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TheClevelander

TheClevelander

Joined July 2018

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Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
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Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter
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The Family Fang: A Novel by Kevin Wilson
review
TheClevelander
Small Great Things | Jodi Picoult
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Mehso-so

Listen, I get what this author is trying to do (and I‘ve never read her work before, so I had zero expectations), but this novel exploring race in America was just a little too trite, a little too contrived, and a little too convenient. I couldn‘t help wishing she‘d done a little more homework re: both the medical field and the criminal justification system, because it‘ll drive any nurse and any lawyer (hi there!) insane). (cont below...)

TheClevelander This felt to me like an “Aww, Schucks” After School Special for wide-eyed, affluent white teenagers who‘d never confronted or acknowledged the horror and insidiousness of racism in America. Maybe the author knows her audience and has hit the mark, and maybe I‘m being a bit mean, but this felt too easy, too neat, and too superficial. I felt the same way I felt after Season 3 of Serial—that it was such a superficial understand of the issues (cont... 5y
TheClevelander and I walked away feeling unsatisfied, expecting a deeper dig. Finally, you can‘t write this book and then end it with some White Savior BS. You have a main character walk around in a poor neighborhood, have an epiphany, and then save the day? You ruin your attempt at imparting the lessons you want to impart as a white author falling into the “white character saves the day” narrative of most mainstream media. (Cont...) 5y
Ashley85 Great points. I didn‘t care for this one either. 5y
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TheClevelander Finally, I can‘t help feeling that this white, powerful, no doubt wealthy, best-selling author should instead lend her platform to authors of color to explore these stories rather than benefiting financially from a system that continually elevates white authors and artists . Apparently, I have a lot of opinions this morning 🤨 5y
Jeannineth Don‘t pick up A Spark of Light by Picoult then. That one was worse. 5y
RaimeyGallant All great points. I'm having a hard time taking what I like and what I don't like about this book and somehow give it a short review with an actual rating. 5y
Scochrane26 I‘m supposed to read this for a book club, but I usually don‘t like picoult books. I read some reviews, & so far, I feel the same as you. My sister reminded me I can just skim the book. 5y
45 likes1 stack add7 comments
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TheClevelander
Becoming | Michelle Obama
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Pickpick

I loved it, but I can‘t help but feel a renewed sense of loss after finishing.

59 likes1 stack add
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TheClevelander
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Mehso-so

Meh.

akckitty Lol, your review says it all! 5y
42 likes1 comment
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TheClevelander
If I Stay | Gayle Forman
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Mehso-so

I read this after my client, a teenager, told me it was her favorite book, and I need to find common ground with her. This is very much an OMG-LIFEANDDEATH-FAMILYDRAMA-INTENSEBOYFRIEND YA book. My main beef is that the author spent way too much time making Mia‘s parents and friends so super cool you could die, but in a gross and typical American way that says your identity is the clothes that you wear and the media and products that you consume.

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TheClevelander
Drums of Autumn | Diana Gabaldon
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Pickpick

This is the fourth installment in the Outlander series or, as I like to think of it, the Little House in the Big Woods riff. I have so many questions.

1. How is Jamie not a reanimated corpse by now? #bears
2. Does Gabaldon just adore writing rape scenes? Seems like she never lets an opportunity pass to do so.
3. Ian ?! 😭
4. Am I really *still* reading these books?

Number 4 has me giving this one a pick, because for some reason, I keep reading.

Liatrek 1. 🤣🤣🤣 LoL you are right he is basically sexy Frankenstein 2. Yes! She uses this wayyyy to often in her books. There are a million other ways to stress the past is dangerous. 3. Ian 😭😭😭 Ian 😭😭😭4. Outlander is an addiction hard stop even when you are like what just happened ❤️ 6y
TheClevelander @Liatrek 😂😂 I may never scrub my mind of the image of a giant, red haired Frankenstein in a kilt. 😂😂 6y
KatieDid927 #2 is why I can‘t with this series. 6y
82 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheClevelander
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Pickpick

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the writing, I loved the story, I loved the collection of moments that make a life. It was honest and sometimes painful and uncomfortable and often moving. What a lovely surprise.

86 likes4 stack adds
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TheClevelander
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“For the most part she lived her life thinking of herself as a person, Leda. But then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, out of the cold harsh common dregs of patriarchy, some man would jump up and remind her she was in fact not a person at all but a woman.”

I‘ve already made some sort of loud honk/laugh sound three times while reading this book, and I‘m only on page 18. I think we‘re going to have fun together, book and I.

CarolynM Sounds very good. Stacked. 6y
KateFulfordAuthor @TheClevelander if you like funny ... and you‘re in the mood for a sassy & funny narrator, may I recommend my debut? Check the link in the bio for all the info you need. 6y
TheClevelander Stacked it, @katefulfordauthor. I‘ll share my thoughts soon! 6y
KateFulfordAuthor @TheClevelander Thanks so much Suzanne 6y
69 likes7 stack adds4 comments
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TheClevelander
Sharp Objects: A Novel | Gillian Flynn
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Mehso-so

This was just ok. I‘ve never read anything by Gillian Flynn, but did see the movie Gone Girl and was intrigued by the trailers for this series. I do think that this is the sort of story I would have preferred to watch than read. This is fine for a quick, entertaining, but ultimately a forgettable summer read.

jillannjohn I‘ve only watched a couple of episodes of the HBO series and it‘s good so far. 6y
68 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheClevelander
Less: A Novel | Andrew Sean Greer
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Pickpick

I adored this book. It is absurd and funny and, at times, heart-achingly sad. The writing was light and playful and clearly the work of someone who loves words and has fun with them.

bookandcat I adored this one too! 6y
CarolynM Another fan here😍😍😍 6y
88 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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TheClevelander
Red Mountain | Boo Walker
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Mehso-so

This book is basically the movie Love, Actually, but set in Washington state wine country and lacking the charm of Hugh Grant.

