alliincali's reviews
706 reviews

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Must read classic that has eluded me for too long. A gothic treasure

Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

challenging slow-paced

3.25

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Give a Girl a Knife by Amy Thielen

emotional informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.5

I love memoirs and I love books on food. Having just purchased Amy Thielen’s, Company, I was excited to read a little bit more about her cooking journey and background. 

In many ways, we have a lot in common. While I grew up on the precipice of the south, my upbringing had a lot of German and midwestern influences. While I long for a sprawling farm and garden, I’m currently living under the bright lights of a city, much like Thielen. At times, my tastes are elevated and I enjoy trying new flavors. But I also love traditional cooking and the process of starting from scratch. I thought the author did a great job of explaining how things taste different and take adjusting to when you go straight back to the land. 

Didn’t care for the disparagement of midwives.  

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

lighthearted medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No

3.5

It was just ok for me 

Slow Noodles: A Cambodian Memoir of Love, Loss, and Family Recipes by Chantha Nguon

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

Moving memoire melding memories of Cambodia with food. Relevant during these turbulent times. 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

4.0

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

4.0

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

4.0