rubenlara's reviews
91 reviews

Birthday by Kōji Suzuki

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

5.0

I loved this comp of short stories more than the book that followed. I wish the rings movie would've played on these short stories than whatever mess they did with it after the 2nd movie.
My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

My favorite exorcism book. It felt like a really fun 80s slasher film but with exorcism themes. It was honestly a lot of fun. I haven't seen the movie yet but def will. 
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks

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hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

This should be required reading. The way she writes about love, all kinds of love is so beautiful and necessary. There isn't enough of this.
Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney

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

3.0

c*ke heads aren't fun to be around or read about idk. This book is terribly 80s but not in the fun way that ellis kind of makes it out to be. 
The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

This little book was so romantic and beautiful. I want to visit the pearl diving island so bad because how magical he wrote it out to be. 
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

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

3.0

Not to sound like a hater, but I feel she would've gained some perspective if she read books by people who weren't like her or if she spent time with the less fortunate than herself. I really liked this book and empathize with mental illness/depression etc but I just wish someone could have shown her her life is not that bad. I  find it more inspirational when memoires, no matter how dark etc, have some level of perseverance or try in it. Not sure if that explains the entire vibe of the book but yea :)
The Complete Marquis de Sade by John Yankowski, Paul J. Gillette, Man Ray, Marquis de Sade

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dark funny lighthearted tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Justine & Juliette are probably my favorite 2 stories from this entire collection. The subject matter is so vulgar and wild it had me cackling.
8 Ball Chicks: A Year in the Violent World of Girl Gangs by Gini Sikes

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dark hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Real af, loved this book so much more than I thought I would. She writes with so much honesty without being a creep or a narc about any of the subject matter.
Party Monster: A Fabulous But True Tale of Murder in Clubland by James St. James

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adventurous dark funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

True Crime but make it c*nty
Freak Show by James St. James

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

I really need to give this a good re-read because I haven't read it since it was first released. I loved this book so much, the movie did it justice but the writing really just hits. I'm a sucker for any sort of book that tends to have this effortless almost conversational style that feels natural.