laedyred's reviews
280 reviews

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

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funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Vonnegut always comes up with interesting stories that make you question what the fuck is going on. This book is classic for a reason. The exploration of religion as comforting lies.
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The Big Four by Agatha Christie

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Definitely not one of Christie's best, but a fine read anyway. Too much convenience seems to come from thin air in the plot.
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel

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funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.0

I wanted to like this more. And I got so close to liking it more several times. She says multiple times throughout the book that she doesn't know what the point of it is, and I agree. I enjoyed her point of view and the historical references, but just couldn't find the purpose of the story to my liking. Otherwise, I'm glad I picked it up.
Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Cute story, a good setup for books to come. Ends a bit abruptly. I expected a bit more, but still a good read. 
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The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie

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

4.0

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Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
There was no real storytelling going on, it was just like a list of facts about these powerful women. I was disappointed and it felt like reading a poorly written textbook.
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I enjoy these kinds of introspective books that make us question the world in new ways. For the time it was written, Bradbury had some radical views. I appreciate the balance of entertainment with commentary that isn't shoved down your throat. My only complaints are that the pace is a bit slow for my taste, and there are a few moments that could have been more subtle in their message. 
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Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

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

3.0

The writing is pure Pratchett, eloquent and witty. I really liked that about this book, but I also was not totally smitten with the story. It sets up a base for later Discworld novels, but doesn't stand alone very well. 
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The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

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

5.0

Being the first novel in the Poirot series, this book is a superb start to the quirky detective's story. An absolute hit for Christie, she once again comes up with an ending I didn't see coming.
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The Weather Handbook: An Essential Guide to How Weather Is Formed and Develops by Alan Watts

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informative medium-paced

3.0

I like that this book is slightly more technical without throwing equations at you, but it also can be difficult to follow sometimes due to a broken flow. For example, there is no real summary of information in each chapter. The summary at the end only refers to previous chapters, without any explanation of the concept. Figures are sometimes unexplained or unused.