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sarah_thebooknerd's Reviews (879)
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
This was a really hard book to read if I am being completely honest with how gut punching it is and then to see the current state of the Palestinan people but I think if you want to understand the history, roots and just how long this has been going on you need to read this book.
I will be withholding my review until SMP/Wednesday Books addresses the book community about the racist comments and posts their employee made who interfaces with book influencers for marketing.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honestly, I’m DNFing. I wanted to get past the little slip of a fatphobic comment but usually 1 means more and I’m just not in the headspace for that right now so on to something else
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
This is a shorter read and the audio narration by the author is great! It’s a love letter to various last selves,
People and those that hate on trans people. Kai is a Chinese Trans Woman and has worked in the sex industry and psychotherapy and now works in spiritual/ healing work.
Kai even tackles a love letter to JKR and trying to extend love when she only gives hate to trans people. This book has a few chapters that hit me harder- the caregiver one and forgive one omph I felt those.
Also in the back the author talks about authors and educators for abolition, and trans movement and uplifts them which I always appreciate in a book.
People and those that hate on trans people. Kai is a Chinese Trans Woman and has worked in the sex industry and psychotherapy and now works in spiritual/ healing work.
Kai even tackles a love letter to JKR and trying to extend love when she only gives hate to trans people. This book has a few chapters that hit me harder- the caregiver one and forgive one omph I felt those.
Also in the back the author talks about authors and educators for abolition, and trans movement and uplifts them which I always appreciate in a book.
Listen… I tried and I cannot handle the frustration with them not talking to one another about their feelings when they are supposed to be friends. I know it comes with this trope but if I get 200 pages in and there are still another 280 pages to go I’m out. Also…. The I SpY game in the car I think sent me over the edge. I refuse to allow Jasper to be a love interest when he cannot even play it right. I know it’s petty lol
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This is a non-fiction novel. Karla is an undocumented American who traveled across the US to various places Miami, Flint, Ground Zero, etc.. after the 2016 election to interview undocumented Americans to learn their stories. Their hardships, joy, love, grief, exploitations and the real and honest truth.
Some of the stories will hit you and just be a punch to the gut. Inter mixed within the stories is also Karla’s unfiltered feelings, emotions and also her story and it reads at times like a journal entry with how candid she is with the readers. I will say I do agree with how many people talk about the issue of Karla’s voice sometimes taking away from the stories however I also think to myself that she is also part of the story because she is also undocumented and I could not help but think that part of her has to be getting triggered with the things that she was seeing and feeling with the pain she was encountering.
But expect that those frustrations with how the stories are not always linier with Karla’s take and story interjected in.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This is my work book club pick for October. Yes, I am ahead of the game. I get really excited and nerdy and read them early.
This is a memoir about Paul who was in the final stages of residency for becoming a neurosurgeon when he starts to experience some symptoms that he suspects might be cancer. In his 30s all of a sudden he is trading the scrubs for a patient gown and going through constant reminders of what patients' go through when they are diagnosed with an illness, undergo treatment and face their own mortalities.
I think this is such a powerful reach and I cannot wait for our discussion next month because we all work in healthcare.
This is a memoir about Paul who was in the final stages of residency for becoming a neurosurgeon when he starts to experience some symptoms that he suspects might be cancer. In his 30s all of a sudden he is trading the scrubs for a patient gown and going through constant reminders of what patients' go through when they are diagnosed with an illness, undergo treatment and face their own mortalities.
I think this is such a powerful reach and I cannot wait for our discussion next month because we all work in healthcare.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this Historical Fiction and Romance Novel with paranormal and horror subplots.
Nena is the daughter of a ranchero and she becomes friends with Nestor and a sort of young love is there with them even at 13 when they set out to help the Ranchero find Silver. They are attacked that night and separated.
Fast forward 9 years and they are back together in 1840s Mexico at the time when the United States is invading Mexico to take parts of the land. Nena makes a pact with her father to help with the healing and go with them if she marries when she gets back. She runs into Nestor who comes back to help the Ranchero. Nestor and Nena are not allowed to be together because Nena is the daughter of the Ranchero and Nestor is the son of a vaquero. So we get some dynamics with classism and even colorism in the book. But the love story and romance part is so swoony and like that of the forbidden love in historical romances.
The vampires are also attacking and do not have a huge role in the book yet they do with some of the symbolism for colonization. Overall, I really loved the atmospheric way in which Isabel writes and this is such a great spooky season book.
Nena is the daughter of a ranchero and she becomes friends with Nestor and a sort of young love is there with them even at 13 when they set out to help the Ranchero find Silver. They are attacked that night and separated.
Fast forward 9 years and they are back together in 1840s Mexico at the time when the United States is invading Mexico to take parts of the land. Nena makes a pact with her father to help with the healing and go with them if she marries when she gets back. She runs into Nestor who comes back to help the Ranchero. Nestor and Nena are not allowed to be together because Nena is the daughter of the Ranchero and Nestor is the son of a vaquero. So we get some dynamics with classism and even colorism in the book. But the love story and romance part is so swoony and like that of the forbidden love in historical romances.
The vampires are also attacking and do not have a huge role in the book yet they do with some of the symbolism for colonization. Overall, I really loved the atmospheric way in which Isabel writes and this is such a great spooky season book.