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midwifereading's reviews
823 reviews
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
3.75
How to Stop Time was a philosophical and fascinating look at what is actually important in life, with a twist of romance. What happens when we have a lot more Time than the average human? What happens to love?
That said, I loved it. Matt Haig's writing style feels lyrical and flowing, moving the reader along smoothly through his world and his story. The cast of characters are well developed, even when they take up very little of the story.
It's philosophy crafted as story, with a sweet ending. The whole climax felt a bit rushed, and I still have so many questions -- What's the deal with Berlin? Why do we have to worry about Silicon Valley and Beijing? Who the heck was Hendrich, really? What happened in Sri Lanka? I do wish the book had been longer, which is not something I usually want. I would love to explore this world a little more!
That said, I loved it. Matt Haig's writing style feels lyrical and flowing, moving the reader along smoothly through his world and his story. The cast of characters are well developed, even when they take up very little of the story.
It's philosophy crafted as story, with a sweet ending. The whole climax felt a bit rushed, and I still have so many questions -- What's the deal with Berlin? Why do we have to worry about Silicon Valley and Beijing? Who the heck was Hendrich, really? What happened in Sri Lanka? I do wish the book had been longer, which is not something I usually want. I would love to explore this world a little more!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Rise of Empire by Michael J. Sullivan
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The second book in the Riyria Revelations trilogy is a solid book. The pacing, while a little slow in spots, is good. I'm enjoying following each character through their respective storylines, and while it can be a little tough to keep everyone straight, it doesn't detract from the story in any meaningful way.
There are a few needless (in my opinion) deaths of some of the most interesting characters, which always annoys me. I JUST MET THIS GUY AND I LIKE HIM! WHY DOES HE HAVE TO DIE?! KILL SOMEONE ELSE!!! If one of them doesn't have a surprise resurrection in book three, I might throw it across the room.
As usual, the dialogue is good, but doesn't feel like it's any different than American English. It's persnickety, I know. But it's enough to keep me from really falling into the story in the way I like to.
The plot definitely keeps me turning the page though, and things are getting complicated. How on earth is this going to untangle? I have to know.
These are solid fantasy reads, and very much worth picking up if you enjoy some swashbuckling adventure sprinkled with a little magic.
There are a few needless (in my opinion) deaths of some of the most interesting characters, which always annoys me. I JUST MET THIS GUY AND I LIKE HIM! WHY DOES HE HAVE TO DIE?! KILL SOMEONE ELSE!!! If one of them doesn't have a surprise resurrection in book three, I might throw it across the room.
As usual, the dialogue is good, but doesn't feel like it's any different than American English. It's persnickety, I know. But it's enough to keep me from really falling into the story in the way I like to.
The plot definitely keeps me turning the page though, and things are getting complicated. How on earth is this going to untangle? I have to know.
These are solid fantasy reads, and very much worth picking up if you enjoy some swashbuckling adventure sprinkled with a little magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and Cannibalism
Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
What is there to say? So much, and not enough.
This (slightly) fictionalized account of Oskar Schindler and how he saved over 1,000 Jews from the Nazi slaughter is compelling and heavy. It explores the complexity of human nature vividly in a way that invites questions. What makes someone really good? Or really evil? What might tip the scale in any given human heart towards one or the other?
A man like him might very well find himself cancelled in 2025 for his participation in the system, regardless of the lives he saved by manipulating that system. Schindler's story flies in the face of black and white, moralistic thinking. As does any really human story, if we dig deep enough.
There are very few truly evil people, and only One who has ever been really Good. Schindler's List invites us to examine ourselves, step back from mainstream rhetoric, and open our eyes to one another. To let go of the Us vs. Them false dichotomy.
This book was incredibly difficult to read, and I am so, so glad I did. I highly recommend it, across the board. Just be aware that it is unflinching in its description of the atrocities that took place in the Holocaust.
Stories change hearts and minds. This is why we read.
This (slightly) fictionalized account of Oskar Schindler and how he saved over 1,000 Jews from the Nazi slaughter is compelling and heavy. It explores the complexity of human nature vividly in a way that invites questions. What makes someone really good? Or really evil? What might tip the scale in any given human heart towards one or the other?
A man like him might very well find himself cancelled in 2025 for his participation in the system, regardless of the lives he saved by manipulating that system. Schindler's story flies in the face of black and white, moralistic thinking. As does any really human story, if we dig deep enough.
There are very few truly evil people, and only One who has ever been really Good. Schindler's List invites us to examine ourselves, step back from mainstream rhetoric, and open our eyes to one another. To let go of the Us vs. Them false dichotomy.
This book was incredibly difficult to read, and I am so, so glad I did. I highly recommend it, across the board. Just be aware that it is unflinching in its description of the atrocities that took place in the Holocaust.
Stories change hearts and minds. This is why we read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicide, Alcohol, and War
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I am enjoying the world of Emily Wilde and her colleagues so much! The various fae worlds, how they overlap, and how magic works is delightfully mysterious and weird.
