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anniefwrites's reviews
394 reviews
Sylvia Plath: A Biography by Linda Wagner-Martin
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
I’ve been fascinated by Sylvia Plath since I read The Bell Jar a few years ago and it blew me away. This book is super informative about the minutiae of her daily life from childhood to her death, and it paints a clear picture of a person who struggled with mental illness, perfectionism, strict gender expectations, and family trauma. It was a bit dry, but not excessively so for a biography. I do wonder how the book would have been different if the Hughes estate had allowed more access, as the author notes up front. There’s still so much we don’t know.
Sea Change by Gina Chung
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely loved this. I remember Gina Chung from being at The New School at the same time as me and heard nothing but great things about her work. This book delicately interweaves the scientific nature of sea life and climate change with the less quantitative pain and fear of loss expertly. Sentence to sentence, the language is both innovative and accessible. I didn’t want the book to end, which is always a good sign. I can’t wait to read more of her work! (Also I think I’m only going to read books about octopi from now on 🐙)
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This was such a delight. I so wish I had read this when I was a tween and wanted to feel heard and understood! It’s amazing how a book that’s over 50 years old still resonates with modern girlhood. I didn’t anticipate Margaret’s religious existential crisis (despite the title), and I thought that Judy Blume used that to show Margaret’s complexity expertly. An 11-year-old, overthinking Annie would have loved this, as did this 26-year-old, less overthinking Annie.
Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
reflective
slow-paced
This was… not what I expected! I definitely preferred the former part of the book, I guess because more things actually happen in it. I’m not one who needs a ton of action, but I think the characters were a bit too insufferable to have them just talking the entire time. To be honest, the diatribes they went on felt a bit meaningless. And maybe that’s the point?
Junior High by Tegan Quin, Sara Quin
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was an absolute delight! Tegan and Sara write about being tweens with such tenderness and heart. The wide span of emotions the girls feel is so accurate to that age. I loved the blending of reality and the little amorphous world that the twins live in together. And Tillie Walden has to be my favorite illustrator—her work fit so perfectly with this narrative. I will absolutely read the sequel!
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
LOTS of valuable insights and arguments in this book. A lot I was familiar with already, but some I was not, and I’m grateful Kendall took the time to write such a wide-ranging book. I’m not sure the writing style was for me, but that’s secondary to the powerful points she made. Looking forward to reading more books in this vein that uncover harsh truths about an ideology that means a lot to me.
Twelve Percent Dread by Emily McGovern
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
This was a really interesting read. It took me a while to get into because I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters at first. But by the end I was completely gripped. It was a very well-thought-out commentary on the modern tech landscape, but I almost feel like it hit a little too close to home 😅 I enjoyed it similarly to how I enjoyed the TV show Severance—the experience was exciting but also very stressful. I think I prefer a different kind of art style, but I can definitely say this book is unlike any I’ve read before.
B.F.F.: A Memoir of Friendship Lost and Found by Christie Tate
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
This was such an interesting investigation of one woman’s struggles to maintain female friendships in her life, and then taking the challenge to be a better friend. Friendships matter so much to me, and it was fascinating to read from the perspective of someone who often let them fall by the wayside in the past. I’m lucky to have some friendships like Christie and Meredith’s, where both people show up and support the other’s growth. I’d be curious to read a book like this from a younger Millennial perspective as well, since it was geared more toward the experience of Gen X-Millennial cusp people.
No One Else by R. Kikuo Johnson
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I loved the art style of this one, but I wish there was just more? The ending felt abrupt, and like the journeys of the characters were cut a bit too short. I did love the quietness of the story and how the wordless pages spoke volumes. But I guess I’m leaving without feeling satisfied.
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
Honestly, I just didn’t get it. I anticipated it being much more directly about music; it’s been recommended for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six, but I found little in common between the two books. I felt like I was never really grounded in the story, and I knew there were pieces coming together, but I kept forgetting who certain characters were or getting lost in time. I just found it all too opaque. I mean, it won a Pulitzer, so I think I’m just not the right reader for this.