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chandranolynne's reviews
381 reviews
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“I am afraid. Not of life, or death, or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been.”
Another classic I'm late to the game in reading, but I'm glad I finally did. I honestly had no clue as to what it was about other than the fact that it had something to do with a mouse, which, while it does have *something* to do with a mouse, that is decidedly not what this book is about.
My only real complaint about it is that it was a bit long and drawn out for me. Most of the contents of the last hundred pages (until the ending, of course) were boring and did little to add to the novel. The rest, though, was super interesting! I really enjoyed the exploration of human nature carried within this book, even if some of it was dated. Much of it is timeless and the questions it raises are ones that are still commonly discussed today.
Another classic I'm late to the game in reading, but I'm glad I finally did. I honestly had no clue as to what it was about other than the fact that it had something to do with a mouse, which, while it does have *something* to do with a mouse, that is decidedly not what this book is about.
My only real complaint about it is that it was a bit long and drawn out for me. Most of the contents of the last hundred pages (until the ending, of course) were boring and did little to add to the novel. The rest, though, was super interesting! I really enjoyed the exploration of human nature carried within this book, even if some of it was dated. Much of it is timeless and the questions it raises are ones that are still commonly discussed today.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
“You loved so hard and hoped so much and then you ended up with nothing.”
I had such a difficult time picking a quote for this review, so I ultimately went this one... this sad, hopeless statement, because it just wraps up the whole vibe of the book so perfectly. Sad. Hopeless. It's a bummer, too, because I had such high expectations after how much I loved Little Fires Everywhere. I'm tempted to give this book one star because I really just didn't enjoy any of it, but I can't ignore the fact that it was pretty well written sooo, two stars it is.
I had such a difficult time picking a quote for this review, so I ultimately went this one... this sad, hopeless statement, because it just wraps up the whole vibe of the book so perfectly. Sad. Hopeless. It's a bummer, too, because I had such high expectations after how much I loved Little Fires Everywhere. I'm tempted to give this book one star because I really just didn't enjoy any of it, but I can't ignore the fact that it was pretty well written sooo, two stars it is.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
“I’m an adult who does adult things, like taxes and laundry and being sad for no reason.”
"It's okay to not be okay, as long as it doesn't become all we know."
I love TJ Klune, and this book did not disappoint. The only reason it gets four stars instead of five is because it was so very pointedly politicized, which, I suppose, many people might appreciate, but I liked the nuances of the first one better, saying so much without blatantly stating it... repeatedly.
Other than that, I loved the development of the family! One of my biggest complaints about romance novels is that they always end after the couple finds their way to each other, and you don't get to see them simply *be* together. This second installment gives us that, as well as the addition of a new character who is just exactly what I didn't realize was missing from the first one! I always enjoy a good found-family story, and in that regard, this story is a gem.
"It's okay to not be okay, as long as it doesn't become all we know."
I love TJ Klune, and this book did not disappoint. The only reason it gets four stars instead of five is because it was so very pointedly politicized, which, I suppose, many people might appreciate, but I liked the nuances of the first one better, saying so much without blatantly stating it... repeatedly.
Other than that, I loved the development of the family! One of my biggest complaints about romance novels is that they always end after the couple finds their way to each other, and you don't get to see them simply *be* together. This second installment gives us that, as well as the addition of a new character who is just exactly what I didn't realize was missing from the first one! I always enjoy a good found-family story, and in that regard, this story is a gem.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
“Once again I’m struck by melancholy. I want to spend the rest of my life studying Eridian biology! But I have to save humanity first. Stupid humanity. Getting in the way of my hobbies.”
I will forever regret not having listened to this audiobook sooner! I will also forever be grateful that I decided to listen to this one as opposed to read it. I loved The Martian and just knew going into this one that I would love it, too, but OH MY GOSH DID I LOVE THIS FREAKING BOOK! I could not stop smiling; I did not know how much I needed a human/alien BFF story in my life! I'm only sorry it's over. I could continue listening to Dr. Grace and Rocky bicker, joke, and save their planets forever.
I will forever regret not having listened to this audiobook sooner! I will also forever be grateful that I decided to listen to this one as opposed to read it. I loved The Martian and just knew going into this one that I would love it, too, but OH MY GOSH DID I LOVE THIS FREAKING BOOK! I could not stop smiling; I did not know how much I needed a human/alien BFF story in my life! I'm only sorry it's over. I could continue listening to Dr. Grace and Rocky bicker, joke, and save their planets forever.
Lord Edgware Dies by Agatha Christie
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“And so could you know it if you would only use the brains the good God has given you. Sometimes I really am tempted to believe that by inadvertence, He passed you by.”
As always, an intriguing whodunnit in which I had absolutely no clue whodunnit! I am kind of running out of things to say about Agatha Christie's novels; they're all so delightfully clever. The only thing that tends to change for me from book it book is how I feel about the characters, and in this particular story, I LOVED the characters!
As always, an intriguing whodunnit in which I had absolutely no clue whodunnit! I am kind of running out of things to say about Agatha Christie's novels; they're all so delightfully clever. The only thing that tends to change for me from book it book is how I feel about the characters, and in this particular story, I LOVED the characters!
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
“She was on a high cliff edge somewhere between laughing and crying and screaming.”
