to shout out a thank you to my partner for it. It’s made all the difference and, if anything, has just made my feelings for him stronger. Anyways, moving on from all the sappiness, I clearly recommend this book. Even if you’re way past high school, this is a book that will really make you feel good about loving who you love. And knowing that there are so many people willing to accept you for that is something that will just make you feel all fuzzy inside. It’s a positive, glass-half-full perspective of non-hetero sexuality and I am here for more books like this. Plus, it’s got a great dose of teen drama and cute quirks (like chapter titles named after crossword puzzle words and Queen songs) that make these uplifting types of YA novels so much fun to read.
This was absolutely an impulse pick-up at the library a few weeks ago. I mean, I’d had it on my radar, but I had totally planned to read Stone’s first novel, Dear Martin, before reading this one. I mean really, they have nothing to do with each other, so I have no idea why I felt that way…sometimes publication order gets in my head. But anyways, this was on an end-cap display for Pride month and I actually had had no idea, until then, that Stone identified as queer (mostly bisexual, but not uniformly). Anyways, knowing that, and the general premise of this book, really pushed me over the edge into checking it out and starting to read immediately. And it was absolutely the right call. (Of note, I still plan to read Dear Martin, and even more so now that I’ve seen what a competent writer Stone is, but I’m very happy with my decision to pick this one up first.)
Odd One Out is the story of three friends. Two of them, Jupiter and Courtney (Coop), have been best friends since they were little. Like, it is one of the closest relationships I’ve ever read about. Rae is the new girl – she just moved to town and both Jupiter and Coop both welcome her into their friendship (after a bit of a rough start with Coop, anyways). But Rae’s presence really starts to change the status quo between Jupiter and Coop. Jupiter likes girls. She’s always known that. Coop has a thing for Jupiter, though he knows it’s impossible (and his friends are doing everything they can to get him to move on). And Rae, well, Rae is struggling because it turns out she might have feelings for them both. Which looks like it’s going to really mess things up, because it seems like they both might have feelings for her right back. Tensions start to grow as all our characters work to try and figure out their own feelings (and sexuality).
Honestly, I thought this book was spectacular. The novel is told in three sections, one from each character’s POV, and every single one of them rang so genuine and authentic (though, if I had to guess, Jupiter is the character with whom Stone most closely aligns). I loved being able to see each of their thoughts, in turn, as they all worked through some of the most complicated intertwining emotions. It added great depth to the narrative, as well as providing the perfect amount of empathy in the reader for each of their predicaments and decisions. All three were so alive and real for me – it was really well executed writing. They all had a number of questionable teenage moments/comments/reactions, yet, at the same time, showed very realistic moments/comments/reactions of great maturity. The juxtaposition was, basically, spot on for high schoolers. I also loved some of the phenomenal normative writing around feminism, autonomy (and respect for each other’s agency), healthy masculinity, sexuality and just general multiculturalism. It all just…was. In fact, overall, this was one of the most inclusive and representative novels, both in terms of race and sexuality, that I’ve ever read. And none of it felt, in any way (at least to me – so take that with a grain of salt for my biases), like tokenism. That is cultural goals – I wish this fictional microcosm was more representative of reality. Anyways, I know that there are many sexualities that aren't addressed (and ending options that could have been taken), but within the context of the novel and what's realistic in a book of this length, I think the author did alright with it. And there are some comments made by characters that were/could have been hurtful...but that's part of growing up/into yourself, learning boundaries, and more. I think it has to be ok to question or else how will you ever know?
As far as the plot, this is a very relationship focused story…which should really be obvious, but I’ll state it anyways. There were a great many coming-of-age moments, both interpersonally and internally, that played out with quite a bit of drama, but in a realistic way. I loved that there was no holding back about how difficult some of these relationship decisions and sexual awakenings can be, both for the person themselves, and who they thought themselves to be, and in the way that one person’s “not knowing” can both purposefully and inadvertently hurt those closest to them. There are some really tender moments and some really cringe-worthy ones, which (in my experience) sums up high school dating in general, but all with a wonderful LGBTQ lens, which does nothing if not make everything at that age even more confusing. But in the end, the messages from the author about who it’s ok to love take centerstage, in an accepting, albeit complicated finale. Everyone gets hurt and everyone hurts someone else, but in the end, the important thing is to take the time to learn and accept and be proud of who you are and love who it feels right to love…and I can’t think of anything more real than that. In a massive shift, I also want to reiterate how much I loved the way healthy masculinity was normed, especially within groups (i.e. – athletes) who are typically cast as the exact opposite. Coop’s respect for Jupiter, and his support of her choices and announcements, despite his own feelings for her, is so commendable. And I just loved his two friends, side characters Britain and Golly, who give advice and offer no strings attached support (for a number of characters) despite how easy to would be to alienate or take advantage, was everything. Finally, I love the ending. Even though in some ways it doesn't seem as if much has actually happened or changed, and I definitely feel bad for some of the characters' storylines, I also think it was honest, realistic and, as is often the case, reflects the fact that most big internal changes are not externally visible.
In an interview with the author that I read, Stone mentions her goal with this book was to write the book she wished she has when she was a young adult, struggling to figure out her own sexuality and to answer the question of “who it’s ok to love.” And, if my opinion matters at all, I have to say that she crushed it. I wish I had this in high school, or college, and even, to be honest, I’d rather have found it now (at thirty) than not at all. It takes a lot of strength and courage to accept and fully be who you are. I read, in that same interview, that Stone came out to her husband only after getting married…and she commented on how much his support and acceptance of that meant to/did for her. I lived that exact same experience and I too would just like to take this moment to shout out a thank you to my partner for it. It’s made all the difference and, if anything, has just made my feelings for him stronger. Anyways, moving on from all the sappiness, I clearly recommend this book. Even if you’re way past high school, this is a book that will really make you feel good about loving who you love. And knowing that there are so many people willing to accept you for that is something that will just make you feel all fuzzy inside. It’s a positive, glass-half-full perspective of non-hetero sexuality and I am here for more books like this. Plus, it’s got a great dose of teen drama and cute quirks (like chapter titles named after crossword puzzle words and Queen songs) that make these uplifting types of YA novels so much fun to read.
“I love him on purpose.”
“It feels steady and huge as the ground under their feet, as encompassing of every part of him, as likely to knock the wind out of his lungs.”
Well this book has literally taken over everything in book related social media. And we all know I get in the mood for romance over the summer. So, basically, we should all not be surprised that I added myself to the library waitlist for this one asap (as in, even prior to its actual publication date). Apparently, I was not the only person to do that though, so it took me until now to get my hands on it. And the wait caused me to shove everything else on my TBR out of the way in order to read it immediately as soon as I got the email that the hold was ready.
Alex is the First Son of the United States. Henry is a Prince of England. And they are sworn enemies. But when a Royal Wedding cake-related incident forces the two of them to make nice in public (and on social media), for reasons of international relations. But with time, their fake friendship starts to morph into a real friendship…and then to something much much deeper. And much more dangerous. A romance between the two of them could potentially be even more damaging than the rivalry was. And they are both forced to decide, fully, what their feelings really are and, if it’s true love, can they find the courage to openly share it with the world.
HOLY EVER-LOVING, FULL-ON SWOON, this contemporary m/m romance was EVERYTHING. I went into this expecting a light, pretty cheesy, summer-type love story. And I would have been happy with that. What I actually got was so much more and it straight blew my mind. I absolutely and completely and 100% support the hype for this book. I actually could not put it down (I straight up cancelled plans to finish it) and I’ve already reread like half of it (and it’s only been in my possession for 4 full days). Alex and Henry are the best – perfect complements for each other in personality and romantically. I love their banter with they’re joking and I love their sentiments when they’re being honest. I love the entire enemies-to-lovers trope situation anyways, but I seriously have never read it done so well as it is here. It was sweet and snarky, sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes heart-wrenchingly tender, and definitely with moments so phenomenally steamy that I was glad I wasn’t reading in public (things got tingly). Oh my goodness, just, my heart, my feels, my everything is SO into this book!
