Rowan's Bookshelf (Carleigh) > Recent Status Updates

Very interested in this idea of Aphodite transforming sort of into the virgin Mary as a female being looking out for women - wish it was expanded upon. The temples of Aph. being turned into cathedrals or monasteries who focus on Mary (even the belt of Venus and Mary's girtle) shows similarities, but I want much more of these examples

Too much fighting between the main lovers imo, over little things like how the sister behaves or what to tell the mother.

i know embarrassingly little about Venus, but I think this is a good place to start to Get It. So far a mix of Cyprus fertility culture and Babylonian goddesses that were of both sex and war, it morphed as the two cultures came together over the bronze age more into the typical Aphrodite figure. Wish there was more about the Innana, Ishtar and Astarte deities before they clash with Cyprus ideas

I just love how deep Evelyn and Celia's characters are. She even has a part where she doesn't understand how they can be good and bad at the same time. I love her little pet peeves of being bisexual but Celia calling her a lesbian. She's not a lesbian! Plus I feel like we don't get a lot of queer woman stories where they love being a mother.

I love how smart and ruthless Evelyn is, she loves Celia but shes not afraid to love her own wealth too. And she's not stupid with it either

they are SO CUTE omg - Russell is a burly bearded shaggy haired man!! And a hockey player! while Ari is a cute redhead with quirkly obsession with the weather, they already have so much chemistry - the nicknames! Love it, so adorable

I didn't think I'd like how it switches between present day and the 50s, but I'm actually really refreshed by it. The modern looks back on Ev's life and some commentary on how it really felt to be a bisexual woman at that time. And secretly half cuban. But the Marilyn type glamour is so fun and I'm really sucked in so far

Like it way better if the focus is on non internet aspects of the case. Women are still so catty for be reason, the police chief could still threaten to fire Jessica even if they didn't act like teenagers to each other

Chapter 62: "Its not illegal to buy sex in finland, only pimping is." Her explanation is presumably unnecessary; one would assume the detectives sitting in the room as familiar with the pertinent legislation."
THEN WHY IS IT INCLUDED this author or translator thinks the audience is so stupid

I am sooo close to just DNFing this, its kind of boring and all the women are SO CATTY to each other its annoying and eyeroll inducing. Even the case isnt that interesting, I feel like im being talked down to when an explanation of how instagram works or what an IP address is. WHERES THE COVEN??

Not sure why I thought this was a 70s period piece lol - Layla is cute music teacher, Mark is also charming in an obvious dad sort of way. Hope they come together soon. The past stories are very interesting with the old spouses

So this is YOUNG young adult with some odd inserts that make it seem like a YA wanting to be more adult (ref to prostitution, torture, a lot of politics that are just kind of boring esp since its all made up) the merman character is also a bit boring, unfort. Like how homosexuality is really casual tho

There are a lot of assumptions (leaps) being made that aren't really justified. Is this happened in the first book I didn't notice it, plus this captain hello person is so annoying. I wish this whole plot line die out soon. Plus the case itself is just not as interesting I still wish it was about the actual coven from the first book

Bit dispointd this wont be directly continuing the ACTUAL coven story, at least not so far. the time skip feels weird, like what happened doesnt really matter despite the author directly saying Nina and Yusuf have "changed" maybe Nina's a little tougher, but Yusuf seems the same
The new police chief is annoying - wants to take Jessica down a peg bc ? And is a lesbian which i feel wont be handled great.

starting to like the surrounding cast a lot - the "lovebirds" Mikeal and Nina, and Jess' partner Yusuf. Makes the place lived in and real. Jess is going crazy rather quickly, or at least not being very smart about her "delusions". Interested to see how Italy ties into everything

Laura is so cute! I love her quest to map out her parents love story, and the slightly shy cab driver Ted who is totally the real love interest. about to meet the suitcase man but at this point is seems like just a red herring. IG sellout company is pretty boring, used before but still the boss being so crazy is fun

Very intriguing as the bodies are discovered and the author is being followed. Author tries to make every single character have a secret but I just don't care about the woman driving the author or the police chiefs weird fever. The Italian backstory with Jess seems fun though

Not sure why I picked this one, I usually don't get into detective novels. Maybe the foreign setting and the female protagonist, though nothing has greatly hooked me yet

Surprised and how there was a lot more story after JPM passed, but love the exploration of Bell struggling to decide what the do. Abortion part was actually heartbreaking, as was the decline of JPM mental health. Rlly feel the realtionship between her and these men. Wish there was more family rel. exploration. Convo with dad was very very interesting

Interesting things going on, just paced very fast. Months go by without truly feeling like it, but the relationship between Belle and Morgan is intriguing to watch grow. Same w/her slow integration into high society and some conflicted feelings about hiding her black ancestry. She def gains a lot from the position, but I don't feel the stakes quite yet

The mental health discussions are surprisingly refreshing. Maybe its because I am feeling much like Charlie these past few days, but I like seeing him understand himself and his fears. A little skeptical as I always am where "they kiss and instantly they're feelings ramp up" as if the first kiss isn't totally awkward with anyone. Drunk charlie and dev are Mood tho

I love them both, even if I think Charlie's "hotness" makes his anxiety troubles a bit less believable. I can buy the exercise for therapeutic reasons, but usually naturally handsome people arent this level of inept. Still, kudos to giving an actual anxiety disorder in the spotlight
Maureen the producer is definitely cardboard cutout evil. Ex Ryan is getting close to it too
Dev is fun, big personality, needs more tho

Oh yes. So cute. Love how they are growing closer together through the mural, sharing daydreams & Wesley conspiracies and the cattle named Ruby. It's all adorable!! And Wesley handles the reveal very well, I'm so glad it's not drama that's drawn out

Maybelle is SO CUTE I love her over the top daydreams and romantic notions. I want the house that she's inherited so bad, she makes it seem like there's so much potential. Not much for Wesley yet, just kind of a grumpy know-it-all but Maybelle wasn't there to see her aunt's decline so it's not unreasonable