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
Devastatingly bad, in a way that makes you say "Oh honey, no..."
It's full of stereotypes, chaos, millenial cringe, inaccuracies and lack of depth, butDevastatingly bad, in a way that makes you say "Oh honey, no..."
It's full of stereotypes, chaos, millenial cringe, inaccuracies and lack of depth, but somehow the thing that made me just fully give up, the final nail in the coffin if you will, was the fact that the author thinks that "lo siento" means "you're welcome" in Spanish, and repeated it as such with confidence at least three times....more
Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for me but I'm not so sure anymore.
The things I praised in Awad's previous book became obnoxious, irritaing and rage inducing here. They did, didn't they. Red jellyfish. Incorrect French. I must be dreaming, must I not? I'm so confused. Red shoes. I must now apply some snail serum. Retinol. Sunscreen. Moisturizer with a fancy name. I'm so witty, inventing those snarky cosmetic names and 90-step skin care routines. Right? Am I not? But no, no, don't worry. This is where my analysis of beauty industry will end, isn't it? I will just name the products and a ridiculous amount of steps. Little bottles lining the shelves in the bedroom. Won't I? Nothing else. Oh, those red jellyfish...
I kid you not, this is how reading this book feels like. What is the reason behind those stylistic choices?! And repetition without delving deeper into the themes? I had to dnf this because it became impossible to get through. I'm not even sure if I'm gonna be reading Awad's next works because she seems to be doubling down on the aspects that I don't like and not retaining the ones I loved.
Merged review:
Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for me but I'm not so sure anymore.
The things I praised in Awad's previous book became obnoxious, irritaing and rage inducing here. They did, didn't they. Red jellyfish. Incorrect French. I must be dreaming, must I not? I'm so confused. Red shoes. I must now apply some snail serum. Retinol. Sunscreen. Moisturizer with a fancy name. I'm so witty, inventing those snarky cosmetic names and 90-step skin care routines. Right? Am I not? But no, no, don't worry. This is where my analysis of beauty industry will end, isn't it? I will just name the products and a ridiculous amount of steps. Little bottles lining the shelves in the bedroom. Won't I? Nothing else. Oh, those red jellyfish...
I kid you not, this is how reading this book feels like. What is the reason behind those stylistic choices?! And repetition without delving deeper into the themes? I had to dnf this because it became impossible to get through. I'm not even sure if I'm gonna be reading Awad's next works because she seems to be doubling down on the aspects that I don't like and not retaining the ones I loved.
Merged review:
Did I actually like Bunny?! I'm starting to doubt it, because I couldn't get through this one. I could chalk it up to "Rouge" simply being a miss for me but I'm not so sure anymore.
The things I praised in Awad's previous book became obnoxious, irritaing and rage inducing here. They did, didn't they. Red jellyfish. Incorrect French. I must be dreaming, must I not? I'm so confused. Red shoes. I must now apply some snail serum. Retinol. Sunscreen. Moisturizer with a fancy name. I'm so witty, inventing those snarky cosmetic names and 90-step skin care routines. Right? Am I not? But no, no, don't worry. This is where my analysis of beauty industry will end, isn't it? I will just name the products and a ridiculous amount of steps. Little bottles lining the shelves in the bedroom. Won't I? Nothing else. Oh, those red jellyfish...
I kid you not, this is how reading this book feels like. What is the reason behind those stylistic choices?! And repetition without delving deeper into the themes? I had to dnf this because it became impossible to get through. I'm not even sure if I'm gonna be reading Awad's next works because she seems to be doubling down on the aspects that I don't like and not retaining the ones I loved....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 liked this, I loved the focus on working class characters and the unapologetic way of portraying reality, struggles, camraderie and desires to breakI liked this, I loved the focus on working class characters and the unapologetic way of portraying reality, struggles, camraderie and desires to break the system... but this made one of the main plot points very jarring in comparison.
