eggbeater's reviews
1208 reviews

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

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emotional 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? No

4.0

 It hurt to read about the struggles of a mother and daughter who come to the U.S. from Hong Kong and wind up in a sweat shop. They suffer so much injustice in silence. I have to wonder how often that really happens. It also makes me question where my clothes are coming from. I respected Kimberly's choices. It was a sad book, but it was good. 
Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel

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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

3.25

 I thought the last 25% of the book was a solid 4 stars, but I had trouble getting through the first part and I almost gave up. I was bored. The pacing seemed off to me. I am still glad I finished it. I was really into the ending. It may have been me. 
Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

 This novel was so much fun! You have to ask yourself questions when you watch or read serial mysteries, "How it is that the detective/protagonist just happens to be within the proximity of so many murders all of the time? What are the odds?" Pose this mystery with aliens and outer space and you have this brilliant hybrid novel with the quirkiest, well fleshed out alien and human characters. I absolutely loved it. It's a book that has everything. 
Lady Tan's Circle Of Women by Lisa See

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

4.25

 This book has beautiful writing as well as a captivating story. I felt transported back to 15th Century China and I was a student because there was so much I had to learn. 
A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

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lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious tense 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? Yes

4.5

 This is a fictional missing person mystery, but I appreciate this book for making me think. I was ignorant about a couple important points about communication with people who can't speak, and I am grateful to feel like I have a better understanding now. Just because someone doesn't have the motor functioning to be able to speak doesn't mean they're non verbal, doesn't mean that they don't have words, and doesn't mean they don't have agency. 
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? No

4.25

 Becky Chambers is quickly becoming a go-to Sci Fi author for me. This was my first audio book of the year and it was a great choice. It is a character-driven space opera with excellent world-building, and downright endearing and fascinating characters. The characters make this book. The ending is a little anti-climactic, but I am really looking forward to the second book because I want more time with these creatures. 
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-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? No

4.0

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

In this book everyone is a suspect because everyone is unlikeable enough or disturbed enough to make for a viable killer. It worked for me. The only likeable character is this nosy old Ms. Marple type, but I liked the fact that I didn't like the others and I felt sorry for every one of them. It made for an interesting dynamic.
Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

I thought this little novella was excellent! It was so messed up! The characters are really well drawn. I know men like JR's doomsday prepping dad, so it made the story that much more realistic for me. Sawyer seemed like your average angsty teenager until events converge. This is a fabulously funny, horrific time.