williamgideon's reviews
166 reviews

Are You Listening? by Tillie Walden

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

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As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

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challenging emotional hopeful informative sad 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? Yes

3.25

I really feel like the odd one out here since almost everyone has given this book a 5 star rating!
   While this book deals with a very important topic and I found myself learning a lot, I just didn't feel like it affected me that much? I think it's because of the characters, which didn't have much personality and didn't feel that real to me. The same was true for the romance. It's very sweet but I just didn't care, it felt too perfect I think. Another thing I didn't like was the writing. I usually don't enjoy YA writing, so I may very well be the problem here, but it felt a bit repetitive. And the way the narrator kept using anatomical terms all the time made me cringe. I get that it's because she's interested in that stuff but it's not very helpful for the average reader who doesn't know those terms.
   Still, the book had a compelling plot that made me want to keep reading. I think ultimately I'm just not the target audience for this since I'm not a big YA fan, but would recommend to those who are!
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Isslottet by Tarjei Vesaas

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emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

What a beautiful book! In the beginning, I was feeling a bit disappointed because I had high expectations. But I ended up loving this book. The writing is gorgeous, and I love the way the author plays around with structure and narrative. This book is written through a child's gaze, their magical way of viewing the world, which ends us up with a lot of gorgeous descriptions. I loved the metaphor of this book, it works so well. It's kind of genius!!
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Why I Wake Early: New Poems by Mary Oliver

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emotional hopeful informative reflective

5.0

So many feelings!!! I cried to some poems, laughed and smiled stupidly big at others. These poems made me really, really happy. What I feel most of all is recognition, in the way Oliver writes about nature. Not necessarily as a metaphor or imagery for something else, but as a subject in its own worth. I recognize that compassion and utter joy when being close to nature and the longing to be part of it. I love this!!!
Favorites: Bone, How Everything Adores Being Alive, The Wren from Carolina, Some Things Say the Wise Ones
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

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

3.75

This was such a ride. I won't say I enjoyed reading this book. I definitively had to push through a lot of it, because of the quite complex plot with lots of different characters. But I think in the end it was worth it. I really enjoyed the ending, and by the end found myself attached to the characters. If you enjoy fever-dreamish, psychedelic books you'll like this one.
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Trollvinter by Tove Jansson

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adventurous hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

May be my favorite Moomin book!
Spy x Family, Vol. 2 by Tatsuya Endo

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adventurous funny lighthearted
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was so fun! I love the dynamicc and I'm excited to see what more kinds of situations it creates. Also I really love the art style.
Spinning by Tillie Walden

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

Like everyone else, I love the 2019 movie adaptation of Little Women. It's such a wonderful tale of family love and childhood. I can't say I love the book the same, but it was still enjoyable. It's very outdated and preachy, but I have an unending amount of love for the March sisters. <3
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