🦁 january wrapup | circe, handmaid's tale, educated, & more 🎓 

booktube isnt supposed to use logic!! RAAHHH

That's how I felt! I really enjoyed that book, but Cindy makes really good points and now I'm like "....hm....maybe I should read it again." I did think that Circe was pretty rude and unkind to the other nymphs on her island, despite the fact that they probably had a lot in common.

This is what happens when a woke booktuber speaks to your soul.

So, I do enjoy Greek mythology, but I agree with your criticism of Circe. I wanted to love it and just couldn't. It felt too much like a Cliffs Notes version of Circe's history. Granted, a more fun version of Cliffs Notes, but not an interesting novel. Song of Achilles made me cry. Circe is a book I read.

Same. As soon as I finished reading Circe and went to gush about it on Goodreads, I read a review that made many similar points as Cindy did. My immediate reaction was to be pissed, but then I realized they were pretty accurate and also those bits of the book weren’t what made me love it. I mean give me a woman who lets men thinks she’s utterly helpless until their ribs are cracking open and they scream dying because they did or tried to rape her and I AM SOLD. When she said, “As it turned out, I did kill pigs that night after all.” I was done. In the best possible way.

YES

yea it's always a toss-up for me to balance out how much i actually enjoyed it personally vs how objectively good it is! i try to rate it as an average in-between the two categories

Bahahaha this is sooo true. Soulless was like this smutty feminist ish werewolf romance and it was like I obviously think the kite runner is better but I have to give this five stars also.

yea im kinda tired of "reclaiming sexuality" as being the ONLY way to show feminism. sometimes i dont want a femme fatale character lol

Right?? I read a book about feminism (written by a man 🙃) that said that 50 SHADES OF GREY was A ¡¡¡FEMINIST BOOK!!! because Anna was so in tune with her sexuality !!2!?’11!!!!?!????! I had a stroke when I read that

Delfina Garcia Oh my blessed fruit! Seriously? Not only is that a pathetically simplistic way of looking at feminism, it also makes me think that man either did not read or deeply misunderstood „50 shades of Grey”, since Ana’s sexuality simply does not exist before she meets Christian Von Douchebaggery Grey and pretty much forces herself (at least in the first and second book, if i recall correctly) to participate in most of their sexual exploits to please him and keep his interest. Any enjoyment she gets out of (some) of them is a byproduct of her insecurity and naive belief that he is a god amongst men (more like a half eaten, moldy jar of jam in human form). If you don’t mind, would you be so kind and tell me the name of this author? You’ve now infected me with morbid curiosity about his book. Double crap, as Ana would say. Oh, also, if you’re interested, Folding Ideas here on youtube, has a fantastic song parody of the „Fifty Shades” trilogy titled „Charlie Tango.” It could give you a good laugh. 😊

haggisa the author is Argentinian and the book is in Spanish, I don’t know if you understand it, it’s simply called “ELLAS” which is the feminine form of “them” in Spanish. On the matter of criticizing the trilogy, I recommend you the reviews by The Dom, he is hilarious, he is British and he hates 50SOG with his guts

Delfina Garcia Hehe, thanks for answering; my spanish is indeed limited, but i do use it to compliment my cats by calling them „guapa gatita” sometimes, so yeah...would not understand the book, sadly. Oh well.😊 But heh, funny that you should mention The Dom, because i love him dearly and his reviews for the trilogy and his passionate, comedic hatred for it had me feeling a weird mix of amusement and validation. :) The Dom fans unite! 👋🏼

that's a good point. i knew the author was intentionally creating a very limited perspective and thus the worldbuilding and narrative had to be that way, so it was hard for me to rate this objectively. i guess i question if there could still be a more satisfying narrative and better worldbuilding even with an ignorant main character, or if the lesson can still be shown with a broader POV or multiple POVs.

Interesting... I don't remember feeling this way about Handmaid's Tale, but I DID get annoyed by the limited perspective in Oryx and Crake, which I just finished. The main dude is likewise kinda self-absorbed, and so we get almost no insight into Crake (the dude who basically casts himself as Shiva, destroying the humanity to create a new version) and even less into Oryx (beyond her being a mysterious, beautiful, damaged lady). I was also confused about how Atwood wanted the reader to feel about this Apocalypse, because the result is actually kind of beautiful and edenic; but NOT getting any insight into Crake's motivations and the fact that the narrator hates this new world makes it feel like you aren't supposed to like it. Maybe mixed feelings is the point? I dunno...

@@emilymoran9152 the next two books in the Oryx and Crake series was better than the first IMO. I don’t think we ever are really supposed to know much about the man/cataclysm that ends humanity, although we do learn more about him in the latter books. I do remember feeling this way (like Cindy) about the Handmaid’s take and this main comment really made me stop and ponder my original thoughts. I agree, thank you for a different perspective, @sometimessunday.

