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steepingnarratives's reviews
68 reviews
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I loved the world building in Ready Player One. The descriptions and nostalgia were incredible and kept me going through the book. This would’ve been a 5 star read for me if it weren’t for the characters. I found Wade to be really unlikeable. The High Five had no chemistry. Aech was really the only likeable character for me. Everyone else fell completely flat and was one dimensional. Apart from the characters I did enjoy the plot and nostalgia it brought.
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I could honestly write paragraphs about this book. I haven’t read a YA book in a very long time, but am incredibly happy I picked this one up. The title and beautiful cover caught my attention and I knew I had to read it.
The Lesbianas Guide to Catholic School really healed a part of my inner teenager. Growing up in a Latin Catholic house I was always terrified of coming out and had the same fears, shame, thoughts, and struggles both Yami and Caesar had so many passages really hit home for me. Lucky for me, my ending turned out much like theirs.
This is a story about bravery, love, inspiration, and so much more. Beautifully written with tough themes and humour to balance it out, I found it to be perfection. The type of book I needed as a teenager and eternally grateful to Sonora Reyes for writing it so other kids/teens can feel safe, appreciated, and loved knowing they can and will absolutely have a happy ending no matter what people or society says. Phenomenal read.
The Lesbianas Guide to Catholic School really healed a part of my inner teenager. Growing up in a Latin Catholic house I was always terrified of coming out and had the same fears, shame, thoughts, and struggles both Yami and Caesar had so many passages really hit home for me. Lucky for me, my ending turned out much like theirs.
This is a story about bravery, love, inspiration, and so much more. Beautifully written with tough themes and humour to balance it out, I found it to be perfection. The type of book I needed as a teenager and eternally grateful to Sonora Reyes for writing it so other kids/teens can feel safe, appreciated, and loved knowing they can and will absolutely have a happy ending no matter what people or society says. Phenomenal read.
You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Phoebe Robinsons way of discussing topics of race, misogyny, and gender often intertwining them while being funny and easy to follow I think makes this book a must read.
Phoebes POV is informative, raw, and human making you laugh while also thinking we/I need to do better in a world full of so much darkness and vile humans.
Phoebes POV is informative, raw, and human making you laugh while also thinking we/I need to do better in a world full of so much darkness and vile humans.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
One of my all time favorite books. Have read this at different stages of my life from pre-teen to teen to young adult and it always has such an impact. I’ve had different views everytime I’ve read it. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is emotional, funny, deep, and a short read. It’s captivating and so easy to read and follow this flawed, messy, but loveable cast of characters.
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I appreciate classic literature and writers immensely. I really wish I could say I loved this, but I just found it too slow and so boring. I was hoping it would get me the second half or even third book but it just never did for me. I didn’t really care for any characters either.
Overall though still happy I was able to read this.
Overall though still happy I was able to read this.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
The Book Thief is so beautifully written. The last line of the book will stick with me forever. You will absolutely laugh while reading and probably shed a few tears.
I think my favorite thing about it is the language is so descriptive and easy to I read, I could see the characters come to life and the scenes play out in my head.
I think my favorite thing about it is the language is so descriptive and easy to I read, I could see the characters come to life and the scenes play out in my head.
The Temple of Gold by William Goldman
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
3.5
The Temple of Gold had me hooked from the very beginning. Through Euripides isn’t the most loveable character, I grew fond of him as he grew up. You really got a whole picture into these major parts of his life.
I think the constant repetition, racial slurs, and the way Euripides being incredibly unlikeable with the way he treated/talked about women was the biggest issue even though this book was published at a time people didn’t really think twice about it. That being said it was still a solid book with some really heartbreaking scenes where you felt his grief and loneliness deeply.
I think the constant repetition, racial slurs, and the way Euripides being incredibly unlikeable with the way he treated/talked about women was the biggest issue even though this book was published at a time people didn’t really think twice about it. That being said it was still a solid book with some really heartbreaking scenes where you felt his grief and loneliness deeply.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-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
3.5
I couldn’t put Big Swiss down through the first half. Weird, bizarre, funny, and dark I enjoyed the way it was set up. Truly a rollercoaster of a novel. However it did drop off a bit towards the end. Overall it was really entertaining.
Letters by Emily Dickinson
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Just like her poetry Emily Dickinsons letters are lyrical. The letters in the Mourning & Solace section were my favorite. You feel the sadness expressed in her writing deeply.