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sareidle's reviews
123 reviews

Burning Down the Haus: Punk Rock, Revolution, and the Fall of the Berlin Wall by Tim Mohr

informative tense slow-paced

3.5

I enjoyed Mohr's voice and writing style - it was informative but irreverent which suited the subject matter. The stories of East German punks came to life and the photos added context and character. My only critique is the pacing of the book - it spent a lot of time on the events of 1983-84 and a bit on the mid- to late-80s but breezed through 1989. The book felt like it was building up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, but skipped over the action, instead telling the story of a band who played in West Berlin on November 9th and noticed their East Berlin friends joining the crowd.

Content Warnings

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Daphne du Maurier's writing is truly immersive, which makes the atmosphere and plot of the story work so well. The narrator lacks a name and any identifying details - we never learn her name, exact age, or family situation - which allows the ghost of Rebecca to loom large over Manderley. As I think more about how the narrator's perspective is limited and heavily informed by her insecurity, I question the retelling of events and the true circumstances surrounding Rebecca's death. I would highly recommend this book - it's even better at creating suspense than the Hitchcock adaptation!

Content Warnings

Super Pancake and the Mini Muffin Mayhem: by Megan Wagner Lloyd

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funny lighthearted fast-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

3.0

A fun, lighthearted read. I enjoy the art style and food puns, and the story was cute albeit mostly predictable.

Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen

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emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

4.25

A very insightful account of Hepburn's years in the Netherlands. The story was immersive and kept me on the edge of my seat as the family dynamic was challenged and the war zeroed in on Arnhem. Through Audrey's life, I gained a more nuanced understanding of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The Dutch faced extreme hardship and decisions were often morally grey rather than simply good or evil. However, this was not the view of the public in the post-war years, and why Audrey was evasive about this chapter of her life. Overall, Matzen presented a thought-provoking and well-done narrative.

Content Warnings