Scan barcode
savvylit's reviews
530 reviews
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
"What would it be like to consume with the full awareness that we are the recipients of earthly gifts, which we have not earned? To consume with humility? We are called to harvest honorably, with restraint, respect, reverence, and reciprocity."
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
"What would it be like to consume with the full awareness that we are the recipients of earthly gifts, which we have not earned? To consume with humility? We are called to harvest honorably, with restraint, respect, reverence, and reciprocity."
Much like she does in her most well-known work Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer invites readers to reimagine modern ways of living utilizing her unique dual perspective as a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and professional botanist. In The Serviceberry, Kimmerer introduces the imagery of the titular tree's annual fruiting and the abundance of its berries. Birds and other wildlife visit the tree, as does Kimmerer herself. Each visitor to the tree shares in its bounty. What if we all only took what we needed and shared with one another? What if we viewed the abundance of plants as a gift? From that initial example of the serviceberry tree, Kimmerer then expands upon the ideas and real-life examples (mutual aid! public libraries!) of gift economies in action.
Many thanks to @netgalley and @milkweed_books for the advanced reader copy of The Serviceberry in exchange for my honest review! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Plant Dreaming Deep by May Sarton
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Having really loved Sarton's Journal of a Solitude, I was ready to love this memoir too. Alas, though. Some of her waxings on acquiring her dream home were sweet and enjoyable, indeed. However, I didn't connect with this book as well as Solitude. Perhaps it is because this is a polished memoir and not a somewhat confessional journal. Sarton definitely keeps readers at a bit more of a remove in Plant Dreaming Deep - to the book's detriment.
Witches, Midwives and Nurses: A History of Women Healers by Barbara Ehrenreich
fast-paced
3.0
This short book was very informative and enlightening. The only reason I've rated it three stars is because it is so dated and lacking in source material. But Witches, Midwives, & Nurses is truly fascinating as a foundational feminist text -- so many modern books that I've liked and that do better expand upon these same ideas couldn't have existed without this book first. Pretty rad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
There have been so many thoughtful reviews of this recent release, and I'm not sure I have anything better to add. How about a list of my thoughts after reading Intermezzo instead of a typical review?
+ Now my least favorite Rooney novel.
+ I did love revisiting Sally's signature sparse writing style.
+ Never connected with Peter & Ivan as characters. (Could just be me?)
+ This novel was too long.
+ I wish that Ivan had rescued his dog sooner.
+ Too many uses of "pale" & "white" as descriptors in sex scenes. (What if all of the characters were actually ghosts, though? Could have been more interesting).
+ Now my least favorite Rooney novel.
+ I did love revisiting Sally's signature sparse writing style.
+ Never connected with Peter & Ivan as characters. (Could just be me?)
+ This novel was too long.
+ I wish that Ivan had rescued his dog sooner.
+ Too many uses of "pale" & "white" as descriptors in sex scenes. (What if all of the characters were actually ghosts, though? Could have been more interesting).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Olga Tokarczuk's Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead was my favorite book of 2021. Needless to say, I had high hopes for The Empusium - especially since it marked a foray into horror for Tokarczuk. A favorite author dabbling in a favorite genre? Sign me up!
Alas, though, I found The Empusium to be a little too subtle and slow-paced for my taste. The themes, however, were impeccable. Misogyny and misguided medical intervention were the horrors of this novel and Tokarczuk effortlessly wound them into a very surprising and satisfying crescendo. However, as aforementioned, the pacing up until then left a lot to be desired. Some of the earliest scenes in Empusium were painfully drawn out and repetitive to the point where I was bored! Ultimately, though, I am glad I persisted because I genuinely appreciated the way it all came together in the end.
Alas, though, I found The Empusium to be a little too subtle and slow-paced for my taste. The themes, however, were impeccable. Misogyny and misguided medical intervention were the horrors of this novel and Tokarczuk effortlessly wound them into a very surprising and satisfying crescendo. However, as aforementioned, the pacing up until then left a lot to be desired. Some of the earliest scenes in Empusium were painfully drawn out and repetitive to the point where I was bored! Ultimately, though, I am glad I persisted because I genuinely appreciated the way it all came together in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Alcohol
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
We Used to Live Here is equal parts ambitious and thrilling. Initially published on the Nosleep subreddit, Kliewer's debut is such a complex page-turner. What begins as a deeply unsettling home invasion story quickly turns into so much more - there are a multitude of puzzles layered throughout this novel. To name only a few, there are doppelgangers, portals, hidden networks, and parallel timelines. Each new detail contributes to a palpable sense of dread and distrust, which is one of the strongest elements of We Used to Live Here.
