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chandranolynne's reviews
381 reviews
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
“'Everything that dies never really goes. In little ways, it all stays.' Not in the horrific way Lee wrote it. Not with the moaning ghosts and terrifying poltergeists and living dead, but in the way the sun came back around again, the way flowers browned and became dirt and new seeds bloomed the next spring. Everything died, but pieces of it remained."
Well I just adored this. It was had a uniquely intriguing premise with a quick pace that kept it bouncy and light despite its surprising depth and the dark corners it frequently stepped into. It danced in philosophy about love, death, and family, while maintaining its cute and funny edges. It was really everything I wanted it to be without being too much of any of it! I love it when you pick up a book that is just exactly what you need in that particular moment.
Well I just adored this. It was had a uniquely intriguing premise with a quick pace that kept it bouncy and light despite its surprising depth and the dark corners it frequently stepped into. It danced in philosophy about love, death, and family, while maintaining its cute and funny edges. It was really everything I wanted it to be without being too much of any of it! I love it when you pick up a book that is just exactly what you need in that particular moment.
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"The cab rattled, jingled, jolted; in fact, the last was quite extraordinary. By its disproportionate violence and magnitude it obliterated every sensation of onward movement; and the effect was of being shaken in a stationary apparatus like a medieval device for the punishment of crime, or some very newfangled invention for the cure of a sluggish liver."
"It is universally understood that, as if it were nothing more substantial than vapour floating in the sky, every emotion of a woman is bound to end in a shower."
This is yet another classic that, while after reading it I completely understand why it is a classic, just wasn't for me. I will start, however, by saying that Joseph Conrad's descriptive phrasing and abundant use of adjectives and clever similes were quite brilliant and, for me, the saving grace of the whole thing. The novel is a lesson in the mastery of the English language, and despite my not liking it overall, it has so many quotable moments throughout, I couldn't pick just one!
Unfortunately, the story just could not keep my interest. This is partly because I am simply not one for political dramas and partly because it was so damn slow paced. Until the last 15% or so, which was riveting, but by then I had had to reread so many parts because I kept losing interest and zoning out that even a compelling ending couldn't fix my attitude toward it.
"It is universally understood that, as if it were nothing more substantial than vapour floating in the sky, every emotion of a woman is bound to end in a shower."
This is yet another classic that, while after reading it I completely understand why it is a classic, just wasn't for me. I will start, however, by saying that Joseph Conrad's descriptive phrasing and abundant use of adjectives and clever similes were quite brilliant and, for me, the saving grace of the whole thing. The novel is a lesson in the mastery of the English language, and despite my not liking it overall, it has so many quotable moments throughout, I couldn't pick just one!
Unfortunately, the story just could not keep my interest. This is partly because I am simply not one for political dramas and partly because it was so damn slow paced. Until the last 15% or so, which was riveting, but by then I had had to reread so many parts because I kept losing interest and zoning out that even a compelling ending couldn't fix my attitude toward it.
Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“The way I see it, life is a jelly doughnut. You don’t really know what it’s about until you bite into it. And then, just when you decide it’s good, you drop a big glob of jelly on your best T-shirt."
We've made it to double digits! And yes, I'm still enjoying them. I am getting a little bit tired of the Ranger / Morelli love triangle and finding myself more and more just wanting Stephanie and Joe to get their act together already. I like Ranger a lot as a character, but the thought of his being a legitimate prospect is kind of silly. Anyway, the plot of this one was really exciting and interesting; it's always fun when Stephanie gets in way over her head. Plus, Sally Sweet finally came back, which was an enormous added bonus for me!
We've made it to double digits! And yes, I'm still enjoying them. I am getting a little bit tired of the Ranger / Morelli love triangle and finding myself more and more just wanting Stephanie and Joe to get their act together already. I like Ranger a lot as a character, but the thought of his being a legitimate prospect is kind of silly. Anyway, the plot of this one was really exciting and interesting; it's always fun when Stephanie gets in way over her head. Plus, Sally Sweet finally came back, which was an enormous added bonus for me!
Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
"Anger needed an anchor, a plug, a wall. (I am angry because of ____.) Otherwise you had a beam of red feeling searching vainly through the universe. You had a heart that shot red light into space."
I had planned to give this book three stars until the last chapter said, "The Beginning of the End," and I said out loud, "Thank God." I really wanted to like this. The premise was interesting enough, and the characters were likeable and engaging. Unfortunately, for me, it was too disjointed, and I couldn't help but slowly lose interest as it went on. Also, I usually love magical realism, but there wasn't enough clarity as to whether or not it was actually happening so even that aspect couldn't save it.
I had planned to give this book three stars until the last chapter said, "The Beginning of the End," and I said out loud, "Thank God." I really wanted to like this. The premise was interesting enough, and the characters were likeable and engaging. Unfortunately, for me, it was too disjointed, and I couldn't help but slowly lose interest as it went on. Also, I usually love magical realism, but there wasn't enough clarity as to whether or not it was actually happening so even that aspect couldn't save it.
It's In His Kiss With 2nd Epilogue: Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
"'Say whatever is in your heart,' Violet said. Her lips twisted wryly. 'And if that doesn’t work, I suggest that
you take a book and knock him over the head with it.'"
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Bridgertons #7: It's in His Kiss by Julia Quinn
"'Say whatever is in your heart,' Violet said. Her lips twisted wryly. 'And if that doesn’t work, I suggest that
you take a book and knock him over the head with it.'"
