At the university I went to (Valparaiso University), every student had to take what was called Core. It was a required general education class, and there was lots of reading and writing involved (my fav!). What was cool about this class, is that all the freshmen (or transfer students) on campus were all reading the same books at the same time, and having discussions about them.
A lot of these books are selected because of heavy topics, or because they are considered classics. Mostly though, because the conversations that stem from reading them, are crucial ones we need to have. So Valpo, you need to add this book to the curriculum. This book covers an extremely heavy topic, sexual assault, and it is probably the best book I've read all year. The most emotional, raw, and powerful pieces of literature I have ever read. I cried a lot, had to put down the book for a few days to process, and got extremely angry at how the system failed Chanel. Chanel's story is powerful, but her writing is on a level of it's own. To be able to convey the emotions in a way that I also felt every one of them, is a God given talent, and something most writers crave to have. I wish what happened to Chanel had never transpired, but the way she is using it to inspire change is stunning. Synopsis from publisher: "She was known to the world as Emily Doe when she stunned millions with a letter. Brock turner had been sentenced to just six months in county jail after he was found sexually assaulting her on Stanford's campus. Her victim impact statement was posted on BuzzFeed, where it instantly went viral- viewed by eleven million people within four days, it was translated globally and read on the floor of Congress; it inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge in the case. Thousands wrote to say that she had given them the courage to share their own experiences of assault for the first time. Now she reclaims her identity to tell her story of trauma, transcendence, and the power of words. It was the perfect case, in many ways- there were eyewitnesses, Turner ran away, physical evidence was immediately secured. But her struggles with isolation and shame during the aftermath and the trial reveal the oppression victims face in even the best case scenarios. Her story illuminates a culture biased to protect perpetrators, indicts a criminal justice system designed to fail the most vulnerable, and, ultimately, shines with the courage required to move through suffering and live a full and beautiful life. Know My Name will forever transform the way we think about sexual assault, challenging our beliefs about what is acceptable and speaking truth to the tumultuous reality of healing. It also introduces reads to an extraordinary writer, one whose words have already changed our world. Entwining pain, resilience, and humor, this memoir will stand as a modern classic."
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I had high hopes for this book, just because the synopsis really pulled me in. In reality, the whole thing really fell flat. I would read a little bit, get bored and forget about it for a few days, and then repeat that process about four times. In the end I powered through mostly because I had to return it to the library, and just wanted to get the book behind me.
I really struggle finding books with multiple narrators enjoyable, which is definitely just a personal preference since I know other people enjoy this style. I have read some that are excellent, but majority of times those books are the very last in a series, after you've had the time to get to know each of the characters. For example, Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas is written from the viewpoint of multiple characters, but it was also the seventh, and last, book in the series. It was also 700+ pages, not just shy of 300. In Only Ever Her, there were so many characters that the viewpoint changed to from chapter to chapter, that I felt I never really got to know them. Each chapter that was dedicated to a different character was really short and choppy, which also didn't help with keeping me invested in the story. This probably contributed to the fact that I never felt the story reached a real climax, which is what I meant by the whole thing falling flat. Throughout the book there was a lot of build-up as to what happened to Annie, and there were many options floating through my mind. Then I got to that point in the book, and when what had happened was revealed, I was like, "this is a joke right?" It wasn't a twist in a good way. In my opinion it was a twist that was the easy way out, when there were many other good story-lines the author could have taken. Synopsis from publisher: “Annie Taft’s wedding is four days away, and it will be the grandest anyone can remember in her small South Carolina town. Preparations are in order. Friends and family are gathering in anticipation. Everything is going according to plan, except that Annie herself has vanished. Did she have second thoughts? Or has something much worse happened to the bride-to-be? As the days pass, the list of suspects in her disappearance grows. Could it be the recently released man a young Annie misidentified as her mother’s killer? Could it be someone even closer to her? While her loved ones frantically try to track her down, they’re forced to grapple with their own secrets- secrets with the power to re-frame entire relationships, leaving each to wonder how well they really knew Annie and how well they know themselves.”
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Genre: Young Adult Fiction Rating (1-5): 5 Length: 437 Publisher: Random House Add it:Goodreads Buy it:Amazon Synopsis from publisher: "Like most royal families, the Washingtons have an heir and a spare. Each child knows exactly what is expected of them. But these aren't just any royals. They're American. As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare expect when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either... except the one boy who is off-limits. Then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their handsome prince...but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart."
Katharine McGee did a tremendous job with this book, and now I'm kind of angry that the next book doesn't come out until fall 2020. TORTURE. The way she developed each of the characters had me feeling connected to them, and having sympathy for each of them in some sort of way. It was/had everything a young adult book should be; relatable, playful, lots of drama, love triangles, and dependable friendships. I'm very invested in each of the story lines (which is why the wait until next year is torture), and can't wait to see where McGee takes the story. Happy Reading! |
AuthorHi, I'm Genny! You can always find me with a book in my hand. Dystopian, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction are among my favorite genres. I hope you enjoy the reviews I provide and can help you pick out your next book! Archives
October 2020
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