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synnereads's reviews
381 reviews
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma by Stephanie Foo
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.5
This book was so beautiful, enlightening, and inspiring.
It's about Stephanie Foo's attempt at finding healing and a way forward in the wake of her traumatic childhood.
I found her visit back to her childhood community and her thoughts on intergenerational trauma in particular very interesting.
And her therapy sessions! Omg, since I listened to the audiobook, I got to listen to the ACTUAL recordings of her sessions😯🥰
Alongside being a memoir, this book is also a journalistic exploration of trauma and complex PTSD. And for the most part, she discussed and explained the different topics very well. However, there were a few things that irked me. I don't think these things detracted significantly from my overall reading experience, but I will give a brief description of one of those things below:
There weren't enough (if any) critical discussion around the mentioned alternative treatments.
The book is about Stephanie Foo's journey, and about the things SHE finds helpful. But considering how much research has clearly gone into this book, where are the comments about the general ineffectiveness of for example acupuncture?
There is no perfect recipe for healing from complex PTSD (or from any other mental illness, for that matter) – that is part of the book's premise: Foo is trying to find a way forward despite the lack of research and treatment options.
However, I feel that some of the "treatments" she tried could have been handled with a little more nuance. This book has a big audience, and inspiring people to seek out (and pay for) treatments that are no more effective than placebo (at a population level), is potentially problematic.
I'm also a little critical to how she summed up a study with the following takeaway: "Racism can cause PTSD". I won't go into any more detail on this, but I doubt you can conclude with that based on the presented study.
Despite some qualms, I still think this is an excellent book, and I will end my review with relaying one of the book's many beautiful and important messages.
Everytime you're sad or you mess up, it's not necessarily your mental illness' fault or because something is "wrong" with you, it's simply you being human.
Not feeling great all the time is very human and very normal <3
It's about Stephanie Foo's attempt at finding healing and a way forward in the wake of her traumatic childhood.
I found her visit back to her childhood community and her thoughts on intergenerational trauma in particular very interesting.
And her therapy sessions! Omg, since I listened to the audiobook, I got to listen to the ACTUAL recordings of her sessions😯🥰
Alongside being a memoir, this book is also a journalistic exploration of trauma and complex PTSD. And for the most part, she discussed and explained the different topics very well. However, there were a few things that irked me. I don't think these things detracted significantly from my overall reading experience, but I will give a brief description of one of those things below:
There weren't enough (if any) critical discussion around the mentioned alternative treatments.
The book is about Stephanie Foo's journey, and about the things SHE finds helpful. But considering how much research has clearly gone into this book, where are the comments about the general ineffectiveness of for example acupuncture?
There is no perfect recipe for healing from complex PTSD (or from any other mental illness, for that matter) – that is part of the book's premise: Foo is trying to find a way forward despite the lack of research and treatment options.
However, I feel that some of the "treatments" she tried could have been handled with a little more nuance. This book has a big audience, and inspiring people to seek out (and pay for) treatments that are no more effective than placebo (at a population level), is potentially problematic.
I'm also a little critical to how she summed up a study with the following takeaway: "Racism can cause PTSD". I won't go into any more detail on this, but I doubt you can conclude with that based on the presented study.
Despite some qualms, I still think this is an excellent book, and I will end my review with relaying one of the book's many beautiful and important messages.
Everytime you're sad or you mess up, it's not necessarily your mental illness' fault or because something is "wrong" with you, it's simply you being human.
Not feeling great all the time is very human and very normal <3
Lover Birds by Leanne Egan
emotional
funny
hopeful
4.0
This book felt like a sapphic version of Heartstopper, if a tiny bit snarkier and messier (in a good way!) 😊
There were perhaps a few too many instances of convenient eavesdropping, and some storylines were a little predictable, or not resolved 100% satisfyingly.
However, the book made up for these things by being incredibly sweet, big-hearted, and simply a lot of fun! It did also manage to pull at my heartstrings (tears were shed).