My biggest complaint is the chemistry between Emily and Wendell. It feels and presents more like a friendship or sibling relationship, rather than romantic. I find it difficult to believe that either is in love with the other, so any hints of romance feel a little jarring.
I also wish that there had been more page time devoted to Emily's construction of her Otherlands Map. It's a very thin thread throughout, and is a bit more tenuous than the Encyclopedia thread in the first book. The nerdy stuff is the best!
That said, I love these stories! They're darkly fun in that ghost-stories-around-the-campfire way. Otherlands has that otherworldly feel, which is so necessary to a good fairy tale. I can't wait to read the third one!
My biggest complaint is the chemistry between Emily and Wendell. It feels and presents more like a friendship or sibling relationship, rather than romantic. I find it difficult to believe that either is in love with the other, so any hints of romance feel a little jarring.
I also wish that there had been more page time devoted to Emily's construction of her Otherlands Map. It's a very thin thread throughout, and is a bit more tenuous than the Encyclopedia thread in the first book. The nerdy stuff is the best!
That said, I love these stories! They're darkly fun in that ghost-stories-around-the-campfire way. Otherlands has that otherworldly feel, which is so necessary to a good fairy tale. I can't wait to read the third one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I am here for the faerie action. 🧚🏻♀️
This novel is more plot than character driven, and normally, I prefer character driven stories. However, when the characters are also interesting, I know I'm in for a fun time!
I tried not to expect too much, as I am often disappointed in a lot of fantasy books, but I was pleasantly surprised by Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. It's a whimsical, kind of ridiculous, and colorful story. The characters move quickly through the beautiful countryside, studying fae folk while trying to avoid stumbling through faerie doors. Of course, that never goes the way they planned, and shenanigans ensue.
I quite enjoyed it, and look forward to the sequel!
My ONLY complaint is the supposed romance subplot. I'm just not buying the relationship between Wendell and Emily as anything other than friendship. The romantic chemistry isn't there, but the friendship banter is great! I kind of wish it would either have much more obvious romantic tension, or they could just be good pals.
This novel is more plot than character driven, and normally, I prefer character driven stories. However, when the characters are also interesting, I know I'm in for a fun time!
I tried not to expect too much, as I am often disappointed in a lot of fantasy books, but I was pleasantly surprised by Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries. It's a whimsical, kind of ridiculous, and colorful story. The characters move quickly through the beautiful countryside, studying fae folk while trying to avoid stumbling through faerie doors. Of course, that never goes the way they planned, and shenanigans ensue.
I quite enjoyed it, and look forward to the sequel!
My ONLY complaint is the supposed romance subplot. I'm just not buying the relationship between Wendell and Emily as anything other than friendship. The romantic chemistry isn't there, but the friendship banter is great! I kind of wish it would either have much more obvious romantic tension, or they could just be good pals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
I really don't know how to rate this book. I can't say that I liked it, but I don't know if I have to like it to respect it as a powerful Black story that I can probably never fully appreciate.
The story is based, at least in part, on the real stories of former enslaved people, gathered by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930's, and is a wide window into the day-to-day lives of Black people living in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War.
It reminded me a lot of Toni Morrison's Beloved in tone and theme, and in its otherworldly feel. It's filled with beautiful imagery, and a strong sense of place. The plantation is almost a character in itself. It's haunting and sad and bittersweet.
It's definitely a darker story (of course, considering the subject matter), but the loose threads do all come together powerfully in the final chapters, and the ending is rather poetic.
I do think it deserves 5 stars, even though it isn't a story I would typically have all the feels about. I don't know if it matters what I think, honestly. Now that I have written all this out, I can see that it's an amazing piece of fiction. I wouldn't be surprised if this showed up as classroom reading in high school or college in the next few years. It's a story that needs to be told.
The story is based, at least in part, on the real stories of former enslaved people, gathered by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930's, and is a wide window into the day-to-day lives of Black people living in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War.
It reminded me a lot of Toni Morrison's Beloved in tone and theme, and in its otherworldly feel. It's filled with beautiful imagery, and a strong sense of place. The plantation is almost a character in itself. It's haunting and sad and bittersweet.
It's definitely a darker story (of course, considering the subject matter), but the loose threads do all come together powerfully in the final chapters, and the ending is rather poetic.
I do think it deserves 5 stars, even though it isn't a story I would typically have all the feels about. I don't know if it matters what I think, honestly. Now that I have written all this out, I can see that it's an amazing piece of fiction. I wouldn't be surprised if this showed up as classroom reading in high school or college in the next few years. It's a story that needs to be told.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Rape, Terminal illness, and War
Content: There is one short s** scene that isn't explicitly graphic, but is emotionally descriptive.
The Book: A Cover-To-Cover Exploration of the Most Powerful Object of Our Time by Keith Houston
challenging
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
5.0
Amazing. The synopsis describes The Book as an "...invitingly tactile history of this 2,000-year-old medium", and this description is as apt as anything I could come up with.
