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gracescanlon's reviews
730 reviews
A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Goodnight from London by Jennifer Robson
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
Graphic and disturbing details that were largely unnecessary and incredibly triggering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Child death and Sexual content
Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 0%.
Overwritten, with often-clumsy purple prose. Overall, this book would’ve benefitted immensely from another round or two of editing.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
If the first time I read this book was when I was 15 years old, it would’ve profoundly influenced my beliefs about life and love. TL;DR at the bottom.
I agreed with some of the ideas hooks presented. However, I found also that multiple ideas in this book were either gross oversimplifications — ironic in a book centered on a topic as complex as love — or entirely incorrect. These flawed ideas, especially given the contexts in which they were discussed, could be dangerous to a person’s wellbeing.
Also, as a woman no longer in her mid-teen years but her mid-twenties, I found hooks’ arguments superficial. They were more like statements than arguments. This frustrated me, because I would have appreciated any explanation as to the development of these claims. I would’ve appreciated a specific supporting example, whether from hooks’ own life and experience or another’s, or even a detailed hypothetical situation, even more.
TL;DR - I found All About Love to be a vague and superficial commentary about one of the most complex concepts that has puzzled humans throughout our history. Some of the ideas hooks presented were oversimplifications and/or incorrect, which I believe to be counterintuitive to her intention when she set out to write this book.
I agreed with some of the ideas hooks presented. However, I found also that multiple ideas in this book were either gross oversimplifications — ironic in a book centered on a topic as complex as love — or entirely incorrect. These flawed ideas, especially given the contexts in which they were discussed, could be dangerous to a person’s wellbeing.
Also, as a woman no longer in her mid-teen years but her mid-twenties, I found hooks’ arguments superficial. They were more like statements than arguments. This frustrated me, because I would have appreciated any explanation as to the development of these claims. I would’ve appreciated a specific supporting example, whether from hooks’ own life and experience or another’s, or even a detailed hypothetical situation, even more.
TL;DR - I found All About Love to be a vague and superficial commentary about one of the most complex concepts that has puzzled humans throughout our history. Some of the ideas hooks presented were oversimplifications and/or incorrect, which I believe to be counterintuitive to her intention when she set out to write this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity and Suicide
Take What You Can Carry by Gian Sardar
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
5.0
This book is so full of love — with its hopes, complexities, pains, joys, sorrows, creativity, frustrations, and determination. A heavy read, but lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and War
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Everything After by Jill Santopolo
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Darling Girl by Liz Michalski
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0