Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz

17 reviews

drbex's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75


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preciouslittleingenue's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

Such a brave, beautifully vulnerable narrative. To allow oneself to relive such traumas enough to authentically replicate them for mass production to be read by thousands is just so brave. The Sapphlit interview with Jaquira Diaz was so enlightening and inspiring. The care she takes with herself and with her words, for the sake of the mental safety of those reading her stories, is so beautiful.

Her way of crafting her real life into almost a mythological tale, like La Llorona (who she mentions) is so fascinating and effective.

“My brother and I, we were the same: part monster, part mouse.” So incredibly demonstrative of how people who do horrible things are often cowards, and also shows the empathy Diaz has for even the people who hurt her the most. 


Regarding the woman terrorist who attacked as a radical form of protesting for Puerto Rican liberty:
“mentions…anything related to who she was or what she did. Instead, the headline mentions her fucking. Red. Lipstick.” Yup. That sounds about right. Obviously not that this woman was “in the right,” and I don’t think Jaquira thinks that either. But because it was a woman…all they see is the red lipstick. My rage FLARED when I heard that line. 

“…slowly, slowly, love you back to life.” What a beautiful sentiment. I absolutely know what she means.

Not to mention all the bi panic that was so enlightening to hear, her insight on racism/colorism, the way she touched upon the strange nuance of queerness in the military/navy…just so much good stuff. So very glad this was Sapphlit’s September book. Cannot wait to read her novel in progress. 

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prispapi's review

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

5.0


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lidiaaa222's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.25


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leweylibrary's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

Sometimes when I read books like this, I can't stop thinking how absolutely wild it is that people seriously have lives like this. It's crazy how much one person can go through and do in their lives. The 1/4 star off isn't anything to do with the content of the story, just my perception of the author's voice which didn't always grab me despite the intense subject matter. I'm super plenty of others would think this is easily a 5 star read! 

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moniipeters's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.25


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mandkips's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75


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elenushka8's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0


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abbie_'s review

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

Absolutely loved this, one of the most powerful memoirs I’ve ever read. Díaz writes so sinuously, it flows like a novel and keeps you gripped until the very last page 

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ginadapooh's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

3.75


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