literatureaesthetic's Reviews (540)

'the glass castle' is a harrowing memoir relaying jeannette walls' brutal and unconventional childhood. involving themes of poverty, child neglect and abuse, and growing up with dysfunctional parents who struggled with addiction and mental health illnesses.

this book has developed an almost legendary status within the literary/non-fiction world, and so i feel like there isn't much for me to add to the plethora of reviews that already exist on the internet. so i'll try and keep it (somewhat) brief.

i think it is a remarkable book, beautifully and eloquently written, and manages to capture the intricacies of growing up with an extremely complex child-parental relationship. i never usually read non-fiction/memoirs, and i was pleasantly surprised at how immersive this was. due to both it's anecdotal format and walls' prose, it has an almost fairytale-like, illusive feel, that works really well for a reader like me, who prefers fiction.

it is a real, honest and startling look at the modern american family, revealing uncomfortable truths about american culture/reality that was never typically shown within media (especially not in 2005, when this memoir was published). jeannette's story resonated deeply with me, a profound memoir that i'll continue to think about.

'Jane Eyre' was my first Bronte novel and it was amazing. I fell in love with Jane, and her confidence and independence. There was something magical about this book, the characters hold a special place in my heart - and despite common opinions, I actually loved Mr Rochester. Although, there were a few times I caught myself thinking that there were maybe too many descriptive scenes.

slay, cannott wait to read more by mark lawrence. a potential fav author for sure

Wow. I'm not sure I can write a review worthy enough for this book. So I'm just going to say, it was amazing. Greek mythology was the genre that had started my journey with books. Without Greek Mythology, I probably wouldn't be a huge bookworm. And that's a scary thought to be honest. Circe was a breath of fresh air. The writing style was almost poetic, once I started reading I simply didn't want to put it down. Circe herself lives a life of drama and pain. She's shrouded with tragedy, and with this book we're reminded of the harsh, relentless nature of Greek Gods. Yet despite this, she remains true to herself. I adored Circe as a character, she was fearless and strong and defies the oppression forced upon her. 

I'm glad I picked up this book. I feel it's a book with many important morals, and for that reason alone you should read it.
I applaud and commend Madeline Miller, for wrenching my heart out, and stitching it back together again by the end. This may just be a new favourite. 

“Which was worse? To feel nothing, or to grieve for something you no longer remembered? Surely when you forgot, you’d forget to be sad, or what was the point? And yet that numbness would take part of your self away, it would be like having pins-and-needles in your soul."

I am surprised at how much I loved this book. The unique and magical plot of having memories bound into books hooked me from the start. I loved the main character Emmett, who is a book binder, a profession that is often feared. Emmett has always been drawn to books, leading him to an apprenticeship with Seredith, a professional book binder. I won't share too much of the plot because I actually think this book is better if you go into it not knowing much.

The writing style was wonderful, the story was heart-wrenching and the characters were perfectly portrayed. In a way, it actually reminds me of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. Although Bridget Collins's writing definitely isn't as flowery as Erin Morgenstern's, the plot and some of the themes are pleasantly similar. I'd say if you liked The Starless Sea, then maybe give The Binding a go

4.25 ☆

ahh i reallyy liked this. despite its length, there was never a boring moment. it had some of the BEST friendships. if you like the found family trope, you'll love this. just such a fun time, i'm SO sad that i have to wait for book 2

Rating: ★★★★☆

This book deals with so many different topics surrounding Korean womanhood. From sexism, to motherhood, to the toxic beauty culture, to kpop... This book encapsulates what it means to be a woman in Korea.

It follows 4 different women, who all live in the same apartment complex in Seoul. I loved how flawed these women are (flawed characters are always my fav). These women were arrogant and judgemental, others are cruel, some were self-absorbed...... but I loved that Frances Cha conveys that they're only this way because they live in a patriarchal society that is constantly pitching women against one another. The way that Frances Cha explained the harsh and difficult societal and cultural norms was masterful. From women having to do everything they can to satisfy and appeal to men, to the financial struggles, the extreme misogyny and sexism, the lengths women will go to achieve "beauty".... the harsh reality of Korean culture was both shocking and eye-opening.

I also really loved that no matter all the struggles, pain and suffering these 4 women go though, they stick together. They support one another. And as always with relationships, there are ups and downs, but they fight through them. These women were so strong and fierce and they supported one another through some difficult shit, and I think that's such an important and powerful message. After reading this, you can't help but feel so much admiration and respect for Korean women.

I adored this book. If I had one critique, it would be that maybe Frances Cha was attempting to do too much for a 270 book? I think there were maybe one too many topics that Frances Cha was trying to discuss and raise awareness about. At times, it did feel as though the Frances had squeezed and compressed so many different topics into this short book, that it seemed slightly constricted or cramped. But again, these are issues that need to be discussed and so I really can't fault Frances Cha at all.

I think this book was amazing, and I'm so glad to have read it!!

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