I've heard nothing but good things about Nnedi Okorafor's books and was so excited for this one. I was struggling to stay engaged with this one - I coI've heard nothing but good things about Nnedi Okorafor's books and was so excited for this one. I was struggling to stay engaged with this one - I couldn't find a speed that suited me along with the speed of the narrator, so I had to go slightly too fast and let it get ahead f me as otherwise it was too slow and I'd have completely turned off. This meant I wasn't really keeping up and not fully invested. I had debated just dnf'ing and accepting it wasn't for me, but I was still interested in where it would go.. however I wish I had stopped.
In the last 20% we are introduced to an evil chief who I don't think was referred to without mention of his fatness - going so far as to say his fatness isn't normal but a literal sign of how evil he is. It also got dangerously close to ableism with my liking when we're first introduced to him and Ejii says he's so fat he can't walk. At one point there is a casual mention of him clenching his fists and it's written as "his fat fist". There is simply no need for it. It made me, a fat disabled person, feel really uncomfortable and honestly a bit angry.
I can absolutely accept characters having problematic thoughts, but this was purely used to evidence how evil this man was. I saw nothing in Ejii to suggest she would be fatphobic and it wasn't used to better her character. There was also a comment in regards to creatures knowing if the person riding them is a man or a woman even if they've dressed as the other which I would have worded better as with it being a throwaway comment, it does risk veering close to being transphobic.
I realise this was originally published in 2007, but I'd have thought one of the benefits of reworking and republishing a book so many years later is that you can change theses sorts of things. I guess not - though I'm not sure what the point would be in reworking it otherwise. It does make me hesitant to pick up the sequel or more of this author's work as if they didn't feel they needed to change this now, I don't really want to risk reading more fatphobic content, which is a shame given how many good things I've heard and how great the plots sound....more
On the one hand, I read it in one sitting, Emezi's writing style is gorgeous and I could feel their passion pouriI'm not really sure how to rate this.
On the one hand, I read it in one sitting, Emezi's writing style is gorgeous and I could feel their passion pouring out of the page. On the other, I didn't connect with it.
There was a lot of biblical imagery in this and that is the sort of thing I will typically avoid as I am not religious and have complicated thoughts and feelings around it so it's always difficult for me to read anything that veers in that direction.
The synopsis mentions this "renegotiating the contract between poet and reader" which really intrigued me but after reading, I don't really know what that meant and it's left me feeling confused about what this was meant to be (or is, that I'm failing to pick up)
I realise I am perhaps simply not the intended reader, and that's okay, but it does leave me at a loss for how to rate it. Normally I'd go down the middle with a 3 but that feels harsh....more
I really wanted to love this but in the end, I lost interest.
This was LONGGGG and to be honest, I could barely tell you what happened as it failed to I really wanted to love this but in the end, I lost interest.
This was LONGGGG and to be honest, I could barely tell you what happened as it failed to keep my interest. I definitely missed out on any excitement of reveals as I'd not kept up with who was who and it just wasn't for me. ...more
I have been waiting for this book since November 2022 and it did not disappoint.
Remember, Remember was gripping, heart wrenching, and full of hope. ItI have been waiting for this book since November 2022 and it did not disappoint.
Remember, Remember was gripping, heart wrenching, and full of hope. It was engaging and kept me hooked - I have never felt tension in a book like when reading Vincent's trial. This book could have taken so many turns and I never knew where we'd go and loved every second. I attended the launch event this evening, and like Elle mentioned there, I am not usually one for quotes to open chapters, however the inclusion of real articles and quotes from the time were really impactful and I truly felt I was there. This was one of those books where I could see every moment - I could see the movie in my mind playing out (and god I'd love this to be a movie, which is saying a lot given I rarely watch them!). It just felt... right?
Reading this felt similar to me as to when I read Les Miserables, and not just because of the themes of revolution. I am very much a light reader. I enjoy fast paced, quick reads that don't simmer. I like to get to the point and the action, no slow building, no setting up (even though it leads to a good reward, typically). But every so often a "simmer" book finds it's way to me and I relish in sitting, taking the story in bit by bit, allowing things to build up. I don't know what makes me latch on to some and not others, but Remember, Remember, like Les Mis (but significantly shorter and definitely much faster paced than the Brick!) had whatever it is I need.
