sarayuu's reviews
86 reviews

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

there's so much I want to say about this book, how it's written and how the characters have gripped me and how emotional I feel to go about my day now that I'm done with it. zusaks writing style clearly shines throughout the entirety. (To be continued)
Shelterbelts by Jonathan Dyck

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

4.5

The art style was simple yet beautiful and has a lot of panels depic ing nature which I absolutely loved and it did take me to the place or mindset of the place that Dyck is showcasing. I didn't know a thing about Mennonite's but I do know the basic history of how Canada has been built on stolen land and that is one of the prominent point. The nuanced portrayal of how most of them think that they are doing the right thing or that they have the right belief is challenged by the different perspectives that Dyck has chosen to introduce us. 
 
Karen trying to leave notes to communicate with the reader, that the book is filled with some propaganda of conservative church was truly something and the last few pages of how she drives to the protest site with her homemade jam made me hopeful that people can change

This was a wonderful graphic novel :')
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Ah this was a warm book and I absolutely loved Marin, I related with the mental state that she was in when I read this in 2022. I keep thinking about Marin and Mabel and their conversations.
reading about them having a good time in the past and slipping into that even in the present was something I needed in a way
a must read if you like literary writing :') 
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Ah this was haunting and sad, a great read and I understood more about after reading others perceptions. 
The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

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dark informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Dictatorship: It's Easier Than You Think! by Sarah Kendzior, Andrea Chalupa

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dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book encompasses the history of dictatorships and outlines the different and similar strategies they used to grab or steal that power. The art style was incredible and the colors felt appropriate given the context. I think everyone should read this book especially teenagers. Books like these equip our mind, they can help us identify the patterns, by giving us examples from our history. History keeps repeating itself.
The Little Book of Ontario by

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informative inspiring relaxing fast-paced

4.5

Learnt a bit more about Ontario and the pictures were so beautiful. A lot of them revolved around symmetry which was interesting. I wish to see more of what Canada has in it's hold :')
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.
I'll read this again in a few years maybe I'm gonna read Dostoyevsky while I'm still young and stupid 
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

Fredrick Backman certainly has a way with his words, his writing feels like he carefully selects his roven with all kinds of colours which emotes a specific feeling and spins his wheel to make the yarn and turn that into a warm sweater that leaves you feeling content and ready to embrace the harsh winters that you will encounter in your life. Anxious people made me cry, laugh and also choked me up a bit. To feel so much is beautiful and to make a reader feel that way is more so. I believe everyone should read this book, you might not feel as strongly as I do but do give it a try. It's too good to be true towards the end but I needed that from this book. Sometimes we need stories to end well and we carry that hope back into our lives.