pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A horrifying telling of the how gay men and others with HIV/Aids were treated throughout the 80s and 90s. There is controversy around the exageration of how many men Coker supported and buried but even if she reached half the men she says she did, that is a feat that not many people can say they did. In her writing, I was fanscinated by the theme of power and contacts and how often these cropped up when trying to support dying people.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a deeply honest memoir that speaks about a number of different traumas and difficult topics. As Johnson says towards the end, it‘s strange to write/ read a memoir from someone who is 33 but to let the world know everything he has been through - including personal sexual stories - for people who might be going through the same troubles. This book has a great intent and I can see it supporting those who need to hear these words.
After 3 months on hold, I finally got this from my local library. I have high hopes after the long wait but so far, I love the narrators voice so let‘s see where it goes!
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Set in Scotland is a harrowing memoir of how a child never experiences love. Before the age of sixteen, her mother tries to kill her, her foster parents mentally abuse and beat her, her foster brother sexually abuses her. Only after being told her son could go into care does she tell social services what happened. Monica Allan‘s dedication to speaking up will hopefully bring changes and more consciousness to care in the social system.
so-soAgainst popular opinion, I wanted to DNF Morning Star and only didn‘t because it was the final in a trilogy. Darrow should have died a hundred times and the war went round in circles. Perhaps I just don‘t like space fantasies. I was surprised by the twist at the end which was interesting and well-thought out but again, unrealistic. An aspect I liked was the development of this one from the first one in terms of maturity, language and gore though.
pickLoved the storyline - a few twists, humour, and sadness. The fast speed of the book kept me engaged. My only criticism is that it is not realistic - it is only a story as this kind of feminism and female empowerment sadly never would have happened in the 60s. Then again, for me, the story would never have been as good without these aspects and Elizabeth‘s not so subtle tips on live TV. The narrator of the audiobook was perfect too!
Nearly two hours into my first audiobook of 2024 and I‘m hooked. I‘ve heard great things and it‘s already living up to them. Bring on a positive start to the New Year!
My goal was to read 35 books this year and I am so happy to say I read 38! Some better than others and there are some that I am now obsessed with. #bookchallenge2023 #2023readingwrap
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book really develops from the first one where the characters go from a training environment to real life civil war. It gets deeper and more painful but it also starts getting somewhere. Slowly Darrow‘s story is shared with friends, he visits his home, you find out who Ares is and who is really on his side. Pierce Brown knows how to end a book on a cliffhanger and I have no idea how it will continue. To book three!
“People are a product of our environment, to some extent, and we must not judge prematurely. Where life is hard, hard things happen.” ~ Chapter 13
Enjoying this book so far. After working with animals myself I know the horrors and pains of not only the animals but people you come across in the animal world. This book gives me vibes of This is Going to Hurt Animal Edition with the caring fantastastical job that so many children grow up wanting to do and the sh*tshow honest reality that it is. #truestory #autobiography #animaljobs #veterinary
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Red Rising has been on my tbr list for years and I finally got round to it. I like the premise, the storyline, the characters. Occasionally I feel it‘s a bit slow and this book could be half the size and still as good. I‘m looking forward to starting the next in the series. #fantasy #apocalypse #4stars #series
This was my favourite book of November. I usually enjoy a memoir after doing some research about it but I found this one randomly and was extremely surprised.
so-soI started this because I lost the book I was reading on a bus. 100 pages in I really considered putting it down because the writing was so annoying. It definitely could have been cut down from 400 to 200 pages and I never started to like the writing style, but I liked the message behind the book and it did make me tear up at certain parts.
Starting this audiobook today. I don‘t usually read this genre but I‘ve heard great things about the author so I want to give it a try. #audiobook #startabook #letsgo
so-soI was a bit disappointed with this book. To be honest, I have never heard of this chef, but I expected more of a build up through their life, rather than starting when they were in their 20s. Despite this, it was an interesting book. I imagine it‘s enlightening for people who follow their food story and like the cooking show they are in, but I particularly found interesting when they discuss racism and gendered issues encountered.
Picked up three new books at a local charity shop. Can‘t wait to get started on these soon. #newbooks #charityshop #charitybooks #tbr
Just started listening to this audiobook. I usually don‘t read books set in Australia but this autobiography interests me a lot!
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - As someone who had never heard about this previously, this was a heartbreaking truth. I think the reason Joanne published this was to have her point of view out in the public, rather than being judged on what people are assuming or is being spread by her mother.
Joanne‘s upbringing, struggles and secrets are always affecting what she does. It‘s a story about what familial love will make you do. A powerful book and great narration.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I really loved this book! I loved the Japanese aspects, the protagonists‘ thoughts and actions. I didn‘t like the love triangle particularly but I liked the outcome of it as it fit the feminist, free-living theme. I didn‘t fully understand everything that happened during the battle scenes but got the general gist.
I haven‘t read a fantasy book that I enjoyed this much in a while. I look forward to the sequel!
Starting this audiobook. A true story about childhood, parenting and secrets.
Let‘s get started.
#truestory #memoir #autobiography #audiobook
so-so⭐️⭐️
I listened to the audiobook and I thought Agnes had no depth and is a bit childish. I like that there were a group of sugar babies and you learnt a little about all of them. I thought there was potential for the religious background but it wasn‘t explored. It‘s interesting how being a sugar baby provides such a good wage and lifestyle compared to normal jobs but brings so much stigma and judgement.
#fiction #sugarbaby #audiobook
Started a new book today that has been on my TBR list since last Christmas. I have high hopes!
How the year is going so far. I‘m not sure I‘ll fill all the spaces but let‘s keep going.
Who else is doing #bookbingo2023?
#bookchallenge #genrechallenge #2023bookgoals
pickI usually find Greek myth retellings fairly slow and this wasn‘t any different but I was interested in the feminist aspect, referring to how women are punished for heroes and gods‘ actions. From other Greek myths I‘ve read before, she‘s not wrong.
For some reason I got Ariadne mixed up with Arachne so the whole book I was wondering when she was going to turn into a spider. Spoiler: she doesn‘t.
#fantasy #mythology #retelling #greekmyth
Getting ready for a deep, historical heartbreaker. Tissues at the ready.
Borrowed from the library.
#fiction #historical #racism #grief
