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michaelapr's reviews
93 reviews
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A Christmas Haven by Erin Woodsmall, Cindy Woodsmall
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.0
This was a decent Amish story that had some nice, humorous moments and a tidy ending. The ending was expected as most of these types of books are and with a Christmas book that can be nice.
The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
5.0
The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story by Ree Drummond
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
This was not the worst book I've read by a blogger. Honestly reading this with the thought that these were originally written as blog entries is a good thing to remember. This book was actually pretty funny, young Ree is a disaster, and this doesn't have anything to do with the fact she's a city girl who ends up living on a ranch. If something can happen to her it will happen.
I've seen a lot of reviews that I think are more about the reader disliking her as a person. And honestly yes, she is a privileged, very immature 27 year old who does not have her priorities straight and is so self centered at times you would think she was an only child. But I have to commend Ree Drummond, who I assume was much more mature when writing this, for being so honest about herself. She could have easily made herself look better and left some parts out that were frankly extremely embarrassing. But instead she portrayed herself in an honest way, which wasn't always flattering.
Anyway, if you want a serious romance this is not it. It is fluffy, extremely fluffy and silly and really all in good fun. Is it "The best romance since Gone with the Wind" as a blurb on the back claims? Absolutely not. Did it make make "believe in love again"? Not really but nice try.
I've seen a lot of reviews that I think are more about the reader disliking her as a person. And honestly yes, she is a privileged, very immature 27 year old who does not have her priorities straight and is so self centered at times you would think she was an only child. But I have to commend Ree Drummond, who I assume was much more mature when writing this, for being so honest about herself. She could have easily made herself look better and left some parts out that were frankly extremely embarrassing. But instead she portrayed herself in an honest way, which wasn't always flattering.
Anyway, if you want a serious romance this is not it. It is fluffy, extremely fluffy and silly and really all in good fun. Is it "The best romance since Gone with the Wind" as a blurb on the back claims? Absolutely not. Did it make make "believe in love again"? Not really but nice try.
The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I debated about giving this book 4 stars because honestly the ending felt rushed but the journey getting there was just so good it deserves a great rating.
This book started off creepy and just continued with that vibe throughout. Even though I couldn't read this book at night that fact alone made this story perfect. I've always thought January was a seriously creepy month and clearly I'm right. I was kept intrigued throughout, wanting to know what happened which made this a fast read despite the size.
In short this book was a well written, creepy, intriguing story that I really enjoyed reading. Like I said in the beginning, I wasn't thrilled with the ending itself but it's possible no ending would be satisfying to me.
This book started off creepy and just continued with that vibe throughout. Even though I couldn't read this book at night that fact alone made this story perfect. I've always thought January was a seriously creepy month and clearly I'm right. I was kept intrigued throughout, wanting to know what happened which made this a fast read despite the size.
In short this book was a well written, creepy, intriguing story that I really enjoyed reading. Like I said in the beginning, I wasn't thrilled with the ending itself but it's possible no ending would be satisfying to me.
The Hobbit: or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I enjoyed this book more now than I did the first time I read it. I can't tell you why really, I think I can appreciate it more now. The bits of meandering Tolkien does, our reluctant protagonist who longs for his home in dark times but also knows how to get his friends out of trouble, the riddles and the dwarves (actually I've always had a soft spot for dwarves).
I might've known how it all ended but it made me emotional all the same. Emotional mainly due to the quote I'm leaving you with but I was left feeling good too. I always feel happy after reading a good story with a happy ending.
"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
I might've known how it all ended but it made me emotional all the same. Emotional mainly due to the quote I'm leaving you with but I was left feeling good too. I always feel happy after reading a good story with a happy ending.
"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
The Yellow Heart by Pablo Neruda
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
"That's why the love I give you,
my woman, my needle woman,
coils in your ear moistened
by the sea winds of Chillán
and uncoils in your eyes,
letting sadness drift"
"And from offering no answers,
I have a yellow heart"
"Pure faith cannot withstand
the assaults of winter"
"Nothing is gained by flying
to escape this globe
that trapped you at birth.
And we need to confess our hope
that understanding and love
come from below, climb
and grow inside us
like onions, like oak trees,
like tortoises or flowers,
like countries,
like races,
like roads and destinations"
"You must control yourself, sir,
friend, you must control yourself,
they advised me one by one,
they advised me little by little,
they advised me over and over,
until I'd forget myself
and I forgot myself all the time"
"I love you, I love you, is my song
and hear my silliness begins."
"And if love is like wine:
you are my predilection"
"It's a fact, the desert
is the other face of night,
so infinite, unexplored,
like the non-existence of the stars"
"But the truth is, I never
slept with anybody
but the sands of night,
the circumstances of the desert
or the stars in space."
"I gathered up my choices,
renounced what wasn't mine
and found at my feet and with my eyes
the abundances of autumn"
"The flash taught me calm,
not to lose lights in the sky,
to search inside of myself
for the galleries of Earth"
"Because I arrived at the crossroads
from a complicated destination,
when ticking clocks fade away
and the sky tumbles across the sky
until the dying day
takes the moon for a walk"
my woman, my needle woman,
coils in your ear moistened
by the sea winds of Chillán
and uncoils in your eyes,
letting sadness drift"
"And from offering no answers,
I have a yellow heart"
"Pure faith cannot withstand
the assaults of winter"
"Nothing is gained by flying
to escape this globe
that trapped you at birth.
And we need to confess our hope
that understanding and love
come from below, climb
and grow inside us
like onions, like oak trees,
like tortoises or flowers,
like countries,
like races,
like roads and destinations"
"You must control yourself, sir,
friend, you must control yourself,
they advised me one by one,
they advised me little by little,
they advised me over and over,
until I'd forget myself
and I forgot myself all the time"
"I love you, I love you, is my song
and hear my silliness begins."
"And if love is like wine:
you are my predilection"
"It's a fact, the desert
is the other face of night,
so infinite, unexplored,
like the non-existence of the stars"
"But the truth is, I never
slept with anybody
but the sands of night,
the circumstances of the desert
or the stars in space."
"I gathered up my choices,
renounced what wasn't mine
and found at my feet and with my eyes
the abundances of autumn"
"The flash taught me calm,
not to lose lights in the sky,
to search inside of myself
for the galleries of Earth"
"Because I arrived at the crossroads
from a complicated destination,
when ticking clocks fade away
and the sky tumbles across the sky
until the dying day
takes the moon for a walk"