I want so much more queer adult contemporary fiction/litfic about this specific phase in life. This was a really great read, and I had a really hard tI want so much more queer adult contemporary fiction/litfic about this specific phase in life. This was a really great read, and I had a really hard time putting it down, even though general fiction usually takes me some time to read. It had 5 star potential for me in some moments, but just didn't quite reach that, but that's not to say I didn't love this....more
I truly don't know if this book would have been 5 stars for me had I not listened along to the audiobook as I read. Meryl Streep's performance is trulI truly don't know if this book would have been 5 stars for me had I not listened along to the audiobook as I read. Meryl Streep's performance is truly outstanding, and it made reading this book into such a mesmerizing experience. It's one of those quiet books where the pacing is slow and you can't say a whole lot is happening, yet I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and small reveals felt like major plot twists....more
This was equal parts fun and uncomfortable, and thoroughly engaging. Books about toxic childhood friendships will always touch a raw spot in me, and IThis was equal parts fun and uncomfortable, and thoroughly engaging. Books about toxic childhood friendships will always touch a raw spot in me, and I found the struggle of growing into who you are and being unable to fit into your old life anymore so relatable.
But this book also has the most precious romance of all time? Two people who cannot hold a conversation without blushing because they get so flustered in each other's presence. The adorable awkwardness was everything to me.
This book has amazing crossover potential if you usually read YA but want to get into adult fiction.
Small but important note is that there was a small comment about a side character going on a birthright trip that was completely unnecessary.
I'm not typically a huge fan of classic literature, so I was hesitant to pick this up, and I definitely wouldn't have if it hadn't been a pick for theI'm not typically a huge fan of classic literature, so I was hesitant to pick this up, and I definitely wouldn't have if it hadn't been a pick for the Read Around the World book club. But I'm pleasantly surprised, because this was such a good read. Even though it was written in 1940, it felt almost timeless to me in setting and writing. I suspect especially the first story will stay with me forever.
Read as part of the Read Around the World book club (Switzerland)...more
I tend to have such a hard time reading heavier books, and it doesn't always feel worth it because of that. This one, though, was very worth it.
I readI tend to have such a hard time reading heavier books, and it doesn't always feel worth it because of that. This one, though, was very worth it.
I read it in a day because I felt so absorbed in the story. It doesn't hold back at all, but it's told in such a beautiful way that hit me really hard. I felt so connected to Ana.
The book is divided into four parts, and those were all so well crafted. It made so much sense to tell the story with these time jumps, and it only added to the strength of the narration.
I did feel a little unsatisfied by the ending, but that's probably a me thing. I would have liked to see everything wrapped up more neatly, but of course that's not the way real life works either.
Read as part of the Read Around the World Book Club (Croatia)...more
These cosy, quiet books have such a way of making me love and appreciate life. This book has so many quotes that made me pause to really take them in These cosy, quiet books have such a way of making me love and appreciate life. This book has so many quotes that made me pause to really take them in and contemplate them. I just wish I'd felt a little more emotionally invested in the characters, but other than that I really enjoyed this....more
This will most likely end up being one of my favourite reads of the year. I loved the message of defining your own success and striving for happiness,This will most likely end up being one of my favourite reads of the year. I loved the message of defining your own success and striving for happiness, however that looks for you. And of course the bookshop setting was very cosy!...more
I'm not a huge historical fiction reader, but I wanted to pick it up because it's a sapphic book by a Palestinian author, and I'd seen a lot of positiI'm not a huge historical fiction reader, but I wanted to pick it up because it's a sapphic book by a Palestinian author, and I'd seen a lot of positive reviews. Ultimately, this book is too far out of my comfort zone, because of the genre, for me to actually love it. Still, I did find it engaging, and while I didn't like the main character as a person, I did think she was interesting to read about....more
My experience reading this book was very rocky. At first I felt sure I wouldn't enjoy it, and was even tempted to DNF, but then the writing started toMy experience reading this book was very rocky. At first I felt sure I wouldn't enjoy it, and was even tempted to DNF, but then the writing started to grow on me, and I really liked the ending of the first section.
Overall though, I didn't end up enjoying this, even though I liked the writing. The stream of consciousness is beautifully written with some quotes that really resonated with me, but stream of consciousness is so hard to get right and it's so hard to still keep the book structured enough, which is where I felt this book didn't succeed. The different sections didn't feel cohesive, so the story felt very choppy and confusing.
Read as part of the Read Around the World Book Club (Greenland)...more
Vanaf de eerste pagina werd ik gegrepen door dit intense verhaal. Als queer persoon vind ik het belangrijk om boeken te lezen en steunen geschreven doVanaf de eerste pagina werd ik gegrepen door dit intense verhaal. Als queer persoon vind ik het belangrijk om boeken te lezen en steunen geschreven door andere queer personen, zowel met vergelijkbare ervaringen als de mijne als juist hele andere. Een verhaal als dit, met queer-moslimrepresentatie, is zo waardevol en zo belangrijk dat ik het natuurlijk wilde lezen. De schrijfstijl voelde erg toegankelijk en persoonlijk, wat ervoor zorgde dat ik me nog meer betrokken voelde bij het verhaal. Ik vond de boodschap van zelfliefde mooi, vooral omdat deze boodschap kwam van een hoofdpersoon die van ver heeft moeten komen om deze boodschap uit te dragen....more
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