svmreads's reviews
382 reviews

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 17%.

I tried to get into this, I really did. But it was just too meandering for my taste.

Parade by Allison Markin Powell, Hiromi Kawakami

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inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

A lovely, charming, and surprisingly touching story from Hiromi Kawakami, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I had no idea this was actually a companion novel to Strange Weather in Tokyo until I read the Goodreads description, but I think this could be read as a stand-alone.
I love how Kawakami subverted my expectations with this story - I went into it thinking it would be about one thing, and then she went into a different direction which I completely appreciated.
I’m excited to read Strange Weather in Tokyo and more Kawakami in the future!

Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

4.75

I've been reduced to a puddle of mush

Severance by Ling Ma

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This is 100% the type of book where you finish it and the only thing you can do is stare at a wall.
Words can’t express how much Severance captivated me. Ling Ma’s exploration of religion, routine, and ritual under apocalyptic conditions/late-stage capitalism is absolutely brilliant, and reading this book as Covid still has a hold on the world brings a chilling relevance to the text.
Severance is a new all-time favorite of mine and I cannot recommend this book enough. I am so thrilled to read Ling Ma’s collection of short stories, Bliss Montage, when it is released in September!

Content Warnings

How High? — That High by Diane Williams

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2.5

Best part about the book was the cover and the quote “this is a consequence of the wellsprings of spontaneity that I count on to feel alive.”
Other than that, a largely unreadable slog.
I would recommend Hiromi Kawakami’s People from My Neighborhood if you’re looking to get into flash fiction.

The Membranes by Chi Ta-wei

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challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced