expecto_padronum's reviews
142 reviews

Babel by R.F. Kuang

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informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I listened to the audiobook and it was great. The author made some really interesting and beautiful points about language and colonialism. The first half was nice but the second half was where things really picked up. There were a few times where I kind of glossed over a long description of various translations, and you do need to be in the mood for a long and dense read, but it is a beautiful and thoughtful and interesting story. 
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Ella Minnow Pea: A Progressively Lipogrammatic Epistolary Fable by Mark Dunn

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4.5

This really surpassed my expectations. It was interesting and unlike anything I’ve read before. It was surprisingly emotional and powerful toward the end! The writing is so smart and the concept was perfectly executed. 
Inherit the Wind: The Powerful Courtroom Drama in Which Two Men Wage the Legal War of the Century by Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee

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3.5

Interesting and quick read, the jury’s change in attitude felt a little abrupt and it didn’t impact me like other plays have but it’s a solid classic 
El aserradero lúgubre by Lemony Snicket

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4.0

Angelika Frankenstein Makes Her Match by Sally Thorne

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3.5

This one was a cute Halloween read. At first it was hard for me to get behind the main love story because it felt like Will wasn’t really able to give consent the way someone normally can, and
the disconnect between his body and mind plus not knowing if he had a wife
made the instant physical attraction seem weird to me. They were very angsty which I guess was fair given the circumstances. By the end I was able to get behind the romance and I enjoyed the B story of her
becoming a better person because of his values
.
Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
I’ll pick it up another time, I need an easier read right now
Circe by Madeline Miller

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
This author’s writing just isn’t for me unfortunately 
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Eye opening to everything that was going on behind the scenes. This woman has been through so much unfair treatment at the hands of horribly greedy people. The audiobook was great. The writing was straightforward, sometimes a tiny bit cliche, but she was out to tell her story not write the next great American novel and she definitely accomplished that.  
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

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lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was a delightful read. I did not really have any expectations but was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. It had some mystery, some politics, some romance, and some lovely characters and friendships. Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a light fantasy!
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

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emotional informative 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

5.0

This book is perfect. No notes.

I don’t normally like stories that involve addiction, but this story is so well told. I felt like I learned so much about the opioid epidemic and life in rural Appalachia. Reading (and listening to) this book felt similar to watching Forrest Gump for me. It is long so you really settle in to the story, the central character goes through so much, and the writing is incredibly compelling. The audiobook is fantastic.