I think no one was surprised by that white girl's betrayal (it's not a spoiler since it's in the blurb). I had such a hard time believing that anyone would even entertain her for a minute, much less... trust her? I couldn't see why the main character was drawn to her. The description says that she "said all the right things and knew theory" but on page she's only demonstrated being awkward and performative. Just whyyy :(
I yearned for a proper confrontation that just didn't come at the end!...more
This second book I've now read by An Yu confirms that I love her writing style and what she chooses to focus on. Similarly to "Ghost Music", here we hThis second book I've now read by An Yu confirms that I love her writing style and what she chooses to focus on. Similarly to "Ghost Music", here we have a blend of slice of life (with a glimpse at strained relationships and new encounters) and magical realism, done in a really competent, engaging and seamless way. The imagery of the mysterious fish-man figure and the world of water were unique and memorable, slightly unsettling in the right way....more
Kuang knows how to craft a story and build suspense, that's for sure. I just still wish she trusted her readers more. I did feel talked down to many tKuang knows how to craft a story and build suspense, that's for sure. I just still wish she trusted her readers more. I did feel talked down to many times; I don't need to have it spelled out to me that the main character was lying after clearly telling a lie, I don't need it explained what a sensitivity reader is like I'm 5 years old etc. This does a disservice to the book.
I think what makes me a little frustrated is how much unused potential this has. I'm interested in how Kuang evolves as a writer though.
I'll end this with a recommendation; If you enjoyed Yellowface (or wanted more from it!), please check out "Disorientation" by Elaine Hsieh Chou....more
I read this just after finishing Iris Kelly Doesn't Date, which I hated, and in comparison, Cleat Cute felt like suchI'm of two minds about this book.
I read this just after finishing Iris Kelly Doesn't Date, which I hated, and in comparison, Cleat Cute felt like such a breath of fresh air. This is more accurate to how queer people talk and behave. I was relieved. On the other hand, that's kind of a low bar... Nevertheless, I will start with the good stuff.
Wilnser's writing is improving and I'm happy to see it. It's still a bit simple and repetitive on a sentence level, but it's leaps ahead their previous book, Mistakes Were Made. What I think they do really well is getting into the head of a character - Phoebe and Grace felt very distinct and I could see with ease how they followed different thought processes which led to them interpreting the same situations in varied ways. It was nicely done. Background characters also felt more like real people, actual friends, than in other, uhm, certain books. I think a big part of that was this setting was so grounded and realistic for queer women!
But the book was not without its cringe. It kind of feels like no one can do anything actually wrong... Every argument is based on a misunderstanding, and not people making mistakes and fucking up. The main characters always have the purest intentions and the way in which they resolve problems is too scripted. Also, listen... I understand tackling mental health issues but diagnosing ADHD through TikTok? Be so for real right now. It also hit me with a line "How can I have ADHD if I can focus on eating your pussy". Truly unforgettable. Also also I wished there was more romantic tension between Phoebe and Grace and not exclusively sexual for the most part, although I will admit the sex scenes are written well (these are the parts of the book where writing changes from plain to very invested and occasionally... poetic?).
I would also take an issue with the blurb, which is misleading, I though it would be like what if Jamie and Roy from Ted Lasso had a romance, but P&G weren't even rivals. And what made Jamie entertaining was his redemption from being an asshole, meanwhile Phoebe arrives at the scene being adorable from the get-go (see this is this point about characters not being able to do anything wrong). So it's a bit of false advertising, but I enjoyed the book for what it was....more
The crowning jewel of disappointment with this series.
This book frustrated me to a point where I had to make copious amounts of notes while reading itThe crowning jewel of disappointment with this series.
This book frustrated me to a point where I had to make copious amounts of notes while reading it, so let me just organize them thematically, starting with...