Perhaps it is because of these layered puzzles and intricate networks, though, that this novel struggles with pacing. There were almost too many threads to follow as the story entered its last third. I wish I could have had time to savor some of the surprises before new ones popped up. And I thought that the ending ultimately arrived in a rush.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed We Used to Live Here and the layered creepiness of it all. I'm excited to see a follow-up novel and all the ways that a sequel could expand upon Kliewer's terrifying tangled universe.
Perhaps it is because of these layered puzzles and intricate networks, though, that this novel struggles with pacing. There were almost too many threads to follow as the story entered its last third. I wish I could have had time to savor some of the surprises before new ones popped up. And I thought that the ending ultimately arrived in a rush.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed We Used to Live Here and the layered creepiness of it all. I'm excited to see a follow-up novel and all the ways that a sequel could expand upon Kliewer's terrifying tangled universe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.5
This was an incredibly disappointing follow-up to What Moves the Dead. (Which, for the record, I really enjoyed!) Where the first novella shined, this one lacked in every way. There was little character development, the supernatural occurrences were spelled out for readers (which removed intrigue), and the wholesomeness felt forced. This should have stayed an outline; it had as much charm as one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This final installment in the Neapolitan Quartet was just as riveting as its predecessors! Oh how these two women and the constant drama of their lives continued to have me in a chokehold!
To repeat myself in my review of the third installment: Ferrante's characterization is absolutely unparalleled. By the time I finally finished this book and thus the series, I felt like I'd lived into my 60s alongside Lenu & Lila. For four whole books, their trials and tribulations were mine too. I'll miss them and their absolute mess: their pride, their rage, their miscommunications, their losses, their vanity, their incredible bond.
To repeat myself in my review of the third installment: Ferrante's characterization is absolutely unparalleled. By the time I finally finished this book and thus the series, I felt like I'd lived into my 60s alongside Lenu & Lila. For four whole books, their trials and tribulations were mine too. I'll miss them and their absolute mess: their pride, their rage, their miscommunications, their losses, their vanity, their incredible bond.
Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Absolution is three novellas in one: Dead Town, The False Daughter, and The First and the Last. Each novella is its own full-on fever dream, loaded with mystery and death. Dead Town is a failed-experiment horror story. The False Daughter is a neo-noir narrative. The First and the Last is a gonzo-style perspective straight from the mind of a grade-A asshole. In all three, VanderMeer has recaptured and amplified the elements that made the original Southern Reach novels so successful. I'm talking unreliable narrators, hypnosis, cosmic terrors, increasing dread, and inexplicable transformation. I was absolutely spellbound by Absolution to the point where this 439 page book became my obsession; a true page-turner until the very end.
Even though Absolution answered many of my questions after reading the initial three books, I think I finished this installment with even more questions! Honestly, though, that's fine by me - the most enchanting aspect of this series has always been its sheer unknowability. Now I can't wait to re-read each of the four Area X books again.
Thank you so much to @fsgbooks & @mcdbooks for the advanced reader copy of Absolution in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Absolution is out now and can be found at a store or library near you!
Even though Absolution answered many of my questions after reading the initial three books, I think I finished this installment with even more questions! Honestly, though, that's fine by me - the most enchanting aspect of this series has always been its sheer unknowability. Now I can't wait to re-read each of the four Area X books again.
Thank you so much to @fsgbooks & @mcdbooks for the advanced reader copy of Absolution in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own. Absolution is out now and can be found at a store or library near you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
Acceptance by Jeff VanderMeer
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
In 2021, I read the first two books in Jeff VanderMeer's Southern Reach series, Annihilation & Authority. Annihilation: loved it. Authority: did not like it at all. A few years passed and then, this October, I finally read Acceptance. And I'm genuinely so glad that I did because Acceptance is an excellent addition to the trilogy.
Acceptance not only perfectly tied the first two books together but stood on its own as yet another unsettling and gripping foray into Area X. And Acceptance made Authority actually make way more sense! I found myself flipping back to specific portions of Authority & appreciating that book - and the series as a whole so much more.
Acceptance not only perfectly tied the first two books together but stood on its own as yet another unsettling and gripping foray into Area X. And Acceptance made Authority actually make way more sense! I found myself flipping back to specific portions of Authority & appreciating that book - and the series as a whole so much more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Violence