Review: Burn The Fairy Tales by Adeline Whitmore

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This book of poems had potential. I understand what the author was attempting to accomplish. I had hoped that it would be book about empowering women and offering encouraging works. but unfortunately, it was not. 

Burn The Fairy Tales felt rushed, unorganized, and a little repetitive. 

I'm not sure if it was my copy, but all the poems were not separated. For example, the title for the next poem tended to run into the next poem. At times, I was not sure if it was the title for the next poem or if it was a line in the prior poem. It was a little confusing. 

Like mentioned earlier, I understand what the book was trying to accomplish. But it felt rant-y. I love a good rant now and again, but the author tended to focus more on the bad and not on the future. I didn't feel inspired. I felt the author's rage, which is not a bad thing, however, I expected something more. 

I wanted to love the poems, instead of only somewhat liking a few. 

The writing was a little conflicting. The author would say something, and then in another poem say something completely different. 

While reading, I did pick up the similarities between this book and The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace. Both books have the same black background and white font color. And also both books are in essence about feminism. Whereas, The Princess Saves Herself in This One succeeds, this book fails. 

Review: The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

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the princess

locked herself away

in the highest tower,

hoping a knight

in shining armor

would come to her

recuse.

  • I didn’t realize I could by my own knight

There is something intimate about poetry. Also like you are reading someone’s diary. Some writers pour their whole heart and soul into their writing, and although you are experiencing it without personally knowing them, you can feel the heartbreak and pain that they had suffered, and you cannot help but get a sense of who they are as a person. The Princess Saves Herself in This One is the perfect example this.

It is emotional and raw, and I felt that I had somehow gotten ahold of Lovelace’s diary. It was deeply personal, and although I haven’t personally experienced what she had experience, I felt her heartbreak.

The book is separated into four parts- the princess, the damaged, the queen, and you. As the book navigates through those sections, you’re first introduced to Amanda Lovelace’s rocky relationship with her mother, her unhappiness with her body, and you end with her finding herself after leaving a trouble romantic relationship and then her offering encouraging and empowering words to the readers. Her journey is prominent within her writing, and her strength is undeniable.

This isn’t just a book filled with poems, it’s someone’s own character development. And I think that why I found this book to be inspiring. There’s heartbreak. There’s recovery. There’s joy, and there’s hope. And I think most importantly, this book shows you that you can save yourself, and that you do not have to wait for someone to save you.

Final Analysis

The Princess Saves Herself in This One is an intimate look into the life of Amanda Lovelace as she records her life of heartbreak, tragedy, and recovery. Also while providing encouraging and relatable words to others in need.
 

Review: No Cowboy Required by JoAnn Sky

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We are introduced to Grace Harper. When gets the news of the death of her father, she finds herself returning to the home she left and never looked back from. Inheriting his farm, she is told she would become guardian to her stepbrother, JJ, who she never met and had autism. That wasn’t her only surprise. 

Little did she know, the guy who pushed her out of his life and heart years ago, is at the center of things stirring up the past and unresolved feelings. Giving herself two weeks to get everything together and get back to her life, nothing seems to working as she hoped. Having to deal with the fact he is only one to help her with JJ, she finds herself struggling to fight the pull that is bringing her back to not only her past but also to a certain someone she is trying to forget.

Overall, this was a good book that went really fast. Personally, I would’ve loved to dive more into certain aspects of the plot. I sort of feel like things just started to get really good, then the book was over. The heart of the characters were there but just wished I could’ve had a little more meat to some of the plot points and backstory. Despite that, it was a good read. 

Review: Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep by Michael Schulman

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Whether you are a fan, it is undeniable that Meryl Streep is one of the best actresses alive. Her dedication to her craft and willingness to take risks are extraordinary. In 2014, it was reported that in the past 12 years, she was thanked more times than God at the Academy Awards. And in 2017, she broke her own Oscar nominations record.

Currently, she has three Oscar wins and 21 nominations.  There is clearly something talent about the New Jersey native. Besides being an uber talent multi-talented actress, Meryl lives a relatively quiet life.

