Excellent. One of the best examples of the "hysterical woman" trope which I absolutely love. A great, creepy representation of depression.Excellent. One of the best examples of the "hysterical woman" trope which I absolutely love. A great, creepy representation of depression....more
Truly the best memoir I've ever read. I had to read it in small chunks because of the subject matter, but it didn't lose any of it's impact. I think tTruly the best memoir I've ever read. I had to read it in small chunks because of the subject matter, but it didn't lose any of it's impact. I think this should be required reading in school.
According to Goodreads, this is the 1000th book I've read, and I can't think of a better book to mark that milestone....more
Amazing. I need to pick up more non-fiction because I often do end up loving it, and this is the perfect example. This book focusses on language and hAmazing. I need to pick up more non-fiction because I often do end up loving it, and this is the perfect example. This book focusses on language and how it has been used in cults and cult-like businesses, for bad or for good. It's informative and entertaining. I'll check out what else this author has written....more
Incredible. An extremely well researched look into how society favors white men in every aspect of life. It cover everything from slavery, corporate AIncredible. An extremely well researched look into how society favors white men in every aspect of life. It cover everything from slavery, corporate America, politics and social media hate groups. The writing is excellent and had me hooked in from page one. One of my favorite books of the year, which is very rare for me to say about non-fiction in general....more
"I am a bad mother, but I am learning to be good."
Reminiscent of The Farm by Joanne Ramos but this book stands on it's own. A woman loses custody
"I am a bad mother, but I am learning to be good."
Reminiscent of The Farm by Joanne Ramos but this book stands on it's own. A woman loses custody of her toddler after having "A very bad day" and leaving her alone for over two hours while she ran errands. It's made very clear that she was overwhelmed with her situation, but it's also clear that there were other behaviors that were borderline neglectful before her bad day. She had several people in her life who she could reach out to for help, but she stubbornly refused to. She is admitted to a 1 year program at a school where bad mothers are taught how to be good mothers, and that's where things get weird.
This book was very ambitious and I think the author pulled it off. This a a dystopian sci-fi novel, so it shows a more extreme version of child social services. There were some points that were a little over the top, a little too on the nose, but I have to give this 5 stars because as a complete work it was excellent and I will be thinking about this for a long time....more
A fascinating peek into what life was like living in an international cult based around abuse. The author doesn't hold back and goes into detail when A fascinating peek into what life was like living in an international cult based around abuse. The author doesn't hold back and goes into detail when talking about the physically and sexual abuse she endured, from the time she was a young child to well into adulthood. She was shipped around between communes in several different countries, showing the scope and power that the cult had at it's peak.
If you are interested in reading in this kind of stuff, it's probably one of the best memoirs of a cult survivor to read....more
This book is WILD! I haven't seen any promotion of this book, but it popped up in my library's app and I gave it a shot. It's a truly unique work of sThis book is WILD! I haven't seen any promotion of this book, but it popped up in my library's app and I gave it a shot. It's a truly unique work of surrealism.
The story is about a woman named Tiny who gives birth to an owl-baby, but it's an allegory for giving birth to a disabled child. The author is autistic and I feel like it was mostly talking about autism, but I don't know enough about neurodiversity to be sure. I feel like there are parallels for a lot of different kinds of disabilities.
At first the mother feels like something is wrong, but her husband and doctor don't listen to her. She isn't sure if she wants to continue her pregnancy, but her husband says they can handle it together, just for him to drift apart after the child is born and their life is even more difficult than expected. Tiny battles with family, friends, teachers and doctors who all think they know what is best for her child.
There's a super interesting science fiction aspect to the book as well that I can't really talk about because it's a spoiler, but I thought it was a really interesting idea, and I actually wished it was a bigger part of the book.
To be honest I really had no idea what was going on in the final chapter, but I didn't care. The writing was fantastic and it sucked me into the story instantly. This is definitely a book that you shouldn't really question too much as you are reading it, because it's not always going to make sense, it's more about the characters and the emotions. I'm shelving it as both fantasy and horror, because it gets quite violent at time, in a good way. I have no idea who to recommend this book to, but if you like really weird surrealist stories that are commentating on society, pick this up....more
Loved this! I watched the show on Netflix shortly after it came out, and was reluctant to read the book because what I liked best about the show was tLoved this! I watched the show on Netflix shortly after it came out, and was reluctant to read the book because what I liked best about the show was the visuals. But the book absolutely does a similar thing, and I don't feel like I was missing out on anything. The show was also very true to the book, so there wasn't any surprises, but the story is so good that I loved every minute of it.