In somewhat less gushy/more insightful commentary, I want to live in this alternative present day, where a female president wont the election post-Obama and is completely supportive of her son’s sexuality (bisexual rep, yes!) and self-discoveries. (Side note, this is the first male bi character I’ve ever read – cool.) I also love also the friends/siblings that are support characters here. They are all really awesome and inspiring in their own ways (like, Nora is a queer female math/stat genius and I want a spin-off novel about her!). Plus, there was just enough political intrigue/detail thrown in to ground the story and give it context, without being too much that I was bored/wanted to skim over it (and I’m not particularly inclined to enjoy reading about the particulars of campaigns and elections, so that’s big for me). And I truly appreciated that, once Alex and Henry decided they were going to be together, for real, they stuck with it. I mean, I know that all romance’s need some drama thrown in, but I’m glad this drama came from outside the two (their political/diplomatic situations) and not from within. I love that at no point was I truly worried about the ending in regards to their decision(s) with each other…I was sure that they’d stand together against whatever came their way. And even if the ending had them apart for reasons outside their control (I mean, I obviously was hoping that didn’t happen), at least I’d know it wasn’t because they lost faith/trust in each other. That kind of consistency is hella sexy and I’m glad this story had it (and it's especially believable because our MCs are 22 and 24? - their age lends gravity to the situation, makes it easier for readers of any age to buy into the full depth, and still allows for the following instincts without too much questioning angle, if you will, for added narrative drama/indecisiveness). Relatedly, I loved the quotes they used in the emails back and forth to each other – be still my fluttering heart! And I loved how much their individual voices came through in every interaction, public or private or serious or light-hearted, they were true to themselves (for better or worse). Along these lines, and the last thing I want to mention, is McQuiston’s writing…which is superb. It’s got a great internal monologue type flow, one that rings very true to Alex (our narrator), in a mature but still youthful way. A very comfortable and genuine voice. It was easy to race through (which is perfect because, as I mentioned, this was un-put-downable).
Bottom line, I plan to recommend this book to everyone. I finished it feeling so full of love and hope and positivity because, even with all the challenges thrown at Alex and Henry, their love really could, as the back of the book said “save the world.” And with everything going on in our world right now, it’s actually impossible to put a price on anything that can fill you up with that kind of unbridled joy. I’ve already ordered my own copy of the book, so I can revisit it any time I need a pick me up. And I can tell you, for sure, that this makes my list of favorite books of the year. I know there’s six months left, but I don’t care, that’s how much I loved it.
“It feels steady and huge as the ground under their feet, as encompassing of every part of him, as likely to knock the wind out of his lungs.”
Well this book has literally taken over everything in book related social media. And we all know I get in the mood for romance over the summer. So, basically, we should all not be surprised that I added myself to the library waitlist for this one asap (as in, even prior to its actual publication date). Apparently, I was not the only person to do that though, so it took me until now to get my hands on it. And the wait caused me to shove everything else on my TBR out of the way in order to read it immediately as soon as I got the email that the hold was ready.
Alex is the First Son of the United States. Henry is a Prince of England. And they are sworn enemies. But when a Royal Wedding cake-related incident forces the two of them to make nice in public (and on social media), for reasons of international relations. But with time, their fake friendship starts to morph into a real friendship…and then to something much much deeper. And much more dangerous. A romance between the two of them could potentially be even more damaging than the rivalry was. And they are both forced to decide, fully, what their feelings really are and, if it’s true love, can they find the courage to openly share it with the world.
HOLY EVER-LOVING, FULL-ON SWOON, this contemporary m/m romance was EVERYTHING. I went into this expecting a light, pretty cheesy, summer-type love story. And I would have been happy with that. What I actually got was so much more and it straight blew my mind. I absolutely and completely and 100% support the hype for this book. I actually could not put it down (I straight up cancelled plans to finish it) and I’ve already reread like half of it (and it’s only been in my possession for 4 full days). Alex and Henry are the best – perfect complements for each other in personality and romantically. I love their banter with they’re joking and I love their sentiments when they’re being honest. I love the entire enemies-to-lovers trope situation anyways, but I seriously have never read it done so well as it is here. It was sweet and snarky, sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes heart-wrenchingly tender, and definitely with moments so phenomenally steamy that I was glad I wasn’t reading in public (things got tingly). Oh my goodness, just, my heart, my feels, my everything is SO into this book!
In somewhat less gushy/more insightful commentary, I want to live in this alternative present day, where a female president wont the election post-Obama and is completely supportive of her son’s sexuality (bisexual rep, yes!) and self-discoveries. (Side note, this is the first male bi character I’ve ever read – cool.) I also love also the friends/siblings that are support characters here. They are all really awesome and inspiring in their own ways (like, Nora is a queer female math/stat genius and I want a spin-off novel about her!). Plus, there was just enough political intrigue/detail thrown in to ground the story and give it context, without being too much that I was bored/wanted to skim over it (and I’m not particularly inclined to enjoy reading about the particulars of campaigns and elections, so that’s big for me). And I truly appreciated that, once Alex and Henry decided they were going to be together, for real, they stuck with it. I mean, I know that all romance’s need some drama thrown in, but I’m glad this drama came from outside the two (their political/diplomatic situations) and not from within. I love that at no point was I truly worried about the ending in regards to their decision(s) with each other…I was sure that they’d stand together against whatever came their way. And even if the ending had them apart for reasons outside their control (I mean, I obviously was hoping that didn’t happen), at least I’d know it wasn’t because they lost faith/trust in each other. That kind of consistency is hella sexy and I’m glad this story had it (and it's especially believable because our MCs are 22 and 24? - their age lends gravity to the situation, makes it easier for readers of any age to buy into the full depth, and still allows for the following instincts without too much questioning angle, if you will, for added narrative drama/indecisiveness). Relatedly, I loved the quotes they used in the emails back and forth to each other – be still my fluttering heart! And I loved how much their individual voices came through in every interaction, public or private or serious or light-hearted, they were true to themselves (for better or worse). Along these lines, and the last thing I want to mention, is McQuiston’s writing…which is superb. It’s got a great internal monologue type flow, one that rings very true to Alex (our narrator), in a mature but still youthful way. A very comfortable and genuine voice. It was easy to race through (which is perfect because, as I mentioned, this was un-put-downable).
Bottom line, I plan to recommend this book to everyone. I finished it feeling so full of love and hope and positivity because, even with all the challenges thrown at Alex and Henry, their love really could, as the back of the book said “save the world.” And with everything going on in our world right now, it’s actually impossible to put a price on anything that can fill you up with that kind of unbridled joy. I’ve already ordered my own copy of the book, so I can revisit it any time I need a pick me up. And I can tell you, for sure, that this makes my list of favorite books of the year. I know there’s six months left, but I don’t care, that’s how much I loved it.
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
This is, of course, a sequel to the wild ride that was Crazy Rich Asians. I read that last year, as a buddy read with a friend, and then we had a ladies’ night to see the movie. Well, her boyfriend came, but he was super supportive of the romance situation and said he enjoyed the movie, so it was cool. Anyways, it’s taken me time to pick up the second, but with the onset of summer, I knew this one was exactly what I needed to get into the right seasonal mood.
This one picks up a little bit after the end of the last one. Nick and Rachel have completely made up after all the family drama in book one, and are now about to get married, but his mother and grandmother are still against it. However, his mother does some digging and is able to find information about Rachel’s father…and boy is it a crazy turn! Most of the rest of the story is about Rachel meeting and “getting to know” her new family. We also get to see a lot more development of Kitty Pong’s character (remember that ostentatious gold-digging tv actress?). And Nick’s family, a main focus of book one, really fades into the background a bit in this one, with one exception (which I was super happy about because I definitely wanted more of her): his cousin, Astrid.
Well, if the first book was full of insanely rich people and profligate spending, this second one kicks it into even higher gear (pun intended, as there is quite a bit of focus on hella expensive, hella fast cars and racing in this one). Every single chapter includes some new crazy expenditure or show of wealth, from 747s with real koi ponds inside to cameos from a number of actually famous people to more designer clothes/bags that one can even keep track of. And the drama, oh my goodness the drama. From inheritances being fought over to crazy family expectations to secrets and grudges to the (unbelievable) spelled-out extremes that it will take for an outsider to be accepted into Asia’s most elite circles. Also, similar to the first, while this is obviously a skewed cultural lens to learn through, I really enjoyed the infusion of Chinese culture, history, art and food (even if it was all delivered in tones of superiority and condescension), as well as the author’s footnotes to add explanation to the language, traditions, and his own personal experiences with certain parts of the story. It’s was insightful and educational in a very “with a grain of salt” (or, well, a handful of salt), sort of way.
