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bookish_ghost_girl's reviews
99 reviews
The Lost Letters of Aisling by Cynthia Ellingsen
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm always down for a historical fiction that is mixed in with a modern/present day timeline. Especially when it involves a country that I want to visit and learn more about. While it did feel a tad rushed at the end, it was wrapped up nicely. I don't say this very often when it comes to books, but the ending made me want to start crying.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Given the small amount of knowledge that I have of Egypt and it's history, I did enjoy getting a peak, while fictional, into the archaeologist aspect of the story. The story did feel a bit slow at the beginning, but it did pick up as I continued reading. I'm also a sucker for a good cliff hanger and plot twist as well.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and War
The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
An African History of Africa: From the Dawn of Civilization to Independence by Zeinab Badawi
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
"You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself, that understands itself, that values itself." -- Wangari Maathai
"History is not only about the past; it also informs our present and shapes our future."
Like many parts of history, there was a lot of African History that I didn't know or learn during or outside of school until I read this book. While there was a lot of information to take in, I appreciated the fact that it wasn't sanitized or white washed.
"History is not only about the past; it also informs our present and shapes our future."
Like many parts of history, there was a lot of African History that I didn't know or learn during or outside of school until I read this book. While there was a lot of information to take in, I appreciated the fact that it wasn't sanitized or white washed.
The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
An adorable story!!! I loved that it made me wanting more, while appreciating what was there.
Content Warnings
Minor: Stalking
Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
"Take Responsibility for your own unhappiness. If you don't love your life, change it."
"Love isn't going to come find me in my living room."
Short stories aren't my typical forte, but I did enjoy this one. I was wanting more when I finished it!
"Love isn't going to come find me in my living room."
Short stories aren't my typical forte, but I did enjoy this one. I was wanting more when I finished it!
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
It's not often that I give a book 2 stars, but this is one of the few.
While I appreciate the story that is being told and what each of the characters is going through, the story felt a little flat in someplaces.
While I appreciate the story that is being told and what each of the characters is going through, the story felt a little flat in someplaces.
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
"They did not settle a virgin land. They invaded and displaced a resident population. This is so simple a fact that it seems self-evident." - Francis Jennings, historian
It's been a few years since I last opened a history book for school, from what I remember of them, I feel like they don't tell the full story of how the "Europeans created the 'Doctrine of Discovery' to justify their takeover of any territory they "discovered" regardless of whose home it was. From an Indigenous perspective, European claims to Indigenous lands were not legitimate."
After reading through this book and learning more information, the history that I remember learning now feels a bit sanitized and white washed in the way that it is presented.
Part of what I learned in this books was the fact that the word, 'redskins' came about during a time when the early settlers killed and scalped the Native people and saw that the blood made the mutilated skin look red. Or the fact that the early settlers were basically squatters and that genocide happened whether through biological or chemical warfare.
Something else that I learned, but hadn't really considered before, was the way that the Native people had well established routes, whether water or over land, that they used to cross the country.
"Historian Frederick Jackson Turner believed, wrongly, that Indigenous North American cultures had no real influence on the settlers except as roadblocks to progress. He viewed Native cultures as backward and primitive in comparison to the settlers' culture, which he saw as dynamic and sophisticated."
It's been a few years since I last opened a history book for school, from what I remember of them, I feel like they don't tell the full story of how the "Europeans created the 'Doctrine of Discovery' to justify their takeover of any territory they "discovered" regardless of whose home it was. From an Indigenous perspective, European claims to Indigenous lands were not legitimate."
After reading through this book and learning more information, the history that I remember learning now feels a bit sanitized and white washed in the way that it is presented.
Part of what I learned in this books was the fact that the word, 'redskins' came about during a time when the early settlers killed and scalped the Native people and saw that the blood made the mutilated skin look red. Or the fact that the early settlers were basically squatters and that genocide happened whether through biological or chemical warfare.
Something else that I learned, but hadn't really considered before, was the way that the Native people had well established routes, whether water or over land, that they used to cross the country.
"Historian Frederick Jackson Turner believed, wrongly, that Indigenous North American cultures had no real influence on the settlers except as roadblocks to progress. He viewed Native cultures as backward and primitive in comparison to the settlers' culture, which he saw as dynamic and sophisticated."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Genocide, Slavery, Torture, Police brutality, and Murder
Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
When it comes to writing or reading a book within a book, it needs to be well done and this fit perfectly. While science fiction is a genre that I don't read very often, I thought that this book was the perfect balance of sci-fi, thriller and fiction. It made me want to have more when the book ended.
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Feminine rage and politics!
This book is a perfect blend of the two, not to mention a love triangle in there as well.
I first heard about this book from the author's Tiktok page, which is very entertaining. After that it took a little bit for me to actually purchase and read the book. Now that I have finished reading it, I'm glad that I did. I don't say this very often about books, but this one is a new favorite of mine and I can't wait to read the second book!
This book is a perfect blend of the two, not to mention a love triangle in there as well.
I first heard about this book from the author's Tiktok page, which is very entertaining. After that it took a little bit for me to actually purchase and read the book. Now that I have finished reading it, I'm glad that I did. I don't say this very often about books, but this one is a new favorite of mine and I can't wait to read the second book!