annaroosvw's reviews
97 reviews

Gossip & Gucci by Lauren Weisberger, Sabine Mutsaers

funny relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

What can I say.. Lauren is the voice of a generation and whether you want to admit it or not - because of the lack of clever women and woke notions - its a wonderful read.

Total Ethics Fashion: People, Our Fellow Animals and the Planet Before Profit by Emma Hakansson

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

Must read for anybody working in fashion, reminder of the holistic nature of ethical fashion and how far we are from it

Song by Michelle Jana Chan

adventurous inspiring sad medium-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

4.0

Heartbreaking, truthful, shaking your world view. Song seems to have the wind against him his entire life. And still he moves forward, driven by integer and questionable motives - which makes him very human. A lesson in history, racism, colonialism, the faith of people born in the wrong place of the wrong time. Touching and daring. A read to remember. 

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.0

Eckhart used many words to say something very simple: don’t live in the future or past, live everything in the present. Nevertheless – If you’re as stubborn as I am, it doesn’t harm to read them all. An eye opener to put into practice immediately. A bit of ego and not as amazing as New Earth, but still worth the read. 

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

A sweet story to warm the heart. No spectacular plot twists or character developments, but a nice read to get out of the head and touch upon the atmosphere of the Japanese cafe culture with an additional mystical note that draws upon the region’s tradition of story telling with strong elements of emotions and surrealism. 

The Overstory by Richard Powers

adventurous emotional sad slow-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

4.0

A poetic attempt to bring us closer to the living natural world of roots, bark, leafs and the ethnic minorities that fight to live among them as we all should. Beautiful, deeply sad and hopeless, then hopeful again. A myriad of ethical and realist questions. I found it hard to follow at some point. Lost the plot a bit. Not an easy one to swallow but at times so beautifully described that you’ll want to finish it in the end. 

Bonita Avenue by Peter Buwalda

dark funny inspiring fast-paced

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

5.0

A book you’ll love and you’ll dislike yourself for if. This one is not about identifying with the stories of a handful of quirky characters. The writing of Buwalda is mind blowing and - humor and dark go hand in hand and the order of things is always presented in a way you can just do follow. It keeps the suspense leven high. Until the very last part that I unfortunately found hard to follow. The book generally gets a bit less wow from the third half but this author is for a genie.

Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang

emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

4.0

A rough read written with a light tone of voice. I couldn’t put this book away. So heartbreaking, nerve wrecking and  important. Now I want to read similar stories from other backgrounds. Quian got me curious. This is the start of something, and an ending for the author - of a long traumatic upholding that no one should be suffering from. 

De acht bergen by Paolo Cognetti

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

A beautiful reflection on the life of a mountaineer. This is a way to live a life, peaceful and intense, dark and truthful. I’m inspired and the ending is very touching. Makes you reflect.

All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.5

Great parts and not so great parts, but a master piece considering the time she wrote this piece in