_head_full_of_books_'s reviews
62 reviews

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood by Mark Twain

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

James by Percival Everett

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challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall

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informative medium-paced

4.5

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor

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adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Barkskins by Annie Proulx

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a harrowing survival story about a nameless father and son navigating a post-apocalyptic landscape. Their journey to the coast symbolizes their hope for something better than the cold, bleak, and desolate world around them. Given the widespread acclaim of this Pulitzer Prize winner, I’ll keep my thoughts brief.

McCarthy’s brilliance lies in his stark and simple prose. The sparse writing mirrors the barren world he depicts, yet it is powerful enough to draw you in, terrify you, and remind you to hold your loved ones close while clinging to hope. For these reasons, this book is a 5-star read for me—it delivers exactly what it promises.

I especially valued the fleeting moments of beauty the boy experiences. His innocent questions—“Are we the good guys? Are they the bad guys?”—lay bare the complexity of human morality. In the fight for survival, where do we draw the line between good and evil? Are moral compromises ever justified in the struggle to endure?

I read this as part of an office book club, and it sparked some fascinating discussions. While I recommend it, I would do so cautiously—it’s not a story for the faint of heart. 


The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

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adventurous dark informative sad tense fast-paced

4.5

The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

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emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5