Representation
Delilah had some problems with performative language, but remained readable. Astrid was hard not to roll your eyes at. Iris tripled down on the bad aspects. I'm honestly surprised that there are not many reviews pointing it out... Representation is this book is borderline offensive, at best it's insincere. At best. I've made my point in my review of Astrid Parker that the way AHB writes about queerness is weirdly uniform, in a cool-kids-club way, a way that seems perplexed at the idea of genuine diversity and is only capable of treating it as a background. It somehow got worse. It all feels very juvenile and naive. Women in their 30's who are out for years are naming their groupchats "Cheers for Queers" and get starry eyed seeing a coffee drink named "Pansexual Pistachio Cold Brew". Trans people are used as props for the author or the characters to pat themselves on the back for how inclusive they are. "In the play it's two men, one of them is trans" "I love that" say the two cis characters, using a man's identity to make themselves feel progressive. I'm sure he's happy about that. The book doesn't even give the poor guy any lines, but makes a point to mention him again, this time by the narrator: "It was two gay men - one of them trans(...)". WE ALREADY KNOW. Any characters who are more diverse than the main cast (i.e not cis, thin, white) are used as a throwaway line, they don't even show up ("Phoebe was a trans woman and a costume designer" "Tori was a Black lesbian"). Nuh-uh! You don't get to use their identities like that if you don't put any work into involving them as PEOPLE. (There is Stevie's nonbinary friend I guess, but they lack any depth and are also introduced as an identity checkbox, and those identities also apparently make them "the single coolest person Stevie knew"). Inclusion as performance. You can see it in small details; like: "What about them? Ren said pointing to a white woman with long blond hair" (what's the point of using a neutral pronoun if you're gonna assume this person's gender in the same sentence lmao). Or Stevie buying a lesbian flag coloured swimsuit at 17 (11 years ago), despite sunset lesbian flag being invented in 2018. It might seem nitpicky but it paints a larger picture all combined together. It makes it seem like the author isn't really interested in portraying queerness as anything else than stereotypes. And it DOES bleed into the view or relationships and romance. I found it quite concerning how sapphic relationships are depicted... Those that work out are described as never-ending honeymoon phases where they constantly have "48h orgasm sessions" and forever behave as if they'd just met. The ones that fall apart do so because they have less sex and fall into behaving like roommates. Relationships are not just waiting for a magical person that will make you feel teenage love all the time. In real relationships, there will be problems and there will be the mundane, and it's a conscious act of love to make everyday life exciting. Stevie and Iris are required to "work" on themselves and improve their behaviour, but only to the point of "getting the girl" - the ultimate end goal. Once it's achieved, long-term relationships (like Claire and Delilah's) don't seem to require any effort and any sign of work to be done on the relationship is meant to be taken as if the relationship is doomed.
Plot
Stevie is an actress with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Did you know that she has anxiety? Yes? Are you sure? I think I'm gonna mention it again, just to be safe? Did you really get it? She has anxiety. (I have GAD and I actually was lowkey offended by this lol, we're not some incapable beans defined by anxiety who can't go thru a single interaction w/o throwing up). Iris suddenly became a romance author off-page in between books (was this change made to make this book more meta?) and is struggling to come up with a plot, because she lacks romantic inspiration in life and is tired of people trying to set her up for dating. Funny circumstances ensue and the two end up fake-dating and starring in a play together. This... didn't make too much sense to me. Stevie and Iris had a failed hookup and Stevie's (shitty) friends started pressing and asking if they're dating. In what world was it easier to lie and say "yea we are" instead of being like "it was one hookup, it's too early to tell yet"? Iris's reason for agreeing was also far-fetched (needing inspiration for her novel?). But okay, let's roll with it: as far as fake dating goes, Stevie acts very lacklustre and uninvested, seeming like a really bad girlfriend. Stevie's ex constantly bullies Iris, but it's Iris that gets chastised for standing her ground, Stevie never tries to defend her. It seems like in the previous book, everything was Astrid's fault and she was not allowed to be hurt. Here Iris is treated in a similar way. Not allowed to be upset, defend herself, have her doubts etc it's all painted as if she's in the wrong. I couldn't feel chemistry between them, it was all so unserious. Many of their conversations felt out of place, not fitting the moment, as if AHB needed them there to further the plot. Most of their problems are because those bitches just refuse to TALK TO EACH OTHER. Iris's friends, bar Simon, all felt stripped out of their original personalities (really? Claire is nothing more than a mum friend now?). The third-act breakup was so badly done and unnecessary and the HEA was barely even existent, we got one page of it... if that!