As far as the plot, I was definitely into it as it unfolded. Once Rachel learns who her family is, you know there’s gonna be some great stuff coming down the line. I liked watching her relationship with her brother develop and also appreciated that while some things were “easy,” others were just as hard as you’d expect upon meeting family you didn’t know you had for 30+ years. Kitty’s story, post marrying the spoiled rich Bernard Tai was really interesting; not my favorite part, but since it was more minimal/side-plot, I liked when it was revisited, just to give the story some extra depth. And I was pleasantly caught off guard by the way it was woven into the rest of the new characters’ (the ones we meet in this novel for the first time) lives. Plus, it gave the author a chance to really plainly show readers what all is actually required, how stringent the “rules” are, to be a true member of this rich Asians club. And last, Astrid. She was one of my favorite characters in the first one, probably because her effortless style and grace is something I wish I had personally…and very much do not. Haha. Anyways, after learning at the end of the last book that her ex-boo Charlie Wu bought her husband Michael’s tech start-up (and, thus, is the secret reason for his meteoric financial climb in the business world), you know there’s no way that stays buried. The build to that secret coming out, the tension between Astrid and Michael, along with the increased communication between Charlie and Astrid, had me cheering hard for them all throughout this novel (especially because Michael, who was always kind of a dick, gets even worse). This storyline is definitely my favorite, maybe because it’s more real. I think Nick and Rachel are super cute, but being on their honeymoon makes things just a little too perfect between them right now. So while that’s awesome for them, and I love seeing a good healthy relationship central to a story (it’s very underrepresented), there’s no drama there to read about (which is, obviously, the main reason for these books, haha.)
To sum up, this book, the series to date, is so guilty-pleasure-inducing to read that it’s almost impossible to describe. I binged the crap out of it and have already ordered the third installment, so I can finish it while I’m still in the summery mood for the high drama and unreality of this world. It’s completely fun and entertaining – exactly what it promises to be!
This is, of course, a sequel to the wild ride that was Crazy Rich Asians. I read that last year, as a buddy read with a friend, and then we had a ladies’ night to see the movie. Well, her boyfriend came, but he was super supportive of the romance situation and said he enjoyed the movie, so it was cool. Anyways, it’s taken me time to pick up the second, but with the onset of summer, I knew this one was exactly what I needed to get into the right seasonal mood.
This one picks up a little bit after the end of the last one. Nick and Rachel have completely made up after all the family drama in book one, and are now about to get married, but his mother and grandmother are still against it. However, his mother does some digging and is able to find information about Rachel’s father…and boy is it a crazy turn! Most of the rest of the story is about Rachel meeting and “getting to know” her new family. We also get to see a lot more development of Kitty Pong’s character (remember that ostentatious gold-digging tv actress?). And Nick’s family, a main focus of book one, really fades into the background a bit in this one, with one exception (which I was super happy about because I definitely wanted more of her): his cousin, Astrid.
Well, if the first book was full of insanely rich people and profligate spending, this second one kicks it into even higher gear (pun intended, as there is quite a bit of focus on hella expensive, hella fast cars and racing in this one). Every single chapter includes some new crazy expenditure or show of wealth, from 747s with real koi ponds inside to cameos from a number of actually famous people to more designer clothes/bags that one can even keep track of. And the drama, oh my goodness the drama. From inheritances being fought over to crazy family expectations to secrets and grudges to the (unbelievable) spelled-out extremes that it will take for an outsider to be accepted into Asia’s most elite circles. Also, similar to the first, while this is obviously a skewed cultural lens to learn through, I really enjoyed the infusion of Chinese culture, history, art and food (even if it was all delivered in tones of superiority and condescension), as well as the author’s footnotes to add explanation to the language, traditions, and his own personal experiences with certain parts of the story. It’s was insightful and educational in a very “with a grain of salt” (or, well, a handful of salt), sort of way.
As far as the plot, I was definitely into it as it unfolded. Once Rachel learns who her family is, you know there’s gonna be some great stuff coming down the line. I liked watching her relationship with her brother develop and also appreciated that while some things were “easy,” others were just as hard as you’d expect upon meeting family you didn’t know you had for 30+ years. Kitty’s story, post marrying the spoiled rich Bernard Tai was really interesting; not my favorite part, but since it was more minimal/side-plot, I liked when it was revisited, just to give the story some extra depth. And I was pleasantly caught off guard by the way it was woven into the rest of the new characters’ (the ones we meet in this novel for the first time) lives. Plus, it gave the author a chance to really plainly show readers what all is actually required, how stringent the “rules” are, to be a true member of this rich Asians club. And last, Astrid. She was one of my favorite characters in the first one, probably because her effortless style and grace is something I wish I had personally…and very much do not. Haha. Anyways, after learning at the end of the last book that her ex-boo Charlie Wu bought her husband Michael’s tech start-up (and, thus, is the secret reason for his meteoric financial climb in the business world), you know there’s no way that stays buried. The build to that secret coming out, the tension between Astrid and Michael, along with the increased communication between Charlie and Astrid, had me cheering hard for them all throughout this novel (especially because Michael, who was always kind of a dick, gets even worse). This storyline is definitely my favorite, maybe because it’s more real. I think Nick and Rachel are super cute, but being on their honeymoon makes things just a little too perfect between them right now. So while that’s awesome for them, and I love seeing a good healthy relationship central to a story (it’s very underrepresented), there’s no drama there to read about (which is, obviously, the main reason for these books, haha.)
To sum up, this book, the series to date, is so guilty-pleasure-inducing to read that it’s almost impossible to describe. I binged the crap out of it and have already ordered the third installment, so I can finish it while I’m still in the summery mood for the high drama and unreality of this world. It’s completely fun and entertaining – exactly what it promises to be!
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
I have really got to start writing down the #bookstagrammers behind the recs. I have read so many books that I’ve only found through random posts and greats suggestions from follow bookworms on Instagram and I never remember who to thank! Regardless, this is one of those. And I’m sending a thank you to the universe that will hopefully find the right place to land, because this book was great!
Soulless takes place in Victorian London. Well, an alternative Victorian London, where vampires and ghosts and werewolves exist and are part of normal society and hold important advisory-to-the-Queen and head their own government Bureaus. Our heroine herself, Miss Alexia Tarabotti, is what’s known as soulless (a preternatural), which means that her touch neutralizes any supernatural power. She has to deal with a lot of daily strife, like her annoyingly shallow family, her own spinsterhood, the importance of social etiquette in daily interactions, dealing with Lord Maccon (a werewolf, a good-looking and powerful one), and getting caught up in an investigation with him over disappearing vampires.
This book was just straight entertaining. SO entertaining. Like, I haven’t been this amused reading a book in quite some time. I laughed so much. This was like, the quirkiest, tongue in cheek, steampunk take on Victorian England and I simply loved it. Plus, we all know that I have a huge soft spot for traditionally supernatural beings, like vampires and werewolves, in any form. The author poked fun at the societal expectations and regulations of the time period, while simultaneously giving a great homage to it. I don’t totally know how she was able to walk that line, but she nailed it. In addition to that, the mystery and romance of the story were both very solid. They fit well into the time period, yet, with both relationship interactions and scientific (this is where the steampunk comes in) advancements, also pushed the boundaries of what was actually possible in a wonderfully diverting way. I loved the way Alexia led that charge with her attitude, strength, transparency and out of character bravery for the typical “woman” of the period – it was a great and unexpected dose of feminism fun.
This novel is the perfect summer read. With intrigue, drama, romance, the paranormal, steampunk tendencies and female attitude…I sped through it. And I literally cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it. I’m also thrilled to know that there are more books, that this is the first in a longer series, because I definitely have not had enough of Miss Tarabotti and her confidence and her parasol and, of course, her Lord Maccon.
I have really got to start writing down the #bookstagrammers behind the recs. I have read so many books that I’ve only found through random posts and greats suggestions from follow bookworms on Instagram and I never remember who to thank! Regardless, this is one of those. And I’m sending a thank you to the universe that will hopefully find the right place to land, because this book was great!
Soulless takes place in Victorian London. Well, an alternative Victorian London, where vampires and ghosts and werewolves exist and are part of normal society and hold important advisory-to-the-Queen and head their own government Bureaus. Our heroine herself, Miss Alexia Tarabotti, is what’s known as soulless (a preternatural), which means that her touch neutralizes any supernatural power. She has to deal with a lot of daily strife, like her annoyingly shallow family, her own spinsterhood, the importance of social etiquette in daily interactions, dealing with Lord Maccon (a werewolf, a good-looking and powerful one), and getting caught up in an investigation with him over disappearing vampires.
This book was just straight entertaining. SO entertaining. Like, I haven’t been this amused reading a book in quite some time. I laughed so much. This was like, the quirkiest, tongue in cheek, steampunk take on Victorian England and I simply loved it. Plus, we all know that I have a huge soft spot for traditionally supernatural beings, like vampires and werewolves, in any form. The author poked fun at the societal expectations and regulations of the time period, while simultaneously giving a great homage to it. I don’t totally know how she was able to walk that line, but she nailed it. In addition to that, the mystery and romance of the story were both very solid. They fit well into the time period, yet, with both relationship interactions and scientific (this is where the steampunk comes in) advancements, also pushed the boundaries of what was actually possible in a wonderfully diverting way. I loved the way Alexia led that charge with her attitude, strength, transparency and out of character bravery for the typical “woman” of the period – it was a great and unexpected dose of feminism fun.
