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ninetalevixen
Not a perfect 5 stars (details to follow), but we’re going to round up.
I was first introduced to Mary Oliver in a high school English class — AP Lang, if memory serves; the piece was her essay “Owls,” which I was delighted to find included here — and it was one of those fortuitous instances where the work is so wonderful and the teacher so terrific that the in-class dissection only enhanced my enjoyment of the writing.
Quite honestly I’m not crazy about the section where she talks about other authors (Wordsworth, Poe, Whitman), but that’s probably just because if I was in the mood for literary analysis I’d write it myself. Her insights are relatable for the most part, and in some ways offer a different perspective to broaden my own, but I’m much more interested in her musings on nature and humankind.
I was first introduced to Mary Oliver in a high school English class — AP Lang, if memory serves; the piece was her essay “Owls,” which I was delighted to find included here — and it was one of those fortuitous instances where the work is so wonderful and the teacher so terrific that the in-class dissection only enhanced my enjoyment of the writing.
Quite honestly I’m not crazy about the section where she talks about other authors (Wordsworth, Poe, Whitman), but that’s probably just because if I was in the mood for literary analysis I’d write it myself. Her insights are relatable for the most part, and in some ways offer a different perspective to broaden my own, but I’m much more interested in her musings on nature and humankind.
women are magical and strong and powerful, and we are reclaiming our right to take up space. surprise, match-boys, you can’t burn us at the stake.
I received an advance review copy from Wednesday Books through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.
You might know that it’s rare for me to give out 5-star ratings. I’ve also become a lot pickier about which reviews get cross-posted to my blog, since it can be such a struggle to articulate exactly why or how a book is so fantastic that I want to shove copies at everyone I know. So that should give you an idea of just how much I wanted to make sure this one was on everyone’s radar.
While it doesn’t seem right to say that I enjoyed this book — it’s quite brutal in a lot of ways; please check the content warnings above and practice self-care as needed while reading, if you so choose — The Grace Year has definitely earned a place on the list of 2019 reads that will stay with me for a long, long time. (And considering I’m not generally a fan of thrillers or dystopian novels, it’s even more impressive how strongly this one resonated with me.)
In a nutshell, this book is everything I didn’t even know I was hoping for when I picked up [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578028274l/38447._SY75_.jpg|1119185] for the first time. But it’s almost a disservice to compare the two, although both have strong feminist themes and a patriarchal dystopian setting. The Grace Year is an entity unto itself, utterly unlike anything I’ve ever read.
I don’t want to talk too much about the plot or motifs because I think they’re most powerful if each reader discovers and interprets them on their own … and there’s quite a lot to explore, although the plot is deceptively simple. (Which is not to say it’s straightforward; certain scenes are tinged with delirium and confusion, adding to the atmosphere.) It’s suspenseful, with social commentary that pulls no punches, and incredible symbolism. The pacing is fantastic — keeping you guessing, hoping, praying. Just when you think you’ve understood what’s going on, the rug is yanked out from under your feet again.
Balancing believable flaws with likability is tricky, especially in a teenage-girl protagonist, yet Liggett manages to pull it off. Tierney is far from perfect, but she has such a good heart despite everything life throws at her. And really, just about all the characters have hidden depths — as in real life, people are messy and complex, existing all along the spectrum from good to wicked. And they just might surprise you, for better or worse.
The Grace Year is so enthralling that I read it in two sittings: absolutely could not put it down, and barely paused to take notes. Seriously, this is a masterpiece of a novel, tempering pragmatism and harsh reality with empathy and hope for the future of society, of humanity.
content warnings:
rep:
They can call it magic. I can call it madness. But one thing is certain. There is no grace here.
You might know that it’s rare for me to give out 5-star ratings. I’ve also become a lot pickier about which reviews get cross-posted to my blog, since it can be such a struggle to articulate exactly why or how a book is so fantastic that I want to shove copies at everyone I know. So that should give you an idea of just how much I wanted to make sure this one was on everyone’s radar.
