daisymoffit's reviews
27 reviews

The Candy House by Jennifer Egan

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

I've never read a book written with this layout. I myself am a huge fan of multiple POV fiction, but this added an entirely new layer by also mixing up the timeline and not always telling you who you were reading as. A bit confusing, but overall well written and interesting. A second cousin to The Circle theme wise. Enjoyed and was excited to find and read a new format after reading fiction for so long.

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Becoming by Michelle Obama

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Wonderful. I love auto biographies of any kind, but this one in particular was extra intriguing because not only was it the story of Michelle Obama's life- it also felt like a peek into the political landscape of the last two decades from an insider's perspective. Genuinely interesting and surprisingly hopeful & inspiring, I left this book feeling motivated to make change and grateful for the people who do. Made me cry multiple times, Michelle did a very good job. Would recommend to any woman.

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Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins

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adventurous challenging funny lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-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

3.5

After reading my first Tom Robbins book this year & liking it so much that I bought my own copy- I was very excited to read another one of his works. While it undoubtedly follows his eccentric, almost philosophical writing style- I must admit I was a tad disappointed in Another Roadside Attraction, if for nothing more than the fact that it required a lot of effort and concentration to read. True to his typical creative & comical voice- this novel was still enjoyable, 1 just wish it was easier to understand and focus on. My main critique would be that the lack of chronological structure + the bouncing around of POVs without explanation made the book hard to understand until about halfway through. 
Besides that though, it was still a thought-provoking and entertaining read. Excited for my next Robbins read.

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Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? and Other Imponderables: Mysteries of Everyday Life Explained by David Feldman

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funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

A fun read for random trivia nugget lovers. I rarely read non-fiction, but this was entertaining, informative, and funny. Well written and explained. A bit dated for sure, but thoroughly enjoyed.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

3.75

An intriguing and well executed novel, The Midnight Library solidifies itself as a book I know I'll often think back to. A lovely combo of captivating fiction and inspiring, motivational fuel. I love a book that leaves me wanting to get up and do something after I finish it. Would recommend to anyone

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The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

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

3.75

Unsure how reliable my review of this will be, since I accidentally read the sequel first- therefore I unintentionally know the main gist and ending of the entire book. That aside- an interesting read, very solid adult novel with very lovable and hate able characters alike.

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The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Solid mystery novel- I really enjoyed reading this and it kept me wanting to keep going back to it. Definitely an adult book as far as some of the darker themes and the types of violence it describes, but overall a good read. My only criticism is that its a tiny bit convoluted, but I enjoy the writing style where every chapter is a new character's inner monologue- it almost makes you feel like you're solving the mystery alongside the detective.

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Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.75

This is only the first book l've read by Robbins -but already I would put him among my top authors from this work alone. Impossible to describe, his writing style is made up of long poetic tangents intertwined with random philosophical points and all the while undoubtedly falling under the comedy genre. This book in specific was such a fun read- I was reading it in little bits and pieces in between tables I was serving at work. 
Would highly recommend him and this to anyone who's bored of what they're reading or trying to find something new and exciting to get into.

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The Institute by Stephen King

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adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-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

4.0

I don't tend to go for Stephen King, as I'm not the biggest fan of gore; but l've had this on my shelf for years now, and so it was finally time. I do, however, enjoy horror and thrillers- and thankfully The Institute skewed more so in that direction instead of aimless blood and guts. Interesting premise, it makes you want to keep reading to figure out what's actually going on, and well executed as far as explaining the plot in a way that doesn't give you too much information all at once. The characters are well written and diverse, and the ending doesn't leave you too frustrated or disappointed. My only quell would be that it's a bit slow and sometimes too detailed on the "science" going on within the plot, but besides the slight bore that that brings-overall a decent, interesting horror book.

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Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Gorgeous novel. Easy to slip away into, Cleopatra and Frankenstein explores love, trust, sense of self, and is set in an engaging and multifaceted friend group in New York. Felt very much like a twenties-something book, gave me lots of good quotes. Fun and introspective read.

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