This novel is the perfect summer read. With intrigue, drama, romance, the paranormal, steampunk tendencies and female attitude…I sped through it. And I literally cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it. I’m also thrilled to know that there are more books, that this is the first in a longer series, because I definitely have not had enough of Miss Tarabotti and her confidence and her parasol and, of course, her Lord Maccon.
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
I grabbed this one at a used book sale a few months ago, after seeing tons of positive reviews for it. It’s been sitting on my shelf since then. Last week, I went ahead and posted on #bookstagram a stack of books that I am hoping to get to this summer, with a call for help. This undecided reader needed a nudge towards which one to pick up first. And this was, by far and away, the winner of the popular vote.
Eleanor Oliphant has a very strict life schedule, from what she wears to what she eats to the way she spends each weekend. All of it is done alone, has been for years, and she’s completely fine with that. She’s logical and socially inept and comfortable just the way things are, thank you very much. But then one day, at a work event that she was very uninterested in attending, Eleanor spots her soul mate. And that moment kicks off a full shake up of Eleanor’s life, including saving a man’s life, attending parties, making friends and, in the biggest accomplishment of all, remembering, facing, and dealing with her incredibly difficult/tragic childhood.
Overall, I can absolutely see what all the fuss over this book was about. It’s quirky and charming and, once you get into it, hard to put down as you watch Eleanor grow and, there’s no other word for it, bloom. My first impression, upon starting this book, was that Eleanor was a sort of female Ove (Have you read A Man Called Ove? Do you agree?), and contrary to popular opinion, I felt iffy about Ove, so I got a little nervous about this one. And while that impression was actually spot on, for a variety of reasons, I’m happy to announce that I was much more into Eleanor. Anyways, Eleanor is a fantastic protagonist. And she was written to perfection. As we started reading her narrative, it was clear that something was off, but her voice was so sure of her isolation and confident in her strangeness that you couldn’t help but agree with her. She was comfortable and had things figured out – it’s ok to lead a normal, “unexciting” life, there’s comfort in that. But, as the story progresses and Eleanor starts to get out more, see other people, create relationships and experience new things, you together start to see how much was truly missing in her life. And watching her start to realize it, and see what life can actually be like, is incredibly heartwarming.
The other major part of the plot is the slow reveal of the events of Eleanor’s childhood. It’s no spoiler to say that, from the very beginning there is something very off about her mother and that relationship. But it takes the entirety of the book to unfold. It’s wonderfully paced, keeping me turning page after page to get any little insight/detail, but never so slow that I lost interest. And wow, again, no spoilers, but boy is it a surprise when you get the whole story. I mean there are definitely parts of it that I guessed, but there was one twist that I absolutely did not seem coming and it was great. It’s also worth mentioning, but being alongside Eleanor as she remembers and comes to terms with everything, in her own way, is truly inspiring.
In the end, we are left with a slightly more socially adept and open-to-change Eleanor, but one who is still, at base, exactly who she always was…just bigger about it. It’s the exact right ending for her – nothing too much to be believable and enough to be satisfying. Kudos to Honeyman for writing one of the most idiosyncratic, individual yet believable heroines. And I love when I am able to finish a book feeling so full of positive and life-affirming vibes. Just lovely.
I grabbed this one at a used book sale a few months ago, after seeing tons of positive reviews for it. It’s been sitting on my shelf since then. Last week, I went ahead and posted on #bookstagram a stack of books that I am hoping to get to this summer, with a call for help. This undecided reader needed a nudge towards which one to pick up first. And this was, by far and away, the winner of the popular vote.
Eleanor Oliphant has a very strict life schedule, from what she wears to what she eats to the way she spends each weekend. All of it is done alone, has been for years, and she’s completely fine with that. She’s logical and socially inept and comfortable just the way things are, thank you very much. But then one day, at a work event that she was very uninterested in attending, Eleanor spots her soul mate. And that moment kicks off a full shake up of Eleanor’s life, including saving a man’s life, attending parties, making friends and, in the biggest accomplishment of all, remembering, facing, and dealing with her incredibly difficult/tragic childhood.
Overall, I can absolutely see what all the fuss over this book was about. It’s quirky and charming and, once you get into it, hard to put down as you watch Eleanor grow and, there’s no other word for it, bloom. My first impression, upon starting this book, was that Eleanor was a sort of female Ove (Have you read A Man Called Ove? Do you agree?), and contrary to popular opinion, I felt iffy about Ove, so I got a little nervous about this one. And while that impression was actually spot on, for a variety of reasons, I’m happy to announce that I was much more into Eleanor. Anyways, Eleanor is a fantastic protagonist. And she was written to perfection. As we started reading her narrative, it was clear that something was off, but her voice was so sure of her isolation and confident in her strangeness that you couldn’t help but agree with her. She was comfortable and had things figured out – it’s ok to lead a normal, “unexciting” life, there’s comfort in that. But, as the story progresses and Eleanor starts to get out more, see other people, create relationships and experience new things, you together start to see how much was truly missing in her life. And watching her start to realize it, and see what life can actually be like, is incredibly heartwarming.
The other major part of the plot is the slow reveal of the events of Eleanor’s childhood. It’s no spoiler to say that, from the very beginning there is something very off about her mother and that relationship. But it takes the entirety of the book to unfold. It’s wonderfully paced, keeping me turning page after page to get any little insight/detail, but never so slow that I lost interest. And wow, again, no spoilers, but boy is it a surprise when you get the whole story. I mean there are definitely parts of it that I guessed, but there was one twist that I absolutely did not seem coming and it was great. It’s also worth mentioning, but being alongside Eleanor as she remembers and comes to terms with everything, in her own way, is truly inspiring.
In the end, we are left with a slightly more socially adept and open-to-change Eleanor, but one who is still, at base, exactly who she always was…just bigger about it. It’s the exact right ending for her – nothing too much to be believable and enough to be satisfying. Kudos to Honeyman for writing one of the most idiosyncratic, individual yet believable heroines. And I love when I am able to finish a book feeling so full of positive and life-affirming vibes. Just lovely.
This was my IRL book club choice for July. I had never heard of either this book, or, to be honest, this author. And, as always, life is kind of busy and I actually totally forgot about it. I mainly blame this on the fact that I was actually unable to go to the previous meeting, when this book was chosen. Anyways, I was able to pick up the book from the library on a Tuesday…for a Thursday evening book cub. I binge read the crap out of most of it. And then on Wednesday evening I looked up where the meeting was going to be and realized that it was not until the following Thursday! So instead of two days, I had 9 days to finish. Thankfully, it was a quick read and, actually, I would have finished it in time for a meeting this Thursday even (go me), but it’s nice that the pressure is off now. And, of course, I feel dumb. But you know, it’s cool. At least I didn’t miss the meeting…haha.
Iris spends most of her time invested in the vintage-clothing shop she owns, and (currently) dealing with her relationship with a married man who wants more from her, when she receives a call out of the blue about a great-aunt she never knew she had, Esme Lennox. Esme has been a patient at a residential psychiatric hospital for over 60 years and no one in the family had never talked about her before. In a turn of events that Iris cannot really explain, Esme ends up staying with her for a few days, while other arrangements are made for her future, since the hospital will be shutting down. And during those few days, some deeply kept family secrets may come to light.
This book was physically short yes, but it was also an incredibly fast read (and not only because I skim-binged it). It was a very unique style. A sort of multi-perspective stream of conscious writing moved quickly but definitely took some time to adjust too. There were no chapters (like seriously, not a single break in the whole book) and really nothing to indicate changes in the perspective we were getting the story from (other than a small line break and, basically, context clues). The good news is that it was not a complex story, rendering the action fairly easy to follow. The “plot development,” as it were, is all based around the events of Esme’s childhood that led to her commitment. Well, and partially some present tense developments in Iris’ personal life. But it’s pretty straightforward, so the effort involved in figuring out who was speaking was not a huge deal. Anyways, the writing had a gorgeous flow to it, some of the smoothest stream of conscious writing I’ve ever read. And a very creative way to show the way Alzheimer’s and/or mental health struggles might affect a person’s narration.
