This book has been described as Rear Window meets Get Out - and I think that is a great way to describe thARC provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
This book has been described as Rear Window meets Get Out - and I think that is a great way to describe this book.
This isn't your average thriller. I am so surprised by how much is in this book. This book shows the microaggressions a Black woman experiences every day. The contrast between Sydney's POV and Theo's is compelling. However, I was a bit confused about the character of Theo. In the beginning, we learn that he has a mysterious past, and throughout the book, he showcases some pretty creepy and questionable behavior. This is where the Rear Window comparison comes in. Theo spies on his neighbors. He watches them so much that he knows the daily habits of his neighbor's life. In the beginning, we are introduced to Theo's girlfriend and she is trouble. They both recently moved into a nice house in Sydney's Brooklyn neighborhood,. After some terribly racist comments and behavior from her, as well as her disinterest in Theo, she breaks up with him and leaves to stay with her family in the Hamptons. She gives him a week to move out and this causes a huge conflict for Theo, pushing his behavior in even weirder ways. I think Cole did a good job of creating a character that is unsettling, but with the way he is treated by his girlfriend, forces the reader to have sympathy for him. Yet, I felt like he was only there to push and serve the plot, and in the climax of the book, there is so much exposition of his backstory. I felt that this was used to push the reader in acceptance of the romance between Sydney and Theo. I honestly would have enjoyed this dynamic more, if they never had a sexual relationship. I am aware that this was used to create more conflict for Sydney, and is rooted in to cause suspicion of Theo when she reads those creepy text messages from his ex-girlfriend. I just think that individually as characters they were more interesting than their relationship.
I absolutely loved the tone of the first half of the book. It was eerie and captivating, and also slow. The story took its time, it was patient and intimate, especially with Sydney and her experiences, and as much as I find the ending creepy, I felt like there was an immediate change of tone and timing, and I just wanted the story to slow down and continue to be unsettling in this calm and quiet way it was before. Obviously, the pacing needs to speed up a little bit at the climax, but the ending felt rushed. As much as I love the way it ended, I just wish the book was longer, and the ending was given more time. It was exciting to read how Sydney took justice into her own hands, but it didn't have the impact I think the author was going for, because of the timing issue.
Other than that, I loved this book. There were a lot of twists that were actually surprising but also were realistic to the story. The author was able to include all of these issues that people are currently facing and have been for a long time and showcased them in a way that was not in a 'teaching' way but as people. real people, experience racism, and systemic racism, gentrification, financial scams aimed at the Black community, and the difference in class.
So like I said, this book is not your average thriller. It's definitely thrilling, but it's so much more than just a thrilling storyline.
The Gratitude Project is more a scientific book then it is a self-help book. I feel knowing this beforehand is important because it would be easy to rThe Gratitude Project is more a scientific book then it is a self-help book. I feel knowing this beforehand is important because it would be easy to read the title and classify this as a self-help book which I feel will leave people disappointed when they read the book. However, I feel that this book with all of its research and areas of study can help the reader so much. Unlike a lot of books that prompt one to find gratitude in simple and generic ways, this book analyzes gratitude in an array of ways - from genetics to cultural components. It is a well-researched book that will help shape the way you approach gratitude in your daily life, how it is passed on, and how it shapes the world around you. You are not getting any generic passages in The Gratitude Project. The book is specific and will help you shape your thought processes in a grateful way....more
When a lot of people think about clean & healthy eating, they think words like boring, or flavorless. Good For You diminishes all of those stereotypesWhen a lot of people think about clean & healthy eating, they think words like boring, or flavorless. Good For You diminishes all of those stereotypes. This cookbook offers so many healthy recipes, but all of them are flavorful. It uses ingredients that you know are healthy, but probably have no idea how to use on your own, and crafts wonderful recipes that you can use again and again. I'm excited to cook some of the recipes and impress my family and friends....more
I am always looking for books, especially self workbooks, that would be a great tool for students and children. This book is brilliantly designed for I am always looking for books, especially self workbooks, that would be a great tool for students and children. This book is brilliantly designed for children to self reflect and build themselves up, including expressing gratitude, positive thinking and self-talk, and creating specific ways to build positivity and self-esteem. I, personally wrote down a lot of what the book had to offer for my own exercises. This book spans a year, and every month it offers new and exciting ways to encourage children to learn and grow with love and gratitude. I believe that this should be book parents and teachers utilize for children....more
As someone who is constantly looking for books that I can add to my educator toolbox, I was really excited to flip through Happy, Health Minds. This bAs someone who is constantly looking for books that I can add to my educator toolbox, I was really excited to flip through Happy, Health Minds. This book is amazing in theory, but the execution of it is somewhat problematic. I think that the book generalizes the life experience of a single child. Not all children have the same home life or emotional/mental structure, and although a lot of teachers or care providers teach many children at once, I feel that generalizing the experiences, especially the home life of children can be risky. I love the idea of this book so much, but the book assumes a lot. I think the author tried their best at creating a simple understanding of a lot of really complex ideas, but the result was not the best....more
I suffer from chronic illness and standing in the kitchen for hours preparing a meal is oftentimes not possible. I rely heavily on my Instant Pot, butI suffer from chronic illness and standing in the kitchen for hours preparing a meal is oftentimes not possible. I rely heavily on my Instant Pot, but without some help, I would probably cook the same 1 -2 meals every time. I have found it difficult to find vegetarian dish recipes for the instant pot. A lot of recipes rely heavily on meat, so when I found that there was an Instant Pot vegetarian cookbook option, I knew I needed to read through it. This book has recipes to try all year, as well as all the recipes being organized from appetizers to desserts. This is a great cookbook to keep in your kitchen for days when you are too busy or just don't have the option to stand in the kitchen for a long time....more
What a treat (literally) The Plant-Based College Cookbook is. This book is not just for students, but for anyone that is busy or for some reason or anWhat a treat (literally) The Plant-Based College Cookbook is. This book is not just for students, but for anyone that is busy or for some reason or another find it difficult to put a lot of time in to cook each night. Although the time and effort it takes to make these dishes are minimal, the result is delicious....more
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I absolutely adored Bringing Down the duke , but had a hard time getting into this one. I would never deny that EI really wanted to enjoy this book. I absolutely adored Bringing Down the duke , but had a hard time getting into this one. I would never deny that Evie Dunmore is excellent at writing witty dialogue and interesting, dynamic characters.