In addition, the central conflict and the ADHD rep felt believeable and thoughtfully written.
On a sidenote, I think calling this book an enemies-to-lovers romance, is reducing it to something it isn't (it's called BANTER! or tension... or just people overcoming their prejudices...)
Last, but not least, I have to mention that the audiobook was read in Scouse! That alone makes this book worth listening too, in my opinion😁🥰
There were perhaps a few too many instances of convenient eavesdropping, and some storylines were a little predictable, or not resolved 100% satisfyingly.
However, the book made up for these things by being incredibly sweet, big-hearted, and simply a lot of fun! It did also manage to pull at my heartstrings (tears were shed).
In addition, the central conflict and the ADHD rep felt believeable and thoughtfully written.
On a sidenote, I think calling this book an enemies-to-lovers romance, is reducing it to something it isn't (it's called BANTER! or tension... or just people overcoming their prejudices...)
Last, but not least, I have to mention that the audiobook was read in Scouse! That alone makes this book worth listening too, in my opinion😁🥰
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
3.5
My first Brandon Sanderson!
I enjoyed reading (*listening to) this fairytale. It was fun, imaginative, and whimsical. And I did aaalmost tear up towards the end.
It didn't exactly blow my mind, and it was perhaps a tiny bit cheesy at times, but it was well worth a listen:)
I enjoyed reading (*listening to) this fairytale. It was fun, imaginative, and whimsical. And I did aaalmost tear up towards the end.
It didn't exactly blow my mind, and it was perhaps a tiny bit cheesy at times, but it was well worth a listen:)
Jeg angrer ikke på noe by Ida Therese Klungland
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
3.5
"Jeg angrer ikke på noe" er en intens beretning om ungdomsgutten Jakub og hvordan han dras mellom foreldrene/religionen og sine egne følelser.
Det er mye sårhet i Jakub, samtidig som han er sinna og ofte er ugrei mot de rundt seg.
Jeg synes temaene var interessante, og at historien var fengende, men jeg ble imidlertid ikke helt overbevist. Jeg følte liksom at jeg har lest noe lignende litt for mange ganger før.
Og så synes jeg det kan være litt slitsomt (og vondt) å lese om veldig unge, veldig "kule" ungdommer som gjør ting de er altfor unge til å gjøre – spesielt når det skildres uten så altfor mye ømhet og varme.
Samtidig tror jeg at mange ungdommer vil kunne kjenne seg igjen i denne boka, og det er jo langt viktigere enn hva en eks-ungdom mener og synes:)
Det er mye sårhet i Jakub, samtidig som han er sinna og ofte er ugrei mot de rundt seg.
Jeg synes temaene var interessante, og at historien var fengende, men jeg ble imidlertid ikke helt overbevist. Jeg følte liksom at jeg har lest noe lignende litt for mange ganger før.
Og så synes jeg det kan være litt slitsomt (og vondt) å lese om veldig unge, veldig "kule" ungdommer som gjør ting de er altfor unge til å gjøre – spesielt når det skildres uten så altfor mye ømhet og varme.
Samtidig tror jeg at mange ungdommer vil kunne kjenne seg igjen i denne boka, og det er jo langt viktigere enn hva en eks-ungdom mener og synes:)
Moss by Ola Innset
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
3.5
(Moss is a small city in Norway, and has nothing to do with the plant "moss", just so you know, haha😁😊🥰)
En artig liten bok om Moss!
Boka forteller en slags krim-historie ispedd lange passasjer om norsk arbeiderhistorie, velferdsstaten og eldreomsorgen (men alt henger sammen altså!)
Det hele er skrevet med en slags ironisk distanse og en viss grad av absurditet.