While it doesn’t seem right to say that I enjoyed this book — it’s quite brutal in a lot of ways; please check the content warnings above and practice self-care as needed while reading, if you so choose — The Grace Year has definitely earned a place on the list of 2019 reads that will stay with me for a long, long time. (And considering I’m not generally a fan of thrillers or dystopian novels, it’s even more impressive how strongly this one resonated with me.)
In a nutshell, this book is everything I didn’t even know I was hoping for when I picked up [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)|Margaret Atwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578028274l/38447._SY75_.jpg|1119185] for the first time. But it’s almost a disservice to compare the two, although both have strong feminist themes and a patriarchal dystopian setting. The Grace Year is an entity unto itself, utterly unlike anything I’ve ever read.
I don’t want to talk too much about the plot or motifs because I think they’re most powerful if each reader discovers and interprets them on their own … and there’s quite a lot to explore, although the plot is deceptively simple. (Which is not to say it’s straightforward; certain scenes are tinged with delirium and confusion, adding to the atmosphere.) It’s suspenseful, with social commentary that pulls no punches, and incredible symbolism. The pacing is fantastic — keeping you guessing, hoping, praying. Just when you think you’ve understood what’s going on, the rug is yanked out from under your feet again.
Balancing believable flaws with likability is tricky, especially in a teenage-girl protagonist, yet Liggett manages to pull it off. Tierney is far from perfect, but she has such a good heart despite everything life throws at her. And really, just about all the characters have hidden depths — as in real life, people are messy and complex, existing all along the spectrum from good to wicked. And they just might surprise you, for better or worse.
The Grace Year is so enthralling that I read it in two sittings: absolutely could not put it down, and barely paused to take notes. Seriously, this is a masterpiece of a novel, tempering pragmatism and harsh reality with empathy and hope for the future of society, of humanity.
content warnings:
Spoiler
major character death(s), body mutilation (including scalping and branding), blood, slut-shaming, bullying, on-page suicide by drowning, mind-altering substances, withdrawal, implied sexual content, teenage pregnancy, on-page childbirthrep:
Spoiler
WLW secondary character, minor F/F relationship
I have a lot of feelings, but if I don’t review this book now I never will.
Confession: I hadn’t seen or listened to the entirety of Hamilton before picking up this book, though I was in high school when Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece came out so it was already popular and I knew of it; I recognized some historical moments (shoutout to my awesome APUSH teacher) but this musical really makes the historical figures and facts come to life.
I’ve been a theater geek and a band member, so I’m well acquainted with both the performance and camaraderie aspects involved in a large production, and it delighted me to read about it in this book. I love behind-the-scenes stories, the journey from inspiration to curtain call. I love music and geeky references and clever wordplay. So the only question is, why didn’t I get into Hamilton sooner?
(I finished this in two sittings, and of course I listened to the soundtrack as I read LMM’s annotations; it took so long to get through because I was saving it as a reward for after my orgo exam. In case you couldn’t tell from my review, it was everything I hoped and more.)
Confession: I hadn’t seen or listened to the entirety of Hamilton before picking up this book, though I was in high school when Lin-Manuel Miranda’s masterpiece came out so it was already popular and I knew of it; I recognized some historical moments (shoutout to my awesome APUSH teacher) but this musical really makes the historical figures and facts come to life.
I’ve been a theater geek and a band member, so I’m well acquainted with both the performance and camaraderie aspects involved in a large production, and it delighted me to read about it in this book. I love behind-the-scenes stories, the journey from inspiration to curtain call. I love music and geeky references and clever wordplay. So the only question is, why didn’t I get into Hamilton sooner?
(I finished this in two sittings, and of course I listened to the soundtrack as I read LMM’s annotations; it took so long to get through because I was saving it as a reward for after my orgo exam. In case you couldn’t tell from my review, it was everything I hoped and more.)
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(Read for my "Intro to 21st Century Literature" class.)
It doesn't seem right to say I enjoyed this, at least in the usual sense. There are so many scenes that are difficult to read because they deal with sensitive topics and/or the prose contains multiple layers of meaning; there are so many characters and relationships to keep track of.
Orange is an incredible storyteller, and this is an important story to tell. Honestly, I'm grateful that this is part of the course curriculum since it means I have support in tackling the themes and implications, as well as being in conversation with multiple interpretations.