Great point, I want to add that the adaptation, ie the show might be a great watch for cindy. It definitely is very adult rating, in terms of assault and rape and violence, but the world building gets explored and it is still going on. The first season is based on the book, and still it does a lot to bring everything alive and from then onwards, its an entire story in its own regard completely. There is a sequel to THT and you also might wanna read that. I haven't yet but it packs a lot more than this.

me every day of my life

@@withcindy same tbh

How's 2020 for you? 😂

2020- hold my beer

i wish it were my own remedy LOL

Fact.

Jay G Much truth.

thanks for sharing ur thoughts!! i can definitely see what u mean that there can be an appeal to how "quiet" circe's strength was and how u dont have to be a central character and do some epic revolution to be considered strong.

I love this comment so much, this is what I wanted to say but I could never say it as well as you did

i think hearing different opinions & critiques of books is important. even when i LOVE a book, i'm interested in hearing critiques for it because it helps encourage me to be a more thoughtful reader. i also think u can still enjoy a book personally even if it's not good critically! in the case of Circe, i was just lucky to have some solid(ish) points for critique to justify me feeling "meh" about it lol

readwithcindy yes I totally agree. Say for example I really enjoyed the cruel prince but I have valued listening to other peoples more critical opinions on it as it has allowed me to also be a more thoughtful reader

thank u, i'll try to hang in there!!

yes i think seeing female friendships and solidarity would have greatly enhanced the story!

@@withcindy I think that the reason why the nymphs being depicted as they are didn't really bother me is because it is basically a writing device to set Circe apart from the other gods. If she never found any solace while amognst them when she was free I kinda doubt she would make any meaningfull connection with them while in exile. I know that Circe really plays into the whole "not like other girls/nymphs" trope, but it does fit into her story to be different from everyone else around her.

Even the one woman she somewhat is on friendly terms with is her lovers WIFE BRO

@@itsafish3235 AND SHE FUCKED HER SON LIKE WHAT

I was so happy when the nymphs started coming when Circe was feeling depressed about her isolation. Surely female companionship would help provide comfort in her trying times! But nope, serving muscly sailors it is. The nymphs were just....cast to the side. I barely remembered they were in the book until I watched this review.

@@araw_buwan Welcome to Greek mythology

I really don't understand this comment.. Miller didn't only paint girls as vain, she painted every participant in the patriarchy as vain and self-serving. There are paragraphs upon paragraphs of Helios' vanity, of the vanity of Aeetes, the vanity of Odysseus... The point of Circe is not that she's "not like other girls" its that she's not like other divinity... She finds her humanity despite her divine blood. Her arc is about what it truly means to be human. To keep this humanity regardless of what the world does to try to take it away. Specifically with the nymphs, I find it a much more interesting commentary on the effects of patriarchy, that the world is basically saying the only power of a nymph is what she can offer a man/her husband, she must be beautiful and wicked in order to climb the social ladder. Circes rejection of this patriarchal system is very intentional, it isn't blaming the women for acting in the way that suits their best interest in this world, its a commentary on the system itself. "Even the most beautiful nymph is largely useless, and an ugly one would be nothing, less than nothing." This comes from the point of view of Circe and Aeetes, who both live in and operate within the patriarchal system. It is Aeetes that identifies for the reader exactly what the purpose of nymph is in society, to be beautiful and find a husband and have children. Its not an omniscient observer who makes these claims about their society, its two individuals who operate within it. I find it very similar to the way Patroclus views how the world remembers the life of Achilles. The world, through its patriarchal lens, views him as only a war mongering brute full of arrogance and pride, Patroclus begs the reader through his memory to know his good deeds, his humanity. The beauty that lingers through even the smallest actions that showed he was not just a vain god, but a human as well. I think Miller really excels at writing how society itself tries to strip your humanity from you, but her characters desperately try to find and keep themselves from that fate. If not, then they're already dead, just as the Gods are already dead, they can't hold anything meaningful in their hands, everything beautiful and swift moves on and they are left with nothing. Sorry its long, Im not sure if it all made sense but that's how I see the novel... Definitely not a perfect work of feminist literature but I don't think its fair to say Miller specifically painted all women as vain.. Especially given the context of Circes upbringing and location, like how many opportunities would she even have to meet a modest woman... I feel like people aren't giving Miller credit for the incredible world building that simultaneously comments on the patriarchy of today.

gross

SoC was good but I wasn't terribly invested and the only reason I read on to CK was so I could watch your spoilers video and JESUS FUCK AM I GLAD I DID but also regretting it because I won't be able to get anything productive done for the next week because I'll just be thinking about this damned book and Kaz and Inej damn

DUDE RIGHT?! SoC was decent but crooked kingdom was like SoC on STEROIDS

King of scars is next I guess! I finished it today

WHAPOW

the funny thing is that we have a call and response cheer in marching band using that. It goes: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup! Crowd: Reese's Peanut Butter Cup! We sing this to pump you up! Crowd: We sing this to pump you up! Wam bam thank you ma'am! Crowd: Wam bam thank you ma'am! Come on (group/person) do your thing! Group/person: We/I can't! Why not? Group/person: Because we/I can't! Why not?! Group/person: Because my back aches, the sun's too hot, my booty shakes from the left, to the right, to the left, to the right, to the left, right, left, right, left right left right left right AGH! (it's supposed to be dumb and silly, haha)

Horrible histories🥺

i almost died at that part bahahaha

LMAO i cant deal with ppl who have god complexes i get ENOUGH of that from work and the world

Ayyyyyeee I'm a virgo too

thank you joe! it helps to take notes beforehand!