Dette er en bok som er ti ganger gøyere om du har et forhold til Moss, for det er mye Moss i monitor!😁
Jeg har for så vidt et forhold til Moss – jeg har vært der jevnlig hele livet fordi mormoren min bor der (var der senest i helga faktisk🙃). Men selv om jeg syns boka var morsom, så var den litt for forglemmelig til å bikke 4 stjerner, så det blir 3,5😁
En artig liten bok om Moss!
Boka forteller en slags krim-historie ispedd lange passasjer om norsk arbeiderhistorie, velferdsstaten og eldreomsorgen (men alt henger sammen altså!)
Det hele er skrevet med en slags ironisk distanse og en viss grad av absurditet.
Dette er en bok som er ti ganger gøyere om du har et forhold til Moss, for det er mye Moss i monitor!😁
Jeg har for så vidt et forhold til Moss – jeg har vært der jevnlig hele livet fordi mormoren min bor der (var der senest i helga faktisk🙃). Men selv om jeg syns boka var morsom, så var den litt for forglemmelig til å bikke 4 stjerner, så det blir 3,5😁
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
3.0
I enjoyed this book in the beginning: It was engaging, sweet, and had interesting themes; it didn't make me kick my feet in excitement, but it was enjoyable.
However, I did not enjoy the second half all that much, because of all the (unnecessary!!) drama that took place.
It was honestly hard not to roll my eyes at the extreme case of "jumping to conclusions" that we had to endure, not to mention how mean and illogically whiny I thought one of the characters became.
In general, I would say that Abby Jimenez writes with both compassion, humour and wisdom, but these great qualities to her writing were overshadowed in the second half by the drama – at least for me.
However, I did not enjoy the second half all that much, because of all the (unnecessary!!) drama that took place.
It was honestly hard not to roll my eyes at the extreme case of "jumping to conclusions" that we had to endure, not to mention how mean and illogically whiny I thought one of the characters became.
In general, I would say that Abby Jimenez writes with both compassion, humour and wisdom, but these great qualities to her writing were overshadowed in the second half by the drama – at least for me.
Pabbi: En familiesaga om drukkenskap by Mímir Kristjánsson
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
4.0
"Pabbi" er et ømt portrett av Mímirs far, Kristján, og samtidig en bok om forholdet mellom far, sønn og alkoholen.
Det er en bok om alkoholens mange sider: hvordan den både beriker, forsurer og kompliserer livene våre. Og en bok om hvordan vi forholder oss til alkohol, som individer og som samfunn.
Boka hadde mange gode refleksjoner som jeg syns tråkket opp noen nye stier i alkohol-diskursen, og jeg syns den belyste sider ved alkohol som man kanskje ikke snakker så mye om.
Balansen mellom det personlige og det saklige var også god. Det var rett og slett en ganske rørende bok🥲❤️
(Nå kommer et langt sidespor, som du får velge selv om du vil lese)
Jeg ble imidlertid veldig irritert av dette avsnittet:
"Enten man liker det eller ikke, er alkoholen jordmor for nesten alle vennskap og relasjoner vi har. De fleste som blir kjærester, kysser hverandre for første gang i påvirket tilstand. Alkohol er dessuten en viktig del av rammen rundt mange av våre ritualer, enten det er russetid, utdrikningslag, bryllup eller gravøl".
Jeg kan være med på det siste der: for flertallet innebærer russetid, bryllup osv. en del alkohol, MEN, at alkoholen er "jordmor" for nesten alle vennskap og relasjoner, det synes jeg er sludder og vås, eller i hvert fall en drøy påstand.
INGEN av mine relasjoner er tuftet på promille. At det er sånn i manges liv, kan sikkert stemme, men "nesten alle", er å gi alkoholen for mye makt, synes jeg.
Jeg er ikke avholds, og drikker i ny og ne, men alkohol er en nokså uviktig del av livet mitt. Jeg er egentlig veldig lite interessert i alkohol og alkoholrus. Synes ikke jeg får så mye ut av det egentlig. Når jeg tenker meg om, kan jeg ikke komme på mange i min nære familie som er så veldig opptatt av alkoholrus heller. Så det er kanskje noe genetisk der, hvem vet. Eller sosial arv...?
