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447 reviews by:
librarymouse
informative
medium-paced
I didn't find this book particularly gripping, but by the time I was done pondering the section title "The Crucible of Garfield", I was 77% of the way through my digital copy and just decided to finish it. It's not a bad book by any means in reference to in its coverage of the lives and deaths of President Garfield and his assassin Charles J. Guiteau, and the lives and deaths of those friends, family, and acquaintences who played a major role in both. I take issue in how the author handled the sexual abuse rampant in the Oneida community. I understand that it wasn't the book's focus, but by only acknowledging the problematic nature of the family and sexual dynamics in the Oneida community in how it condoned the sexual abuse of young girls by powerful men in the community, only in subtext until the last chapters of the book made me as a reader feel as if the issue was being brushed aside and used only as a show piece to show the early signs of Guiteau's monstrous nature.
It is understandable that the author's intent is most likely to give an unbiased view of the events that took place, but in having the book end with a vignette of the last days of John Humphrey Noyes and his life with his last devoted followers, a large population of children included, feels like a neat but unsatisfying and discomforting way of tying up an issue that necessitated further exploration.
Not a bad read, overall.
It is understandable that the author's intent is most likely to give an unbiased view of the events that took place, but in having the book end with a vignette of the last days of John Humphrey Noyes and his life with his last devoted followers, a large population of children included, feels like a neat but unsatisfying and discomforting way of tying up an issue that necessitated further exploration.
Not a bad read, overall.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
This book is an interesting exploration of social histories of small town Alabama and the personal history of Harper Lee. The first half of the book focuses on the life, crimes, and death of Reverend Willie Maxwell and the trial of his murderer, who was represented by Maxwell's former lawyer. The second half of the book tracks the life of Nelle Harper Lee, from Alabama to New York, and back again; following her friendship Truman Capote, her introduction to true crime writing, and the efforts she made towards writing a factual account of the trial of Willie Maxwell's killer and the events that preceeded it. This book highlights Lee's life as a person beyond her regretted identifications as author. There's so much I hadn't known about Lee. The author remains semi neutral about the possible involvement Lee's lawyer had in the release of Go Set A Watchman, but seems to agree with myself and the general public that the release of the early draft of the unpublished book that later became To Kill A Mockingbird was a cash grab on her part.
This book is rich in detail and weaves a narrative about the author's life and the lives of her subjects and friends that easily keeps the reader engaged.
This book is rich in detail and weaves a narrative about the author's life and the lives of her subjects and friends that easily keeps the reader engaged.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder
Minor: Suicide
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are books whose summaries manage to accurately summarize the events of the story, yet somehow not be representative of the story at all. This story is about Pearl and Rhett but the other character burn just as brightly, are just as deeply flawed, and pull the reader in just as close. Val is a particular favorite of mine in the complexity of her characterization. I adore how Rhett is characterized as well, especially in the divergence in how he views himself and treats his loved ones. His need for control and purity expresses through severely disorder eating is so painfully real. It's hard to see Pearl expect the worst from her son, but getting to see her through the lens of something other than mother clarifies her character and the choices she makes in interesting ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Animal death is in reference to the feeding of reptiles
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Faith Jones's perspective on the Children of God cult, with the conflicting and wildly varied emotions and memories she has of her time there. Her story is unique as she comes as it through the lens of how she viewed the incidents at the ages they were occurring. She brings the reader along with the journey of her struggles, joys, and the ways her perspective changes as she ages and learns. Her need for proof and desire for knowledge and understanding is deeply understandable and admirable as she breaks away from the way she was taught to unquestioningly believe what those in positions of power say. As she notes, she is astoundingly mature and innocent in equal measure, and her capacity for forgiveness is admirable. It makes sense that she didn't break her personal relationship with God after her break with organized religion. The title Sex Cult Nun is also quite interesting, as she both devotes herself to God with a vow like a catholic nun, but she also proselytizes and attempts to spread her beliefs by living the ideals she'd been taught as a nun would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Alisson Wood's accounts of her youth and struggles with mental health are incredibly tangible and relatable. The way she writes, weaving the narrative of how she was told to perceive her being groomed by her teacher, with the reality of the situation and the storyline in the novel Lolita make for very engaging storytelling without trivializing the memories and issues she explores. To use Lolita as a lense, framed as a love story, through which to view their relationship and then recommend Alisson go to school for English implies that Nick Norris either profoundly stupid or incredibly vain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jenny, Chris, and Margaret, in their pastoral moments are lovely friends and show beautiful love beyond age and class. Initally, Jenny's internal monologue shows the same variety of prejudice as Kitty expresses, but the situation they're in and the revelation of who Margaret is as a person breaks down Jenny's preconceived notions of Margaret and the people of her same social class.
I'm heart broken about the outcome of Chris's letters to Margaret. If only, in a better world. This book is lovingly and sweetly heartbreaking, and I'm glad to have read it. I look forward to reading it again and underlining half of the book with little hearts. Also, I agree with another reviewer:
Kitty, count your mf days. What the FUCK?
I'm heart broken about the outcome of Chris's letters to Margaret. If only, in a better world. This book is lovingly and sweetly heartbreaking, and I'm glad to have read it. I look forward to reading it again and underlining half of the book with little hearts. Also, I agree with another reviewer:
Kitty, count your mf days. What the FUCK?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Classism
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I really enjoyed Weizenberg's voice in this. I definitely have similar fears to her in terms of people equating change to choice when it comes to sexuality, but I deeply appreciate the exploration of where she's coming from in her analysing and that she notes in her reflection that there is very little research on AFAB and non-AFAB women's sexuality. I'm interested in her other works.
I'm very happy that she and her ex husband are able to be friends. Their friendship and love for their child are a driving force of this memoir.
I'm very happy that she and her ex husband are able to be friends. Their friendship and love for their child are a driving force of this memoir.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Vomit, Lesbophobia
Moderate: Dysphoria
Internalized homophobia
adventurous
funny
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is one of the better Shakespeare plays I've read. The last of his plays that I connected to was Measure for Measure; the humanity of which being what drew me in. I've found that I appreciate Shakespeare's writing more when the subjects are regular people, or not high-powered royalty. Viola/Ceasrio's gender experimentation is a very interesting narrative to follow. That, especially compounded by Orsino's willingness to court them while using the name Cesario and words like "boy" and male pronouns when they're in men's clothes has interesting implications to Orsino and by proxy, Shakespeare's views on sexuality and gender. Subtextual and implied queerness throughout the play give a rich quarry from which to source information for a variety of analyses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Classism
Minor: Death of parent
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
This book was written with tact and empathy for the victims and their families. The author made sure to seek the help of those whose loved ones he was working to memorialize, to ensure that the attempt at enshrining them wasn't instead causing harm. Missing from the Village addresses issues of community, and the explores the amorphous idea that community exists inherently among people who share a marginalized identity. The book calls into question the organization and priorities of the Toronto police, and offers solutions to the issues inherent in how the current system treats cases outside of the purview of general policing, especially missing persons cases. These issues allowed a killer to slip away from punishment for decades. Despite living in an area of the United States that is close to Canada, I don't have much more than a cursory insight into Canadian social issues and politics, and I'm astounded by the policing, harassment, and profiling issues that still plague queer and other marginalized populations.
I'm glad to have read this book.
I'm glad to have read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Deportation
Minor: Gun violence
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Very cute! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. It's a pleasant mix of slice of life and action adventure, and I love Anya's childlike awe in her perspective of the events.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Abandonment, Sexual harassment