Now I will safely admit that I take issue with things that are problematic for a group of people, but I will also acknowledge that none of us are perfect, and no one should expect someone to be constantly up to date on terminology, philosophies, etc. However, when you put something out into the world, it is a responsibility to analyze and question things first.
Would I know that some of the problematic parts of this book were problematic without reading some reviews first? No. Yet, when arc's are available, and editors and publishers read through the book, surely, these things would pop out at you, right? It's a completely personal opinion, but I feel that someone along the way should pick up on these things and point them out... and maybe someone did but the edits were never made. We can only know what the finished product is, not the conversations that happen before publishing.
The first thing that is problematic in the book, is the use of a tattoo on our love interest, Tristan, that is of a southeast naked Asian woman with four arms dancing. Two problems lie with this - one being that it is of offense to the Hindu religion as this is diety that is sacred. Now, we can't deny the history that exists. A white man in that time, even now, can have a tattoo that is obviously racist and culturally appropriating, but with ignorance not understand that. That can be a characteristic of a character, but it was given more importance. In fact, the plot lies solely in this detail. Again, it can be a part of the character but was it really necessary that it was of a sacred religious diety? I will continue to listen to #ownvoices readers and their reviews.
The second issue I had was with the love interest, Tristan, himself. I found a lot of the dialogue was verging on predatory and I was actually sickened by their relationship and how it played out. This is frustrating because that is exactly the thing I want when reading a romance novel. I want to love the dynamic of the two characters that have a love interest.
The third issue I have of this book is the use of the antagonist and the reasoning behind his crusade to destroy the blooming romance between Tristan and Lucie. The whole arc is of a gay man being crushed by the rejection by Tristan, and out of spite and jealousy tries to destroy their relationship with manipulation and lies. I HATE this. I think it is a good motivator for a character because no one can deny that some people do malicious things out of jealousy, but the fact that this showed the only gay character in this light can certainly be seen as problematic.
People in these communities agree, and others in the community disagree. I just think we need to listen and learn.
Now, I did not rate this book so low solely on these problematic parts of the book, but also because of the lack of feelings for the romantic relationship and plot.
These Violent Delights is everything you want in a retelling. The retelling of classics can be tricky, and one of such a famous and beloved story as RThese Violent Delights is everything you want in a retelling. The retelling of classics can be tricky, and one of such a famous and beloved story as Romeo and Juliet even more so. However, I feel that this book elevated the story to new heights. It takes place in the 1920s in Shanghai and having this be the setting and era was a unique experience for me. I didn't have any framing for what this time and setting would look like and I was completely astonished about how much I enjoyed this book purely for the setting and era. The world-building is phenomenal and I was so captivated by the rich characters and interesting mystery of the plot.
There is so much in this book, that it needs to be a resource staple. This book was just what I needed in continuing my education, and to learn how to engage and educate people on racism.
This book should be in all classrooms. It should be on all bookshelves. You can read it, and then re-read it, and read it again.
This book is everything you want in a cozy romantic novel that takes place in a village.
The beginning of the novel is slow. It takes its time buildinThis book is everything you want in a cozy romantic novel that takes place in a village.
The beginning of the novel is slow. It takes its time building to a romance, but while this is building, the relationships and dynamics with other characters and these are characters that are well developed for a shorter story, and bring so much life to not only the village, but also to our protagonist.
This moment is splendid in tone. It's not all fluff - so don't expect that. The lives of these characters are real, and some moments and memories are hard and sad, but it's that reality of these characters' lives that make the book so great. ...more
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