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TheClevelander
Educated: A Memoir | Tara Westover
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Pickpick

In this memoir, the author shares her experience as the youngest of seven children in a deeply dysfunctional and abusive home, and her path to freedom and education. A truly compelling read. Recommended for all who loved The Glass Castle.

90 likes1 stack add
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TheClevelander
Beautiful Bodies | Kimberly Rae Miller
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this memoir relating to the author‘s history of poor body image, a lifetime of dieting, and finding peace in her body. I‘ve followed Kim‘s writing since her Elastic Waist days, and her first memoir, Coming Clean, is unforgettable.

I‘d recommend this book to anyone who liked Courtney Martin‘s “Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters” and vice versa.

51 likes3 stack adds
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TheClevelander
What Happened | Hillary Rodham Clinton
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Pickpick

Woof. This was a tough read for me. It‘s infuriating in much the same way the year leading up to the election was. How did we get here? I appreciated the time spent reflecting on that question while reading. The book‘s conclusion brings up many of the themes of another book I‘m “sort of” reading at the moment, Brene Brown‘s Braving the Wilderness. We have so, so far to go. #onward

47 likes2 stack adds
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TheClevelander
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Pickpick

Such a great use of an Audible credit. I loved this memoir about Noah‘s childhood both during and just post-apartheid. I laughed, I cried, I stopped reading other books because this one was too good to set aside.

BarbaraTheBibliophage This is my all-time favorite audiobook! 6y
Smrloomis Agreed! This was fantastic and he did a great job reading it too! 6y
JaclynW I completely agree! Such an excellent book! 6y
Nute I didn‘t listen to it as an audiobook, but the reading of the physical book was fantastic. It is simply an amazing book. I am thrilled to know that there is second book in the making . I can‘t wait for its publication. 6y
42 likes4 comments
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TheClevelander
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Pickpick

Oh, how I loved this. When I‘m looking for a good couch cuddle, a mug of hot tea, and a good quiet book on a rainy day, this is exactly the sort of book I‘m looking for.

30 likes3 stack adds
blurb
TheClevelander
Sharp Objects: A Novel | Gillian Flynn
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Thanks @Lauram for the lovely post-stress package. #sibswap #sistersoflitsy.

Lauram You‘re welcome! 6y
rather_be_reading super cute! 6y
23 likes2 comments
quote
TheClevelander
What Happened | Hillary Rodham Clinton
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“I wish so badly we were a country where a candidate who said, ‘My Story is the story of a life shaped by and devoted to the movement for women‘s liberation‘ would be cheered, not jeered. But that‘s not who we are. Not yet.”

😭 Our daughters deserve better. And so did our mothers and grandmothers. And so do we.

Erofan 💕 6y
mabell Love the photo! So cute! ❤️ 6y
Nerdgirl_Ms_Sorrells precious 💝 6y
28 likes3 comments
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TheClevelander
Voyager | Diana Gabaldon
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Pickpick

This book/series has some major issues, and I struggled with the horrifying racist caricatures in place of actual characters in this installment. The book started strong for me, and I had a hard time pulling myself away from it. During much of book 2, I thought I would quit the series, but I‘m ready to try book 4.

bookandcat The caricatures are so awful in these books as you move on. I still haven't finished the series because they are so uncomfortable to read, but I had most of the set prior to reading and want to know what happens to the main characters so I will probably eventually finish...ugh. 6y
TheClevelander Oh, that‘s disheartening, @bookandcat . 6y
bookandcat @TheClevelander I should clarify that I think I am...on book 4? Somewhere around there. Maybe it gets better lol 6y
readinginthedark Glad I never started these then! 6y
Factaddict73 I think some readers get disappointed because they want PLOT DEVELOPMENT! PLOT Development!! Plot DEVELOPMENT!!! Face it, though, life, and lotsa books, don‘t stay in the stratosphere! Most lives don‘t either: the Adrenalin will wear you out! Especially when there is a whole life together to come, most humans just wanta live their lives with a few high points and as few low points as possible. This is a L-O-N-G series! Let it develop! 5y
14 likes5 comments
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TheClevelander
Dragonfly in Amber | Diana Gabaldon
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Mehso-so

This one draaaaaaaaaggggeeed. I finished out of pure stubbornness, but by the end, I was engaged again and wanted to know what would happen next. I guess it‘s on to book number 3 for me.

rather_be_reading welcome to litsy!! 📚🎉📚 6y
11 likes1 comment
review
TheClevelander
Grist Mill Road | Christopher J. Yates
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Mehso-so

Meh. Started ok, but took a turn for the “...really?” by the end.

Lauram Welcome to Litsy! 6y
CoffeeK8 Welcome to Litsy! 💕 6y
RaimeyGallant Good to know! And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
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Eggs Welcome to Litsy! 6y
DebReads4fun Welcome to Litsy! 6y
Nute Welcome to Litsy! 6y
Freefallinmissy Yes ! The end was just so .... meh 5y
13 likes7 comments