araowl's reviews
29 reviews

Birds of a Lesser Paradise by Megan Mayhew Bergman

emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

I enjoyed this short story collection. The writing style was graceful, yet not overdone. The focus on the nuance of family relationships and how the natural world can override our rational selves was interesting and compelling. My main critique is that the characters in the stories felt very similar, at times it felt like the narrators of the different stories were the same person. I also found it a bit odd that so many of the characters happened to be veterinarians. I read in the author's bio that they are married to a veterinarian, so I suppose it falls under a case of "write what you know." Overall, this collection was a joy to read, although the stories sometimes felt a bit undifferentiated.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

I can certainly see why this was revolutionary in its time and how it has influenced modern literature, particularly modern YA novels. It has quite beautiful writing. However, it didn't do much for me reading it today. It's slow-paced and full of biblical references, casual racism, and questionable relationship dynamics. I'm glad I've read it though, since it's referenced and alluded to so often!

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

emotional reflective

5.0

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang

emotional reflective 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

4.0

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering Into Peace, Joy, and Liberation by Thích Nhất Hạnh

hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.5

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

emotional 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

4.5

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

3.75

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I really enjoyed this book! I think it has a great combination of intricate characterization and also a page-turning and compelling plot. I think that you'll enjoy this book whether you're typically a reader of literary fiction or the crime genre. I thought that the main character's story arc was very satisfying. This is definitely a book to check out if you enjoy books with strong character development. I felt like the other characters were well-written and felt very realistic, although the book definitely mostly focuses on the main character considering it's a single, first person POV. If you really like reading books where you get a deep dive into one character's psychology, I highly recommend this book.
The plot was also intriguing and kept me guessing. The reveal at the end genuinely surprised me, although I'm notoriously terrible at guessing those kinds of things. I have to admit, I cared much more about the resolution of the family dynamics in the book than the actual murder mystery. 
Overall, I really recommend this book to people look for a mystery/crime novel with more of a character-driven and literary quality! It also shines such an important light on corruption in the police force and how addictions are sometimes not as simple as doing drugs or drinking - an addiction can also be the stories you tell yourself throughout your life.