mistyreading's reviews
11 reviews

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

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challenging informative tense fast-paced

4.0

Tiny Threads by Lilliam Rivera

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Ehh. Was a slow to moderate read. While the plot was initially interesting and ambiance of the setting did evoke this uneasy anxiety, It felt as if it drew on too long to where I needed more to actually be developing in the story to actually be " hooked ". Wasn't until the last 5 chapters are so when more of the story and plot actually develops, creating this interest to finally have release to all this tension. I just wish more of the details of the big exposition dump in the end or sprinkled throughout the novel to have a better feeling of understanding rather than an explanation just handed to us in the end. Overall it was a good book. Don't get me wrong. The underlying themes of the plot twist are very thought-provoking and challenging topics, but these topics deserve to be pondered on by the reader and mold over throughout your novel and not just at the end.
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

The first two characters and chapters were too repetitive and predictable. The characters felt so flat in their low self esteem, making their transformation feel almost unbelievable in how quickly and completely they changed. But midway in the book we learn more about the person I would argue is the main character, the librarian, and see her personality and background. From here and the last characters are much more believable and likable. Non the less, if you can make it half way through, PERSIST, and don't DNF like I almost did to see if you have a similar tale away and appreciation of the overall work.
The Crumbling of a Nation and Other Stories by Ryan David Ginsberg

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challenging dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon

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challenging reflective medium-paced

3.25

A very challenging read, but worth it in regards of how Fanon can speak to such a specific fight for freedom in 1950; however, still so freaking applicable today. 
Brooms by Jasmine Walls

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Negroes with Guns by Robert F. Williams

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challenging informative reflective fast-paced

4.25

The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
Really wanted to get through this book because the ideas such a cool one, but to me there was too much happening. The character were very much overlapping one another in terms of story and narrative throughout the first half of this book that I read, but I honestly could not keep a clear track of what was going on. Perhaps this is an audiobook versus an ebook/ physical book issue. So maybe I'll try to come back to it at a later time with reading it rather than listening to the audio version to see if that is a better way to consume this novel
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

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4.5

Kids in Cuffs: Striving for Equity and Empathy in Education by Ar'Sheill Monsanto

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hopeful informative medium-paced

3.0

This is a very good introduction of the ideas of the school-to-prison pipeline and restorative for those new to these concepts. Monsanto 's writing is clear, consise, and engaging. If you are already well versed in these topics , this is a good refresher as well as a great starting point engage those that don't know about these things when beginning to advocate for change in your communities.