The audiobook narrator is actually one of my most hated narrators, but I was able to ignore that and still love the book....more
I loved this! This is my 4th Sarah Gailey book, and my rating have ranged from 1 star to 5 stars. This is my second 5 star book from her and I'm definI loved this! This is my 4th Sarah Gailey book, and my rating have ranged from 1 star to 5 stars. This is my second 5 star book from her and I'm definitely starting to think of her as a favorite author.
I think people should know going into this book that it is literary fiction with a science fiction twist. I feel like it's being marketed as a domestic thriller, but it spends a lot of time examining marriage and motherhood and found family. I think if you go into it thinking it's a thriller, you'll be disappointed, although there are a few thrilling moments.
This was such a unique story that I haven't read before, which is a guaranteed way to make me love a book....more
*Updated July 4th 2021: Bumping this up to 5 stars because I do think it was one of the best books I've read this year.*
A dysfunctional family is trap*Updated July 4th 2021: Bumping this up to 5 stars because I do think it was one of the best books I've read this year.*
A dysfunctional family is trapped in a bathroom after a tornado. It's a survival horror story that takes place entirely in one room. Possible supernatural stuff. It's short and it's great. It's not quite a 5 star read for me but I will check out more from this author....more
A reread of a favorite classic. I don't think I've ever given this book 5 stars, but it's always entertaining and a good, quick read.A reread of a favorite classic. I don't think I've ever given this book 5 stars, but it's always entertaining and a good, quick read....more
An incredible performance by Sir Patrick Stewart! I've read this book many times, but I think this is my favorite audiobook of it. SO GOOD!An incredible performance by Sir Patrick Stewart! I've read this book many times, but I think this is my favorite audiobook of it. SO GOOD!...more
An excellent, fun Halloween read. A classic zombie story where a bunch of teenagers at a party get attacked and infected. I love when the Archie booksAn excellent, fun Halloween read. A classic zombie story where a bunch of teenagers at a party get attacked and infected. I love when the Archie books do these stand-alone miniseries. The art was STUNNING!...more
This book is stomach-churning. It's not necessarily from the blood and gore - which there is plenty of. It's the cold, emotionless way that most of thThis book is stomach-churning. It's not necessarily from the blood and gore - which there is plenty of. It's the cold, emotionless way that most of the characters describe raising, slaughtering and consuming humans as a food source, brushing it off as the most logical solution to a worldwide food crises. I could imagine real-life politicians speaking in the same way, and that's what made me sick.
If you can handle the subject matter, this book is a brilliant, unique dystopian novel. It's incredibly well-written and the characters have a lot of depth to them. I truly had no idea where the story was going to take me, and the ending blew me away (although I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't like it). I will jump at the chance to read more translated works from this author....more
I loved everything about this book. I loved the 80's references that didn't feel forced. I loved all of the characters. I loved all of the scary stuffI loved everything about this book. I loved the 80's references that didn't feel forced. I loved all of the characters. I loved all of the scary stuff which really creeped me out. I loved that every chapter title is a song title. This is an example of my perfect type of horror book. Along with The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, I think it's tied for Grady Hendrix's best work.
I first read this graphic novel as a teenager after the movie had been announced. I r"Worth dying for. Worth killing for. Worth going to hell for. Amen."
I first read this graphic novel as a teenager after the movie had been announced. I read it and loved it. I bought the rest of the series the next day and loved them all too.
I think Marv might be the most underrated comic book character of all time. I adore him. He's the perfect anti-hero. The art in this series is incredible and has some really great panels that have stuck in my mind. It's a hyper-violent and hyper-sexual romp and is a hell of a read....more
Set in 1993, this book follows a group of southern house wives who form a true crime book club. When a charming stranger moves to town and unusual eveSet in 1993, this book follows a group of southern house wives who form a true crime book club. When a charming stranger moves to town and unusual events start occurring, they suspect the newcomer is up to something.
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This book is great. The author did an excellent job getting inside these women's minds. While this is a horror book, it's very character focused. It's about how unsatisfied these women are with their lives and their daily struggle to be good mothers and wives. The pacing was good and I was never bored.
Reread from childhood. A great, stress-free read which is exactly what I needed. This is the most romance heavy of the series. It's all about Laura anReread from childhood. A great, stress-free read which is exactly what I needed. This is the most romance heavy of the series. It's all about Laura and Almanzo's relationship. ...more
What a fantastic adaptation of one of my favorite books. The art style worked perfectly with the story. It changed in style depending on the tone of eWhat a fantastic adaptation of one of my favorite books. The art style worked perfectly with the story. It changed in style depending on the tone of each scene. Like most graphic novel adaptations, the story was shortened from the original novel, but they did a great job at picking out scenes and lines of dialogue which made the biggest impact.
If you've been reluctant to pick up the original book, this is a great alternative way to absorb the story....more
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