My first Adam Silvera! I had been meaning to get to his books for years and finally I got to one and damn did it impress me. I really, rea3.5/5 stars.
My first Adam Silvera! I had been meaning to get to his books for years and finally I got to one and damn did it impress me. I really, really loved the progression of both Rufus and Mateo where this ended up being my favourite part of the book. They were highly likeable characters - even though Rufus punches a guy in the face at the very beginning. The big downside was that TbdatE was full to the brim of happy coincidences and ex-machinas taking away the realistic part of a contemporary novel with a twist. The ending tugged at my heartstrings and I wanted to cry. Not exaggerating, my heart physically ached thinking about Mateo and Rufus because their relationship was so well written, why Silvera?? Honestly, even if you're not even into YA novels like me usually, this one may surprise you.
Merged review:
3.5/5 stars.
My first Adam Silvera! I had been meaning to get to his books for years and finally I got to one and damn did it impress me. I really, really loved the progression of both Rufus and Mateo where this ended up being my favourite part of the book. They were highly likeable characters - even though Rufus punches a guy in the face at the very beginning. The big downside was that TbdatE was full to the brim of happy coincidences and ex-machinas taking away the realistic part of a contemporary novel with a twist. The ending tugged at my heartstrings and I wanted to cry. Not exaggerating, my heart physically ached thinking about Mateo and Rufus because their relationship was so well written, why Silvera?? Honestly, even if you're not even into YA novels like me usually, this one may surprise you....more
Financial success has come with an unthinkable price tag. There are no grey areas when it comes to survival.
This is quite a hard book to rate, especiaFinancial success has come with an unthinkable price tag. There are no grey areas when it comes to survival.
This is quite a hard book to rate, especially as it's a collection of speeches and not something with a flowing consistent plot. There was a lot of repetition which makes sense in speeches but it really started to annoy me in book from making me think this was probably not the best way to put the message of the climate crisis across. The amount of times I heard 'our house is on fire' for example, did my head in a little.
My main issue with the book however is that it gave no solutions and just repeated the same message: 'stop releasing greenhouse gases.' There was nothing about what the average person can do to reduce their carbon emissions, something that would have been highly useful to read about instead of hearing over and over that it's the fault of large global companies and now future generations have to struggle with the damage they have left. The companies are not going to read this, so to me the speeches in book form seemed kind of pointless and boring at times if I'm honest, to get through. 'We must change almost everything in our current societies', and then she doesn't explain how. The why certainly comes across but she annoyingly explains no further. Instead of publishing speeches, an informative and practical book teaching people how to be more environmentally friendly would have been so much better. Do I see this book as a cash grab? Kind of, and it sucks.
At the beginning Greta states that her speeches are not political statements which they absolutely are. At around 30% she mentions the politics we need are currently non-existent and politicians don't care. Maybe don’t include politics if you said you wouldn’t..?
Don't you think that a 16 year old can speak for herself?
I think Greta is wonderful person including everyone who supports her. There were phrases like 'Aspergers is not a disease, it is a gift', that must be amazing for young people with disabilities to hear as it can inspire them to lead actual change with the many current issues we have in the world. The book triggers an emotional response as you read which I think is what Greta was aiming for, clearly shown with the action that has come from her public appearances and protests. Being only 16 she's got more guts than most figures in positions of power having a sincere want to do things for good. The format and pointlessness of this book just wasn't it.
Although this book isn't stating anything new about the issue of climate change, it is nonetheless a powerful and inspiring collection of speeches from someone with a big heart who aims to change the world. Big love for this girl. 2.5/5 stars....more
I know the author and I am trying to make this review as unbiased as possible.
I have never given a book of poetry more than 4 stars before. And it's I know the author and I am trying to make this review as unbiased as possible.
I have never given a book of poetry more than 4 stars before. And it's not because I don't like poetry, I've just never felt a connection with an anthology that I could relate to so much. There are often some poems I enjoy and feel with, some I like the sound of but there are always others that let me down. White Moth was a rarity and I loved it.
A short collection of emotions I let loose:
p52 - The Contortionist felt like a reflection of current me, p62 - Cobblers made me relive sad moments from high school, p73 - The Commute showed annoyance but authority, p94 - The Creative made me tear up inside.
...and these are just a few examples. I'll admit I began the book thinking the poems were just okay but carrying on from about a third of the way till the end, I was HOOKED. Maya is just 17 writing some really beautiful pieces of work that blow my mind and I honestly wish I could be doing something as cool as this. Highly recommend this read - 4.5/5 stars....more
3.5 stars. There were poems in this I really really enjoyed and others not so much. This was a personal favourite:
The Wrong Beds
Life is a hospital wa3.5 stars. There were poems in this I really really enjoyed and others not so much. This was a personal favourite:
The Wrong Beds
Life is a hospital ward, and the beds we are put in are the ones we don’t want to be in. We’d get better sooner if put over there by the window. Or by the radiator, one could suffer easier there.
