glossy_feathers's reviews
185 reviews

The Touch System by Alejandra Costamagna

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informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

It's just OK.
Asylum Road by Olivia Sudjic

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

3.25

Wierd little book. The first half was excellent, e pecially with building tension. Second half was more experimental, following the mental state of the protagonist. Writing was pretty good. The premise was interesting but not fully developed, needed a bit more editing IMO.
The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft

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adventurous funny mysterious 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

3.5

This was a rollercoaster. The writing is very dynamic and a lot is going on at the same time. It has fun moments and I like experiment in meta fiction. The role of nature is also interesting and I appreciate when it's scientifically correct. But overall it was a bit too chaotic for me and it was hard to get the point of it all. And the ending was weird.
Hangman by Maya Binyam

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mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I think I didn't get this one so I won't rate it. All I can say it was absurd and satirical.
Maybe I should reread it (was listening to audio book).
The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century by Olga Ravn

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

5.0

This book is based on an art exhibition and it is a piece of art itself.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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adventurous informative fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

I wish I had a physical copy of this book... so I can throw it at the wall. The main character was insufferable and not funny at all, being goofy all the time in all of the situations, come one. Others were portrayed as seen through his eyes so they were very stereotypical. There are a lot of scientific facts woven together so the story somehow makes sense but the main scientific problem is a major BS. Although it's a SF novel it has so many unrealistic scenarios, beside the science stuff. It could work as a YA novel I guess but I couldn't stand it. I give it points for structure and pacing but that's it. It's like a candy without any nutrition.
James by Percival Everett

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adventurous dark funny sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Everett's writing is flowy and powerful like the great Mississippi river. The portrayal of James is so strong and the scenes are so vivid. Although the book is set in mid 1800s south USA it was a pleasure to read it, mainly because of the characters, especially intelligent and determined James. It may seem like an adventure book but all the episodes tell the bigger story about (in)humanity.
Hard By a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective 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? No

3.25

This book is trying too much. Although the writing is good, the story was unbelievable at many points. There was too much going on without concrete reason. So you have a constant chase, constant tension, and in the end you have a feeling it was all for nothing. Also, there's a problem with translating Eastern European curse words literally into English. As somebody from Eastern Europe I can say it doesn't work. I liked the portrayal of Tbilisi, Georgia and Ossetia. With great talent of the writer and his interest in Georgian past and present I think we can expect many good works from him in the future.
1984 by George Orwell

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

4.75

It's a classic for a reason. It will definitely give you a lot of food for thought. I tried reading it in my late teens or early twenties and I couldn't grasp it. 10 or so years later it's hitting me really hard. I guess you need to be in a certain state of mind or mature enough to understand it. I think this book is relevant today and will be for a long time.
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Mona by Pola Oloixarac

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dark funny mysterious reflective fast-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

4.25

I really enjoyed it! For the most part it was a witty commentary on different writers, our main character being the one as well. She has troubled past and trouble to remember what happened to her prior the trip to prize ceremony in Sweden. There are mysteries following her culminating at the end with magical realism elements when we find out what happened to her. It was well written but had some of my pet peeves such as naming the song that was playing as the readers are supposed to know every music piece or worse, to open the search engine in the middle of reading. The ending was also a bit wierd but I'll forgive the author since I liked the majority of the book.