alisalmao's reviews
37 reviews

You Feel It Just Below the Ribs by Jeffrey Cranor, Janina Matthewson

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

4.75

The Vet's Daughter by Barbara Comyns

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dark emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

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adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Faithful by Alice Hoffman

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

4.75

This was a phenomenal book with extensive character development. It was so well written and beautifully explored the life of a young woman who is dealing with guilt from her past. My only reasoning for not giving it 5 stars is because there were a few times when I felt like the main character, Shelby, went backwards in terms of her growth and I simply was annoyed and disapproved of some of the choices she made. However, these decisions - as Shelby says herself- are what brought her to the ending of the book where she is finally able to see a future for herself. Great read!! 
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

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dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Country of Red Azaleas by Domnica Radulescu

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book was nothing that I thought it would be, which is both good and bad. I did not anticipate the entire book being from Lara’s perspective. I continually wished it would switch over to Marija’s POV, but this switch never came, and I grew more and more bored with Lara’s selfishness and self-destruction in her family life. Granted, Lara had struggles of her own, which I did enjoy reading. I just wish her reflections on her mistakes were not so self-justifying. Although, I do think if the POV shifted to Marija’s, then it would be a completely different book altogether, so I’m not entirely upset with the focus on Lara. Overall, though, I did find the book to be beautifully written and poetic. However, the time jumps never quite made sense to me, so I found it hard to follow at some points and I ended up re-reading sentences to make sure I knew where Lara was and who she was with in the moment. 
Walden & Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.75

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller

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adventurous challenging informative inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0