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Ali A (82 KP) rated The Meadows in Books
Sep 11, 2023
Trigger Warnings: conversion therapy, homophobia
Every youth hopes to get a letter to attend one of the places where only the best and brightest go to be even better and brighter: the Estuary, the Glades, the Meadows…
When Eleanor is accepted to go to the Meadows, it means her escape from the Cove and a hard life by the sea. But, though the Meadows is filled with beautiful and wonderful things, it hoards dark secrets: its purpose is to reform its students from their attractions, to show them that the way of life is only possible through their way. Maybe Eleanor starts to believe, but then she meets Rose, and everything changes.
A year after leaving the Meadows, Eleanor and her friends are on the outside, living back in society - but not everything is as they hoped. Eleanor is an adjudicator, someone who makes sure former students haven’t strayed from the lives they were trained to live. But the past isn’t letting go of Eleanor and as secrets unravel, Eleanor must fight against everything she has been taught to be, especially if she can find the girl that she lost.
I originally was interested in this title when I saw it on BookishFirst because it was being marketed as “a queer, YA Handmaid's Tale meets Never Let Me Go” and I was all about that. I also love a good dystopian novel so this was really right up my alley.
That being said, I absolutely loved and devoured this novel over the course of the weekend when I didn’t have the interruption of work. The world building is intriguing and the “perfect” society is everything but (aren’t they all). The characters were also complex and engrossing - even the ones I wasn’t the biggest fans of, I still wanted them to succeed.
I absolutely recommend this book to those not only those who love dystopian novels, but those who want a page turning science fiction with queer characters.
*Thank you Dial Books and BookishFirst for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Every youth hopes to get a letter to attend one of the places where only the best and brightest go to be even better and brighter: the Estuary, the Glades, the Meadows…
When Eleanor is accepted to go to the Meadows, it means her escape from the Cove and a hard life by the sea. But, though the Meadows is filled with beautiful and wonderful things, it hoards dark secrets: its purpose is to reform its students from their attractions, to show them that the way of life is only possible through their way. Maybe Eleanor starts to believe, but then she meets Rose, and everything changes.
A year after leaving the Meadows, Eleanor and her friends are on the outside, living back in society - but not everything is as they hoped. Eleanor is an adjudicator, someone who makes sure former students haven’t strayed from the lives they were trained to live. But the past isn’t letting go of Eleanor and as secrets unravel, Eleanor must fight against everything she has been taught to be, especially if she can find the girl that she lost.
I originally was interested in this title when I saw it on BookishFirst because it was being marketed as “a queer, YA Handmaid's Tale meets Never Let Me Go” and I was all about that. I also love a good dystopian novel so this was really right up my alley.
That being said, I absolutely loved and devoured this novel over the course of the weekend when I didn’t have the interruption of work. The world building is intriguing and the “perfect” society is everything but (aren’t they all). The characters were also complex and engrossing - even the ones I wasn’t the biggest fans of, I still wanted them to succeed.
I absolutely recommend this book to those not only those who love dystopian novels, but those who want a page turning science fiction with queer characters.
*Thank you Dial Books and BookishFirst for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Duke and I (Bridgertons, #1) in Books
Nov 26, 2022
212 of 230
Book
The Duke & I ( Bridgertons book 1)
By Julia Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever! Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!
I loved it! It was a slow starter but by the end I was quite emotional not sure if that was the book or the fact I’m a sensitive soul 😂. Julia Quinn is one of my favourite writers for these types of books this didn’t disappoint. I have happily avoided the tv series due wanting to read the books first, I may give them a go after I’ve finished this series.
Book
The Duke & I ( Bridgertons book 1)
By Julia Quinn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever! Simon Basset, the irresistible Duke of Hastings, has hatched a plan to keep himself free from the town's marriage-minded society mothers. He pretends to be engaged to the lovely Daphne Bridgerton. After all, it isn't as if the brooding rogue has any real plans to marry-though there is something about the alluring Miss Bridgerton that sets Simon's heart beating a bit faster. And as for Daphne, surely the clever debutante will attract some very worthy suitors now that is seems a duke has declared her desirable. But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, she soon forgets that their courtship is a complete sham. And now she has to do the impossible and keep herself from losing her heart and soul completely to the handsome hell-raiser who has sworn off marriage forever!
I loved it! It was a slow starter but by the end I was quite emotional not sure if that was the book or the fact I’m a sensitive soul 😂. Julia Quinn is one of my favourite writers for these types of books this didn’t disappoint. I have happily avoided the tv series due wanting to read the books first, I may give them a go after I’ve finished this series.
