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mila_in_the_pages's reviews
315 reviews
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
I LOVED this book. I read it a few months back but I remember it fondly because of how much I liked reading it. The way the author wrote about the events in Charles' life was vivid and full of life, and I appreciated how she dove into the lives of those around him, especially Emma. I mean, the book is called Charles and Emma, so what else would you expect? I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn some history on Darwin and how his theory of evolution came to be. Sure, it's a lot simpler than some biographies on him specifically might be, but this was just a really fascinating read.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I went into this wanting to enjoy the book, as so many have, but was incredibly put off by how unhinged all of the characters seemed. They developed into better versions of themselves over time, but the whole thing felt like a fever dream and I did not care for any of the characters. The ending also felt rather rushed and pointless, as if the whole book didn't matter leading up to it and the ending was going to be a happily-ever-after regardless. It was a mid-tier book.
Scenes from My Life: A Memoir by Jon Sternfeld, Michael K. Williams
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I picked up this book at a Little Free Library, not having any idea who Michael K. Williams was or what his story might be about. Let me tell you, this was a rollercoaster, covering dark topics that need to be addressed such as addiction and racism. I think that this memoir was written in such a manner that it could be accessible to anyone who didn't already know the author, such as myself, and is written in the style of fiction. This book was easy to get into, and I think rather important, considering all of the things that were covered. The writing style was not particularly memorable, but hey, he was an actor, not a writer, and he was not a bad writer by any means. Rest in peace, Michael Williams, and thank you for sharing your story with the world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Mass/school shootings
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is one of the best books I have read in quite a time. I admire the author's prose, how skillfully she writes - one might say the kind of writing that people pick quotes from and save to Pinterest. The story was well crafted, and let me tell you, it is rare for me to cry because of a book - this book did it, at the end. The characters generally felt real and tangible, except Addie herself occasionally felt pretty hollow as a character. Perhaps that is on purpose, though, as her character has been worn with time. Who knows? With the praise out of the way, I'll go through some of the things I didn't like as much. Some characters I found unnecessary to include in the book in the first place, which is always annoying. I'm generally not a fan of time/character switching between chapters, which is done frequently, especially at the beginning of the book. This book is slow and takes time to unravel, but I would say that the payoff is worth the slow start and the admittedly annoying timeswitches. Overall, just a very bittersweet book, with wonderful (somewhat flowery) writing, a culmination of many beloved genres, which I'm sure a broad audience will enjoy. 4.5/5.
Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Niall is a little bit creepy, their whole romance just feels forced. That’s a whole star deducted. The ending is too happily-ever-after for my taste as well. Not a bad book all-in-all, I enjoyed my time reading it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Car accident
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
Not bad. I didn't find it nearly as exciting as people said it would be -- it was definitely overhyped. But all-in-all, a good story, decent writing, and loveable characters.
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It was alright. It was one of those books where you didn't really know what was happening, but you kind of kept reading anyway. The whole plot seemed a little jumbled and all over the place, and I didn't really care for any of the characters. Some folks seem to have loved it, but I dunno, it's not for everyone (evidently).