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waytoomanybooks's reviews
140 reviews
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The plot of The Midnight Library is best described as It’s a Wonderful Life meets Quantum Leap with a dash of Back to the Future, and Matt Haig expertly melds and melts the various tropes found within these three pieces of media into his own unique narrative. I have great familiarity with all three pieces of media, and I was pleased to find that Haig does not rely on prior knowledge in order to enjoy his work. In fact, I found the Easter eggs quite delightful!
I also found it refreshing to read a narrative from the perspective of a female main character written by a man that felt like a real human woman could do or say the things he was describing. I really resonated with Nora’s struggle to find her place and purpose in this crazy, mixed up world we find ourselves in, a world which seemingly gets more crazy and more mixed up as time goes on.
I felt both seen and supported as Nora—sometimes harshly, sometimes gently—learns what she values, what she needs, what she wants, what she has to offer, and, most importantly, what she is worth, simply by being a human who exists and not what she can do or be for others.
In terms of technical writing aspects though, I feel that 95% of the book has clear, concise writing, which thankfully doesn’t sacrifice either sentimentality or periods of reflection that required for a narrative centered around depression and mental health recovery. The last few chapters seem a little bit shaky in terms of wrapping things up, but I also think this can be chalked up to Nora being on unsure footing as she enters a new phase of her life.
All in all, an excellent book that really hits close to home in the best possible ways. I definitely almost cried a few times. I can see why this book received so much good press when it first came out!
I also found it refreshing to read a narrative from the perspective of a female main character written by a man that felt like a real human woman could do or say the things he was describing. I really resonated with Nora’s struggle to find her place and purpose in this crazy, mixed up world we find ourselves in, a world which seemingly gets more crazy and more mixed up as time goes on.
I felt both seen and supported as Nora—sometimes harshly, sometimes gently—learns what she values, what she needs, what she wants, what she has to offer, and, most importantly, what she is worth, simply by being a human who exists and not what she can do or be for others.
In terms of technical writing aspects though, I feel that 95% of the book has clear, concise writing, which thankfully doesn’t sacrifice either sentimentality or periods of reflection that required for a narrative centered around depression and mental health recovery. The last few chapters seem a little bit shaky in terms of wrapping things up, but I also think this can be chalked up to Nora being on unsure footing as she enters a new phase of her life.
All in all, an excellent book that really hits close to home in the best possible ways. I definitely almost cried a few times. I can see why this book received so much good press when it first came out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Vomit
Memorial: A Version of Homer's Iliad by Alice Oswald
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I have very recently finished reading The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, and this book of poetry jumped out at me while I was at the bookstore. I read the first few stanza before deciding to purchase the book. Its premise and mission—to give voice to the men who were casualties of the Trojan War—spoke to me. It is beautifully written and intends to honor those who were no more than a blip in The Iliad. But I don’t think it is successful.
The poems did not delve deep enough. I think Oswald should’ve done some more inventing with the intention of making these men feel like real people rather than lines on a page. I was more moved by the concept of the poems rather than moved by the poems themselves.
The poems did not delve deep enough. I think Oswald should’ve done some more inventing with the intention of making these men feel like real people rather than lines on a page. I was more moved by the concept of the poems rather than moved by the poems themselves.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Wieland and Memoirs of Carwin the Biloquist by Charles Brockden Brown
adventurous
challenging
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a wild read! I cannot properly review it without ruining the mystery! I highly recommend you trust the process and read the whole thing, even though the first half is deceptively a slog. They pay off is worth it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh, what can I possibly say that hasn’t already been said!? It’s stunning. It’s gorgeous. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. I couldn’t ask for a better novel or Greek mythology adaptation. I’m truly speechless. The text speaks for itself!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Howards End by E.M. Forster
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Oh, I love a good, reflective novel, which Howards End certainly is. Howards End is slightly sappy, slightly overwrought, and slightly dramatic, but that is honestly what I love about it. Yes, the characters are all of their time, but their feelings and fears feel surprisingly fresh and prescient.
The novel feels especially relevant to me, personally, as I am the same age as the protagonist, Margaret. Most of the story is told through Margaret’s eyes as she moves from being an adolescent to being an adult in the early 20th century. She grapples with the usual themes and milestones that we all face in young adulthood: love, education, class, luck, family, loyalty, etc. She has to learn how to make difficult life choices to satisfy not only herself, but also for her loved ones, who depend on her. Margaret is surrounded by men—her brother, her husband, her brother-in-law —who only make choices from their heads, but she comes to realize that it is sometimes best to make decisions from the heart.
Howards End is such a sweet novel. If you’re looking for a sweet, simple, yet richly told classic, then this is the classic for you!
The novel feels especially relevant to me, personally, as I am the same age as the protagonist, Margaret. Most of the story is told through Margaret’s eyes as she moves from being an adolescent to being an adult in the early 20th century. She grapples with the usual themes and milestones that we all face in young adulthood: love, education, class, luck, family, loyalty, etc. She has to learn how to make difficult life choices to satisfy not only herself, but also for her loved ones, who depend on her. Margaret is surrounded by men—
Howards End is such a sweet novel. If you’re looking for a sweet, simple, yet richly told classic, then this is the classic for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Classism
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death and Pregnancy
A Simple Heart by Gustave Flaubert
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Unrelated to the story itself: I really like these miniature Penguin Classic short stories and short story collections because I’m interested in reading more classic short stories, but I have no interest in printing out pdfs or downloading pdfs onto one of my devices. I can see myself collecting these as I stumble upon them.
