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ofsevenwaters's reviews
436 reviews
The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
4.0
I really ended up enjoying this, and upon reflection bumped my rating from 3 stars to 3.5.
What I loved:
1) Kate Sheffield is a great heroine. She's smart, witty, and cares deeply for her family, which I really appreciate. SO much of what drives her through this book is her love for her sister, and it's really sweet to see that kind of dedication.
2) The tension between Anthony and Kate: I thought Quinn did an excellent job building this relationship. She writes great physical and emotional tension, and seeing these characters finally fall for each other feels really satisfying.
What I didn't like:
1) Anthony. He definitely grew on me, I won't lie. But at the end of the day...he's a landlord. And he's heavily endowed with toxic masculinity that he can't seem to free himself of. His behavior was also sometimes alarming and violent for no reason? There is also iffy consent, as there is in many older historicals. I'm interested to see if these issues will be addressed in season 2 of the show, because I think he has a lot of potential as a character.
2) The pacing: I think this book dragged a bit in the middle for me.
But other than those main issues, I thought this was a really fun histrom. Not sure if I will continue on with this series right away, but I might just read them as new seasons of the show come out.
What I loved:
1) Kate Sheffield is a great heroine. She's smart, witty, and cares deeply for her family, which I really appreciate. SO much of what drives her through this book is her love for her sister, and it's really sweet to see that kind of dedication.
2) The tension between Anthony and Kate: I thought Quinn did an excellent job building this relationship. She writes great physical and emotional tension, and seeing these characters finally fall for each other feels really satisfying.
What I didn't like:
1) Anthony. He definitely grew on me, I won't lie. But at the end of the day...he's a landlord. And he's heavily endowed with toxic masculinity that he can't seem to free himself of. His behavior was also sometimes alarming and violent for no reason? There is also iffy consent, as there is in many older historicals. I'm interested to see if these issues will be addressed in season 2 of the show, because I think he has a lot of potential as a character.
2) The pacing: I think this book dragged a bit in the middle for me.
But other than those main issues, I thought this was a really fun histrom. Not sure if I will continue on with this series right away, but I might just read them as new seasons of the show come out.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
5.0
“What would it be like to be raised on gratitude, to speak to the natural world as a member of the democracy of species, to raise a pledge of interdependence? No declarations of political loyalty are required, just a response to a repeated question: ‘Can we agree to be grateful for all that is given?’”
I don’t know how else to talk about this book other than that it is absolutely life changing. World altering. I have never been asked to pay attention, true attention, to the world around me like this book asks you to. Robin Wall Kimmerer is an absolutely gorgeous writer—her prose is melodic and intricate, like the natural phenomenons she’s writing about. I needed a pen in hand to underline, star, bracket sections all over this text because every sentence was so carefully crafted and constructed. I really believe that this book has fundamentally shifted how I view, exist, and interact in the world for the better. I’m so grateful to have read this, and it was such an amazing way to start off 2022.
I don’t know how else to talk about this book other than that it is absolutely life changing. World altering. I have never been asked to pay attention, true attention, to the world around me like this book asks you to. Robin Wall Kimmerer is an absolutely gorgeous writer—her prose is melodic and intricate, like the natural phenomenons she’s writing about. I needed a pen in hand to underline, star, bracket sections all over this text because every sentence was so carefully crafted and constructed. I really believe that this book has fundamentally shifted how I view, exist, and interact in the world for the better. I’m so grateful to have read this, and it was such an amazing way to start off 2022.