“People think that intimacy is about sex. But intimacy is about truth. When you realize you can tell someone your truth, when you can show yourself to them, when you stand in front of them bare and their response is ‘you’re safe with me’- that’s intimacy.” – 4.5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: marriages, divorces, beautiful gowns, milkshakes, grief, abuse, disease, homophobia, abortion, suicide, diversity, striking blond hair, women’s rights, sex, money, true love, old Hollywood glamour, movies, spotlights and expensive wine.

This is a beautifully written book, and I can understand the hype around it. Even though I knew this book was not my type, I still wanted to give it a shot.

The thing I liked the most about this book was Evelyn’s relationships. And that includes not only her marriages, but also her friends, her true lover and all the people around her. It’s safe for me to say that this book changed my perspective about marriages and relationships in general. There are so many good quotes about marriage, love and self-respect that I know I’ll take them with me for life. Here are some of them:

“Don’t ignore half of me so you can fit me into a box. Don’t do that.”

“Heartbreak is a loss. Divorce is a piece of paper.”

“It’s always been fascinating to me how things can be simultaneously true and false, how people can be good and bad all in one, how someone can love you in a way that is beautifully selfless while serving themselves ruthlessly.”

“She always made sure the bad was outweighed by so much good. I…well, I didn’t do that for her. I made it fifty-fifty. Which is about the cruelest thing you can do to someone you love, give them just enough good to make them stick through a hell of a lot of bad.”

“Sometimes divorce isn’t an earth-shattering loss. Sometimes it’s just two people waking up out of a fog.”

It is impossible to not imagine a cuban version of Marilyn Monroe while reading this book. There is no doubt in my mind that Marilyn was one of the people that inspired this novel.

The other thing that is still on my mind was how smart Evelyn was. She knew she had nothing but her beauty to climb the Hollywood social ladder. She had no money, no studies, no family, and yet, she got where she wanted. At some point later, she tells Monique: “.(…) And taking pride in your beauty is a damning act. Because you allow yourself to believe that the only thing notable about yourself is something with a very short shelf life.”
I love that TJR decided to name the book “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”. I know it was not a random name she picked, and I love the reason behind it.

It is a great novel. The more I think about this book, the more complex it gets. I really enjoyed it.

xoxo, Neide

“For every door that’s been opened to me, I’ve tried to open my door to others. And here is what I have to say, finally: Let’s invite one another in. Maybe then we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions, to let go of the biases and stereotypes that unnecessarily divide us. Maybe we can better embrace the ways we are the same. It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about where you get yourself in the end. There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.” – 4/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: politics, piano lessons, basketball games, Easter egg hunting, pride, the Queen of England, Beyoncé, travelling, the military, racism, the Secret Services, law school, grief, children, opportunities, elections, motherhood, healthy eating and living at the White House.

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

Even though I’m not an american citizen myself, I have always respected Barack and Michelle Obama. And now, after reading this book, I feel like I respect them even more – not only as professionals but as human beings.

I remember thinking a few years ago that Michelle should run for office. But now, after reading her autobiography, I finally understood that it would never happen. And I honestly can’t blame her. Keep in mind that even though it is mentioned frequently, this is NOT a book about politics or the ex-president’s term. It’s a book about a woman and her family, growing up and helping others – becoming.

This is a very honest and inspirational biography in my opinion. I cried. A lot. The feeling of pride, love and hope I felt while reading this made me so incredibly happy. This book reminded me that there are still good people out there that genuinely care about others and actively work to make the world a better place. I listened to the audiobook version and I’m glad Michelle is the one telling her own story!

Michelle is the intelligent, caring, confident, strong woman I could only dream of being one day.

xoxo,

“But in a solitary life, there are rare moments when another soul dips near yours, as stars once a year brush the earth. Such a constellation was he to me.” – 5/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: pigs, wine, exile, goddesses, nynphs, stars, minotaurs, jealousy, monsters, boats, nectar, heroes, trojans, lions, messengers, power, molly, motherhood, beauty, mortals and witchcraft.

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child – not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power – the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

THIS WAS SO GOOD! I’m so happy I finally picked this up. The hype made me do it… again.

This book reminded me why I was always fascinated by greek mythology. I learned so much about characters I never heard about (Glaucus, Scylla, Perse,…), and also saw others in this book that I knew my whole life (Zeus, Helios, Hermes…). I personally never heard about Circe before this book so I was curious to hear her story, and now I understand how important she was especially to Odysseus. I really liked her story, more than I thought I would!

Madeline did an amazing job writting this book. She had the ability to put together different main stories from greek and roman mythology in this book, and she knew exactly how each character would fit in. It was beautifully done and very well written. I don’t have enough good words to describe this novel. What can I say? I completely fell in love with this book.
This is without a doubt a must-read for anyone interested in mythology. Such a treat! I’m definitely picking up “The Song of Achilles” soon.

xoxo,

“Do not go gentle into that good night.” – 3.25/5 stars!

Attention! This book contains: paint brushes, canyons, maps, blue tablets, poems, secrets, boats, the society and the Rising.

The Society chooses everything.

The books you read.
The music you listen to.
The person you love.

Yet for Cassia the rules have changed. Ky has been taken and she will sacrifice everything to find him.

And when Cassia discovers Ky has escaped to the wild frontiers beyond the Society there is hope.

But on the edge of society nothing is as it seems…

A rebellion is rising.

And a tangled web of lies and double-crosses could destroy everything.

Crossed is the second book on the Matched series by Ally Condie. You can read my review on the first book Matched here.

It took me so much time to finish this book! I admit I had some trouble finishing it, but I finally did it! Even though I loved this dystopian concept since the start of the series, I found the second book very slow and difficult to go through. Sure, the story keeps developing… but at a VERY slow pace. A big part of the book occurs in the same spot – the canyons – and almost nothing exciting happens! The most interesting event that happened in my opinion is when we discovered that Xander has a secret of his own. I wasn’t expecting it to be honest, it was a great twist!

One thing I liked is how we followed not only Cassia’s point of view but also Ky Markham’s point of view! I really liked this change in comparison to the first book, I was curious to see Ky’s thoughts and feelings.

I also loved the new characters, they added some spice to the story, for sure. Specially Indie and Vick!

So, what can you expect from this book? My answer: there’s a lot of poetry and art, a lot of slow running and searching… and more poetry and art. 

Overall I still enjoyed it, I just wish there was more happening in the story. The ending was satisfying and it made me excited to grab the last book of this series! I’m hoping the last book has more action and surprises.

xoxo,