As far as the “easy to follow” plot development goes, it was fairly reasonably compelling. It has always fascinated me (in a horrifying sort of way) what women used to be institutionalized for. Like the amount of trauma many of them suffered that caused them to be committed in the first place just being compounded unreasonably by the “treatment” they got there. Or some things that weren’t even traumatic or emotionally related and were just…women showing any kind of preference or backbone or (reasonable) sexuality. (Side note: the general exploration of sexual repression of women in a number of ways throughout recent history, as a main theme of this novel, was explored in a way I haven’t seen much before and I enjoyed, if you can call it that, reading about it.) Altogether though, lots of UGH feelings about poor Esme’s story (and parts of all of the other female characters’ stories as well). And for the reasons, in Esme’s case, for institutionalization (with no view of release)…the way that she should have been dealt treated in such a better way, with counseling and trauma-centered healthcare and, even more simply, empathy instead of blame/anger/bring ignored, is infuriating. Anyways, while that part was, as aforementioned, interesting, I think, weirdly, I was more into Iris’ situation in the present tense. Her relationship with her (step) brother was really interesting for me, the way internalized societal expectations affected their interpersonal interactions. I don’t know why exactly, but I found that part of the story more engaging.
Overall, this was an interesting story, one that held my attention and made me want to finish it and see all the full reveals and how it all played out in the present tense. However, the way it was written somehow made me feel like I was reading it all from an arm’s distance. I can’t say I was ever completely/totally emotionally invested in any of the outcomes, it was just that my sense of curiosity had me wanting to know how things played out. I enjoyed this book, but it won’t really be sticking with me, I don’t think.
Iris spends most of her time invested in the vintage-clothing shop she owns, and (currently) dealing with her relationship with a married man who wants more from her, when she receives a call out of the blue about a great-aunt she never knew she had, Esme Lennox. Esme has been a patient at a residential psychiatric hospital for over 60 years and no one in the family had never talked about her before. In a turn of events that Iris cannot really explain, Esme ends up staying with her for a few days, while other arrangements are made for her future, since the hospital will be shutting down. And during those few days, some deeply kept family secrets may come to light.
This book was physically short yes, but it was also an incredibly fast read (and not only because I skim-binged it). It was a very unique style. A sort of multi-perspective stream of conscious writing moved quickly but definitely took some time to adjust too. There were no chapters (like seriously, not a single break in the whole book) and really nothing to indicate changes in the perspective we were getting the story from (other than a small line break and, basically, context clues). The good news is that it was not a complex story, rendering the action fairly easy to follow. The “plot development,” as it were, is all based around the events of Esme’s childhood that led to her commitment. Well, and partially some present tense developments in Iris’ personal life. But it’s pretty straightforward, so the effort involved in figuring out who was speaking was not a huge deal. Anyways, the writing had a gorgeous flow to it, some of the smoothest stream of conscious writing I’ve ever read. And a very creative way to show the way Alzheimer’s and/or mental health struggles might affect a person’s narration.
As far as the “easy to follow” plot development goes, it was fairly reasonably compelling. It has always fascinated me (in a horrifying sort of way) what women used to be institutionalized for. Like the amount of trauma many of them suffered that caused them to be committed in the first place just being compounded unreasonably by the “treatment” they got there. Or some things that weren’t even traumatic or emotionally related and were just…women showing any kind of preference or backbone or (reasonable) sexuality. (Side note: the general exploration of sexual repression of women in a number of ways throughout recent history, as a main theme of this novel, was explored in a way I haven’t seen much before and I enjoyed, if you can call it that, reading about it.) Altogether though, lots of UGH feelings about poor Esme’s story (and parts of all of the other female characters’ stories as well). And for the reasons, in Esme’s case, for institutionalization (with no view of release)…the way that she should have been dealt treated in such a better way, with counseling and trauma-centered healthcare and, even more simply, empathy instead of blame/anger/bring ignored, is infuriating. Anyways, while that part was, as aforementioned, interesting, I think, weirdly, I was more into Iris’ situation in the present tense. Her relationship with her (step) brother was really interesting for me, the way internalized societal expectations affected their interpersonal interactions. I don’t know why exactly, but I found that part of the story more engaging.
Overall, this was an interesting story, one that held my attention and made me want to finish it and see all the full reveals and how it all played out in the present tense. However, the way it was written somehow made me feel like I was reading it all from an arm’s distance. I can’t say I was ever completely/totally emotionally invested in any of the outcomes, it was just that my sense of curiosity had me wanting to know how things played out. I enjoyed this book, but it won’t really be sticking with me, I don’t think.
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
This is the most recent book to take over the #bookstagram. All the hype. It’s not my typical genre/read…courtroom thrillers. But everyone is hype-ing it up and I’m a sucker for “seeing what everyone is talking about.” And it seemed like a good page turner for the summer, so I added myself to the library waitlist.
Mircale Creek takes place in rural Virginia, a year after a tragic accident at an experimental treatment facility causes the death of a boy with autism and the mother of another young patient. The thing is, it wasn’t an accident. It was arson. And we’re watching the trial unfold, with all the secrets kept, the mysteries revealed and the drama that entails.
This was, absolutely, a riveting page-turner. Like I said, this is not my normal genre, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I could not put it down. I basically read it entirely in one day because I had no self-control in wanting to see what happened next. The story was told in exactly the right way, with spectacular pacing. I loved getting all the different perspectives as things came to light. Since we learned what they learned as they learned it, it was the perfect way to reveal details a little at a time. And seriously, because of how well it was done, I think I suspected every single character at least once (and some of them twice or three times). That does mean that when the final reveal happened, it wasn’t totally a surprise, because I’d already had some suspicions (so it wasn’t like, gasp-worthy), but at the same time, there was still some shock because my suspicions had been all over the place. I’m not sure how to describe it, but it was good. I also want to mention the courtroom dialogue. This was, obviously, a huge part of the story, and it was flawless. It is so clear that Kim has had a ton of experience in that arena and reading it, being consistently impressed with all the small details and twists of language, was a phenomenal experience.
In addition to the spectacular courtroom/”mystery” writing, this book went a step further. This was a really difficult read for me at times and I am not even a parent, much less a parent of a child with special needs. There was an incredible depth of perspective into that particular brand type of parenting, in all its levels and shades and appearances, and (again, remember I have no actual personal experience here), I felt that it was all portrayed with incredible sensitivity and perception. Many tough, but important, questions were explored, in a very human way. I also have to say that a number of similarly tough family questions were brought up, in the way the story ended. I’ll keep it vague in order to avoid spoilers, but I will say that no one comes out looking good, in a way that’s depressingly realistic, but also the way it rings true adds a lot of depth to the outcome. It was hard to read, in a lot of ways, yet it felt right within the context of the story that develops.
All in all, this is one that I stand with the hype crowd on. It’s a nail-biter, can’t-put-it-down, book and I was thoroughly entertained and (in a not overwhelming way) in my feels as I read. I totally recommend it on those qualifications, but also want to be sure that everyone knows that there’s no “rosy ending” to be found (and content warning for fire/explosions if that’s an issue for you – it’s not for me and it was still super hard to read), so just FYI there. But yea, this is a great one.
“That was the thing about lies: they demanded commitment.”
“…as bad as it could get, normalcy was a beautiful thing to those who lost.”
“…we all have moments. But they’re just moments, and they pass. […] So if a tiny part of us has these thoughts a tiny part of the time, thoughts we shut out as soon as they creep in, is that so bad? Isn’t that just human?”
“Good things and bad – every friendship and romance formed, every accident, every illness – resulted from the conspiracy of hundreds of little things, in and of themselves inconsequential.”
This is the most recent book to take over the #bookstagram. All the hype. It’s not my typical genre/read…courtroom thrillers. But everyone is hype-ing it up and I’m a sucker for “seeing what everyone is talking about.” And it seemed like a good page turner for the summer, so I added myself to the library waitlist.
Mircale Creek takes place in rural Virginia, a year after a tragic accident at an experimental treatment facility causes the death of a boy with autism and the mother of another young patient. The thing is, it wasn’t an accident. It was arson. And we’re watching the trial unfold, with all the secrets kept, the mysteries revealed and the drama that entails.
This was, absolutely, a riveting page-turner. Like I said, this is not my normal genre, so I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but I could not put it down. I basically read it entirely in one day because I had no self-control in wanting to see what happened next. The story was told in exactly the right way, with spectacular pacing. I loved getting all the different perspectives as things came to light. Since we learned what they learned as they learned it, it was the perfect way to reveal details a little at a time. And seriously, because of how well it was done, I think I suspected every single character at least once (and some of them twice or three times). That does mean that when the final reveal happened, it wasn’t totally a surprise, because I’d already had some suspicions (so it wasn’t like, gasp-worthy), but at the same time, there was still some shock because my suspicions had been all over the place. I’m not sure how to describe it, but it was good. I also want to mention the courtroom dialogue. This was, obviously, a huge part of the story, and it was flawless. It is so clear that Kim has had a ton of experience in that arena and reading it, being consistently impressed with all the small details and twists of language, was a phenomenal experience.