At night we dream of faraway places: The Côte d’Azure, all perfume and light. Or nearer home a cottage in the Cotswolds, a studio overlooking the sea. The soul could be happier anywhere than where it happens to be.
Anywhere but here. We take out medicine daily, nod politely, and grumble occasionally. But it is out of our hands. Always the wrong place. We didn’t make our beds, but we lie in them.
The book included so many different themes from depressing ones to silly poems that made you laugh. For a bumpy but enjoyable ride, read this....more
I really loved the concept and idea of this book - a well known classic turned into poetry form with some of the authors own twists and t2.5/5 stars.
I really loved the concept and idea of this book - a well known classic turned into poetry form with some of the authors own twists and turns. I liked the structure of the writing as it was very pretty and overall its just a simple read to fly through in an afternoon. Some lines I thought were especially lovely:
’Her tiny hands shook as she began to dive deeper for this water was not fit for living souls or creatures this part of the ocean was toxic and she knew this at once from the collection of bones which were turning to dust.’
Sadly there were a few things I didn't personally end up liking. I'm rarely a fan of the instalove trope unless it comes across in a unique way which here it wasn't. There also wasn't anything that made me feel for the characters, I didn't feel any emotion for either of the two. I thought some of the rhymes were basic and some phrases just seemed like the author was trying to add anything that would make it rhyme even if it didn't make much sense to me for example:
’Why did Nikolai fear others so? when he possessed a heart of gold, yet emotion he struggled to show.’ Fearing other people isn't showing an emotion? Also I think the tenses are a bit wrong in the sentence: yet doesn't really fit with the rest.
I am definitely up to reading more from this poet however in the future as I think I'll be able to find a gold gem I'll end up loving, especially if there are more based on classic tales. Hope to see more....more
’Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they a’Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne.’
This book is from the point of view of God Himself. I didn't think Vonnegut could get crazier the more of his books I read but I keep being proven wrong and I'm glad.
Like every one of his books, Vonnegut picks topics that are tough and difficult to talk about and adds humour without making fun of certain topics. Suicide and mental illness although not a main focus are both mentioned in this so I definitely would warn anyone who has certain triggers to be aware. The writing and formatting Vonnegut cleverly uses is hilarious and the amount of times in public I've had to try and quiet down to avoid stares have been many. Especially because of the drawings - oh my God some of them are hysterical!
The ending was my favourite part of the book and I'll admit the middle dragged on a little bit which I guess makes sense since it's all meant to lead up to a chaotic ending but I slightly lost interest there. It's conclusion very much brought it back together though.
Also I think I'm too young to understand some of the references, that may have been a part of it.
It's absolutely worth a read for a good time, but if you haven't read a Vonnegut book just yet pick up Slaughterhouse-Five for an introduction to his crazy storytelling first so then you won't be as scared to try this one. Go!...more
**spoiler alert** 'Ford,' insisted Arthur, 'I don't know if this sounds like like a silly question, but what am I doing here?' 'Well you know that, sai**spoiler alert** 'Ford,' insisted Arthur, 'I don't know if this sounds like like a silly question, but what am I doing here?' 'Well you know that, said Ford. 'I rescued you from the Earth.' 'And what's happened to the Earth?' 'Ah. It's been demolished.' 'Has it?' said Arthur levelly. 'Yes. It just boiled away into space.' 'Look,' said Arthur. 'I am a bit upset about that.' Ford frowned to himself and seemed to roll the thought around his mind. 'Yes I can understand that,' he said at last. 'Understand that!' shouted Arthur. 'Understand that!' Ford sprang up. 'Keep looking at the book!' he hissed urgently. 'What?'
Really liked this. It’s certainly a very good book at creating a story representing the totalitarian r’All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.’
Really liked this. It’s certainly a very good book at creating a story representing the totalitarian rule in Russia around 1917 - not presenting it subtly at all which adds to the grittiness of the novel. I don't care that the political message is direct which many dislike about it, it represents the truth of the time and how the period was an awful one to live in.
Only loses a star for being repetitive at times. Hopefully reading 1984 soon!...more
'...And because, in all the Galaxy, they had found nothing more precious than Mind, they encouraged its dawning everywhere. They became farmers in the'...And because, in all the Galaxy, they had found nothing more precious than Mind, they encouraged its dawning everywhere. They became farmers in the field of stars; they sowed, and sometimes they reaped. And sometimes, dispassionately, they had to weed.'
Guys, I think I've found my new favourite series... ever? These books are SO GOOD. The amount of work and research put into them is incredible and both the first book and this one have completely blown my mind.
I didn't really enjoy this. It seemed a bit all over the place and the amount of times the word otjize was said in every section really bothered me byI didn't really enjoy this. It seemed a bit all over the place and the amount of times the word otjize was said in every section really bothered me by making it repetitive. There was a part of the story where the main character talks about having equations going through her mind to be able to make a complex and satisfying choice like something no one has ever done before... and then the author puts a^+b^=c^. Pythagoras. Something you learn in year6 when you're 11. She's meant to be a genius mathematician! Overall, fairly disappointing and I will not be carrying on with the series.