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leahrosereads's Reviews (1.04k)
Can all contemporaries be like ELIZA AND HER MONSTERS please?
It took me about 50 pages to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked.
This book follows Eliza Mirk, a webcomic creator who shares her story about monsters to the world while facing a lot of monsters herself.
While I don't have anxiety or depression, I have seen what it can do to loved ones daily, and what Eliza goes through, is very real. This had a pretty honest representation of both mental health problems.
(Anyone facing these problems faces them a little differently (daily/weekly/ monthly/yearly). That's just one of the many terrible and isolating attributes of anxiety and depression. It's not same shit different day as some people think. If you read this and deal with either of these and can't relate, I completely understand. However, this looks very similar to what I've seen friends and family go through in the past - especially in high school. Which is why I feel it's honest in its representation.)
All that being said, Eliza works so hard every day and on every one of these pages, that, as a reader, I wanted to find a way to support her somehow. I felt the heaviness of what she experienced and how daunting it felt.
I wanted to talk about a friendship that helped her for a little bit, but I don't want to spoil anything. But, again that friendship felt real and didn't seem to move one way or the other unrealistically.
All the characters were written decently. And, this is in Eliza's POV so we don't have a way to delve into the brains of her parents or friends to know if how they're talking or what they're saying or if their body language is being accurately interpreted by Eliza. She's a teenager so just a tad unreliable in some of her narration.
I know I felt and saw things in a completely different light when I was her age.
Normally, I read to escape reality. Which is one of the reasons I don't enjoy contemporaries. But here, this reality made me reflect a lot on my own past, and I'm glad for that.
I definitely will be recommending this book to people who enjoy character driven stories. For sure.
It took me about 50 pages to get into the story, but once I did, I was hooked.
This book follows Eliza Mirk, a webcomic creator who shares her story about monsters to the world while facing a lot of monsters herself.
While I don't have anxiety or depression, I have seen what it can do to loved ones daily, and what Eliza goes through, is very real. This had a pretty honest representation of both mental health problems.
(Anyone facing these problems faces them a little differently (daily/weekly/ monthly/yearly). That's just one of the many terrible and isolating attributes of anxiety and depression. It's not same shit different day as some people think. If you read this and deal with either of these and can't relate, I completely understand. However, this looks very similar to what I've seen friends and family go through in the past - especially in high school. Which is why I feel it's honest in its representation.)
All that being said, Eliza works so hard every day and on every one of these pages, that, as a reader, I wanted to find a way to support her somehow. I felt the heaviness of what she experienced and how daunting it felt.
I wanted to talk about a friendship that helped her for a little bit, but I don't want to spoil anything. But, again that friendship felt real and didn't seem to move one way or the other unrealistically.
All the characters were written decently. And, this is in Eliza's POV so we don't have a way to delve into the brains of her parents or friends to know if how they're talking or what they're saying or if their body language is being accurately interpreted by Eliza. She's a teenager so just a tad unreliable in some of her narration.
I know I felt and saw things in a completely different light when I was her age.
Normally, I read to escape reality. Which is one of the reasons I don't enjoy contemporaries. But here, this reality made me reflect a lot on my own past, and I'm glad for that.
I definitely will be recommending this book to people who enjoy character driven stories. For sure.
I was hooked from the opening line. Really liked this alternate history (I guess), dark fantasy/horror, literary fiction-y mashup going on here. The MC is wholly unlikeable, but I appreciated him.
Loved the length of this novella. I really felt like it worked incredibly well for this story.
Loved the length of this novella. I really felt like it worked incredibly well for this story.
Holy heck! This was a fantastically well written story, and I loved the main character. Jack was a little more love sick than I remember being in high school, but it didn't take away from the story.
I loved all the characters here! And I appreciated that there's on page parents parenting.
I didn't know what this was about going in so gotta a little confused at a spoilery part but that, though not explained, made for a very interesting premise to a contemporary story.
I loved all the characters here! And I appreciated that there's on page parents parenting.
I didn't know what this was about going in so gotta a little confused at a spoilery part but that, though not explained, made for a very interesting premise to a contemporary story.
Excellent book for some dreary times. This was filled with fantastic characters and a great, feel good plot. I loved how Elizabeth Acevedo weaved this story. It was truly magical.
This was the first book I read by this author but it won't be the last.
This was the first book I read by this author but it won't be the last.
Did I just read my favorite book of 2020? Very possible! This was absolutely magical in all the ways that I love. And haunting in all the ways that I love. And it's going to hold a very special place in my heart for years to come, that's for damn sure.
I loved Claire - just everything about her was wonderful to me. And Brevity was amazing! And Leto, and fuck it, everyone! Every one of these characters was exceptional. Every world and setting was right up my alley.
I have found (after reading 3) my favorite thing in books - books within books/libraries within books. It clearly can do no wrong in my eyes. I cannot wait to read the next one!
I loved Claire - just everything about her was wonderful to me. And Brevity was amazing! And Leto, and fuck it, everyone! Every one of these characters was exceptional. Every world and setting was right up my alley.
I have found (after reading 3) my favorite thing in books - books within books/libraries within books. It clearly can do no wrong in my eyes. I cannot wait to read the next one!
Not the romance for me. There were definitely elements that I liked (the witty banter between the MC and love interest), but a lot of this was a little too over the top, including the on page animal abuse that really took away from the story and a pretty scary misuse of a firearm, that while justified, was a really unnecessary element.
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WTF did I just read? Seriously, what the actual fuck did I just read. I have no idea what this was, but I know what it made me feel - uncomfortable and sad and hopeful and despair and joy.
I know that this was horrific and beautiful, and that the Strange Bird was one of the most unique characters I've followed in a story.
But that's all I know. I think it's OK to be so thoroughly confused but love every word on a page in a story. Hopefully it is. Cause that's where I'm at.
I know that this was horrific and beautiful, and that the Strange Bird was one of the most unique characters I've followed in a story.
But that's all I know. I think it's OK to be so thoroughly confused but love every word on a page in a story. Hopefully it is. Cause that's where I'm at.
Fast, fun(ish) read that I wish went a bit deeper into a lot of the topics discussed here. It all felt really surface level - the fatphobia, eating disorder, and family dynamics (including the emotional abuse) weren't explored as well as they could be.
Normally, I'm all for shorter books, but I think this needed at least another 100 pages to really get into everything that was mentioned here. There were all of these really heavy topics plus a romance, and none of was written to completion.
Normally, I'm all for shorter books, but I think this needed at least another 100 pages to really get into everything that was mentioned here. There were all of these really heavy topics plus a romance, and none of was written to completion.
This is so exceptionally weird and wonderful. I loved every essay/memoir/story? I don't know what to call these, but every single one hit home for me. I'll definitely read this again and again and again.