In addition to the spectacular courtroom/”mystery” writing, this book went a step further. This was a really difficult read for me at times and I am not even a parent, much less a parent of a child with special needs. There was an incredible depth of perspective into that particular brand type of parenting, in all its levels and shades and appearances, and (again, remember I have no actual personal experience here), I felt that it was all portrayed with incredible sensitivity and perception. Many tough, but important, questions were explored, in a very human way. I also have to say that a number of similarly tough family questions were brought up, in the way the story ended. I’ll keep it vague in order to avoid spoilers, but I will say that no one comes out looking good, in a way that’s depressingly realistic, but also the way it rings true adds a lot of depth to the outcome. It was hard to read, in a lot of ways, yet it felt right within the context of the story that develops.
All in all, this is one that I stand with the hype crowd on. It’s a nail-biter, can’t-put-it-down, book and I was thoroughly entertained and (in a not overwhelming way) in my feels as I read. I totally recommend it on those qualifications, but also want to be sure that everyone knows that there’s no “rosy ending” to be found (and content warning for fire/explosions if that’s an issue for you – it’s not for me and it was still super hard to read), so just FYI there. But yea, this is a great one.
“That was the thing about lies: they demanded commitment.”
“…as bad as it could get, normalcy was a beautiful thing to those who lost.”
“…we all have moments. But they’re just moments, and they pass. […] So if a tiny part of us has these thoughts a tiny part of the time, thoughts we shut out as soon as they creep in, is that so bad? Isn’t that just human?”
“Good things and bad – every friendship and romance formed, every accident, every illness – resulted from the conspiracy of hundreds of little things, in and of themselves inconsequential.”
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
“Black girl feminisim is all the rage, and we need all the rage.”
This book has been on my shelf for over a year. I’ve heard so many amazing things about this piece of nonfiction, and it’s impossible to deny the way that simple cover just catches the eye. Perfect design for the title. Anyways, the Just One More Pa(i)ge Reading Challenge prompt for July is “a book that falls under the #resist category” in “honor” of July 4th. It was a weird stretch, but I absolutely stand by it. And it was the perfect chance to finally pick up this book.
In this collection of essays, Cooper takes the oft-used negative terminology of the “angry black women” and takes it back, redefining it and owning it in the same way that the LGBTQ community has, in recent years, done with the word “queer.” And she does so with, in full deliverance of what the title promises, great eloquence. There’s a little bit of everything in this collection, from religion to politics to social structure to humor to pop culture to history, and it’s all presented with a singular, specific beneficiary audience: Black women and girls. Now, that does not mean, in any way, that only black women and girls should read this book. On the contrary, they already live the life every day. And while this might help explain how the current state of affairs for black women has been reached, this collection does all that explaining and more for those of us, like myself, who are not black women and therefore must do our own work, confront our own complicity and role, in creating and changing the position that black women in America have been forced into.
One of the things that struck me deepest about this collection is the accessibility of Cooper’s explanations about how contemporary history has created the institutionalized racism. Of course, as must needs be recognized, the start of that story, slavery, is given due mention. Yet the recent history is where her eloquence really shines through. From segregation to the Clinton-era-beginning of the school-to-prison pipeline and coining of the term “welfare queen” to the Trump/Clinton presidential race, Cooper lays out with clear and precise language, exactly how, socially and legally, America’s prejudice against black woman has been ingrained and perpetuated. She of course mentions other issues of socioeconomic and race and (both) sex and gender based inequalities, but, as I’ve already mentioned, the clear focus of the book is black women and girls, so that is where the majority of her time is spent. And it’s well-deserved to be spent there, as Cooper so thoroughly points out, the intersectionality of being black and female, has put black women in a position that is more complex and even more marginalized than black men or white women. And she speaks intelligently and evenly to the ways that both those groups, marginalized though they are, have further contributed to (and avoided helping out of), the situation of black women. (Topics addressed, in this vein, include black female friendships, the myth of exceptionalism, respectability politics, relationships/sexuality/marriage struggles, economic worth, and more.) At the same time, Cooper offers, from her own opinions and experiences, as well as pulling from other black feminist leaders/sources like Audre Lorde (whom I first read and loved earlier this year) and Ida B. Wells, suggestions and recommendations and critiques and hope that we can all use to help us move forwards.
For me, a white female who considers herself both a feminist and generally well aware of and at least marginally working towards addressing, issues of race and class and sex/gender inequalities, I have finished this novel feeling partly disappointed in what I thought I knew. Now, I read a lot, have read a lot, from the black female perspective…and I am vocal in recommending these books/essays and questioning the assumptions made by people around me when I see them carrying out the exact thought processes called out by authors similar to Cooper. But I have to be honest and say that I am neither a political buff nor a history buff, and there were many specifics about the legislation and vocabulary used by recent administrations, even Clinton and Obama, who were both theoretically “blue” and progressive, that gave me pause for many reasons. In Clinton’s case, it fell in the awkward time period, for me, when I was too young to remember living it and too old for it to be included in “history” classes in school. However, it’s really only my own fault that the direct connections of that administration’s decisions to the current race climate in the US, were ones that I didn’t, and wasn’t forced to, recognize or realize fully until now (#whiteprivilege in a nutshell…I’m working on it). And with Obama, I was even old enough to understand it while living it, but my whiteness did exactly what Cooper suggests…it allowed me to believe that work for all black people is “equal” progress and that black women do not need anything extra/different/special to help overcome their unique inequalities. The essay White Girl Tears was a tough one to read, for those exact reasons. And while I know it’s not productive (as Cooper and many others have called out), the guilt there is real. It’s not enough to just know about or want to address these issues; it’s equally important to understand the unique causes for each individual issue, so that efforts to address them can be made with purpose. There’s just nothing to do but be better moving forwards.
Anyways, moving past my personal reflection and back to the book itself, I want to reiterate how incredibly educational it is about contemporary social and political history. The explorations and theories Cooper presents as to how this past led to the current mindset/experience for black women in America is profound and understandable – a powerful combination. There is also a great examination of many other cultural points. The way Cooper breaks down religion/faith and the role of that in suppressing black women was fascinating. I am not at all religious, so I appreciate reading about her personal struggle to compromise her feminism and her faith – that she has managed it at all is a feat and I applaud her effort and ability there. In addition, her look at Beyoncé and Michelle Obama, their role(s) as black female leaders, and what they have accomplished/done both for black women in general and for Cooper on a more intimate level was one of my favorite parts. I love them both as well, but it is not the same. I know that. And I loved reading Cooper’s perspective on them. Small side note: Cooper herself narrates the audiobook version and she crushes it.
I have so much appreciation and respect for what Cooper did with this collection. It was easy to read/understand (comprehensibly, of course, not topically), perfectly paced, insightful, educational, simultaneously personal and expansive, honest and open, academic yet clear and, as promised, chock full of gorgeously eloquent rage. If you consider yourself a feminist, most especially if you are a white or non-female person who considers themself a feminist, this is a must-read. When I finished this collection, I too was full of rage, but also knowledge and inspiration – a dangerous combination that I absolutely plan to take advantage of moving forwards. Thank you, Brittany Cooper, for your attitude and your voice.
“…feminism is, first and foremost, about truly, deeply, and unapologetically loving women.”
“My job as a Black feminist is to love Black women and girls. Period.”
“My Black feminism keeps my eyes on the prize, the prize being Black women and girls. My Black feminism insists that we center them, that we talk about them, that we build a world for and with them, that we fight alongside them.” (This is such an important point. It’s not about tearing others down, but building this group up.)
“Sexism, like every other “ism,” is a willful refusal to not see what is right in front of you.”
“Power is not attained from books and seminars. Not alone, anyway. Power is conferred by social systems. Empowerment and power are not the same thing. We must quit mistaking the two. Better yet, we must quit settling for one when what we really need is the other. Those who feel “empowered” talk about their personal power to change their individual condition. Those with actual power make decisions that are of social and material consequence to themselves and others. […] Empowerment looks like cultivating the wisdom to make the best choices we can out of what are customarily a piss-poor set of options. Power looks like the ability to create better options.”
“We can’t kill. But we can slay.”
“Respectability tells us that staying alive matters more than protecting one’s dignity. Black rage says that living without dignity is no life at all.”
