catalyst226's reviews
188 reviews

Paladin's Strength by T. Kingfisher

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

5.0

A fantastic second installment to this series. Isthvan was notably my favorite character from book one so I thoroughly enjoyed reading an entire book with him as one of our main characters. Clara was a delightful main character as well. We love a lady that can hold her own in a fight. 

Plot-wise this incorporated some cool world building with the different regions, religion, and creatures. The overarching plot of the stories hit an unexpected crescendo so I look forward to reading book three!
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The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality by Amanda Montell

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informative lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

This was a great dive into the psychology and heuristic pitfalls we all experience in the digital age. From celebrity worship to astrology to DIY kits, there's a lot of ground covered in a short amount of time. The author has a fantastic writing style that is educational without being arrogant and critical without being demeaning. Highly recommend this one.
My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson

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challenging emotional informative 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? No

5.0

A fictional memoir of a young, black, gay man that moved from Indianapolis to New York City at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Truly a deep dive into the activists and culture of the time and a fantastic read. The author includes a lot of footnotes that I found incredibly informative (and had the opportunity to ask the author about!)
Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper

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emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

5.0

A great memoir for pride month and fantastic in particular if you're interested in birding. Cooper is definitely a character and generously shares his life beyond what thrust him into public consciousness. I really liked the birding tips, joys of birding, and nerdy snippets throughout.
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed

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informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

Informative and digestible essays about Texas history leading up to Juneteenth. Lots of very poignant notes on US history and culture surrounding slavery and inequality. Highly recommend for history buffs and anyone interested in learning more about Texas in particular.
The God of Good Looks by Breanne Mc Ivor

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a plot, what an unexpected framing device, what a fun set of characters that grow into their own! I loved that the characters found their own success and relationships with their families. *This* is my favorite kind of romantic story because it simply added to the characters and supported the plot rather than *being* the plot.

Minor criticism that there is quite a lot of diet talk so if that is a trigger for you, perhaps skip this one.
Muddy Does the Full Monty by Elvin James Mensah

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emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

This short story takes place three months after the events of the full novel and is written from Muddy's POV. (It's also exclusive to the UK paperback edition). It's a Christmas story and gives us a nice glimpse into what's going on with each of the characters from the main novel.
Muddy's grandfather passed away and he elects to not tell his friends but eventually does in his own time.
Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

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

4.0

I really loved the expansion of the world with the second novel of this series. It also set up quite a bit of the plot for the next book so I'm looking forward to reading it!

Who would have thought the all-knowing AI would be the BBEG? Honestly, the sythedom and it's antagonists led me to believe the Thunderhead wouldn't have gotten vengeful but here we are...
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 22%.
Not bad. Vaguely interesting in general just not my personal cup of tea. Rosamund Pike is a lovely narrator though.
The Book of (More) Delights: Essays by Ross Gay

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hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

5.0

These essays are so joyful - delightful, if you will. From vehicular vernacular to the fact that it's uncanny how close relief is to delight, I'm holding on to many of these delights to remind myself to seek delight in my own life.

(Same recommendation as last time, pick this one up if you need some joy in your life.)