alanawithdog's reviews
206 reviews

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

adventurous challenging dark informative tense

4.0

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

4.5

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

3.5

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense

• 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

4.5

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

challenging dark reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.0

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective relaxing slow-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

Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

challenging dark emotional sad tense

• 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

3.5

Very different from the first book. Looking forward to reading the third to see how this one fits in to the overarching storyline.

A Treasury of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle

adventurous dark mysterious

• 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

3.75

Great experience to have read it, and now know where the Sherlock Holmes empire began - but the stories definitely get formulaic so I read the book in segments throughout the year so as not to get bored with it.