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isabelleverdino's Reviews (369)
4.75⭐️
This book was INSANE in the best way possible. I can’t even imagine the brainpower it took to write this book the plot and the mystery and the characters were SO complex. I could barely keep track of the moving pieces while reading it.
The only reason this book isn’t a full 5⭐️ is because I had heard that some of the narration was pretty fatphobic which kept me from reading it for a couple years. That rumor was pretty true- on pages 84 and 85 there are graphic descriptions of a fat body wrapped up in a lot of hateful language. It’s not important to the plot so I’d recommend skipping those two pages honestly.
And I will add (this is NOT a spoiler) the narrator seems to hate and admire all his hosts in equal measure and for different reasons. He does not vilify fatness any more than any other quality if that is a worry for you, but that small section was a lot. It really just could have been deleted and I think the book would be better for it.
Otherwise, this book surpassed my expectations. It is a complex conversation of morality. After working with attorneys advocating against the death penalty, I’ve been thinking about nature vs nurture and the ability of people to change. Our world hasn’t been able to decide if our prison system is designed to act as a punishment, as containment, or as rehabilitation. The worse the crime, the more people seek retribution. But does that search for vengeance not link us to those same crimes? I don’t believe that revenge benefits anyone. And I think that we need to believe people can change otherwise there is no point. And somehow the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle takes steps towards having that conversation.
This book was INSANE in the best way possible. I can’t even imagine the brainpower it took to write this book the plot and the mystery and the characters were SO complex. I could barely keep track of the moving pieces while reading it.
The only reason this book isn’t a full 5⭐️ is because I had heard that some of the narration was pretty fatphobic which kept me from reading it for a couple years. That rumor was pretty true- on pages 84 and 85 there are graphic descriptions of a fat body wrapped up in a lot of hateful language. It’s not important to the plot so I’d recommend skipping those two pages honestly.
And I will add (this is NOT a spoiler) the narrator seems to hate and admire all his hosts in equal measure and for different reasons. He does not vilify fatness any more than any other quality if that is a worry for you, but that small section was a lot. It really just could have been deleted and I think the book would be better for it.
Otherwise, this book surpassed my expectations. It is a complex conversation of morality. After working with attorneys advocating against the death penalty, I’ve been thinking about nature vs nurture and the ability of people to change. Our world hasn’t been able to decide if our prison system is designed to act as a punishment, as containment, or as rehabilitation. The worse the crime, the more people seek retribution. But does that search for vengeance not link us to those same crimes? I don’t believe that revenge benefits anyone. And I think that we need to believe people can change otherwise there is no point. And somehow the 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle takes steps towards having that conversation.
“Eight miles above, all over the world, people were forgetting their pasts. Trapped down here in the charmless dark, Luke couldn’t escape his own.”
MINOR SPOILERS:
Literally traumatizing. The first horror book that has ever actually scared me. The dog “dies” (?) if that’s a deal breaker for you and it was one of the saddest things I’ve ever read. I was sobbing hysterically.
MINOR SPOILERS:
Literally traumatizing. The first horror book that has ever actually scared me. The dog “dies” (?) if that’s a deal breaker for you and it was one of the saddest things I’ve ever read. I was sobbing hysterically.
This is one of those books where the rating might change the more I think about it. But trust me, I WILL be thinking about it.
There are some books you really have to throw yourself into, to commit entirely to the story no matter how fantastical it gets. You’re usually joined by the main character who is just as lost and confused as you are. These are some of my favorite kinds of stories.
Ascension is about a mountain. It’s a thriller, a scary story, one that talks about faith, family, belief, grief, free will, and humanity.
It was a lot. It’s gonna be sitting in my brain for a while.
“Over a long enough time frame, rocks bubble and liquefy like molten seas. Oceans freeze and stone folds like an ironed sheet. It’s breathtaking to think that among these giant movements of the planet, we exist here. As improbable as it is, we exist. That’s no accident.”
There are some books you really have to throw yourself into, to commit entirely to the story no matter how fantastical it gets. You’re usually joined by the main character who is just as lost and confused as you are. These are some of my favorite kinds of stories.
Ascension is about a mountain. It’s a thriller, a scary story, one that talks about faith, family, belief, grief, free will, and humanity.
It was a lot. It’s gonna be sitting in my brain for a while.
“Over a long enough time frame, rocks bubble and liquefy like molten seas. Oceans freeze and stone folds like an ironed sheet. It’s breathtaking to think that among these giant movements of the planet, we exist here. As improbable as it is, we exist. That’s no accident.”
Again, some of this book was not for me. But parts 1 and 3 were really fulfilling to listen to!
I actually really needed all the stuff at the end about being in your 20s and not knowing what the fuck is going on.
I actually really needed all the stuff at the end about being in your 20s and not knowing what the fuck is going on.
3.5⭐️
VERY cute. I loved the characters in this book and their relationships with each other. I think the weakest part was the competition itself- trying to echo Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory with more heart but less competition and zaniness.
VERY cute. I loved the characters in this book and their relationships with each other. I think the weakest part was the competition itself- trying to echo Willy Wonka and his chocolate factory with more heart but less competition and zaniness.
In no way did Strayed make this trip sound easy. It sounded painful and scary and difficult. But also beautiful.
And some part of my brain really thinks I can do it. If there are past lives, maybe I was a PCT hiker in one.
And some part of my brain really thinks I can do it. If there are past lives, maybe I was a PCT hiker in one.