Det kan være at det bare er jeg som er JÆVLIG unormal da, selvfølgelig.
Men ja, unnskyld meg, man kan faktisk leve et fullverdig liv uten alkohol😁😏
Jeg kan altså informere om at det finnes alternativer til Mímirs alkoholsentriske verdensbilde. Yay!
Tre (-ish) spørsmål før vi avslutter:
1. Hang jeg meg litt vel mye opp i én detalj ved boka? Meget mulig.
2. Var dette litt overshare? Også meget mulig.
3. Fortjente Mímir å få hele denne tiraden? Kanskje ikke.
MEN, er det ikke akkurat dette som er noe av hensikten med denne boka – at den skal få oss til å snakke mer nyansert om alkoholbruk, bryte tabuene og skape diskusjon?
Det var i så fall kanskje det den gjorde😊
Synes jeg dro den veldig fint i land der😏😉
Det er en bok om alkoholens mange sider: hvordan den både beriker, forsurer og kompliserer livene våre. Og en bok om hvordan vi forholder oss til alkohol, som individer og som samfunn.
Boka hadde mange gode refleksjoner som jeg syns tråkket opp noen nye stier i alkohol-diskursen, og jeg syns den belyste sider ved alkohol som man kanskje ikke snakker så mye om.
Balansen mellom det personlige og det saklige var også god. Det var rett og slett en ganske rørende bok🥲❤️
(Nå kommer et langt sidespor, som du får velge selv om du vil lese)
Jeg ble imidlertid veldig irritert av dette avsnittet:
"Enten man liker det eller ikke, er alkoholen jordmor for nesten alle vennskap og relasjoner vi har. De fleste som blir kjærester, kysser hverandre for første gang i påvirket tilstand. Alkohol er dessuten en viktig del av rammen rundt mange av våre ritualer, enten det er russetid, utdrikningslag, bryllup eller gravøl".
Jeg kan være med på det siste der: for flertallet innebærer russetid, bryllup osv. en del alkohol, MEN, at alkoholen er "jordmor" for nesten alle vennskap og relasjoner, det synes jeg er sludder og vås, eller i hvert fall en drøy påstand.
INGEN av mine relasjoner er tuftet på promille. At det er sånn i manges liv, kan sikkert stemme, men "nesten alle", er å gi alkoholen for mye makt, synes jeg.
Jeg er ikke avholds, og drikker i ny og ne, men alkohol er en nokså uviktig del av livet mitt. Jeg er egentlig veldig lite interessert i alkohol og alkoholrus. Synes ikke jeg får så mye ut av det egentlig. Når jeg tenker meg om, kan jeg ikke komme på mange i min nære familie som er så veldig opptatt av alkoholrus heller. Så det er kanskje noe genetisk der, hvem vet. Eller sosial arv...?
Det kan være at det bare er jeg som er JÆVLIG unormal da, selvfølgelig.
Men ja, unnskyld meg, man kan faktisk leve et fullverdig liv uten alkohol😁😏
Jeg kan altså informere om at det finnes alternativer til Mímirs alkoholsentriske verdensbilde. Yay!
Tre (-ish) spørsmål før vi avslutter:
1. Hang jeg meg litt vel mye opp i én detalj ved boka? Meget mulig.
2. Var dette litt overshare? Også meget mulig.
3. Fortjente Mímir å få hele denne tiraden? Kanskje ikke.
MEN, er det ikke akkurat dette som er noe av hensikten med denne boka – at den skal få oss til å snakke mer nyansert om alkoholbruk, bryte tabuene og skape diskusjon?
Det var i så fall kanskje det den gjorde😊
Synes jeg dro den veldig fint i land der😏😉
Dørene lukkes by Maren Skolem
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
4.25
En varm, gjenkjennelig og litt mørk bok om sjekking OG sjekking!
