directorpurry's reviews
1867 reviews

Murder at Teal's Pond: Hazel Drew and the Mystery That Inspired Twin Peaks by Mark T. Givens, David Bushman

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

2.5


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Moving Through Walls by Ryan Wolf

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dark hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

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informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

2.5


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Capote in Kansas: A Ghost Story by Kim Powers

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mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0


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Godmother Night by Rachel Pollack

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dark emotional reflective slow-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

3.0


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Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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Vandals by Alice Munro

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emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated
In the wake of the abuse allegations reported against Alice Munro's second husband by her daughter, I chose to read this story. It contains only veiled references to abuse, but in poignant moments that directly emphasize the position of power Ladner has over the children. 
As a companion, I also read the essay (https://univ-tlse2.hal.science/hal-01682477/document) "Locking the Door": Self-deception, Silence, and Survival in Alice Munro's "Vandals" (which I can honestly say I found more interesting than the story itself). It's a very pointed analysis that is made more significant post-author revelations. 

I have to say that, even if this information about Munro hadn't come out, I probably would not have become a big reader of her work. I can definitely see the appeal for its very literary qualities, but it's not quite my thing.  

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Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators by Ronan Farrow

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dark emotional informative medium-paced

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Essex Dogs by Dan Jones

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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The Brutal Truth by Lee Winter

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hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0


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