“Suppressed rage will cause us to accept gratuitous violence as a necessary evil. Expressed rage offers us an opportunity to do better.”
“Impact matters more than intent.”
“…there’s a problem when your notion of recognition is predicated on someone else’s exclusion. There’s a problem when visibility becomes a zero-sum game, where making one group’s demands visible renders every other group’s political concerns obscure.”
“Exceptionalism or struggle should not be the only pathways available to Black people.”
“Black girl feminisim is all the rage, and we need all the rage.”
This book has been on my shelf for over a year. I’ve heard so many amazing things about this piece of nonfiction, and it’s impossible to deny the way that simple cover just catches the eye. Perfect design for the title. Anyways, the Just One More Pa(i)ge Reading Challenge prompt for July is “a book that falls under the #resist category” in “honor” of July 4th. It was a weird stretch, but I absolutely stand by it. And it was the perfect chance to finally pick up this book.
In this collection of essays, Cooper takes the oft-used negative terminology of the “angry black women” and takes it back, redefining it and owning it in the same way that the LGBTQ community has, in recent years, done with the word “queer.” And she does so with, in full deliverance of what the title promises, great eloquence. There’s a little bit of everything in this collection, from religion to politics to social structure to humor to pop culture to history, and it’s all presented with a singular, specific beneficiary audience: Black women and girls. Now, that does not mean, in any way, that only black women and girls should read this book. On the contrary, they already live the life every day. And while this might help explain how the current state of affairs for black women has been reached, this collection does all that explaining and more for those of us, like myself, who are not black women and therefore must do our own work, confront our own complicity and role, in creating and changing the position that black women in America have been forced into.
One of the things that struck me deepest about this collection is the accessibility of Cooper’s explanations about how contemporary history has created the institutionalized racism. Of course, as must needs be recognized, the start of that story, slavery, is given due mention. Yet the recent history is where her eloquence really shines through. From segregation to the Clinton-era-beginning of the school-to-prison pipeline and coining of the term “welfare queen” to the Trump/Clinton presidential race, Cooper lays out with clear and precise language, exactly how, socially and legally, America’s prejudice against black woman has been ingrained and perpetuated. She of course mentions other issues of socioeconomic and race and (both) sex and gender based inequalities, but, as I’ve already mentioned, the clear focus of the book is black women and girls, so that is where the majority of her time is spent. And it’s well-deserved to be spent there, as Cooper so thoroughly points out, the intersectionality of being black and female, has put black women in a position that is more complex and even more marginalized than black men or white women. And she speaks intelligently and evenly to the ways that both those groups, marginalized though they are, have further contributed to (and avoided helping out of), the situation of black women. (Topics addressed, in this vein, include black female friendships, the myth of exceptionalism, respectability politics, relationships/sexuality/marriage struggles, economic worth, and more.) At the same time, Cooper offers, from her own opinions and experiences, as well as pulling from other black feminist leaders/sources like Audre Lorde (whom I first read and loved earlier this year) and Ida B. Wells, suggestions and recommendations and critiques and hope that we can all use to help us move forwards.
For me, a white female who considers herself both a feminist and generally well aware of and at least marginally working towards addressing, issues of race and class and sex/gender inequalities, I have finished this novel feeling partly disappointed in what I thought I knew. Now, I read a lot, have read a lot, from the black female perspective…and I am vocal in recommending these books/essays and questioning the assumptions made by people around me when I see them carrying out the exact thought processes called out by authors similar to Cooper. But I have to be honest and say that I am neither a political buff nor a history buff, and there were many specifics about the legislation and vocabulary used by recent administrations, even Clinton and Obama, who were both theoretically “blue” and progressive, that gave me pause for many reasons. In Clinton’s case, it fell in the awkward time period, for me, when I was too young to remember living it and too old for it to be included in “history” classes in school. However, it’s really only my own fault that the direct connections of that administration’s decisions to the current race climate in the US, were ones that I didn’t, and wasn’t forced to, recognize or realize fully until now (#whiteprivilege in a nutshell…I’m working on it). And with Obama, I was even old enough to understand it while living it, but my whiteness did exactly what Cooper suggests…it allowed me to believe that work for all black people is “equal” progress and that black women do not need anything extra/different/special to help overcome their unique inequalities. The essay White Girl Tears was a tough one to read, for those exact reasons. And while I know it’s not productive (as Cooper and many others have called out), the guilt there is real. It’s not enough to just know about or want to address these issues; it’s equally important to understand the unique causes for each individual issue, so that efforts to address them can be made with purpose. There’s just nothing to do but be better moving forwards.
Anyways, moving past my personal reflection and back to the book itself, I want to reiterate how incredibly educational it is about contemporary social and political history. The explorations and theories Cooper presents as to how this past led to the current mindset/experience for black women in America is profound and understandable – a powerful combination. There is also a great examination of many other cultural points. The way Cooper breaks down religion/faith and the role of that in suppressing black women was fascinating. I am not at all religious, so I appreciate reading about her personal struggle to compromise her feminism and her faith – that she has managed it at all is a feat and I applaud her effort and ability there. In addition, her look at Beyoncé and Michelle Obama, their role(s) as black female leaders, and what they have accomplished/done both for black women in general and for Cooper on a more intimate level was one of my favorite parts. I love them both as well, but it is not the same. I know that. And I loved reading Cooper’s perspective on them. Small side note: Cooper herself narrates the audiobook version and she crushes it.
I have so much appreciation and respect for what Cooper did with this collection. It was easy to read/understand (comprehensibly, of course, not topically), perfectly paced, insightful, educational, simultaneously personal and expansive, honest and open, academic yet clear and, as promised, chock full of gorgeously eloquent rage. If you consider yourself a feminist, most especially if you are a white or non-female person who considers themself a feminist, this is a must-read. When I finished this collection, I too was full of rage, but also knowledge and inspiration – a dangerous combination that I absolutely plan to take advantage of moving forwards. Thank you, Brittany Cooper, for your attitude and your voice.
“…feminism is, first and foremost, about truly, deeply, and unapologetically loving women.”
“My job as a Black feminist is to love Black women and girls. Period.”
“My Black feminism keeps my eyes on the prize, the prize being Black women and girls. My Black feminism insists that we center them, that we talk about them, that we build a world for and with them, that we fight alongside them.” (This is such an important point. It’s not about tearing others down, but building this group up.)
“Sexism, like every other “ism,” is a willful refusal to not see what is right in front of you.”
“Power is not attained from books and seminars. Not alone, anyway. Power is conferred by social systems. Empowerment and power are not the same thing. We must quit mistaking the two. Better yet, we must quit settling for one when what we really need is the other. Those who feel “empowered” talk about their personal power to change their individual condition. Those with actual power make decisions that are of social and material consequence to themselves and others. […] Empowerment looks like cultivating the wisdom to make the best choices we can out of what are customarily a piss-poor set of options. Power looks like the ability to create better options.”
“We can’t kill. But we can slay.”
“Respectability tells us that staying alive matters more than protecting one’s dignity. Black rage says that living without dignity is no life at all.”
“Suppressed rage will cause us to accept gratuitous violence as a necessary evil. Expressed rage offers us an opportunity to do better.”
“Impact matters more than intent.”
“…there’s a problem when your notion of recognition is predicated on someone else’s exclusion. There’s a problem when visibility becomes a zero-sum game, where making one group’s demands visible renders every other group’s political concerns obscure.”
“Exceptionalism or struggle should not be the only pathways available to Black people.”
This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.
ATTN: this book is an insane and wild ride, from start to finish! I always find it a little difficult to full on review books that are in a series. For one thing, after the first one, everything I say could potentially be a spoiler. For another, the story is really not over until the final installment is read, and I find judging in pieces hard. If you’ll notice, most of the books I’ve read in series have been reviewed all together, in one post, after I’ve binged the whole thing. There are exceptions, of course, like Crazy Rich Asians, which could all sort of be read as standalones anyways. Or, sometimes, if I read series that aren’t fully published yet (i.e. The Poppy War) or, occasionally, series like This Broken Earth, that are intense and deep and I know I’ll need to have space between reading each of the pieces and therefore want to write/post reviews before I forget all my thoughts. So, basically, I guess there are actually a lot of exceptions. But here, here is something I have never encountered before. And entire opening novel that I feel like is both a spectacular first salvo of a greater epic tale and, simultaneously, an incredible standalone adventure. Like, standalone as in after finishing, I would be ok waiting for the next part of the story because this one ends in a satisfying and conclusive way, yet the hints we have for what the next books with cover are tantalizing AF and I still can’t wait to pick up the next one.
