Very useful for my assignment! A comprehensive overview of attachment theory and how it relates to bereavement, written iNo rating - read for college.
Very useful for my assignment! A comprehensive overview of attachment theory and how it relates to bereavement, written in a way I found accessible....more
Some controversial ideas here that I still do not agree with it, but the book is not without value, there's worthRead for college, therefore no rating
Some controversial ideas here that I still do not agree with it, but the book is not without value, there's worthwhile aspects to this theory. I'd say it can be useful for specific issues but is limited when applied broadly....more
I didn't love this, I feel a little disappointed. I adored Wilson's previous book and the incredibly genuine wUnpopular opinion time? 2.5 rounded up.
I didn't love this, I feel a little disappointed. I adored Wilson's previous book and the incredibly genuine way he writes about messy, awkward, real characters. These qualities were still present in this book and the characterisation, the portrayal of teenage angst and the realism of the dialogue were done great. But that's it! Unlike in "Nothing To See Here", I couldn't feel the stakes in this story and it lacked an emotional connection for me.
I think I just simply didn't buy the premise. The consequences felt very far-fetched to me. Two teenagers who want to make weird art, something that will leave a mark, create posters with mysterious art work and text, put them up all over town and then through some other circumstances the posters cause mass hysteria. I think I just had a hard time believing it - I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that they only did this one thing and then it spiraled out of their control that I didn't feel the emotional connection to their art and what it meant to them - they only ever did this one thing. For the majority of the second half of the book I kept thinking things like "where did this reaction come from?" or "surely that's an exaggeration?" and it made me a little irritated.
Sometimes great writing and insight into characters can't save the premise for me. ...more
I had to pick up this book as soon as I saw the gorgeous cover. JUST LOOK AT IT!
I think the story this book tells is very compelling, although it did I had to pick up this book as soon as I saw the gorgeous cover. JUST LOOK AT IT!
I think the story this book tells is very compelling, although it did take some time before the pace picked up and before I grew attached to those characters. The writing was distinct and interesting, but sometimes read a bit too simple for my taste and things that we as readers already knew, or things that were just discussed, kept being repeated in almost the same words as before. I wonder if this is a translation issue?
I did guess the main plot twist way before it happened and it made me a little bit frustrated with the characters (how did they not figure it out sooner?!), but the twist (or explanation?) at the very end really moved me and made me cry. It tied everything together so nicely and left me with such a good impression......more
What a book! Reading this felt as if the author has been in my head and seen all my thoughts.
Never have I related to a character as much as I have toWhat a book! Reading this felt as if the author has been in my head and seen all my thoughts.
Never have I related to a character as much as I have to Gilda (I'm also a chaotic, anxious lesbian who's perpetually afraid of death), and the way Emily Austin captured this existential dread was just... spot on.
The timeline and narration of this book was a little all over the place, but in a way that made a lot of sense and was deliberate. Like we really were there with Gilda, following her thought process, random anxious thoughts and memories, her trying to make sense of other people.
I just found this really honest and touching....more
Of course a debut novel by a young, Irish author got unnecessarily compared to Sally Rooney, but I think this book has entirely different qualities anOf course a debut novel by a young, Irish author got unnecessarily compared to Sally Rooney, but I think this book has entirely different qualities and sense of place. In a way it's much more grounded, despite some magical realism elements, and definitely more Irish. Actually it made me realise how un-Irish and detached Rooney's books feel, they could have almost been set anywhere (which, to me, is a bad thing).
This book, hmm, I don't really know how to phrase it, but the way it portrayed the dynamics between characters, especially the ones within Debbie's family, felt so touching, blunt but there was some genuine kindness in it, and well, some magic too. The narrative feels like it's a bit torn between following Debbie in Trinity and on her family farm, like there's not enough time for either, but I can imagine that it could have been intentional to portray how Debbie herself feels torn between two different lives. I will also praise the dialogue for seeming very realistic!
