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sara_m_martins's Reviews (334)
its hard to review this since its so short: do you like the themes in black panther, but wanted a bit more shuri, more space & less white saviorism? read this!
if compared to other books is a 3, but i took into account that the story took place in under 100 pages, and for that I'm giving it 4stars,since it accomplished so much in story telling, world building and getting me attached to the characters.
if compared to other books is a 3, but i took into account that the story took place in under 100 pages, and for that I'm giving it 4stars,since it accomplished so much in story telling, world building and getting me attached to the characters.
Elena Ferrante only went and did it again! Can't wait to start the next one in the series!!
wizard of earthsea: 4 stars. I loved the writing, the pacing, how she writes her world & the story and theme were also brilliant. this happens with all the books, all hail LeGuin
tombs of atuan: 4 stars. i did find the final 2 chapters weird; i'm going back and forth if it was what the MC needed in her situation/state of mind or if she, once again, wasn't Being Listened To.
the farthest shore: 3 stars. i just couldn't get into it
tehanu: 4.5 stars. definitely my favourite. it's the least fantasy-y one, so that may be a reason why. the viewpoint of the underprivileged (non-magical people, women, people with disabilities) was a great story to tell. couple great quotes in there
tombs of atuan: 4 stars. i did find the final 2 chapters weird; i'm going back and forth if it was what the MC needed in her situation/state of mind or if she, once again, wasn't Being Listened To.
the farthest shore: 3 stars. i just couldn't get into it
tehanu: 4.5 stars. definitely my favourite. it's the least fantasy-y one, so that may be a reason why. the viewpoint of the underprivileged (non-magical people, women, people with disabilities) was a great story to tell. couple great quotes in there
horror isn't really my genre, it was on my LGBTQ+ shelf, and i thought about dnfing the book often (i did end up dnfing one of the stories "especially heinous"), but i did really enjoy the final two stories: "The resident" & "difficult at parties". "Inventory" was also interesting as it talks about a pandemic scenario.
"Husband Stitch" interesting themes of how men and society feel ownership over women's bodies. cool themes, not the story for me (2 stars)
"Inventory" a pandemic post-apocalyptic scenario as the woman goes over her sexual/romantic conquests (2.5 stars)
"Mothers" i honestly don't even fully remember this one, it was strange & not for me. (2 stars)
"Especially Heinous" this one was centered around law and order suv with a paranormal horror twist. dnf
"Eight Bites" themes of disordered eating (2 stars)
"The Resident" don't know how to explain this one besides artists being weird in the woods (4 stars)
"Difficult at Parties" themes of sexual assault (3.5 stars)
"Husband Stitch" interesting themes of how men and society feel ownership over women's bodies. cool themes, not the story for me (2 stars)
"Inventory" a pandemic post-apocalyptic scenario as the woman goes over her sexual/romantic conquests (2.5 stars)
"Mothers" i honestly don't even fully remember this one, it was strange & not for me. (2 stars)
"Especially Heinous" this one was centered around law and order suv with a paranormal horror twist. dnf
"Eight Bites" themes of disordered eating (2 stars)
"The Resident" don't know how to explain this one besides artists being weird in the woods (4 stars)
"Difficult at Parties" themes of sexual assault (3.5 stars)
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emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(PS. i could write a book about this book, but i'm not sure i have the words)
Okay firstly, Hazel is one of my favourite creators - as in TOP 3 favourites; she might even have that #1 spot to be completely honest. i think about something of hers almost everyday - i adore Septem and i think about TOTM August every time i'm not feeling great. I used a otter bookmark too, which i recommend for maximum enjoyment.
Her personality shines through her work, and Out of Love was no exception - rather, you can see so much more of the range of her persona in a single art work - from her humor to how she handles heavier, sensitive topics (mental health, domestic abuse and abusive/toxic relationships - #ownvoices). And OOL balances these perfectly.
I was so enthralled by this book that i read it the whole way through a first time, only to finish and start a re-read right after - this time taking time to underline (pretty much everything) and trying to catch all the cross-references. I feel there's so much thought behind each word and so many connections (with chapters before and/or after) - due to both her writing and the story being told from finish to start - that i'm not smart enough to catch.
I really enjoy her writing - you can feel the backdrop of film making in it. One of the moments this jumps out the most in my memory is the final scene of the Summer Skin chapter.
WHICH SPEAKING OF - i broke down in tears finishing that chapter at 3AM, and went into all my social media bios and removed "bi" from them, leaving just the rainbow flag, as i entered a process that is still ongoing (this had been building up, but Hazel's words clicked the button to open the floodgates). Which is pretty ironic considering that Hazel is bisexual herself. I cannot express what that final scene did for me. But it was literally life-changing.
Summer Skin and Canadian Geese (i too am a daughter to a mom of 3, with absent fathers) are chapters that i see myself going back to over and over again
Surely, i should talk more about the relationship aspect of the book, you know the central plot line... But there's so much to read and think about with this book. I didn't even touch on all the great topics revolving around feminism on this book which are SO MANY and SO WELL DONE and so relatable (to me at least - like the motherhood bit!!! holy shit). And this is already so long. But, you know, it's not even about the relationship per say, is it- the relationship is just the conductive line though which we see the character's life unfolding (backwards. folding? idk).