First, a summary. Kady and Ezra broke up this morning. And understandably, they thought that would be the worst thing they were going to face for the rest of the day. But then their planet is invaded, violently attacked, and they are some of the sole survivors that make it out on three escape ships. Different ships, but at least they both make it out alive – most of their friends and family are not so lucky. And things are just getting started. There’s a biochemical weapon that was used and is causing horrific psychoses among survivors, there’s a AI system that got damaged in the retreat to the point where it’s making some unprecedented (and not-override-able) decisions, and there’s the matter of one of the attacking ships being hot on the trail of the evacuees…trying to wipe out the last evidence of the invasion. Meanwhile, Kady and Ezra are realizing that, just perhaps, their feelings for each other aren’t completely gone after all. Too bad it looks like there isn’t a lot of time left to do anything about it.
Ok WOW. I mean, I know when this came out it was a bestseller and I barely saw a single bad review. But I mean, hype can get out of hand, we all know that. And I’m not always in the mood for crazy sci-fi space adventures and espionage and conspiracies. The tension and “edge-of-seat” reading experience, while amazing, can be exhausting. And I have to be in the right mood for it. Well. I’m glad I waited, because this was all of those things and more, as far as blood-pressure-raising thrill and excitement go, and being in the right mood for it made things that much better. This book is like 600 pages and I literally read it in two days. I could not put it down. And it’s not just from the phenomenal pacing and pedal-to-the-metal action. No, this is, by far, one of the most visually striking and creatively written books I’ve ever read. It’s presented as a dossier of all documents, etc. collected from the events that are unfolding – transcriptions of conversations, memos, recordings, countdowns, written descriptions of surveillance video, text message conversations, and more. And it’s not done like any old epistolary novel. No. It’s got graphics and doodles and “classified” stamps and coffee ring stains and more…as if everything we are reading was legitimately collected from any remaining evidence of the events. And the parts that describe space battles are written in weaving words, curlicue shapes, in graphics of blasts/explosions, in patterns following the trajectories of missiles. I literally cannot do it justice with a normal review – you have to go pick up the book and look at it yourself.
Now, back to the plot and stuff. Holy crap it grabs you and doesn’t let go. There are so many layers of who is the good guy and who is the bad guy and who do you trust and how to do you know and what actually is the best course of action to save the most lives? I almost couldn’t keep up with the leaps and jumps of theory and hypothesis bouncing around in my head. And I loved that. Plus, I am definitely a sucker for an end of the world romance situation, so I was cheering hard for Kady and Ezra (and even of parts of that story are unlikely…I’m not mad about it). I also LOVE a strong female lead, one who fights the odds and never gives up and has a penchant for breaking rules to save the people she cares about (added bonus, this particular female lead is also a teach genius – I’m not personally that into science, but I strongly support a ladies in STEM situation like this). Another bonus, for me, of the fast-paced (and sometimes super scary) unfolding drama of the plot is that I never stopped to think too deeply for the reasons/people behind it. It just wasn’t the focus. So when, at the end, we get a hella shock/twist addressing those questions, it totally took me by surprise. I definitely gasped out loud. I LOVE that feeling. Another thing I want to say is how much I was surprised about how emotional I felt at certain parts, especially in relation to some of the AI sections. I mean really, its artificial intelligence, but the authors did a great job evoking tons of feels there. Plus, of course, there was (no spoilers here) a ton of death and destruction and fear and more, so obviously some of those parts got tough-going at times as well. And last, if you are a YA fantasy/sci-fi reading nerd (like me) keep your eyes peeled for some super fun Easter egg name drops of other authors of the genre. I got a big smile every time I found one - they’re small (and not obvious), but the satisfaction and fun is real!
Anyways, basically, I just want to add my voice to the chorus saying that this novel is just straight up fantastic. I cannot wait to pick up the next one(s)!
ATTN: this book is an insane and wild ride, from start to finish! I always find it a little difficult to full on review books that are in a series. For one thing, after the first one, everything I say could potentially be a spoiler. For another, the story is really not over until the final installment is read, and I find judging in pieces hard. If you’ll notice, most of the books I’ve read in series have been reviewed all together, in one post, after I’ve binged the whole thing. There are exceptions, of course, like Crazy Rich Asians, which could all sort of be read as standalones anyways. Or, sometimes, if I read series that aren’t fully published yet (i.e. The Poppy War) or, occasionally, series like This Broken Earth, that are intense and deep and I know I’ll need to have space between reading each of the pieces and therefore want to write/post reviews before I forget all my thoughts. So, basically, I guess there are actually a lot of exceptions. But here, here is something I have never encountered before. And entire opening novel that I feel like is both a spectacular first salvo of a greater epic tale and, simultaneously, an incredible standalone adventure. Like, standalone as in after finishing, I would be ok waiting for the next part of the story because this one ends in a satisfying and conclusive way, yet the hints we have for what the next books with cover are tantalizing AF and I still can’t wait to pick up the next one.
First, a summary. Kady and Ezra broke up this morning. And understandably, they thought that would be the worst thing they were going to face for the rest of the day. But then their planet is invaded, violently attacked, and they are some of the sole survivors that make it out on three escape ships. Different ships, but at least they both make it out alive – most of their friends and family are not so lucky. And things are just getting started. There’s a biochemical weapon that was used and is causing horrific psychoses among survivors, there’s a AI system that got damaged in the retreat to the point where it’s making some unprecedented (and not-override-able) decisions, and there’s the matter of one of the attacking ships being hot on the trail of the evacuees…trying to wipe out the last evidence of the invasion. Meanwhile, Kady and Ezra are realizing that, just perhaps, their feelings for each other aren’t completely gone after all. Too bad it looks like there isn’t a lot of time left to do anything about it.
Ok WOW. I mean, I know when this came out it was a bestseller and I barely saw a single bad review. But I mean, hype can get out of hand, we all know that. And I’m not always in the mood for crazy sci-fi space adventures and espionage and conspiracies. The tension and “edge-of-seat” reading experience, while amazing, can be exhausting. And I have to be in the right mood for it. Well. I’m glad I waited, because this was all of those things and more, as far as blood-pressure-raising thrill and excitement go, and being in the right mood for it made things that much better. This book is like 600 pages and I literally read it in two days. I could not put it down. And it’s not just from the phenomenal pacing and pedal-to-the-metal action. No, this is, by far, one of the most visually striking and creatively written books I’ve ever read. It’s presented as a dossier of all documents, etc. collected from the events that are unfolding – transcriptions of conversations, memos, recordings, countdowns, written descriptions of surveillance video, text message conversations, and more. And it’s not done like any old epistolary novel. No. It’s got graphics and doodles and “classified” stamps and coffee ring stains and more…as if everything we are reading was legitimately collected from any remaining evidence of the events. And the parts that describe space battles are written in weaving words, curlicue shapes, in graphics of blasts/explosions, in patterns following the trajectories of missiles. I literally cannot do it justice with a normal review – you have to go pick up the book and look at it yourself.
Now, back to the plot and stuff. Holy crap it grabs you and doesn’t let go. There are so many layers of who is the good guy and who is the bad guy and who do you trust and how to do you know and what actually is the best course of action to save the most lives? I almost couldn’t keep up with the leaps and jumps of theory and hypothesis bouncing around in my head. And I loved that. Plus, I am definitely a sucker for an end of the world romance situation, so I was cheering hard for Kady and Ezra (and even of parts of that story are unlikely…I’m not mad about it). I also LOVE a strong female lead, one who fights the odds and never gives up and has a penchant for breaking rules to save the people she cares about (added bonus, this particular female lead is also a teach genius – I’m not personally that into science, but I strongly support a ladies in STEM situation like this). Another bonus, for me, of the fast-paced (and sometimes super scary) unfolding drama of the plot is that I never stopped to think too deeply for the reasons/people behind it. It just wasn’t the focus. So when, at the end, we get a hella shock/twist addressing those questions, it totally took me by surprise. I definitely gasped out loud. I LOVE that feeling. Another thing I want to say is how much I was surprised about how emotional I felt at certain parts, especially in relation to some of the AI sections. I mean really, its artificial intelligence, but the authors did a great job evoking tons of feels there. Plus, of course, there was (no spoilers here) a ton of death and destruction and fear and more, so obviously some of those parts got tough-going at times as well. And last, if you are a YA fantasy/sci-fi reading nerd (like me) keep your eyes peeled for some super fun Easter egg name drops of other authors of the genre. I got a big smile every time I found one - they’re small (and not obvious), but the satisfaction and fun is real!
Anyways, basically, I just want to add my voice to the chorus saying that this novel is just straight up fantastic. I cannot wait to pick up the next one(s)!