Every character felt real. I cared about them - even if we only met briefly - and of course loathed some! For an author who has only been writing in this style since lockdown, this is beyond a talent. This reads like an author who has honed their craft for decades. I would be green with envy if I wasn't just so thrilled for them. I cannot wait to read more from Elle Machray (I know it's one day post publication but can we have more now, please?)...more
No Rating as did not engage enough to actually give one.
I really wanted to love this one but something about it just failed to keep me engaged. I thinNo Rating as did not engage enough to actually give one.
I really wanted to love this one but something about it just failed to keep me engaged. I think I just struggle to listen to multi-pov when it's just one narrator/one voice. As I need to listen to a fast speed, the chapters start quickly so I miss who's pov it is and it makes it hard for me to keep up.
I could tell you the start of this book, and a bit towards the end, but I just didn't retain enough of it for any climaxes etc. to have any affect.
It's one of those I almost don't want to count as having read because I couldn't tell you more than a basic synopsis.
That all said, I do think for those who predominantly read this genre it will go down a treat, it just wasn't my cup of tea (pun intended). I did however like the writing style and will be keeping my eye out for more of Faizal's work....more
I enjoyed this contemporary romance and particularly enjoyed it being set in Dubai and during Diwali. I don't know a lot about Hindu culture so it wasI enjoyed this contemporary romance and particularly enjoyed it being set in Dubai and during Diwali. I don't know a lot about Hindu culture so it was really nice to get to experience it through NIkki's family holiday and best friend/boy drama! I really appreciated how real it all felt - sometimes the conflicts between characters can feel forced and unbelievable but that wasn't the case here. The only "fault" I could give is that the "big reveal" at the end I had clocked on to pretty quickly and then it all wrapped up very quickly, but it wasn't done poorly at all! ...more
I really enjoyed this middle grade, historical, mystery audiobook. The characters, even ones we don't see often, felt well rounded and the mystery was I really enjoyed this middle grade, historical, mystery audiobook. The characters, even ones we don't see often, felt well rounded and the mystery was engaging. I appreciated the truthfulness to the time - our characters being inspired by real people and (no spoilers) things that really happened in that time playing a part. I think this book would be a great launching pad for discussion for kids, especially in the classroom.
Personally, I'd have liked just a little more of the finding clues but overall, it was a really great story and I'm now heading to another tab to read about the real Dido Belle!...more
3.75 stars (please can goodreads let us add these so we don't have to round up/down)
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was the perfect mix of romance3.75 stars (please can goodreads let us add these so we don't have to round up/down)
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was the perfect mix of romance, serious topics, and just teens going through life. The characters felt believable and the way the interacted felt true - nobody overreacted for the sake of plot, you could understand the reasons behind everyone's behaviour and I felt it showed a number of different issues teens may experience, especially in friendships, that could help them in real life. ...more
This was fun and engaging. I thought I'd prefer to have more of the setting in the expeditions and see more of that but it actually worked for me the This was fun and engaging. I thought I'd prefer to have more of the setting in the expeditions and see more of that but it actually worked for me the way it was. ...more
I had been really looking forward to this novella but ultimately something just fell really flat. I don't know if it was the translation or culture orI had been really looking forward to this novella but ultimately something just fell really flat. I don't know if it was the translation or culture or what but I just felt like there was symbolism with the fish that I was missing and the timeline didn't really flow - I couldn't quite tell when one scene ended and another began at points. I get the gist that our mc's wife (who is never named?) wants a baby.. and then two of his friends have babies.. but it just didn't make a lot of sense to me over all....more
Being a novel in verse, this was a pretty quick read. It wasn't my favourite novel in verse I've read, but it was one of the shortest so I'm putting iBeing a novel in verse, this was a pretty quick read. It wasn't my favourite novel in verse I've read, but it was one of the shortest so I'm putting it down to that and the fact it had less space to go deeper. Overall, I really enjoyed it, and Eric felt like a very complex character despite not getting to spend a lot of time with him. This could easily be stretched to a novel if the author (who is only 19!) wanted to and I'm really keen to read more of their work going forward!...more
I've been reading this book for 6 months, thanks to yet another slump, but I enjoyed this! It's deals with really important social commentary and I thI've been reading this book for 6 months, thanks to yet another slump, but I enjoyed this! It's deals with really important social commentary and I think it would be a good book for schools as it opens up many different race and social class discussions....more
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