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waytoomanybooks's reviews
140 reviews
Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Even as an adult, I still love Sharon Creech. She has a lovely writing style, and reading her books makes me feel like I'm wrapped in a warm blanket on a rainy day.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
3.0
I went into the book not knowing what to expect, which made it all the more fun to read! There were a lot of interesting twists that I can honestly say that I didn't see coming. I think all of the characters were fascinating messes of flaws and virtues, which made all the more invested in their stories. It kept me guessing, and it made me keep turning the pages!
I should explain why I gave it a 3 out of 5 rating (in no particular order): I think the ending was rushed and a tad sloppy. And there are a few loose ends I would've liked seen tied up(like Soo-Lin's baby!?) . There was also a completely unnecessary Christian bent to it that got shoved into the narrative in the last quarter of the book. And also some casual racism and hatred against the poor and the homeless that jarred me out of the narrative on more than one occasion. Also, the whole Russian mafia angle was never brought up after the intervention. Surely they couldnt just go about unaffected by the fact that their identities/SSNs, addresses, and account numbers, etc. were stolen? .
It was an enjoyable read, but it definitely needed another round of edits.
I should explain why I gave it a 3 out of 5 rating (in no particular order): I think the ending was rushed and a tad sloppy. And there are a few loose ends I would've liked seen tied up
It was an enjoyable read, but it definitely needed another round of edits.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Animal cruelty
Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was blown away by how much I love this book! This book reminded me why I love books about women that are written by women! Every main character is a woman, and each one is well-rounded and fully fleshed out. They're allowed to be messy and have confusing inner lives. They have hopes and fears. They fall into and out of love. They make their own choices on their own terms. They feel so real, which is extremely refreshing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Cancer, Deadnaming, Death, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, and Car accident
Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, and Pregnancy
This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.
I honestly can't tell if the author or the main character (Judd) is a misogynist... Regardless, I couldn't stand the way the female characters were treated or described. This book reminded me exactly why I don't read books written by men anymore. I wish authors would realize that you can write about a(n) (unlikable) female character without body shaming, slut shaming, and/or minimizing eating disorders and disabilities. All within the first 55 pages...
I remembered enjoying the movie, so I thought I'd enjoy the book, too. Unfortunately, I did not.
I remembered enjoying the movie, so I thought I'd enjoy the book, too. Unfortunately, I did not.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
This is an absolutely stunning work. The characters were fully developed, multidimensional people and the pacing was perfectly balanced. You get to enjoy watching Evelyn's story unfold from her unhappy childhood to her first big break to the height of her popularity to her twilight years. You root for her through every shitty husband and terrible studio executive. You get so excited for her when she falls into *true* love and finds happiness in an industry that seems to be capable only of manufacturing it for an audience and not its stars.
The book grapples with with believable, heartbreakingly realistic conflicts regarding race, class, sex, and sexuality, but each are treated with nuanced and handled with great dignity and care that fits within the time period in which it is set. This book is perfect as it stands on its own, but it is made even more enjoyable if you're a fan of Old Hollywood, its stars, and have a familiarity with the ins and outs the studio system, morality clauses, the “fixers,” and the Hays Code.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!
The book grapples with with believable, heartbreakingly realistic conflicts regarding race, class, sex, and sexuality, but each are treated with nuanced and handled with great dignity and care that fits within the time period in which it is set. This book is perfect as it stands on its own, but it is made even more enjoyable if you're a fan of Old Hollywood, its stars, and have a familiarity with the ins and outs the studio system, morality clauses, the “fixers,” and the Hays Code.
I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
When I decided to read this, I was skeptical. It's a little intimidating to pick up a 575 page whopper, especially a classic, because I was expecting purple prose and a tedious plot. But those judgements were completely wrong! I loved this book so much!
Every character that is introduced is, in some form or fashion, integral to the plot. Even the ones that aren't named (such as Trabb's boy and Aged Parent). All of the characters have flaws and virtues, and there is great contrast between the characters who embrace change and those who resist it. I also liked that every character's arc was tied up by the end of the novel.