Her Again: Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep explores the life of the actress before famous and also shines a light on who Meryl is when she is not winning multiple awards. Instead of the standard chapter number titles, the book is broken down into the roles that Meryl had to play. It begins with Mary, Meryl’s first name.

In this portion, Meryl is a normal teenager, who is trying to survive high school and dealing with typical teen issues- boys, homecoming. The book ends with Joanna. The name of the character that she played in Kramer vs. Kramer, and the character she ended up winning her first Academy Award for.

I have very little critiques with Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep. It was an enjoyable read and kept me entertained. The author provides a contextual view of how she became who she is. The book is not just ridden with quotes from Meryl. In addition to the quotes, the author dives deeper and paints a picture of the environment in which she was in, social circumstances, and also the culture.

After reading, I’ve developed a great appreciation for the actress. I’ve learned several times about the actress that I had not known. For example, that her and Sigourney Weaver were friends in college.  

Although the book does a good job of explaining Meryl’s backstory, there are a few gaps. For example, her marriage to Don Gummer six months after he boyfriend passed from lung cancer. The author does touch on how Meryl and Don met, but he doesn’t touch on the whys. Another issue I’d noticed, is that the book spent a little too much time on other individuals in Meryl’s life. For example, the book made a point to provide a detailed summary about her professional in college. Although, they were prominent in Meryl’s life, their backstory should have been compressed and more time should have been spent on Meryl.

Final Analysis

Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep provides an insight look at one of the most talented actresses alive. Although not perfect, it is a biography that does a fairly decent job at capturing Meryl Streep.
 

Review: White Bread and Mayonnaise by Lula Phine

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Lula Phine takes us back to the old south in “White Bread and Mayonnaise”, a straightforward and spiritual tale. It is the early 1930s when we’re introduced to the central character, no more than a newborn baby, and it will be the new millennium before we have heard the story of his long life. Known simply as “the boy” or “the man” accordingly, he comes of age on his father’s farm before setting off to the Korean War. While there, life and limb are spared but deep emotional wounds are inflicted. The terrors of war haunt him well into adulthood as he struggles to balance the uncertainties of farming, his family, and an increasing dependency on alcohol. Intersecting the man’s story are insightful passages commenting on a simple jar whose contents and many purposes are likened to the human condition.  Mind, body, and spirit are examined against the outward forces of life and we’re shown progression and the connectedness of all things in one’s life.

As its title would suggest, this is a basic read. While peppered with small wisdoms, “White Bread and Mayonnaise” can be as dull as a worn butter knife. Without the benefit of dialogue or character names, it seems a listless recounting of the man’s life, of which we are given only cursory information. There is little sense of scene and those we are shown are increasingly at ends. I struggled to find a consistency between the heartwarming moments among family and the narrative describing the man as an unpredictable and emotionally detached drunkard.

The story structure is a classic one and, if it were to be fleshed out and offer a more dynamic set of characters, has the potential to be notable. However, as it stands, it reads as if we have been given a glimpse into a first draft rather than the finished piece. While suitable for children, English language learners, or parents looking for a read-aloud, a more advanced reader is likely to find it too uninvolved to finish. At the end of the day, it is a clean wholesome account of one man’s struggle back to light and life; a nice simply story. Surely that is what some are looking for, but in this reader’s opinion, “White Bread and Mayonnaise” may just leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Review: Not Every Girl by Jane McGarry

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Not Every Girl is a historical fiction story that has odes to Mulan, when Olivia wishes to go to battle even after her father refuses. Using her friend Puck’s armor as a disguise Olivia goes on a mission to escort the King, with one slight hiccup, his handsome son Prince Liam will also be on this mission. Though she is quickly caught by her father and sent back home with Prince Liam as her escort. This leads to a series of events where Olivia must step and and show the power she holds even though she is a woman. Young adult readers who want action, romance, adventure, and a strong female character will certainly enjoy this book!