I'm honestly thinking of dropping the rating a little because some of the characters' musings, discussions and conclusions of them ("well the world isI'm honestly thinking of dropping the rating a little because some of the characters' musings, discussions and conclusions of them ("well the world is fucked but we can't do anything so we will just focus SOLELY on our individual relationships") feels really tone deaf to me, especially in the face of Irish housing crisis (which, not a day goes by that I don't obsessively worry about it) to which this book alludes but in such a weird way. Like, millionaire Alice goes "teehee Eileen idk why u still live in Dublin did you know that even Paris is cheaper now" to her friend who earns something close to minimum wage. Very helpful Rooney, thanks. It doesn't take away from the fact that there's a lot of good and worthwhile discussions in this book but just this tone deafness and ignorance of the privilege... can't help but be a little infuriated.
So idk, 3.5
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As a known Sally Rooney fan, I was dreading picking up this book for fear that it wouldn't live up to the hype.
Did it? I'm not sure?? My thoughts are chaotic but I will try my best to convey my complicated feelings about this one.
Rooney's writing is solid as ever, with the essence of what I love best: descriptions of mundane details and small reactions, just the right amount to flow with the narrative, but to make me feel like I *am* there with the characters (although chapters beginning with stating the exact hour at which something was happening was a bit... much). Her characters and relationships are also strong. BUT? For the majority of this book I wasn't sure where this was going or what was the point. Emails between Alice and Eileen were the strongest point for me and something I was waiting for. Regular chapters, not so much. Why is that?
What I loved about Normal People, but especially about Conversations with Friends, was how raw, messy, chaotic and honest they were. Characters in Beautiful World, Where Are You were admittedly messy, but I couldn't feel the same passion, it was all more... bleak and depressing (in a mundane way). Perhaps it was the point? Perhaps it is this way because the characters are older than in Rooney's previous books. (Is this really how being 30 feels?). While being in the middle of this book, I caught myself feeling disappointed, but then when I started voicing my thoughts out loud, I found that I had a lot to talk about and it made me think. Maybe this book is different, maybe it lacks the things I loved, but maybe this is how it was supposed to be.
Then the last 50 pages or so really made up for the rest. I saw the point. The conversations moved me. I cried a bit. I felt satisfied.
There were things I didn't like and for all my love for Rooney's writing, I just can't put this book up there with her previous work. But I do appreciate it and I think it's really good....more
I was shocked by the extent of systemic sexism in Korea and super-backwards misogynistic thinking going so far into the 2000s and present times. Like,I was shocked by the extent of systemic sexism in Korea and super-backwards misogynistic thinking going so far into the 2000s and present times. Like, I knew it was bad but didn't realize HOW bad
I think this book did a great job of showing that through a story of Jiyoungs life, with some actual data and sources mixed in. I've heard a complaint about the writing style being too simple and matter-of-fact, but in my opinion that is what worked best for this type of story.
The ending was a bit abrupt and left more or less unexplained - I wish the author delved deeper into Jiyoungs mental health issues and their relation to the systemic misoginy. But that's my only complaint! Other than that, would recommend to everyone....more
I should not review books just after finishing because I end up changing my mind and having to edit my ratings.
I still like this book, but I DO agree I should not review books just after finishing because I end up changing my mind and having to edit my ratings.
I still like this book, but I DO agree that it's somewhat preachy and corny and I understand where the valid criticism is coming from. Such a serious topic requires more complexity in the storytelling and some stuff in the book was there very clearly only for the convenience of the final message. But it was enjoyable enough that I personally bought this convention, and as a person who struggles with mental health, it resonated with me. But it might very well not resonate with others. ...more
Update: review not coming because my wife has written a better one
___________________________ Easily a new favourite of mine... I absolutely loved thisUpdate: review not coming because my wife has written a better one
___________________________ Easily a new favourite of mine... I absolutely loved this book.
I doubt I can say anything coherent just after finishing it (and I did so in tears). Review to come I guess?
Let me just say that contrary to most opinions here, I did not find Eleanor unlikable, even at the beginning of the story. I loved her and seeing the world through her eyes...more