Caleb got this for audio on our Christmas drives. We didn't finish it and the girls didn't want to. I couldn't remember if I had read it in high schoolCaleb got this for audio on our Christmas drives. We didn't finish it and the girls didn't want to. I couldn't remember if I had read it in high school (I did read Animal Farm, Brave New World & Fahrenheit 451) so I wanted to finish the classic (and record it forever here in Good Reads). I know it is supposed to be a warning, but it is completely miserable, no hope and such torture (literally and figuratively). I didn't really like the characters and some parts went on too long. There are a few things that are good to think about and it obviously inspired future dystopian works. I wonder what George would think about our current capitalist (late-stage??) Big Brother that gives us shopping hints. ...more
There are a lot of books that are good. This book is excellent, revolutionary, paradigm shifting. Everyone should read this, or as another reviewer puThere are a lot of books that are good. This book is excellent, revolutionary, paradigm shifting. Everyone should read this, or as another reviewer put it, I wish we could download this book into everyone’s brain. The sisters show how people, but especially women, are objectified and also self-objectify in our current culture by using an analogy of sea of objectivation. This means that when we are asked how we feel about our bodies we mostly respond with how we feel about how our bodies LOOK. We are divided in ourselves as embodied humans and someone who is outside of us thinking about how we look. We waste so much time, effort, money and have lower self-worth because of this. We are living like we/our bodies are an ornament to make the world prettier (and most of us are failing to live up to the ideals of beauty) instead of instruments of good. Good points - media consumption and posting, dress codes, how to evaluate which beauty rituals you want to participate in and body positivity. The way they talk about body positivity (in such gentle and kind terms calling it a life buoy, but who wants to live their life on one) is what is revolutionary. The goal should not be believing our body looks good, no matter the size, but knowing that our bodies ARE GOOD.
The Barbie movie came out while I was reading this book and (stick with me) I feel like it goes along with this book really well (I wonder if Greta Gerwig has read it?) When Barbie went to the ‘real world’ she feels the looks of being objectified for the first time. Barbieland is what women feel like before entering the sea-they doctor and dance, play volleyball and write books and govern. They dress up because it is fun (though there is some body positivity-You look beautiful Barbie, I feel beautiful, then ‘curvy’ Barbie says, I feel beautiful too). Their bodies are instruments while the Kens need to be looked at to ‘have a good day.’ In the real world Barbie, who looks stereotypically perfect and beautiful, doesn’t feel safe or know her purpose. She in the end, finds her purpose, in making meaning and living life and she knows that will include getting old and dying. (Kite sister’s mom, if you are reading this comment, I would love to see if Greta has read their work!)
I can’t imagine how freeing this book could be for someone who is drowning in the sea of objectification. I fit their list of privilege (white, tall, educated, could afford healthcare and orthodontics, traditionally athletic, health upbringing) and I’ve never stayed home from an event because of my feelings on how I looked (but almost 80% of women have!!!) so I personally feel like I am not drowning but still sometimes getting waves crashed over me, or times of treading water before landing again. I hope we can give the next generation more freedom which is an uphill battle due to the prevalence of social media. I love how the power of opting out of taking part in traditional beauty rituals is stressed. As someone who didn’t shave my legs for 2 years in college and often doesn’t for weeks in the winter, I have always preached this one. I have a powerful memory, though I don’t remember if I was 15 or 18 or 22, but where I grew up almost all teens and ladies wore foundation (looking back foundation was the silly thing teens did that they didn’t need like ‘skin care’ is for teens today) and I offhandedly said to my mom-I wonder when I will start wearing it. And she responded-maybe you never will. And I remember (to fit the analogy) a foot on dry ground of freedom in knowing that I get to choose and it doesn’t determine my worth.