This seventh installment of the Bridgertons was exactly what I expected and just a little bit too long. I really like the character of Hyacinth, and I had been looking forward to reading her story for some time. I appreciated the fact that her relationship with Lady Danbury brough Lady D into so much of the story because she truly is one of the best characters in this entire series. Gareth was not my favorite love interest, but I suppose he's not the worst either. And for the first half or so of the book I really enjoyed their story. Then, it just sort of went on and on. There were too many unnecessary conflicts, they took too long to wrap up, and by the end I was just sort of relieved. Other than that, though, another mostly enjoyable Bridgerton book down, one more to go before I take a break from Miss Quinn for a while. I do still plan to read the prequel series, but I need some separation for a bit.
The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“I am not mad. I am eccentric perhaps--at least certain people say so; but as regards my profession. I am very much as one says, 'all there.”
This is my least favorite Poirot story so far. It was still mysterious, I still didn't figure out what was going on until Poirot told me, and the writing was brilliant as always (at this point, this is simply expected). But I really didn't like any of the characters and found myself kind of not caring. Agatha Christie always has so many characters, and that's one of the really fun things about her books is finding yourself rooting for certain characters, but this time around I kind of just wanted them all to be guilty and get their just dues because most of them were just not good people. Anyway, I'm taking a break after this one and listening to something else before jumping into the next one.
This is my least favorite Poirot story so far. It was still mysterious, I still didn't figure out what was going on until Poirot told me, and the writing was brilliant as always (at this point, this is simply expected). But I really didn't like any of the characters and found myself kind of not caring. Agatha Christie always has so many characters, and that's one of the really fun things about her books is finding yourself rooting for certain characters, but this time around I kind of just wanted them all to be guilty and get their just dues because most of them were just not good people. Anyway, I'm taking a break after this one and listening to something else before jumping into the next one.
The Big Four by Agatha Christie
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"Poirot has his virtues, but modesty is not one of them.”
This is apparently not one of Christie's best loved novels, and I suppose I kind of get it. It's disjointed and much harder to follow than the other books so far, but a lot of the flack it gets revolves around the supervillain team and I have to disagree there. I don't care that there was no explanation for why this group wanted to take over the world. I didn't find myself wanting a motive. I simply enjoyed Poirot being pitted against four super-geniuses with all the resources in the world and still besting them. It was just a fun, quick adventure.
This is apparently not one of Christie's best loved novels, and I suppose I kind of get it. It's disjointed and much harder to follow than the other books so far, but a lot of the flack it gets revolves around the supervillain team and I have to disagree there. I don't care that there was no explanation for why this group wanted to take over the world. I didn't find myself wanting a motive. I simply enjoyed Poirot being pitted against four super-geniuses with all the resources in the world and still besting them. It was just a fun, quick adventure.
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
“Women observe subconsciously a thousand little details, without knowing that they are doing so. Their subconscious mind adds these little things together—and they call the result intuition.”
This is my favorite so far! I did miss Hastings, and I kind of wish someone else had done the narration because I had a hard time separating Dr. Sheppard from Hastings for a while. Other than that, though, I absolutely loved this. The ending completely blew my mind! Not that I ever figure out where Agatha Christie is going with things, but this one really takes the cake!!
This is my favorite so far! I did miss Hastings, and I kind of wish someone else had done the narration because I had a hard time separating Dr. Sheppard from Hastings for a while. Other than that, though, I absolutely loved this. The ending completely blew my mind! Not that I ever figure out where Agatha Christie is going with things, but this one really takes the cake!!
To the Nines by Janet Evanovich
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Lula had Eminem cranked up. He was rapping about trailer park girls and how they go round the outside, and I was wondering what the heck that meant. I'm a white girl from Trenton. I don't know these things. I need a rap cheat sheet.”
I'm beginning to run out of things to say about these book except I just really love them, and I'm still surprised by just how much! I really enjoyed the premise of this one in particular. It was unique and pretty dark, as this series go. There was a good twist at the end that I didn't see coming, too.
I'm beginning to run out of things to say about these book except I just really love them, and I'm still surprised by just how much! I really enjoyed the premise of this one in particular. It was unique and pretty dark, as this series go. There was a good twist at the end that I didn't see coming, too.
The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Only when I was young did I believe that it was important to remember what happened in every novel I read. Now I know the truth: what matters is what you experience while reading, the states of feeling that the story evokes, the questions that rise to your mind, rather than the fictional events described. They should teach you this in school, but they don’t.”
I went into this book, as I generally try to do, knowing nothing, and I mean nothing about it. I actually listened to the first ten minutes and had to Google it to figure out it was fiction because it reads like a memoir. And it was easy to forget the whole way through that it's a novel. This is aided by the fact that Nunez writes using stream of consciousness and spends most of the book philosophizing about social constructs rather than telling a story. Don't get me wrong, there is a story. It's simply littered with tangential ramblings which are, for better or worse, only sometimes poignant.
I personally loved it. I found it humorous and insightful and delightfully on point. I look forward to reading more of this author!
I went into this book, as I generally try to do, knowing nothing, and I mean nothing about it. I actually listened to the first ten minutes and had to Google it to figure out it was fiction because it reads like a memoir. And it was easy to forget the whole way through that it's a novel. This is aided by the fact that Nunez writes using stream of consciousness and spends most of the book philosophizing about social constructs rather than telling a story. Don't get me wrong, there is a story. It's simply littered with tangential ramblings which are, for better or worse, only sometimes poignant.
I personally loved it. I found it humorous and insightful and delightfully on point. I look forward to reading more of this author!