sareidle's Reviews (180)

All Boys Aren't Blue

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

I think it is a great shame that I learned of this title because of its status as a banned book rather than the quality of the writing. I'm so glad I listened to George's story and I hope LGBTQ+ teens can read it, too. George's maternal family is truly special and shows the benefits of accepting all family members, regardless of their identities and personal lives. George's tribute and apology to their trans cousin was touching.

White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America

Nancy Isenberg

dark informative slow-paced

Content Warnings

Sovietistan

Erika Fatland

4.75

adventurous informative reflective slow-paced

I enjoyed learning about Soviet Central Asia through Erika Fatland's eyes. The prose was very readable and propelling. I liked how the history of each country was woven in to the travel diary style of writing. I was most interested in the Soviet era history, but each country has a long and rich history that is often unknown by westerners.

Content Warnings

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation

Kristin Kobes Du Mez

4.25

challenging informative medium-paced

This book helped me place all of the puzzle pieces together of things that I observed and criticized in American Evangelicals for years. Seeing the bird's eye view of how mainstream Christianity has shifted in response to societal changes demonstrates how Evangelicals care more about power and influence than Christ's message. There are many factors that have led to the current predicament of the United States in 2025 and Kristin Kobes Du Mez did an excellent job presenting her research on the white evangelical side.

That said, the misogyny and dog whistle racism was hard to listen to repeatedly. I felt myself getting angry when quotations from evangelical leaders and conservative politicians were read because it was so divorced from the actual teachings of the Bible. While this is a very important book to read, based on my experience, I recommend reading it in moderation.

Content Warnings

One in a Millennial: On Friendship, Feelings, Fangirls, and Fitting In

Kate Kennedy

3.75

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

An enjoyable reflection and reminiscence on life in the '90s and 2000s. I liked Kate's voice and how she played with words - their sounds, double-meanings, etc. While the narrative did drag a bit at the 60% mark, I appreciated Kennedy's honesty about her struggles with infertility and her advocacy for reproductive healthcare.

Content Warnings

Just Stab Me Now

Jill Bearup

3.75

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a fun read - I liked how the author (Caroline) and the main character (Rosamund) helped each other find courage and happy endings to their respective stories. Robin was my favorite character and the plot moved in interesting ways that kept me engaged. However, the pacing was inconsistent and the fantasy world-building was very confusing. I had to give up on understanding the political aspects of Bevoria and Abrenia and decide to focus on the character's relationships instead.

Content Warnings

The Name-Bearer

Natalia Hernandez

DID NOT FINISH: 17%

The premise was interesting, but the prose over explained things. The royal decree at the start of the book provided a great, in universe explanation for the role of the name-bearer and how they are cut off from their parents. It was not necessary to re-explain that process at length just a few chapters later. While the main character is young, it took her such a long time to realize what was going on, plus the narrator's high pitched voice for her was grating. Once I realized I wasn't enjoying the story, I decided to cut my losses and move on to something else.

Content Warnings

The Guncle Abroad

Steven Rowley

4.25

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A very charming follow-up to The Guncle. Each of the characters has a distinct voice and personality that rings true to my experiences with family and taking care of children. Maisie and Grant are very endearing and I loved reading about their adventures across Europe with their GUP. The author handles difficult topics of grief, a parent's remarriage, and self-sabotaging relationships very tactfully and I was tearing up at the end.

Content Warnings

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers

Deborah Heiligman

5.0

emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

Deborah Heiligman crafted an excellent, readable narrative of the Van Gogh brothers. Like the author, the letters between Theo and Vincent stood out to me when visiting the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The brothers' story is deeply moving as they navigate challenges and figure out their relationship. I gained a greater appreciation for Vincent's art and the great effort his sister-in-law Jo took to make sure his name was remembered long after his lifetime.

Content Warnings

Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth

Natalie Haynes

4.5

funny informative medium-paced

I love how Natalie Haynes retells Greek myths and explains how the stories evolved over time. The chapter on Hestia and her invisible labor was fascinating and I appreciated the tie-ins to modern versions of the goddesses to show how these characters still resonate to us.

Content Warnings

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