It encapsulates the whole human experience because that's what life is - you are living and there's always so much happening and it's all so hard and complicated, but also strange and curious and interesting - and Hazel took it all and put it in words and made funny or made it heartbreaking and even a little bit of both and isn't that such a magnificent feat.
I think that's why I love this book so much: it has Life in it.
Okay firstly, Hazel is one of my favourite creators - as in TOP 3 favourites; she might even have that #1 spot to be completely honest. i think about something of hers almost everyday - i adore Septem and i think about TOTM August every time i'm not feeling great. I used a otter bookmark too, which i recommend for maximum enjoyment.
Her personality shines through her work, and Out of Love was no exception - rather, you can see so much more of the range of her persona in a single art work - from her humor to how she handles heavier, sensitive topics (mental health, domestic abuse and abusive/toxic relationships - #ownvoices). And OOL balances these perfectly.
I was so enthralled by this book that i read it the whole way through a first time, only to finish and start a re-read right after - this time taking time to underline (pretty much everything) and trying to catch all the cross-references. I feel there's so much thought behind each word and so many connections (with chapters before and/or after) - due to both her writing and the story being told from finish to start - that i'm not smart enough to catch.
I really enjoy her writing - you can feel the backdrop of film making in it. One of the moments this jumps out the most in my memory is the final scene of the Summer Skin chapter.
WHICH SPEAKING OF - i broke down in tears finishing that chapter at 3AM, and went into all my social media bios and removed "bi" from them, leaving just the rainbow flag, as i entered a process that is still ongoing (this had been building up, but Hazel's words clicked the button to open the floodgates). Which is pretty ironic considering that Hazel is bisexual herself. I cannot express what that final scene did for me. But it was literally life-changing.
Summer Skin and Canadian Geese (i too am a daughter to a mom of 3, with absent fathers) are chapters that i see myself going back to over and over again
Surely, i should talk more about the relationship aspect of the book, you know the central plot line... But there's so much to read and think about with this book. I didn't even touch on all the great topics revolving around feminism on this book which are SO MANY and SO WELL DONE and so relatable (to me at least - like the motherhood bit!!! holy shit). And this is already so long. But, you know, it's not even about the relationship per say, is it- the relationship is just the conductive line though which we see the character's life unfolding (backwards. folding? idk).
It encapsulates the whole human experience because that's what life is - you are living and there's always so much happening and it's all so hard and complicated, but also strange and curious and interesting - and Hazel took it all and put it in words and made funny or made it heartbreaking and even a little bit of both and isn't that such a magnificent feat.
I think that's why I love this book so much: it has Life in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Sexual violence
last year, I spent christmas day seated near the fireplace reading a book i had bought to get free shipping. it transported me into a world of magical realism, where other worlds lived alongside ours and we almost knew they were there, but not quite. at the same time it spoke some long standing truths about life, about being human. that book was The Graveyard Book, and my 1st Gaiman.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane gave much the same feeling, and having Gaiman reading the audiobook to me only added to the experience. You follow a little boy being introduced to these extra, magical slivers of the world going on an adventure with monsters and old guardian souls.
Meanwhile, Gaiman touches on childhood and growing up. On having grown up. On the change that comes with it. On how we perceive the world because of all that. And, most lovely of all, on books and stories. Pro tip: check the quote section of this book, it's a grand time
The Ocean at the End of the Lane gave much the same feeling, and having Gaiman reading the audiobook to me only added to the experience. You follow a little boy being introduced to these extra, magical slivers of the world going on an adventure with monsters and old guardian souls.
Meanwhile, Gaiman touches on childhood and growing up. On having grown up. On the change that comes with it. On how we perceive the world because of all that. And, most lovely of all, on books and stories. Pro tip: check the quote section of this book, it's a grand time
(review of the portuguese translation Prazer em Conhecer-me)
+ a really good scientific communication book! recommend for everyone interested to know more about the field of genetics and the lesser known associates of it (epigenetics, nutrigenomics, etc). Also plenty of talk of the new crowd favourite, microbiome!
- imo chapter 9 wasn't great (less backing to conclusions, which were extremel solid in all other chapters)
+/- plenty of pop culture references, which are a classic plus for scicomm, but some is lost when you translate it to non-american cultures. not a fault of the book but something to think about when you are considering buying it
+ a really good scientific communication book! recommend for everyone interested to know more about the field of genetics and the lesser known associates of it (epigenetics, nutrigenomics, etc). Also plenty of talk of the new crowd favourite, microbiome!
- imo chapter 9 wasn't great (less backing to conclusions, which were extremel solid in all other chapters)
+/- plenty of pop culture references, which are a classic plus for scicomm, but some is lost when you translate it to non-american cultures. not a fault of the book but something to think about when you are considering buying it