Green Hills and Daffodils (The Green Hills #1)
6.0
Rate It
Book
The Green Hills Series: Nestled within the green sheep-covered hills of Wales is a tiny town that...
Fantasy LGBT+ Romance
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Sing, Unburied, Sing in Books
Oct 3, 2017
A Toni Morrison novel updated for modern times
This is no doubt a modern day version of reading a Toni Morrison novel. From the magical realism aspect to social issues affecting African Americans, this novel is both haunting and almost poetic.
The story follows a family on their way to a prison, in which the children's white father is due to be released. The teenage boy and his three year old sister are mostly dependent on one another as well as their grandparents Pop and Mam. The mother Leonie is absent, and rather aloof in their upbringing, forcing her son, Jojo to bring up his kid sister. In between are disturbing stories featured in flashbacks and ghostly apparitions, The novel explores interracial relationships, police brutality and even post traumatic stress disorder to a degree.
While it can seem haphazard, going back and forth in time, and random narratives appearing throughout, it leaves the reader with a sense of unease and despair at the violent nature of society. A truly intriguing read.
The story follows a family on their way to a prison, in which the children's white father is due to be released. The teenage boy and his three year old sister are mostly dependent on one another as well as their grandparents Pop and Mam. The mother Leonie is absent, and rather aloof in their upbringing, forcing her son, Jojo to bring up his kid sister. In between are disturbing stories featured in flashbacks and ghostly apparitions, The novel explores interracial relationships, police brutality and even post traumatic stress disorder to a degree.
While it can seem haphazard, going back and forth in time, and random narratives appearing throughout, it leaves the reader with a sense of unease and despair at the violent nature of society. A truly intriguing read.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Crucible in Books
Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)
Exceptional drama exploring paranoia and hysteria
I remember having to study this book in drama during my school days, which made me become fascinated with the Salem Witch trials and its parallel politics. It is a dramatised and partially fictionalised story of the trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony during 1692/93.
The play explores paranoia, the power of superstition and mass hysteria. It shows the dangers of using a scapegoat to fix problems in society. Classed as one of the great American plays along with the likes of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the US government ostracised people for being communists.
Many prominent people became victims of the Red Scare, Arthur Miller was one of many people who came to the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee. In his play The Crucible Miller drew comparisons with the Red Scare and the witch trials of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts.
Truly an awe-inspiring and essential read.
The play explores paranoia, the power of superstition and mass hysteria. It shows the dangers of using a scapegoat to fix problems in society. Classed as one of the great American plays along with the likes of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the US government ostracised people for being communists.
Many prominent people became victims of the Red Scare, Arthur Miller was one of many people who came to the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee. In his play The Crucible Miller drew comparisons with the Red Scare and the witch trials of 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts.
Truly an awe-inspiring and essential read.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Unspeakable in Books
Oct 22, 2017 (Updated Oct 22, 2017)
A biting outlook on American politics by a veteran journalist
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges and Salon founder David Talbot have a frank conversation about political taboos in this new series of books on 'forbidden' topics.
Hedges writes about politics with a principled fury and an eye to pointing out injustice, even at the cost of his own career as an acclaimed war correspondent. The book is a long-running commentary on the many issues Hedges confronts in his writing, including war, Occupy Wall Street, and the New York Times's relationship to organs of state power.
At times, he sounds like a bitter preacher, at other times, he is focused and forms excellent arguments against the establishment. His views on the pornification of society are liberating, finally addressing the underlying issues of economics invading the private space.
His observation that the today's ruling elites are out of touch with the country they govern and has borne out in the 2016 election cycle, shows that even the most stridently expressed views aren't necessarily wrong.
Hedges writes about politics with a principled fury and an eye to pointing out injustice, even at the cost of his own career as an acclaimed war correspondent. The book is a long-running commentary on the many issues Hedges confronts in his writing, including war, Occupy Wall Street, and the New York Times's relationship to organs of state power.
At times, he sounds like a bitter preacher, at other times, he is focused and forms excellent arguments against the establishment. His views on the pornification of society are liberating, finally addressing the underlying issues of economics invading the private space.
His observation that the today's ruling elites are out of touch with the country they govern and has borne out in the 2016 election cycle, shows that even the most stridently expressed views aren't necessarily wrong.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Hunt (2012) in Movies
Feb 24, 2019
Dark and disturbing
This is definitely not an easy film to watch, but it really is very good. It's a stark and difficult to watch tale about the repercussions of lies in a close knit Danish tale. It deals with some very heavy topics and yet doesn't shy away from the subject matter in question, to the point where it's almost too difficult to watch. But this is why this film is so good, it hasn't Hollywood-ised such a difficult subject and instead you can really believe everything that happens.