@@withcindy cool cool cool cool cool cool cool cool

Wow i didnt even know she had a RU-vid chanel. Thank you!

omg i feel u girl, let's hang in there!!! HUGS

The best of the video LOL!!! Who wants sponsorship with that sense of humor, that's all we need XD

i hope u enjoy it!!

It one of the best books I have ever read I literally couldn’t put it down and became so emotionally invested in like I wanted to walk through the pages and shake her parents into sensibility

I loved this book so much i still find myself thinking about it now and then.

yea honestly i dont mind if she sleeps with everyone cuz like... that's her choice if she wants to get some LOL but her sleeping with any of those men did not further her character development IMO. at the end of the day that's what should matter

yea i think that was the whole intention of the book, so it was hard for me to rate it fairly!

IDK i feel like a sequel kinda makes sense because the story was so incomplete with the ending, world building, etc!

I felt the same! Way too many unanswered questions

Catherine! I love your videos! Ok bye, sorry for interrupting lol

Maya Ella Aww thank you

The sequel (The Testaments) is about how Gilead works. Atwood goes into all the questions she gets asked the most and gives POVs of women other than June.

LOL AND THEN MIDWAY THRU THE BOOK IT TURNED OUT SHE BECAME THAT

in a strange twist of events, i got a sponsorship after filming this lol

aww i love it when people say they are more motivated to read books because of these shitty vids!! thank u

it be like that sometimes

i feel this comment in my soul

Abigail Kingston Yes!

thanks jenna

LMAO maybe at that point i was so desensitized by her sexcapades that i was like *shrugs* ok then

ur welcum

aww thank you subha!

thank you! im glad u enjoyed them!

thats why i did a live show for SoC!! but to be fair, i cant truly tell if i'm gonna like a book if i haven't read it yet. i was hoping i'd like circe lol

let's be real, we all love fictional drama

IT ACTUALLY IS THO

hope u enjoy!!

good to know her other book is better!

Aw thank you!!

i hope u enjoy educated!!

TBH if i think about it for too long i might bump it down to 3 stars too lol im honestly stuck in between

thank you patricia! i hope i havent dragged any of ur faves yet lol

u can still give it a try, im prob just being nitpicky!

thank u!

U ARE ALWAYS VALID CHANDLER

thanks for being patient wit me

i hope u love educated too!

aww thank you

i also checked out her book tour interviews! she's such a wise, resilient woman

yea very true. i know this and yet i keep searching for the one that will help my depressed ass LOL.

circe can GET IT

ooo i am very interested in hearing ur thoughts courtney!!

my rocket ship is getting far away from this

i almost gave it 4 stars out of pressure that i might be missing something but ultimately i decided fuck it and gave it 3 lol i hope u enjoy educated!!

i hope u enjoy!!

RIGHT?! it was so damn good

Literally 💀

i hope you enjoy educated!

would def recommend!

i finished helium last week and have some THOUGHTS!!

TELL. ME. NOW

I rated it 4 stars but tbh I think I personally am feeling it as more like 3.5 stars. I enjoyed all the metaphors and anecdotes and double meanings of his poetry and I also think it's a lot more powerful to hear him reading it out loud. I also really enjoyed his poems that talked about the struggles of black identity and realization of toxic masculinity. The main caveat I had was that he seemed to often write about women he barely knows as some ethereal creature (a girl he sees at Starbucks, a girl he’s in a FWB relationship with, etc). This reminds me a lot of the typical self-pitying male writer who overly romanticizes women and only likes the idea of them without actually knowing them. I prefer the poems where he's talking about or criticizing his own identity because that's actually grounded in what he knows about himself

@@withcindy I agree that it can be a lot more powerful hearing him read it out loud. For sure. I understand your view point. I never read it that way. I'm glad you didn't absolutely despise it though, ha!

i'd LOVE to read a book about a sea monster eating dudes

@@withcindy why exactly? I love dudes, so I wouldn't want them to be eaten 😏😏😏

i agree, the main thing i enjoyed was the writing, but the story and its portrayal of feminist themes left a lot to desire for me

hope u enjoy it!

we are spiritually connected

thanks joyce

No thank you for your witty ass remarks on life and the world it gives me life 😂... 💕

i loved educated, i hope u do too!

im curious to hear ur thoughts on circe since u love mythology! u might appreciate it more than i did

@@withcindy I'll let you know when I eventually get to it. I can't decide between starting with Circe or Song of Achilles. I'm leaning toward the latter, though now. 😅

omg if u do start a notebook send me a pic

thank you! hanging in there

thank you!!

hello julianna

glad im not the only one!

omg youre right, the sweater was so fitting LOL

i say try out the first book and if u hate it just read the summary and skip over to SOC

readwithcindy sounds like a better plan lol

I SEE WHAT U DID THERE

i plan on reading it in april!

i rated it 3 stars :p