Although I don't think I ever want to reread this, it's been profoundly impactful. Definitely deserving of all the acclaim and hype it's received.
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content warnings:parent deaths, major character death, gun violence, mention of suicide, minor gore, alcoholism & drug abuse, implied rape, physical & verbal domestic abuse
rep:American Indian MCs, biracial (Indian/white) MCs
CONVERSION: 13.15 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 9 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 9 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 5 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 5 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 5 / 5
It doesn't seem right to say I enjoyed this, at least in the usual sense. There are so many scenes that are difficult to read because they deal with sensitive topics and/or the prose contains multiple layers of meaning; there are so many characters and relationships to keep track of.
Orange is an incredible storyteller, and this is an important story to tell. Honestly, I'm grateful that this is part of the course curriculum since it means I have support in tackling the themes and implications, as well as being in conversation with multiple interpretations.
Although I don't think I ever want to reread this, it's been profoundly impactful. Definitely deserving of all the acclaim and hype it's received.
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content warnings:
rep:
CONVERSION: 13.15 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 9 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 9 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 5 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 5 / 5
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: N/A
Memorability: 5 / 5
March 2019 read for Books & Boba.
I adore everything about Darius: his honesty and vulnerability, his love of tea, unapologetic references to LOTR and Star Trek, how sweet he is to his little sister, and his sense of humor. Hyphenated-American (Persian-American, Asian-American, etc.) is its own unique identity, and I can absolutely relate to feeling caught between two cultures — as well as how depression and possible anxiety (in my case it's more the latter; for Darius, it's primarily the former) exacerbates the feeling of not belonging or being wanted. But it's not all heartbreaking or sad; Khorram does an amazing job of showing how mental health is just one aspect of Darius's life: a particularly influential aspect, true, but not the only one that matters.
This story is so heartwarming, with its emphasis on family and friendship, as well as the nuances of both. It's not all fun day trips or soccer (non-American football) victories; there's drama and misunderstandings and hurt feelings throughout, because that's how life is. And yet at the end of the day everyone is there for each other, whether or not you're physically in the same place.
I adore everything about Darius: his honesty and vulnerability, his love of tea, unapologetic references to LOTR and Star Trek, how sweet he is to his little sister, and his sense of humor. Hyphenated-American (Persian-American, Asian-American, etc.) is its own unique identity, and I can absolutely relate to feeling caught between two cultures — as well as how depression and possible anxiety (in my case it's more the latter; for Darius, it's primarily the former) exacerbates the feeling of not belonging or being wanted. But it's not all heartbreaking or sad; Khorram does an amazing job of showing how mental health is just one aspect of Darius's life: a particularly influential aspect, true, but not the only one that matters.
This story is so heartwarming, with its emphasis on family and friendship, as well as the nuances of both. It's not all fun day trips or soccer (non-American football) victories; there's drama and misunderstandings and hurt feelings throughout, because that's how life is. And yet at the end of the day everyone is there for each other, whether or not you're physically in the same place.
RTC
content warnings: Spoiler
rep: Spoiler
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CONVERSION: 13.3 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 9 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 10 / 10
Emotional Impact: 9 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Memorability: 5 / 5
content warnings: Spoiler
rep: Spoiler
-----------
CONVERSION: 13.3 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 9 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 10 / 10
Emotional Impact: 9 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 4 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 5
Memorability: 5 / 5
Perfection. This collection somehow puts into words those impossible-to-articulate emotions and processes surrounding the choice to let yourself fall in and out of love: some of which I know intimately, and others which I can only hope to someday be lucky enough to experience in all their luxurious pain/pleasure.
Any avid reader will know those books that you simultaneously want to devour but never want to finish, because that would mean the end, and you never want to say goodbye; this is one of those masterpieces. Each and every poem shines in the constellation that is this work.
Love: c’est la vie et c’est la mort.
Any avid reader will know those books that you simultaneously want to devour but never want to finish, because that would mean the end, and you never want to say goodbye; this is one of those masterpieces. Each and every poem shines in the constellation that is this work.
Love: c’est la vie et c’est la mort.