This book had me intrigued from cover to cover. I was so certain I had guessed the twist for a solid quarter of the book, and then was completely blindsided when it was finally revealed. I really appreciated how the main character was written; even though she's a know-it-all and snooper, the author still makes her easy to root for and empathize with. That can be a difficult balance to find, and the author nailed it. I do wonder where the series will go. This one was so neatly wrapped up, it's hard to imagine another book adding to it, but we'll see, I guess! I will definitely be reading sequels at some point.
This book had me intrigued from cover to cover. I was so certain I had guessed the twist for a solid quarter of the book, and then was completely blindsided when it was finally revealed. I really appreciated how the main character was written; even though she's a know-it-all and snooper, the author still makes her easy to root for and empathize with. That can be a difficult balance to find, and the author nailed it. I do wonder where the series will go. This one was so neatly wrapped up, it's hard to imagine another book adding to it, but we'll see, I guess! I will definitely be reading sequels at some point.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"There is no means of testing which decision is better, because there is no basis for comparison. We live everything as it comes, without warning, like an actor going on cold. And what can life be worth if the first rehearsal for life is life itself? That is why life is always like a sketch. No, "sketch" is not quite a word, because a sketch is an outline of something, the groundwork for a picture, whereas the sketch that is our life is a sketch for nothing, an outline with no picture."
I.... did not enjoy this. In this case, it feels like a me-thing; the writing was good, the insights were great, the characters were intriguing... but I felt like I was waiting for the story to start the whole time. Maybe I just didn't "get" it, or maybe this style simply isn't my thing. The author uses a fictional storyline to philosophize about people and the state of the world, and he definitely has some interesting things to say about all of that, but in the end, I really just wanted a story that I never felt like I got.
I.... did not enjoy this. In this case, it feels like a me-thing; the writing was good, the insights were great, the characters were intriguing... but I felt like I was waiting for the story to start the whole time. Maybe I just didn't "get" it, or maybe this style simply isn't my thing. The author uses a fictional storyline to philosophize about people and the state of the world, and he definitely has some interesting things to say about all of that, but in the end, I really just wanted a story that I never felt like I got.
On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“Everyone had spent so much time telling her that love was a thing of magic, something wild and uncontrollable that came like a thunderstorm. And now it was something else? It was just comfort? Something peaceful? Something that actually sounded nice?”
The Bridgerton series ended on a rather mediocre note for me. I didn't hate this one, but I didn't love it either. I didn't find myself particularly drawn to the heroine or the love interest, and while I wasn't necessarily bored or put out by the book, I wasn't captivated either. I've heard that Julia Quinn didn't plan on and / or didn't want to write all of the siblings' stories, but her fan based more or less demanded it. If I'm being candid, this book felt like Quinn didn't want to be writing it. The first half and second half of the book are wildly different, it was almost like she couldn't decide on a plot, and then the ending (and kind of the transition from the first half to the second half) were so clunkily put together, it felt like she just couldn't wait to be done. It had its moments that kept me in it and at least wanting to finish it, but after it all, I'm glad to be done. So long, Bridgertons, for the foreseeable future anyway. The Rokesbys is on my radar, but it will definitely be some time before I get it into it.
The Bridgerton series ended on a rather mediocre note for me. I didn't hate this one, but I didn't love it either. I didn't find myself particularly drawn to the heroine or the love interest, and while I wasn't necessarily bored or put out by the book, I wasn't captivated either. I've heard that Julia Quinn didn't plan on and / or didn't want to write all of the siblings' stories, but her fan based more or less demanded it. If I'm being candid, this book felt like Quinn didn't want to be writing it. The first half and second half of the book are wildly different, it was almost like she couldn't decide on a plot, and then the ending (and kind of the transition from the first half to the second half) were so clunkily put together, it felt like she just couldn't wait to be done. It had its moments that kept me in it and at least wanting to finish it, but after it all, I'm glad to be done. So long, Bridgertons, for the foreseeable future anyway. The Rokesbys is on my radar, but it will definitely be some time before I get it into it.
Peril at End House by Agatha Christie
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Poirot," I said, " I have been thinking."
"An admirable practice, my friend! Continue it."
Ohmygosh, this one was so good! I really, really liked the characters; even the jerks in this one were fun to hate! There were so many twists and turns, and I felt like this one was a little bit faster paced than most of the others, too. It was just a super fun roller coaster from start to finish!
"An admirable practice, my friend! Continue it."
Ohmygosh, this one was so good! I really, really liked the characters; even the jerks in this one were fun to hate! There were so many twists and turns, and I felt like this one was a little bit faster paced than most of the others, too. It was just a super fun roller coaster from start to finish!
Black Coffee: A Mystery Play in Three Acts by Agatha Christie
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"POIROT: You do not see? It is not necessary that you should see. But I see. That is enough."
This was as enjoyable as any other, and the play format made it a much quicker read. I'm not quite sure why our beloved author felt the need to write this one as a play when the novel had suited Hercule Poirot so well up until now, but it didn't really take anything away from it either, so it's sort of a no-harm-no-foul situation for me. I really liked the characters in the one, and I (once again) had no idea whodunnit until Mr. Poirot finally told us.
This was as enjoyable as any other, and the play format made it a much quicker read. I'm not quite sure why our beloved author felt the need to write this one as a play when the novel had suited Hercule Poirot so well up until now, but it didn't really take anything away from it either, so it's sort of a no-harm-no-foul situation for me. I really liked the characters in the one, and I (once again) had no idea whodunnit until Mr. Poirot finally told us.