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elisabeth888's reviews
120 reviews
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Amazingly written, delving into mother-daughter relationships and the mistakes and sacrifices that mothers make, both to help themselves and their daughters. Throughout the novel we see different paths to motherhood arise, both reluctant and enthusiastic, which cause us to question what motherhood truly is. Along the way Celeste Ng's novel lends itself to greater discussions about classism, racism, reproductive justice, and the concept of planned communities.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cursing, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Diana: Case Solved: The Definitive Account and Evidence That Proves What Really Happened by Dylan Howard
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
2.25
I found the book to inspire more conspiracies and "what if" scenarios, rather than providing any true sense of closure to Diana's cold case. There are too many pieces that do not come together, however, I found it particularly interesting to read about the mishandling of the French first responders whose slow emergency response cost Diana's life and whose rushed investigation response cost closure to the mysterious case.
I liked McClaren's writing style more than Howard's throughout the book because it contained less cliffhangers and tended to rely more on technicalities than rehashing conspiracies. I did not like the somewhat pompous writing style from both of them. They seemed to pat themselves on the back for their theories and discoveries, even though their findings at the end of the book still contain no definitive closure.
Overall, I think the book is helpful in adding context and background to the car accident which cost the lives of Diana, Dodi, and Henri. However, the book provides no closure and I did not like the end where they conjectured how Diana would've acted if she survived because it just seemed like another unnecessary "what if" to include.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Car accident
Minor: Biphobia, Cursing, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Abortion, and War
Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Minor: War
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-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? No
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Although this book was published over 70 years ago, its critiques continue to remain relevant to modern society. Within Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury critiques the dystopian society in which Montag lives. It is a totalitarian regime which uses anti-intelletualism, excessive violence, and the destruction of media to promote a dominate, misleading narrative.
The media that people are allowed to consume is surface-level and empty, prioritizing sensationalism rather than having a larger meaning. People, like Montag's wife, are addicted to watching screens with programs that contain no real substance and are often grisly. This feels like a prediction for modern-day algorithms which are employed to keep people addicted to media consumption.
I found Montag's character development to be very interesting to read throughout the novel. I wish we could have had more backstory for each character within the novel, especially for Clarrise and Beatty. I found these secondary characters to make great speeches throughout the novel and would have liked to hear more from them. Otherwise, I found Fahrenheit 451 to be a good read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit, Car accident, and Abortion