Félicité and A Simple Heart are both aptly named! It’s such a sweet, sad story about love, grief, and loss. We watch Félicité struggle with losing important figures in her life, but she is determined to seek joy and love everywhere and in everything an everyone, and her persistence and strength are so beautifully and believably written.
I spent the whole time reading wishing I could give Félicité a hug. Her heart and her capacity to love is so damn big that it pulled on my heartstrings. Is it kind of cheesy, kind of sappy, kind of predictable? Sure. But sometimes it’s nice to read a story that is designed to make you feel something beautiful and wholesome.
Félicité and A Simple Heart are both aptly named! It’s such a sweet, sad story about love, grief, and loss. We watch Félicité struggle with losing important figures in her life, but she is determined to seek joy and love everywhere and in everything an everyone, and her persistence and strength are so beautifully and believably written.
I spent the whole time reading wishing I could give Félicité a hug. Her heart and her capacity to love is so damn big that it pulled on my heartstrings. Is it kind of cheesy, kind of sappy, kind of predictable? Sure. But sometimes it’s nice to read a story that is designed to make you feel something beautiful and wholesome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, and Classism
A Pair of Silk Stockings by Kate Chopin
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Unrelated to the stories themselves: I really like these miniature Penguin Classic short stories and short story collections because I’m interested in reading more classic short stories, but I have no interest in printing out pdfs or downloading pdfs onto one of my devices. I can see myself collecting these as I stumble upon them.
As for the stories themselves, they are all quintessential examples of Chopin's work: southern, French, feminist, and racist. Any sort of sympathy and recognition she may inspire in me with her female characters, she loses in me with her black and/or poor characters. It always baffles me that someone can be so progressive (for their time) in one domain and then be so hateful in another. The arrangement of these five short stories gave me whiplash.
Chopin does, however, give us a good impression of the mind of a white, middle class woman in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and that insight, as abhorrent as it often is, is invaluable in understanding the culture, values, and social landscape of the period, which will never cease ro fascinate me and make me want to know and understand ever more and more about the period and its people.
As for the stories themselves, they are all quintessential examples of Chopin's work: southern, French, feminist, and racist. Any sort of sympathy and recognition she may inspire in me with her female characters, she loses in me with her black and/or poor characters. It always baffles me that someone can be so progressive (for their time) in one domain and then be so hateful in another. The arrangement of these five short stories gave me whiplash.
Chopin does, however, give us a good impression of the mind of a white, middle class woman in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and that insight, as abhorrent as it often is, is invaluable in understanding the culture, values, and social landscape of the period, which will never cease ro fascinate me and make me want to know and understand ever more and more about the period and its people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Classism
Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you like The Bear, you’ll like this book. I actually prefer the book to the show because the book feels even more realistic. Books can do what does cannot: look into the head of the protagonist.
That’s what I like most about Sweetbitter. We get to experience the highs (literally) and lows of the restaurant industry alongside Tess rather than as a viewer. We know exactly what she’s feeling and what she’s thinking about. It makes you love her, and it makes you hate her, but mostly if makes you want to sit her down with a cup of tea and ask her what she needs and how you can help her get back on her feet.
I like that the ultimate message of the novel is the importance of figuringout what’s good for you and who’s good for you when you’re still young enough to make mistakes and plans and choices. Danler wants us to reflect not only on what we want, but what we will or won’t do to get it. And if it will make you happy to get what you (think you) want.
That’s what I like most about Sweetbitter. We get to experience the highs (literally) and lows of the restaurant industry alongside Tess rather than as a viewer. We know exactly what she’s feeling and what she’s thinking about. It makes you love her, and it makes you hate her, but mostly if makes you want to sit her down with a cup of tea and ask her what she needs and how you can help her get back on her feet.
I like that the ultimate message of the novel is the importance of figuringout what’s good for you and who’s good for you when you’re still young enough to make mistakes and plans and choices. Danler wants us to reflect not only on what we want, but what we will or won’t do to get it. And if it will make you happy to get what you (think you) want.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
The Pleasing Hour by Lily King
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
<i>The Pleasing Hour</i> asks the question, “What do you do when you have so much love to give but don’t know how to give it?” I feel like I got to know each character personally because we get the story from Rosie's point of view, then from the point of view of each member of the Tivot family, as letters Rosie never sent to her sister , etc.
I cried my eyes out once and got choked up more than once. Their stories are all sensitively told and even when I hated the characters for their choices, I still loved them and wanted everything to turn out okay for them. This was a good book to end 2024 with.
I cried my eyes out once and got choked up more than once. Their stories are all sensitively told and even when I hated the characters for their choices, I still loved them and wanted everything to turn out okay for them. This was a good book to end 2024 with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
3.0
If you’re looking for a collection of short, depressing stories about sad and abused women, then this is the book for you! Cisneros writes beautifully and has a strong, clear voice, but her style is not my taste. And while I could appreciate—to a certain extent—what she is (possibly) trying to say and achieve with her stories, none of them resonated with me.
If you’re wondering why I read the whole collection, it was because I read a few of her short stories during college and wanted to see what the rest were like in the hopes of getting a better understanding of her work. Unfortunately, I understood little more today than I did then and had to look up the meanings and messages of her works on a few literature websites in an effort to better understand her points.
If you’re wondering why I read the whole collection, it was because I read a few of her short stories during college and wanted to see what the rest were like in the hopes of getting a better understanding of her work. Unfortunately, I understood little more today than I did then and had to look up the meanings and messages of her works on a few literature websites in an effort to better understand her points.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism