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favanshorty's reviews
839 reviews
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, from Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets by Tiffany Tatreau, Rachel Feder
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
1.5
As a Swiftie with an English degree, I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. My problem with this seems to be one that others share-- what is their audience? This felt like an introductory English course, with all its capitalized vocabulary words, and the glossary. And yet it was crafted for those who are more advanced than that.
The format was weird, too. To be fair, the book was visually beautiful-- I loved loved loved the pops of color, and little poet bios throughout. Also, the playlists and book recs based on era were fabulous (although I still think "Just Kids" by Patti Smith should have officially been mentioned as part of the Tortured Poets set). ANYWAY, it seemed exhausting to list the songs one by one and explain them. I would have been more interested and engaged had the book been organized in a different way, with chapters mentioning these songs throughout-- perhaps similar to the way the playlists were formed. It would be an interesting way to highlight all those MOTIFS, if I may capitalize vocab as the authors do, hahaha.
In all seriousness, I appreciate these authors' efforts. I was so excited about this book. I received 2 copies for Christmas, and placed one of them on the "free" shelf at the library at the high school where I work. It was gone in an hour. I hope this book speaks to someone more than it spoke to me, and I am sure that reader is out there. But man. I have been a Swiftie since 2006 and literature is my passion. I'm sad it didn't speak to me.
The format was weird, too. To be fair, the book was visually beautiful-- I loved loved loved the pops of color, and little poet bios throughout. Also, the playlists and book recs based on era were fabulous (although I still think "Just Kids" by Patti Smith should have officially been mentioned as part of the Tortured Poets set). ANYWAY, it seemed exhausting to list the songs one by one and explain them. I would have been more interested and engaged had the book been organized in a different way, with chapters mentioning these songs throughout-- perhaps similar to the way the playlists were formed. It would be an interesting way to highlight all those MOTIFS, if I may capitalize vocab as the authors do, hahaha.
In all seriousness, I appreciate these authors' efforts. I was so excited about this book. I received 2 copies for Christmas, and placed one of them on the "free" shelf at the library at the high school where I work. It was gone in an hour. I hope this book speaks to someone more than it spoke to me, and I am sure that reader is out there. But man. I have been a Swiftie since 2006 and literature is my passion. I'm sad it didn't speak to me.
A Place for Us: A Memoir by Brandon J. Wolf
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I fucking loved this book. I gave it a hug when I finished it.
Someone recommended this book to me back in 2010. I don't know why it took me nearly a decade and a half to pick it up, but I'm also a big believer in waiting for the right time. I recall picking it up a few times, reading the synopsis, putting it back. I knew I'd come to it at the right time. And I did.
I'm aware that these feelings, and these reviews, are subjective AF. I was in the reading slump from hell before this. I was surprised that a 300+ page novel could draw me in and hold my attention at a time when I'm finding it hard to eat or sleep.
But books have always sustained me, and I hope they always will. I am scared shitless for 2025 and the years that will follow, but I'm glad I have books to keep me company-- a fictional world to escape to.
Someone recommended this book to me back in 2010. I don't know why it took me nearly a decade and a half to pick it up, but I'm also a big believer in waiting for the right time. I recall picking it up a few times, reading the synopsis, putting it back. I knew I'd come to it at the right time. And I did.
I'm aware that these feelings, and these reviews, are subjective AF. I was in the reading slump from hell before this. I was surprised that a 300+ page novel could draw me in and hold my attention at a time when I'm finding it hard to eat or sleep.
But books have always sustained me, and I hope they always will. I am scared shitless for 2025 and the years that will follow, but I'm glad I have books to keep me company-- a fictional world to escape to.