From the very construction of the book itself, to the labels describing every part of the book, to the illustrations, to the nitty-gritty details describing every facet of all that goes into book making, I was delighted! I loved how often the author wrote, "If you look at the ___ of this book, you'll see an example of ___."
The nerd in me is pretty sure we died and went to heaven. 🤓
I was the kid who wanted to know how things were put together, but was never really satisfied with the explanation. Don't get me wrong, that crayon video on Mr. Rogers was amazing, but I always wondered how they came up with the machine that made the crayon, and how they made THAT machine.
This book answers that, but for books. Excuse me: codices. 😁 Down to the last detail. I found myself googling some of the processes so I could watch a video, and giggling at the drama between rival printers and paper makers. I touched the illustrations with a bit of reverence for the artistry, skill, and even the practicality that lead to me holding THIS book, at THIS time, in MY hands. *swoon*
It's smart, accessible, detailed, and highly readable, if you like that sort of thing. It goes deep into the weeds of history, page by page. Some would call it dry or slow, but I usually end up liking it if I'm interested in the topic. Books definitely qualify. 📚
From the very construction of the book itself, to the labels describing every part of the book, to the illustrations, to the nitty-gritty details describing every facet of all that goes into book making, I was delighted! I loved how often the author wrote, "If you look at the ___ of this book, you'll see an example of ___."
The nerd in me is pretty sure we died and went to heaven. 🤓
I was the kid who wanted to know how things were put together, but was never really satisfied with the explanation. Don't get me wrong, that crayon video on Mr. Rogers was amazing, but I always wondered how they came up with the machine that made the crayon, and how they made THAT machine.
This book answers that, but for books. Excuse me: codices. 😁 Down to the last detail. I found myself googling some of the processes so I could watch a video, and giggling at the drama between rival printers and paper makers. I touched the illustrations with a bit of reverence for the artistry, skill, and even the practicality that lead to me holding THIS book, at THIS time, in MY hands. *swoon*
It's smart, accessible, detailed, and highly readable, if you like that sort of thing. It goes deep into the weeds of history, page by page. Some would call it dry or slow, but I usually end up liking it if I'm interested in the topic. Books definitely qualify. 📚
Go as a River by Shelley Read
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Lyrical prose and a plot following a meandering and purposeful path through the mountains of Colorado mark this book one of the most visually stunning stories I've ever read.
The sense of place is so richly drawn, that the mountains, the river, and the orchard are almost a whole character in themselves. The pacing is somehow meandering and purposeful at the same time, like a river winding it's way along the path of least resistance without a lot of fuss. It's a calm, slow, thoughtful, tragic, and beautiful story. I loved it.
However, I almost put it down, because Victoria, the main character, experiences loss after loss after loss after loss, and my heart couldn't take it. For those who need to know, the river of this story does spill over into a place of hope, though it's not a tidy ending. It's very real, though, and I like to think Victoria got her happily ever after.
The sense of place is so richly drawn, that the mountains, the river, and the orchard are almost a whole character in themselves. The pacing is somehow meandering and purposeful at the same time, like a river winding it's way along the path of least resistance without a lot of fuss. It's a calm, slow, thoughtful, tragic, and beautiful story. I loved it.
However, I almost put it down, because Victoria, the main character, experiences loss after loss after loss after loss, and my heart couldn't take it. For those who need to know, the river of this story does spill over into a place of hope, though it's not a tidy ending. It's very real, though, and I like to think Victoria got her happily ever after.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Car accident, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, and Sexual content
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.5
I didn't quite love it, but I definitely enjoyed and appreciated it. It's everything I remembered it to be--I read it for school way back in jr. high--and more. Reading it in my 40's certainly lends the story far more weight than it did as a middle school kid.
It's darkly funny, deeply sad, and feels almost too true in some ways. This might be one of the few books that I think everyone should read if they get the chance.
It's darkly funny, deeply sad, and feels almost too true in some ways. This might be one of the few books that I think everyone should read if they get the chance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Violence
If you don't like insects, maybe leave this one alone.
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? No
4.0
I think I read this book through the wrong filter in my brain, which is why it's taking me so long to figure out a review. Suffice to say, I felt very much that I ought to turn back to page one and begin again. But, not right now.
When Women Were Dragons is a beautiful coming of age story, written with a lyrical style that suits the themes of growing up, unfolding identity, motherhood, and even a bit of the road less traveled.
It's hard for me to say much more than that, because I think I missed a lot this first time through. It wasn't what I expected, and it was both more and less.
I loved it. And I plan to reread it this year sometime. (But we all know how that can go...)
When Women Were Dragons is a beautiful coming of age story, written with a lyrical style that suits the themes of growing up, unfolding identity, motherhood, and even a bit of the road less traveled.
It's hard for me to say much more than that, because I think I missed a lot this first time through. It wasn't what I expected, and it was both more and less.
I loved it. And I plan to reread it this year sometime. (But we all know how that can go...)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Death of parent
Severe child neglect and parentification of an oldest daughter