I definitely recommend this to every woman and this is good for mother-daughters as well. Only complaint is that the chapters are too long. It would be better to have broken them down into more....more
This book was so much better than the last two. There was more actions and less time in Jude's angry, conniving, striving head. While Lydia was readingThis book was so much better than the last two. There was more actions and less time in Jude's angry, conniving, striving head. While Lydia was reading it, I asked her if it finishes the series and she said yes but I don't be upset if she wrote a 4th one. I agree. I liked the wrap up but could see more happening in the world. ...more
3.5 stars I'm really trying to get Lydia back into reading (and not scrolling as much on Insta) so she wanted this series from the library and I got th3.5 stars I'm really trying to get Lydia back into reading (and not scrolling as much on Insta) so she wanted this series from the library and I got the first two. Pros-fun, quick read fantasy. I realized that I need to limit myself to about 2 fantasy series a year; last year I was overwhelmed, so I wanted this to be great. It is very teen age angsty. And this isn't a spoiler because it applies to almost all the relationships - don't normalize "He is mean to you because he likes you!" Not cool. Also something I found interesting is a female main character that grasps for and loves power. Harry didn't love power, he rose to the occasion when it was thrust on him. Same with Katniss. I do think we probably should normalize women who like power and maybe we'll get a female president one day, but it is a different read. *Discussion and depiction of drugs, alcohol, bisexual character, but none graphic.
Another reviewer had this comment and it is too good not to include (thanks emma) "Basically, here are the acceptable YA male traits. You pick a combination of these, and you have your flat, uninteresting, repeat character. - handsome OR beautiful OR hot - funny OR mysterious OR charming - banter-y OR bully-y OR flirty And that’s it. I often like the handsome/funny/banter-y archetype. From time to time, I’ll enjoy a hot/charming/flirty one. I always, always, always hate the beautiful/mysterious/bully-y one. "...more
Had several elements that I like: boarding school, two time lines that work together, murder mystery. I love Agatha Christie and marked a few to read Had several elements that I like: boarding school, two time lines that work together, murder mystery. I love Agatha Christie and marked a few to read that Stevie also liked. Lydia got it first and is going through the series so I decided to join her. Two friends have reviewed this and one like the 30s part better and the other the modern part but I like them both. And it's funny that I started this series the same time I started Only Murders in the Building - even though I don't really like true crime, these fictional characters do and will solve it along side podcasting! Quick page turner. Seems to be really up with the times with showing a teen with anxiety and how to cope as well as a big cast of characters. I HATED the cliff hanger but am glad the next books are all out so we are pretty much reading it like one long story....more
Abandoned. I got it for our road trip and now that the kids have phones its not as necessary. The voice of one of the characters was weird and they weAbandoned. I got it for our road trip and now that the kids have phones its not as necessary. The voice of one of the characters was weird and they weren't following....oh well. I think I would enjoy it if I read it. ...more
Prime YA. Great plot, lots of school and family and friendship drama and stuff like drinking, drugs, sex, cheating and more. I called the whodunit, but Prime YA. Great plot, lots of school and family and friendship drama and stuff like drinking, drugs, sex, cheating and more. I called the whodunit, but not all who helped. The best part were the characters. These people who could be cookie cutter high school stereotypes instead were interesting people with depth and growth and best of all became friends. Lydia had heard a friend talk about it and then she saw it at the library If you need a teen mystery this one is a great choice!...more
Lydia randomly picked this up at the library and liked it and suggested I read it too. Interesting plot-magic realism-family trauma dealt with in a heaLydia randomly picked this up at the library and liked it and suggested I read it too. Interesting plot-magic realism-family trauma dealt with in a healing way (by the end at least)-lots of first love and longing-strong female friendships. I hated the casual teen alcohol use (which a parent should know about before their teen reads this) but overall a fun story. Lydia now wants to read more from this author. ...more
Our Christmas trip car ride book. And we all wanted to listen so much that we finished it on our first trip of two. I really like Shannon Hale and her Our Christmas trip car ride book. And we all wanted to listen so much that we finished it on our first trip of two. I really like Shannon Hale and her fairy tale retellings and girl power tales. This one was interesting with the Mongolian culture touches. I would have probably liked it more if I should have quickly read and not had the angsty teen voices of the audio. Makes me want to read more of her works again. ...more
Summer drive audio book. Another cute, moral-realism, slice-of-life Penderwick sister summer tale. I laughed out loud many times. And even got teared uSummer drive audio book. Another cute, moral-realism, slice-of-life Penderwick sister summer tale. I laughed out loud many times. And even got teared up once. Glad we found these for drives. And now I want to go scamper around on Maine coastal rocks. ...more
