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jonahksmith's reviews
20 reviews
Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A Farewell To Arms by Ernest Hemingway
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This might be one of the most disappointing books I’ve ever read. It’s unfortunate that this is my first Hemingway. The characters were one dimensional and the writing was dull. Hopefully I will find something better by this author.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-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? Yes
4.75
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Mona by Pola Oloixarac
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
I bought this in a book store in Kentucky two years ago and finally started reading it. I finished the book in less than a week. I’m not usually one to underline text in a novel, but I happened to have a pencil on my coffee table while reading this and there are a few lines that stood out to me as exceptional prose. I look forward to rereading this in the future.
Many of the women in this story are well ideated but poorly written characters. I think it is particularly annoying that the narrator has sex with all but one named female character; even then I was worried that Toru would turn his moment of chivalry with Hatsumi into an excuse to bed her.
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Content Warnings
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
When I was 17, one of my best friends died. He was found in a practice room at his university. To read Norwegian Wood was to revisit myself at that funeral.
I bought this in a book store in Kentucky two years ago and finally started reading it. I finished the book in less than a week. I’m not usually one to underline text in a novel, but I happened to have a pencil on my coffee table while reading this and there are a few lines that stood out to me as exceptional prose. I look forward to rereading this in the future.
Many of the women in this story are well ideated but poorly written characters. I think it is particularly annoying that the narrator has sex with all but one named female character; even then I was worried that Toru would turn his moment of chivalry with Hatsumi into an excuse to bed her.
Graphic: Pedophilia and Rape
Moderate: Suicide
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25