thattheatrekid's reviews
121 reviews

Sophie's World: A Novel about the History of Philosophy by Jostein Gaarder

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
I think I was too young at the time, and though mildly interested in the philosophy, I was mainly hooked on the plot of the story. Now that I’m older I think I’d enjoy the ideas much more and I’ll give it another go when I have the time.
The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious tense 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

4.75

After a dry spell of reading several books that were either downright terrible or mediocre, this one was a breath of fresh air. I loved everything about it. The characters’ stories intertwined in a masterful way and not much of the plot was predictable. The world building was deep and extremely believable. I especially loved Catherine’s character development and arc in general, though I cared for each of the characters. The themes were pronounced and recognizable, but subtle enough that they didn’t sacrifice the story to make a point. I can’t wait to dive headfirst into the rest of the series! Read this book, you won’t regret it. It reminded me of the Mistborn series.

The only reason I had to deduct a quarter of a point was that the author could have been more original with the swearing. All the characters speak with such graceful eloquence right up until they swear; then they assume the language of an American redneck. Only two swear words were used, and they were used over and over again by multiple characters, and the words were very out of place with the rest of the language. It wouldn’t have been hard to invent some foreign swear words or slurs is all.
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The Marked Girl by Lindsey Klingele

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adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

I loved how this book combined the real world and fantasy - almost like Enchanted, though not nearly as whimsical. I liked how all the characters seemed fleshed out and had their own distinct voices, except for some of the ones at the end, like Peter. The end was a bit rushed and quite incoherent plot wise. I found myself not really caring about the characters, as they weren’t super loveable. I appreciated the occasional comic relief though to keep it lighthearted.

At the beginning I liked Cedric and Liv’s romance; it was cute, but by the end it was both annoying and anticlimactic, especially with the added complication of Kat. She could have shone a lot more in the story, considering she’s supposed to be Cedric’s best friend, but instead she came across more as a devoted bodyguard than a betrothed close friend. Throughout the book I got tired of hearing about how exciting it was that some body part of Cedric’s was barely touching Liv and she didn’t dare move; like get on with the story please. 

Overall a decent read to kill time but I’m still deciding if I should invest my time in the sequel.
As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti

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emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

This book moved fast for having so little action. I think Eldon was sort of a jerk but also not as much as people are saying; he’s just a complicated, realistic character. I thought the ending was satisfying and I would have wished for the same thing. Generally though there was not much action and some ends were left untied, such as where the three missing people went (were they murdered? Just arrested?). Pretty average but I won’t be rereading. I had expected a more exotic plot but the entirety of the story happened in the small town.
The Paladin Prophecy by Mark Frost

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-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

3.0

This was an interesting read! The author seemed to rush it though and I feel like I couldn’t clearly picture much of anything in my mind due to lack of description. The conversations were often mundane, followed by quick bursts of action. The characters didn’t have clear voices either (one moment speaking in a sophisticated way and the other next going “WTF!” or “Oh, fudge”), and the involvement of the supernatural just made the plot more confusing. Dave was never fully explained, nor the monsters. I also felt detached from the characters and didn’t care much about them. Despite all that this was a nice concept. I probably won’t be reading the sequels though.
Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

This book dragged on and on and on. I read the same story 5 times. The reason Jack would go back in time was never revealed, and it was a struggle to push through. The first half of the book alone was way too long and only provided the setup. I will not be reading this again. Interesting concept but terrible execution unfortunately.
A World Without Princes by Soman Chainani

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Good book! I liked the second half better than the first. Some things (like Tristan) were very predictable but it’s a kids book so who am I to complain? I’m getting tired of the is-Sophie-good-or-not shenanigans, they’re getting old. I wish there were a more creative villain as well. But overall an exciting read and I look forward to the next, though something tells me this will be my favorite.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

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dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Really loved this read! I’m not usually a classical fan but this story sucked me in. I loved analyzing the countless symbols, foreshadowing and layers of themes this book presented. A very simple, short, engaging commentary on both human nature and life in the depression. Steinbeck is truly a genius.
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The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.0

This being the second time I read this, it was much less confusing. I liked it but it was not necessarily a satisfying read; it took willpower to continue reading it. The end didn’t feel very strong and I still can’t figure out if
Agatha and Sophie’s kiss was romantic or platonic?? You don’t generally go kissing your dead best friend (though I can allow it because it’s a fairy tale), but especially on the lips. Sent a confusing message. I also couldn’t tell if other characters were gay or not.
It was a fun plane read but really a bit over the top and predictable yet frustratingly flimsy with back-and-forth character arcs.
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

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challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-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? Yes

4.25

Not a personal fan of classics but the ideas about fate presented in this play were very interesting to think about.