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_soraya_pl's reviews
311 reviews
Pure Colour by Sheila Heti
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Short literary fiction novel. Easily one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. I highlighted so much and want to purchase my own copy. It’s very reflective about life, death and interpersonal relationships.
Half Moon Bay by Jonathan Kellerman, Jesse Kellerman
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Solito by Javier Zamora
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
3.0
The book feels like a summer reading assignment for middle and high school. I don’t believe it would be a good selection for a wide audience. The book starts off very slowly. The reader is introduced to Zamora’s native Spanish thoughts with the use of inverted punctuation which continues throughout the book. Zamora’s development progresses through his relationship with his grandfather at the beginning of the journey. The descriptive language of the bus rides, boat rides and kilometers of walking brought the reader along with Zamora.
I would suggest book discussions use chapter 7 to draw parallels to Trump era “kids in cages” and Zamora in border patrol holding. Chapter 8 could be used to discuss identity as the border patrol agent recognizes “the four” as “one of us.” I felt Zamora’s most genuine writing was the last 3 pages of the book describing 2021.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. Critiquing a memoir is difficult as it is someone’s life story. Discussion questions would have to be sensitive to past and current immigration policies.
I would suggest book discussions use chapter 7 to draw parallels to Trump era “kids in cages” and Zamora in border patrol holding. Chapter 8 could be used to discuss identity as the border patrol agent recognizes “the four” as “one of us.” I felt Zamora’s most genuine writing was the last 3 pages of the book describing 2021.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. Critiquing a memoir is difficult as it is someone’s life story. Discussion questions would have to be sensitive to past and current immigration policies.
The Last Word by Taylor Adams
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5, it would be a 5 if it wasn’t so long for the content. There are so many twists. This is a good, new thriller with fair character development.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Y/N by Esther Yi
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be by Shannon Gibney
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
Emphasis on "speculative" memoir. I would be surprised if teenagers could figure out this book because 2 timelines of Shannon and "Erin" (same person, Erin is her birth name) seem to be like 7 timelines. I'm not sure what Gibney was trying to accomplish with jumping around with added sci fi elements to finding her birth father. As a memoir, it doesn't read as it should and every version of Shannon is an unreliable narrator of her own life unfortunately.