For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

This book sat on my To-Be-Read shelf for quite a while, because I felt I needed to be in the right mindset to read it and have enough time to enjoy it and really digest it. I finally brought it with me on a road trip to read and honestly, I was just underwhelmed after hearing so much praise about it. 

The majority of the poetry is short, vague, uninspiring, and lacks any rhythm or form. It was quite a disappointment. Most of the poems feel like snippets of poems rather than full poems themselves. Of the entire collection, I liked maybe one or two. Most of the poems read like someone had a great idea and wrote it down to develop later, yet these ones never got developed further than that initial idea. 

The book is broken down into four sections: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing. The first section is the most difficult to read as it deals with hard issues like rape, abuse, and possibly incest. These are obviously hard things to deal with and write about and I commend Kaur for sharing such painful stories and memories, but as far as poetry goes, the majority lacked a message or thought-provoking idea. Many of them just appeared to share the event without much reflection or analysis. While this can be cathartic, it doesn't make for great poetry and they read like undeveloped poems that are meaningful to the person writing them, but not necessarily to strangers reading a collection of them. 

Overall, this just wasn't the type of poetry I like. I had heard good things about this book, but the style just didn't resonate with me. Some of the doodles were interesting and I liked one or two of the actual poems, but on the whole, the collection was kind of a letdown.

Harry Potter und die Heiligtümer des Todes - 5 stars

Power Women - Geniale Ideen mutiger Frauen: Was würden sie dir raten? - 5 stars

Poetry at it's finest. Seriously.

I read this today while sitting in the waiting room at the dentist and let me tell you, it's super difficult having all the feels about words and things, when you have to keep a straight face.

Not all of the poems touched me. Not all of them did something for me. But most of them really did. The writing was just so beautiful and ugh. I loved this so so so much.

I kinda hate myself for waiting this long to finally read it.

For anyone curious, here is my most recent read books!

Halloween Party by R L Stine [3/5 stars]

I'm really torn on what to rate this book. In many ways it is outdated and problematic, but the nostalgia factor hangs on really tightly to me. I've probably read it at least a few times since I was a preteen. This read through was the slowest I've ever read one of these books; it wasn't engaging me.

Started: July 2 Ended: Aug 2

Read for R L Stine: Fear Street Challenge (June book - was behind)

The Secret Bedroom by R L Stine [3/5 stars]

I read it in one day. Some of his books are like candy, though that might be the nostalgia speaking. I felt a lot more engaged in this book. I really must say that I hated the mean girl aspect, which seems to show up in most RL's books. Also, why do the mean girls have to be redheads?! (Are we really seen as mean, stuck up people?)

Started: Aug 2 Ended: Aug 2

Read for R L Stine: Fear Street Challenge (July book - was behind)

milk and honey by rupi kaur [4/5 stars]

I started this one on a whim after getting the Scribd subscription. I listened to the author "perform" these poems with the audiobook while reading the physical copy. That heightened my enjoyment of the collection. Some are very hard to hear/read and deal with abuse, sexual abuse and other things people might find triggering.

Started: Aug 8 Ended: Aug 8

Frindle by Andrew Clements [4/5 stars]

Another book I started on a whim after getting Scribd. Nostalgic book. I enjoyed the story very much, but not sure how to rate it. Child me would probably say it is a 5 star. I'm not afraid to admit there were a couple parts that made me choke up in a happy way, especially the ending, which I adored. Is this book farfetched? Maybe, but I love that it might give kids and kids at heart a feeling that anything is possible.

Started: Aug 8 Ended: Aug 8

Coraline by Neil Gaiman [5/5 stars]

I read the 10th anniversrary copy on Scribd. The 10th Anniversary Edition does not really offer that much more, so if you already own a copy of the book, I wouldn't suggest you buy the 10th Anniversary Edition, too. Unless of course you want to collect everything Neil Gaiman (I know some people like to collect multiple copies of the same book...etc.) This is my second time reading it. I still love the story (I even love the movie more. Shh, don't tell anyone.)

Started: Aug 8 Ended: Aug 8

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson [5/5 stars]

Ahhhh I love this picture book!

Started Aug 9 Ended: Aug 9

Julia's House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke [4/5 stars]

I am proud to be an adult who still loves and finds comfort in books published/meant for children. I don't think books should have age limits anyway. This little picture book was very cute.

Started: Aug 10 Ended: Aug 10

The Sleepwalker by R L Stine [4/5 stars]

I really liked this one. I read it as a preteen, but I couldn't remember the plot twist. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is how R L Stine always writesa male characters who think they are entitled to the girl character and how the boy treated the girl when she turned him down. Very problematic element. Rape vibes and abusive treatment.

Started: Aug 13 Ended: Aug 14

Read for R L Stine: Fear Street Challenge (August book)

This Star Won't Go Out by Esther, Wayne, Lori Earl, with parts written by friends and family. [3/5 stars]

I don't know how to sum up my feelings about this book. I've read it twice. I started it again this "Esther Day" in her honor. It is hard to read and heartbreaking because you know the end before you start.

5 stars for my feels for Esther for sure. 3/3.5 for the layout/presentation of the book.(All the pictures and drawings were great, though.) It was confusing in parts and if I was clueless about all the references, I'm not sure I would have understood much. I relate to Esther and her Nerdfighter ways, love of Harry Potter...etc. She was a great girl that we lost too soon.

Started: Aug 3 Ended: Aug 16th

I like Kaur's poetry when I see it on tumblr because it's usually paired with something else that gives it meaning. On their own the poems feel shallow. I can see young teens liking it if they're encountering these ideas for the first time. They're just not for me.