twocents's reviews
712 reviews

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey

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

5.0

A violent first contact story with aliens who truly feel unknowable and alien.
The Tatami Time Machine Blues by Tomihiko Morimi

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funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Funny little book. Reminds me of the video game, Attack of the Friday Monsters.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

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2.0

It reads like someone who loves Studio Ghibli, but doesn't understand what makes those movies work.
American Rapture by CJ Leede

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dark emotional tense fast-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

4.0

Hell is other people.
Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

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1.5

At best, this is a book of wild conveniences. 

But the human behavior on display here is the most alien shit and not even one character bats an eyelash at it.
I'm supposed to believe that humans are going to ignore aliens murdering a ship full of children, and instead focus on the real crime... of having an alien artifact in the human museum. People don't give a shit about returning stolen cultural artifacts to the original countries as it is. I don't believe they would give an entire speech about how the aliens -- who just murdered a ship full of children -- are the real victims.
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Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
An oddly judgmental look at the author's own patients, filled with nonsense remarks about her own "addiction" to reading Twilight, the state of her office, what it's like to see your doctor at the grocery store (what if he wears a hat!). Very rambling for such a short book with very few citations.
Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

3.5

Creeeeepy paranormal horror. Kind of a take on Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde. 

I generally liked it, but we spend a fair portion of the book with awful people, which does make it for a difficult, albeit compelling, read.
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A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Slow beginning that comes together into a magnificent end. Hardinge's books always have a lot of heart, and this one is no different. 
The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt

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reflective medium-paced

4.0

Interesting look at the impact of the rise of social media combined with the society-wide distrust of potentially "risky" activities like biking without adult supervision. 
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe

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informative medium-paced

5.0

Absolutely fascinating look at the Sackler family, and the way they have made their billions off the backs of millions of people they drove to addiction and death.