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kaadie's reviews
173 reviews
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-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
2.0
Whenever I read books like this I always wonder, why? Not in a bad way. I'm just genuinely curious about the intention behind the book. Is it meant to disturb? Entertain? Shock?
The book was an interesting dissection of alienation and trauma but definitely not my cup of tea. Quite unsettling.
The book was an interesting dissection of alienation and trauma but definitely not my cup of tea. Quite unsettling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Cannibalism
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The story was okay. I found the "reveal" to be quite anticlimactic and the characters a little rudimentary. I'm not sure if that was on purpose, to tell the story almost from the perspective of a child. Simple and whimsical but lacking a bit of sense.
Yeah, it was fine. Can't complain but wasn't wowed either.
Yeah, it was fine. Can't complain but wasn't wowed either.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
To borrow a phrase from the book, it was "sad and puzzling".
20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Good read. Some lovely insights.
It's the perfect book to curl up with and escape into for a brief moment.
It's the perfect book to curl up with and escape into for a brief moment.
Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.0
I loved the African folklore and mythogy in the book. The cities were also really well constructed. However I found the authors writing style quite brutal and vulgar. Every horrible thing imaginable happens in these societies and the description of all of the environments required there to be a number of bodily fluids present. I can't tell you how many times I read the word "sh*t" in this book. I just wasn't fan of the horrific cruelties described in the book. I also wish there was a little more explanation behind some of the folklore since I am not familiar with most African fiction and stories and it was a little hard to follow sometimes.
Finally, I'm not really sure that you can proudly describe your book as lgbtq+ if you make use of the dead lesbian trope. I was really disappointed that the author decided to kill Mossi.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Less was a whimsical read and Arthur Less was quite the interesting character. I was really happy with the ending but his journey was sometimes really heart-rending. Some lovely insights into love and relationships.
Poems To Fall In Love With by Chris Riddell
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
A decidedly odd but pleasant compilation of poetry. I liked that Chris Riddell separated the poems into the different phases/types of love and as always is illustrations are wonderful.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
2.5
Hmmm, yeah not a fan of this book. The first problem for me was the slow pacing of the book. Not that the Hunger Ges series were necessarily cover to cover action, preferring to set the scene and then let loose, the Ballad of Songbird and Snakes followed suit. However, personally the book lacked tension, which was so exquisitely mastered in the Hunger Games. Maybe it's because the book is a prequel, which instantly makes it harder to capture an audience since the outcome is already known.
However, I feel like the author didn't capitalize on Snow's ambiguous morality or his supposedly lethal intelligence. President Snow was a formidable opponent in the Hunger Games and I don't think the stage was really set for that character in this prequel novel. Instead he was whiny and arrogant making him as insipid and delusional as the rest of the Capitol. As opposed to the insightful and lethal leader that he was in the proceeding novels. Obviously he thought himself better than district people but he never underestimated the effect Katniss had. As much as Snow was a product of his environment I didn't enjoy the choice to make Dr Gaul the main antagonistic influence in the novel. As crazy as it may sound I would have preferred "The boyhood tales of budding psychopath Coriolanus Snow".
However, I feel like the author didn't capitalize on Snow's ambiguous morality or his supposedly lethal intelligence. President Snow was a formidable opponent in the Hunger Games and I don't think the stage was really set for that character in this prequel novel. Instead he was whiny and arrogant making him as insipid and delusional as the rest of the Capitol. As opposed to the insightful and lethal leader that he was in the proceeding novels. Obviously he thought himself better than district people but he never underestimated the effect Katniss had. As much as Snow was a product of his environment I didn't enjoy the choice to make Dr Gaul the main antagonistic influence in the novel. As crazy as it may sound I would have preferred "The boyhood tales of budding psychopath Coriolanus Snow".
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
As expected, I didn't enjoy this book. There wasn't anything particularly offensive about it (except maybe the copious use of phony and crumby). I know the remarkable thing about his book was the narrative style, supposedly mimicking that of a teenage boy. I didn't particularly enjoy it and found Holden Caulfield to be a frustrating character.
The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane by Julia Nobel
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I'm aware that I am not the target audience for this book but I was once twelve years old and I think even at twelve this book would have annoyed me.
Ultimately the story is a collection of boring accounts of school peppered with cliches. But the thing that makes this book quite unpleasant is how slow and moronic the main character is. It really seems that the author doesn't trust her readers to understand the plot and consequently has all of the other characters tell the main character (or us the reader) what is going on, despite the clues being painfully obvious. Emmy literally doesn't figure out a single thing for herself and is really just strung along throughout the book, propelled by the action of other characters.
In all fairness the book isn't terrible but there is nothing unique or special about the premise of the story and the lack of interesting and vivid characters leaves the whole thing feeling quite bland.
Ultimately the story is a collection of boring accounts of school peppered with cliches. But the thing that makes this book quite unpleasant is how slow and moronic the main character is. It really seems that the author doesn't trust her readers to understand the plot and consequently has all of the other characters tell the main character (or us the reader) what is going on, despite the clues being painfully obvious. Emmy literally doesn't figure out a single thing for herself and is really just strung along throughout the book, propelled by the action of other characters.
In all fairness the book isn't terrible but there is nothing unique or special about the premise of the story and the lack of interesting and vivid characters leaves the whole thing feeling quite bland.