I was also surprised to see that Dickens was class conscious and interested in social justice reform! I, again, expected that a nearly 200 year old book would be so sympathetic to less fortunate memeber of society. In addition, I appreciated that there was a conversation about how education, elocution, and fashion all play a role in society's treatment and expectations of a person. It was a pleasant surprise to connect so much with Dickens' social/political views!
In addition to these comparisons of characters individually, it was enjoyable to see how these differences play out when characters are in the same scene together, as well as how each setting affected the way a character felt and acted.
My other favorite aspect was that the main male characters were portrayed as being both emotionally vulnerable and incredibly loving of their friends and family. Male characters having close friendships, male characters being allowed to cry, male characters being allowed to nurse a friend back to health, and male characters being allowed to show love and affection was so refreshing! I can't think of a single contemporary book, show, or movie I've seen recently that portrays that.
Every character that is introduced is, in some form or fashion, integral to the plot. Even the ones that aren't named (such as Trabb's boy and Aged Parent). All of the characters have flaws and virtues, and there is great contrast between the characters who embrace change and those who resist it. I also liked that every character's arc was tied up by the end of the novel.
I was also surprised to see that Dickens was class conscious and interested in social justice reform! I, again, expected that a nearly 200 year old book would be so sympathetic to less fortunate memeber of society. In addition, I appreciated that there was a conversation about how education, elocution, and fashion all play a role in society's treatment and expectations of a person. It was a pleasant surprise to connect so much with Dickens' social/political views!
In addition to these comparisons of characters individually, it was enjoyable to see how these differences play out when characters are in the same scene together, as well as how each setting affected the way a character felt and acted.
My other favorite aspect was that the main male characters were portrayed as being both emotionally vulnerable and incredibly loving of their friends and family. Male characters having close friendships, male characters being allowed to cry, male characters being allowed to nurse a friend back to health, and male characters being allowed to show love and affection was so refreshing! I can't think of a single contemporary book, show, or movie I've seen recently that portrays that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, and Murder
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'm so glad I finally gave my time and attention to a book I was supposed to read back in high school! I listened to a recording of it on Librivox app, and Kara Shallenberg is an excellent reader with perfect pacing and diction, if you're looking for a good audiobook on-demand. It was a treat to listen on my commute, and I was hooked from the beginning. It's as good and as tragic as everyone says it is.
The reason I dinged it down to 4/5 instead of 5/5 is because the casual racism and eugenics mentioned throughout really took me out of the story. Obviously you're taking a risk of experiencing any number of offensive views/statements/characters/descriptions/etc. when you pick up a Classic™, but I think it's still valid to critique those views/statement/characters/descriptions/etc.
The reason I dinged it down to 4/5 instead of 5/5 is because the casual racism and eugenics mentioned throughout really took me out of the story. Obviously you're taking a risk of experiencing any number of offensive views/statements/characters/descriptions/etc. when you pick up a Classic™, but I think it's still valid to critique those views/statement/characters/descriptions/etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Antisemitism, Car accident, and Murder
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
I'm so glad that I finally read this classic! It was funny, sweet, emotional, and romantic, just as it is always described. It was delightful to watch the various relationships develop and to see the characters grow up in their own, unique way. Everyone had a distinct voice, which was extremely refreshing. The family dynamic was very believable, with equal parts love and conflict. And of course, it was wonderful to watch Lizzy and Darcy go from enemies to friends to lovers.
P.S. The 2005 adaptation is extremely faithful to the novel!
P.S. The 2005 adaptation is extremely faithful to the novel!
Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford
dark
emotional
sad
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
0.0
I was expecting to relate to the main character's struggle with mental illness and trauma. I knew this was going to be a dark book going into it, but what ended up triggering me was not anything to do with Jeff's stay on a pysch ward. It was the gay panic/sexual assult scenes that really upset me and made the rest of the book impossible to enjoy. The consolation prize is that there is a happy ending, which I was expecting and hoping for.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. The only reason I finished it was because I fell for the sunk cost falacy. I'll be returning this to Barnes & Noble asap.
Trigger warning for: sexual assault, slurs, suicide/suicide attempts, and many more
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. The only reason I finished it was because I fell for the sunk cost falacy. I'll be returning this to Barnes & Noble asap.
Trigger warning for: sexual assault, slurs, suicide/suicide attempts, and many more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Suicide attempt
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Murder