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ninetalevixen
Fast-paced and (not together unpleasantly) disorienting, this semi-dystopia. Fia's "power" is so cool, not to mention pretty special. The narration keeps the reader off-kilter, in a good way. But James - hard pass, thanks.
Weirdly, I didn't really think Rob and Juliet were really going to die, but it was a poignant ending for them - especially with the Shakespearean themes of choices/freewill vs. fate. The romantic plot was very well done, twisted and complicated and unpredictable.
Fascinating premise, and on a very interesting topic relevant to most people's lives. Really drove home how much influence mothers wield, and how manipulatively powerful narcissists can be.
I haven't read these books recently enough to even rate each of them individually, but I do remember liking them better than the TMI series so there is that.
I've already reviewed and shelved an older edition of this book so this'll be brief, but I do want to note that I adore the bonus content — it definitely enhances one's understanding of the Liars' world, and the letters from Gat in particular are so sweet and so heartbreaking — and, at 18, I still love this book every bit as much as I did the first time I read it.
My own Taiwanese-American childhood looks a lot more like the stereotype, so I really loved reading Eddie’s story because it was so different from mine — but also very similar in some ways; there are, after all, many universal aspects of growing up with immigrant parents.
This book bursts with personality and energy: moments of doubt and of triumphant epiphany, poor choices later regretted, love of music and food and people. It’s relatable on a human level, for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or lost their way.
This book bursts with personality and energy: moments of doubt and of triumphant epiphany, poor choices later regretted, love of music and food and people. It’s relatable on a human level, for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or lost their way.
This would definitely have been much, much closer to a 5-star read if I hadn't already come across spoilers (that's what I get for waiting so long to read it, I guess). It's still a really freaking awesome read, though, and I cannot wait to see what awaits in The Queen of Nothing.
I read this a good while back and wrote a review then that has since disappeared, but I remember loving the pure passion for ballet (you know it's real when it doesn't love you back - just as I knew I really loved color/winter guard because I wasn't actually talented at it) and the cute Asian love interest. There was definitely more because I initially rated it 5 stars, though I can't quite remember now if it was really so outstanding.
You'd think I would've learned by now to trust that Backman will bring the threads of the story together and make it more than worth my time, but in any case I'm glad that I continued despite my initial doubts.
With tears in my eyes and too many feelings in my heart, I'm definitely not ready to review this yet. RTC.
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content warnings:
rep:
CONVERSION: 13.3 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 9 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 10 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 5 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: 5 / 5
With tears in my eyes and too many feelings in my heart, I'm definitely not ready to review this yet. RTC.
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content warnings:
rep:
CONVERSION: 13.3 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 9 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 10 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 8 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: N/A
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 5 / 5
Rereadability: 4 / 5
Memorability: 5 / 5