Boka inneholder gode beskrivelser av hvordan det er å leve med mye tvang (ut fra det jeg har lest i pensumbøkene mine da😅).
Jeg hadde lyst til å rope til Freya gjennom hele boka at hun måtte se å komme seg i terapi, eller mer generelt behandling, eller bare NOE! Ingen skal behøve å måtte leve sånn:(<3
Jeg synes slutten var litt brå, kanskje mest fordi jeg hørte på lydboka, der historien uventet tok slutt 10 min før lydsporet😯
Jeg ville kanskje også likt å ha fått litt mer avklaring rundt Karl/Carl (?)
Men ellers veldig fin❤️ Og morsom!
Boka inneholder gode beskrivelser av hvordan det er å leve med mye tvang (ut fra det jeg har lest i pensumbøkene mine da😅).
Jeg hadde lyst til å rope til Freya gjennom hele boka at hun måtte se å komme seg i terapi, eller mer generelt behandling, eller bare NOE! Ingen skal behøve å måtte leve sånn:(<3
Jeg synes slutten var litt brå, kanskje mest fordi jeg hørte på lydboka, der historien uventet tok slutt 10 min før lydsporet😯
Jeg ville kanskje også likt å ha fått litt mer avklaring rundt Karl/Carl (?)
Men ellers veldig fin❤️ Og morsom!
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
En veldig interessant bok!
Hodet mitt ligger passende nok badet i forkjølelsesrus for øyeblikket (😁🤧🌊), så tror ikke jeg klarer å skrive noe mer enn dette🙃🤯🤯 og engelsken min har visst kollapsa helt.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.5
The brain is a monstruous, beautiful mess.
En veldig interessant bok!
Hodet mitt ligger passende nok badet i forkjølelsesrus for øyeblikket (😁🤧🌊), så tror ikke jeg klarer å skrive noe mer enn dette🙃🤯🤯 og engelsken min har visst kollapsa helt.
An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
3.5
I started school last week, and as a result I have once again been inspired by my lecturers to read psychology memoirs:)
I've wanted to read a memoir that centers bipolar disorder for a while, and was very happy when I came across this one.
An Unquiet Mind is a short, well-written, brave and wise memoir. I have a deep respect for Jamison and her openness about the things she has endured, and find her perseverance and achievements inspiring.
However, I wish the book had been longer.
The audiobook is less than three hours long, and I do think the book would have been more impactful, had it been longer.
For example, when she tells us about moving to Scotland, it's something along the lines of "I spent a year abroad in St. Andrews and had a wonderful year, and after that...". Like, waaaait, I want to hear more about St. Andrews!!
I did unfortunately get this feeling several times while reading. I wanted the book to go deeper at certain points, and there was perhaps a bit too much telling instead of showing.
What I appreciated most about this memoir was its depiction of how seductive mania can be, and how you can long for the moods. Her reasons for initially refusing to take medication was also interesting.
Well worth a read, but there are other memoirs about mental illness that I would recommend more.
I've wanted to read a memoir that centers bipolar disorder for a while, and was very happy when I came across this one.
An Unquiet Mind is a short, well-written, brave and wise memoir. I have a deep respect for Jamison and her openness about the things she has endured, and find her perseverance and achievements inspiring.
However, I wish the book had been longer.
The audiobook is less than three hours long, and I do think the book would have been more impactful, had it been longer.
For example, when she tells us about moving to Scotland, it's something along the lines of "I spent a year abroad in St. Andrews and had a wonderful year, and after that...". Like, waaaait, I want to hear more about St. Andrews!!
I did unfortunately get this feeling several times while reading. I wanted the book to go deeper at certain points, and there was perhaps a bit too much telling instead of showing.
What I appreciated most about this memoir was its depiction of how seductive mania can be, and how you can long for the moods. Her reasons for initially refusing to take medication was also interesting.
Well worth a read, but there are other memoirs about mental illness that I would recommend more.