book reviews

Reviews of books by relationship gurus, dating experts, and cautionary tale-tellers.

Book Review: Erving Goffman
In Erving Goffman’s book, ‘Stigma — Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity’, he focuses on the social situations where people classified as ‘normal’ and ‘stigmatised’ [or ‘deviant’] come together and the many different processes and complex methods that are incorporated into this relationship between the two ‘groups’ of people — including their social and personal identity. Goffman illustrates his arguments through the use of many comprehensive and wide-ranging quotes from people who are most commonly stigmatised such as : the homosexual, the ex-mental patient, someone who is blind or deaf, someone who has a disfigurement of some kind and those with a disability. The experiences people who are stigmatised often have are commonly related to the ‘others’ in society placing their concern on their stigma [or ‘deviance’] rather than the individual’s personality as a whole.
By JoJoBonetto5 years ago in Humans
Red Queen and the "Messiah Pariah Syndrome"
"Red Queen" is Victoria Aveyard's debut novel. ... Opening Since I had nothing to read for months, a relative recommended "Red Queen." The synopsis got my attention, even though it seemed very cliché. However, my doubts about it being cliché were true, and you're about to find out why. (Also, I won't be mentioning every little detail because it's a waste of time and there are some parts of the book that is filler.)
By drkenny5 years ago in Humans
The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld encompasses the main trilogy of books that follows Tally Youngblood and a book set a couple years later that follows Aya Fuse. I will be reviewing the main trilogy here. I have read the series before, but since it has been approximately fourteen years since I have read it, it seemed that it was about time to reread it. Though I loved these books as a pre-teen, it has been so long since I read them that I could not remember much of the story.
By Druneia5 years ago in Humans
Book Review: The Removed by Brandon Hobson
The Removed: A Novel by Brandon Hobson Genre: Contemporary Fiction This book has: multiple viewpoints, supernatural, mentions of graphic violence, family dynamics/drama, mentions and themes of drug use/addiction and suicide
By L. M. Williams5 years ago in Humans
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.
By Druneia5 years ago in Humans
Okay? Okay: The Fault In Our Stars By John Green Book Review
This article was originally published at rochizalani.com You don’t need me to tell you that The Fault In Our Stars is a famous tear-jerker, like all of John Green’s books.
By Rochi Zalani5 years ago in Humans
Book Review: The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.
The Prophets: a novel by Robert Jones, Jr. Genre: Literary Fiction/History Fiction This book has: multiple viewpoints, LGBTQ+ themes, graphic violence, strong language
By L. M. Williams5 years ago in Humans
"Outlawed" by Anna North - Review
I grew up in the deserts of Arizona, dreaming every night of running wild on horseback with a gang of my dustiest, rowdiest friends. As a young girl, I actually enjoyed watching old western movies. My grandfather even supplied many of the horses and wagons used in the 1985 film, "Lonesome Dove". Professional cowgirls and cowboys were my heroes, horses were my best friends, and the "western lifestyle" of campfires and coyotes howling under a star-lit sky at night was my lifestyle.
By Emily Goswick5 years ago in Humans
Deconstructing Dostoevsky's Notes From The Underground
It is perhaps no surprise that Fyodor Dostoevsky is considered one of the greatest psychological writers of all time, if you look at his work in the fields of psychology, philosophy and literature. The Russian writer forced us to confront the more uncomfortable tendencies of modernity, satirising not only modern society but also its most dangerous tendencies. The Underground and Man's Notes from the Underground is an insightful and illuminating look at the kind of problems that modern Russian society inevitably creates, and the consequences of those problems.
By Musonius Latoyah5 years ago in Humans
Little House in the Highlands
Who has read the children's book series by Laura Ingalls Wilder? I have read them as a child and now even as an adult and I enjoy them very much. The books by her are very much different yet the same as the 'Little House' television show back in the 1970's on NBC. The program was based on the series of books by Laura especially the one entitled 'On the Banks of Plum Creek' and some of the volumes in what are referred to as 'The Laura Years'.
By Mark Graham5 years ago in Humans
‘The Discomfort of Evening’: A Disturbing but Compelling Read
The Discomfort of Evening is a novel like no other. In many ways, it is evocative of the traditional literary fiction genre. Told through the perspective of Jas, a 10-year-old girl — it is highly character-driven.
By Violet Daniels 5 years ago in Humans
BOOK & ADAPTATION REVIEW: Normal People
Unless you’ve been living under a rock during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no way you could have avoided hearing of Sally Rooney’s highly acclaimed novel Normal People. Over the last few months, and particularly during the COVID-19 lockdown, all I’ve seen is rave reviews galore from eager readers when scrolling through ‘must-read’ lists on Goodreads, and excited hubbub about the BBC adaptation, which was released earlier in the lockdown period.
By Pip Yed5 years ago in Humans