It's helped of course by a brilliant performance from Mads Mikkelsen. His quiet mild mannered Lucas is a million miles away from what he gets accused of, and Mads' performances itself is very restrained, which is exactly what this film needed. This paired with a subtle score and well done cinematography make for a very haunting watch.
This really has a stark point to make about the judgemental nature of society, and it makes it very well, even if it is disturbing to watch.
It's helped of course by a brilliant performance from Mads Mikkelsen. His quiet mild mannered Lucas is a million miles away from what he gets accused of, and Mads' performances itself is very restrained, which is exactly what this film needed. This paired with a subtle score and well done cinematography make for a very haunting watch.
This really has a stark point to make about the judgemental nature of society, and it makes it very well, even if it is disturbing to watch.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Passengers in Books
Apr 16, 2019
A highly entertaining, twist filled read
When I first started this book i was a little concerned. The plot about 8 hijacked driverless cars seemed a little thin to be able to stretch over such a long 400+ page book, hug as soon as I started reading it had me hooked.
The 400+ pages flew past in record speed, I just couldn't put this book down. What seemed a fairly similar plot was filled with intriguing and well developed character, as well as some fantastic twists and reveals that I never saw coming. It also features quite a serious commentary on social media and bias and even racism, and despite being set in a society slightly more technologically advanced than our own, you can see the truth in the issues highlighted here. You can also imagine our societies becoming similar to this one in the very near future, which is a very sobering thought. This really is a highly entertaining read, and it's not often I get so enthralled in a story to not see the twists coming!
The 400+ pages flew past in record speed, I just couldn't put this book down. What seemed a fairly similar plot was filled with intriguing and well developed character, as well as some fantastic twists and reveals that I never saw coming. It also features quite a serious commentary on social media and bias and even racism, and despite being set in a society slightly more technologically advanced than our own, you can see the truth in the issues highlighted here. You can also imagine our societies becoming similar to this one in the very near future, which is a very sobering thought. This really is a highly entertaining read, and it's not often I get so enthralled in a story to not see the twists coming!
This is Britain now.
This book describes what it is to live in Britain in 2019. The previous two books in the seasonal quartet looked at the Brexit vote, Trump’s election, and this one seems to have a central theme of borders and immigration (although you could argue that immigration seems to have been an overarching theme so far).
There is so much going on beneath the surface in these books if you want to research and find out, but it is just a fascinating and exciting book to read just for the joy of reading it.
I loved the “What we want”, “Any time at all. Here take it. Take my face”, and “Now for 140 seconds of cutting edge realism” chapters. They reflect society today so well: how people hide behind social media and the internet to say whatever they want to without fear of any repercussions, and the violence behind what they say (both obvious and insidious).
Ali Smith is just so clever, and I love her books. I can’t wait to see what Summer will hold for us.
There is so much going on beneath the surface in these books if you want to research and find out, but it is just a fascinating and exciting book to read just for the joy of reading it.
I loved the “What we want”, “Any time at all. Here take it. Take my face”, and “Now for 140 seconds of cutting edge realism” chapters. They reflect society today so well: how people hide behind social media and the internet to say whatever they want to without fear of any repercussions, and the violence behind what they say (both obvious and insidious).
Ali Smith is just so clever, and I love her books. I can’t wait to see what Summer will hold for us.
Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated My Very First Story Time: Cinderella in Books
Jun 6, 2019
Cinderella: Fairy Tale with picture glossary and an activity (My Very First Story Time) by Pat-a-Cake, Rachel Elliot, Tim Budgen is a retelling of a much loved story, only with a difference, this has a multicultural slant.
Cinderella, (along with many of the other characters in this book) is portrayed as mixed heritage. She is also more capable of looking after herself, and a much better role model for young girls since this story is less about her being a slave to her ugly sisters and her “woe-is-me” pity-party and more about how she makes things happen for herself as a valued member of her society. Albeit a magical one.
I’d say this is great reading for children three years and up, as this has paper pages and doesn’t seem to be for an early self-reader, despite the title, but you can still read this story out loud to younger children at bedtime.
A charming book, full of diversity, simple rhythmic words and brightly coloured illustrations.
Cinderella, (along with many of the other characters in this book) is portrayed as mixed heritage. She is also more capable of looking after herself, and a much better role model for young girls since this story is less about her being a slave to her ugly sisters and her “woe-is-me” pity-party and more about how she makes things happen for herself as a valued member of her society. Albeit a magical one.
I’d say this is great reading for children three years and up, as this has paper pages and doesn’t seem to be for an early self-reader, despite the title, but you can still read this story out loud to younger children at bedtime.
A charming book, full of diversity, simple rhythmic words and brightly coloured illustrations.