Miscellaneous
Just some loose thoughts that didn't fit anywhere else, arranged in points: - "Creamy" is not a good descriptor of boobs - No scissoring this time! Yay! - Iris' Irish family is full of Irish stereotypes - The owner of the Bitch's Brew cafe is from Liverpool but has a cockney accent? Please research what you write, what is this lmaooo - There is so much overexplaining and telling-not-showing - Ofc the characters have a "disdain for literary fiction" and think it's pretentious. Boohoo a book makes you think and doesn't rely on tropes - Queer friend groups are depicted as toxic and thriving on drama - Astrid Parker had a clit necklace. This book has "flowers that look live vulvas, which Iris is all about" - It seems... a choice to make the few POC characters obscenely rich, some of them from generational wealth
If you like books where: - the main character gets blamed for everything and no one else is accountable - pop psychology terms are used as if they wereIf you like books where: - the main character gets blamed for everything and no one else is accountable - pop psychology terms are used as if they were serious therapy concepts - genuine setbacks in life caused by trauma and capitalism are dismissed as excuses that the character makes because she's "subconsciously setting herself up for failure" (lol) - diversity is shallow and tokenized - characters have their traits listed as opposed to shown and developed (bonus points for thinking that someone's music taste suffices as their characterisation)
Very juvenile writing that kept flipping between occasionally endearing and grating.
This book suffers from what I like to call self-awareness probl2.5
Very juvenile writing that kept flipping between occasionally endearing and grating.
This book suffers from what I like to call self-awareness problem. The author admits she's not a historian/didn't do research/this is just how she sees things but is not a professional... Ok and? Because you admitted that it suddenly makes it okay? Do research and stop bullshitting! What an annoying attitude to have, especially while writing a book about a specific topic and then getting the timeline and facts wrong.
I'll say that the essays were well structured and had actual theses and conclusions, but boy oh boy did it not shield me from the author's bad opinions which she loves to state as facts. There was one essay that particularly annoyed me; this book is filled with mindless celebrity worship in general, but it reaches an absurd point in a chapter where the author tries to argue a point about women who put down "girly" things to gain male approval. And sure enough, that happens, but there's something particularly gender essentialist and reductive here, the implication that popculture/mainstream is inherently for girls and indie movies/bands are for boys, that you can't possibly be a woman and genuinely like an indie band before they were associated with Taylor Swift lol (as if I can't like both). This is so limiting and reductive and thwarts variety and complexity in women.
If I were to describe this collection of essays in one word it would be: annoying. ...more
Didn't think too much about this, I felt the conclusion was rushed and underbaked, and the connection between two different timelines/cases tenuous atDidn't think too much about this, I felt the conclusion was rushed and underbaked, and the connection between two different timelines/cases tenuous at best.
I liked the conversations around deafness/sign language...more
Completely by accident, I read two books dealing with the topic of beauty industry in quick succession - this one, and "Rouge" by Mona Awad. I actuallCompletely by accident, I read two books dealing with the topic of beauty industry in quick succession - this one, and "Rouge" by Mona Awad. I actually hated Rouge a lot, which provided an interesting background for reading Natural Beauty, and the comparisons turned out to be very favourable to the latter.
So maybe this doesn't go as far as I'd like it to - the horror imagery is great and it's bold, but the deeper questions about toxic beauty standards not explored enough beyond the obvious. The book is not revelatory. But the action flows so naturally, the atmosphere is haunting, there is a strong grasp on the main character - it just makes for a very decent read....more