Grabbed this new book at the library for me and Gloria because its about an artist and set in NYC. Slow getting started, more of a slice of life, thenGrabbed this new book at the library for me and Gloria because its about an artist and set in NYC. Slow getting started, more of a slice of life, then a plot developed. Lots of angst of dealing with grief and friend issues. Which are good topics for kids. Good characters and the setting brought me back to my trip to NYC - the Met and walking across Central Park and climbing to the top of a brownstone. Hope to go again!...more
This one was a step up in quality of writing from the last two. Another quick, fun mystery. Not much character development but delving into a love triaThis one was a step up in quality of writing from the last two. Another quick, fun mystery. Not much character development but delving into a love triangle, which could get old if stretch too much. Anyway, Gloria and I look forward to reading the next ones when they are translated. ...more
A cute quick read. Simple writing (maybe the translation) but interesting enough mystery. I wasn't going to continue the series but they are so fast thA cute quick read. Simple writing (maybe the translation) but interesting enough mystery. I wasn't going to continue the series but they are so fast that I want to experience Europe while we can't travel and Gloria is really enjoying them. ...more
Sooooo this book could have been about a third shorter if they would have cut out the back and forth in every conversation. It drug in the beginning bSooooo this book could have been about a third shorter if they would have cut out the back and forth in every conversation. It drug in the beginning but then picked up. And I don't think I've reviewed all the mind/thought/feelings that are in all the books, but they are interesting. Really this series has sparked more conversation about relationships with my girls than anything else. We/I came into this book solidly Team Fitz and they love to argue with their friends who have read the books (though when asked who Sophie should be with, I do say that she needs to grow up and meet new people because rarely do middle/high school relationships last). Keefe makes everything a joke, gets in trouble and has a traumatic family life, while Fitz is stable and kind and good and comes from a good family. But this book..... Lydia has read the Hunger Games and I am trying to see if Fitz/Keefe lines up with Gale/Peeta, I can't decide. But anyway, these are fun and we are looking forward to the next ones and hope she does start wrapping it up. ...more
Great thing about these books is they got my daughters reading a lot during this social distancing. They are fun and lead to good conversations about Great thing about these books is they got my daughters reading a lot during this social distancing. They are fun and lead to good conversations about relationships and skills and silly stuff too. We are spending more time with Sophie and the gang than other humans right now. This one and the last have drug a little. I understand the premise (like in HP when they are at a loss for finding horcruxes) that all adventures have set backs and struggles and moments of not knowing what to do, however two entire books of that gets a little old. I don't know if the author doesn't know how to wrap it up or if she just can't stop writing and wants to add more and more characters and back and forth situations, etc. One more and then we have to wait until #9 releases....more
and the story keeps on trucking along with new twists and plots and characters and eyelash tugging and hair ruffling and cheeks blushing :) Its a good and the story keeps on trucking along with new twists and plots and characters and eyelash tugging and hair ruffling and cheeks blushing :) Its a good story and fun to share with the girls during this continued social distancing and leads to good convos about how much it would normally backfire to kiss a boy to help him realize that he doesn't actually like you #spoiler. Two more to go until we have to wait for her to come out with a new one and then we'll see how many she decides to write!...more
So much happens in these books! If you want to take a break between 4 & 5 is a good time because the first part of 5 she reminds you of the important pSo much happens in these books! If you want to take a break between 4 & 5 is a good time because the first part of 5 she reminds you of the important points with each character and situation. These are fun and all run together. A good end of summer read. Lydia made mallow melt to celebrate the first day of school and the girls and I enjoy discussing the books. ...more
And we keep going! After reading four in a row, I'm going to take a break, but the girls are still going strong. These are great reads though after one And we keep going! After reading four in a row, I'm going to take a break, but the girls are still going strong. These are great reads though after one night I had forgotten a few details about characters and what they were planning. The plot thickens!...more
The girls and I are plowing through these and they all run together. In HP, each book was clearly one year with a situation mostly resolved. Not these,The girls and I are plowing through these and they all run together. In HP, each book was clearly one year with a situation mostly resolved. Not these, they just keep going....more