elibug's reviews
358 reviews

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

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adventurous funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I found this book very entertaining and the references fun, but I don't think it will stick with me for long. 
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy

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emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.0

The book had me until the end. I know why the author went with a hopeful ending, but I feel like the tone of the book really lent itself to a more sad melancholy ending.
Bitter Brew: The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's Kings of Beer by William Knoedelseder

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informative slow-paced

3.0

The book is interesting, though it does drag in some chapters and I just don't understand why images are included and not placed where the are relevant in the text as opposed to just a bunch of images inserted randomly.
Batman Returns by Andy Helfer

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adventurous dark 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

3.0

Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie

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

5.0

Very creepy premise and well executed. 
Public Gardens of Michigan by Miriam Easton Rutz

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informative relaxing slow-paced

3.0

The book mostly talked about historical aspects of gardening and how it has been used in Michigan. While interesting I was hoping it would be more of history on how some of Michigan's most famous gardens came to be rather than an overview on styles with heavy imagery from the European styles that inspired Michigan gardeners.
The Prince and the Delida: The Prince and the Peasant by Meowstopheles

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This is a 700 page prequel of a story. The author needs to hire an editor or think seriously about the kill your darlings method. The attempts at humor were to make characters stupid or incompetent to the point that it was all just cringe. The author clearly feels compassionately about representation and wants it in their story, but it feels like they had a checklist for representation to include most of which was poorly done stereotypes. Characters with dark skin had the skin color described everytime they were mentioned, as if readers can't be trusted to remember a character description. Dark skin is called beautiful so much that it felt fetishized and performative. The made up Delida spieces seemed to be a stand in for African American history, except the author contradicts themselves about the spieces, saying in some parts they are so beautiful and desired by most humans, but then repeatedly having humans not know what a delida even is. 

Almost every fantasy creature or food had to be directly compared to a real or mythical creature from the real world. Again, as if the author doesn't trust their audience to comprehend what they are writing.

Dialogue is stunted for every character and that is just not how people talk, every character talks and has thoughts like they are about nine years old.

All in all, I think the author has some good ideas sprinkled throughout, but needs to take the time to build their fantasy world with out using their experiences as a crutch. The book feels like the author took a therapy journal about their feelings on discrimination and made it into a bad fan fiction.
Mossflower by Brian Jacques

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adventurous funny 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? No

4.0

These are very cute books, however I'm sad to say I may not read further in the series after this book. The books drag quite a bit in places. The series is good for young readers that love stories about mice and other woodland creatures having adventures. The stakes remain too low for me as the antagonists are portrayed as unintelligent mostly and used for comedic relief, which is fine as it's for younger readers. If you have a kiddo that can't handle super high stakes or scary antagonists these could be perfect.
Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

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

5.0