archercasper's reviews
92 reviews

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
Did not finish book. Stopped at 28%.

This memoir was very honest and I can see how it would be eye-opening and enlightening for people who aren't fat or haven't been assaulted, but as a whole it was SO repetitive and didn't flow at all. There was no structure and I couldn't discern the overall focus. For me, those flaws just made it too difficult to finish.

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

"It is never too late or too soon. It is when it is supposed to be."

"Ends are for yesterdays, not tomorrows."

Something about Mitch Albom's prose and simplicity keeps me hooked every time. I appreciate that his own religious beliefs aren't shoved down the reader's throat; while certainly present, there is still plenty of room for readers to insert their own beliefs into the text (without it changing anything about the story or message).

I think a lot of people go into Mitch Albom's books expecting to come out with some kind of astounding revelation that changes their life, and when that doesn't happen they're disappointed. I personally view his works as reminders of the important aspects of life: his writing, in all its beautiful simplicity, is a shout into the void that is modern day society to be mindful and appreciate what we have while we have it. I also think that there are certain times in one's life where his books will be more meaningful - if you're already a person who understands the value of a moment, this specific story might feel pointless and repetitive to you, but some people need these reminders and find them very impactful.

That being said, I absolutely despised Sarah's storyline up until the very end. I do not see why there had to be such an emphasis on her being fat, and I wish her story was more complex than throwing everything away because of a boy. I would've loved if he'd given more attention to the relationship between her and her mother. 

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

"Nothing is so exhausting as anguish." 

This book...I don't even have words. I have never become so emotionally invested in and attached to characters so quickly, nor on such a level as I did with these characters (I will never stop thinking about James and Oliver). 

This story was painful, heart-wrenching, and made me feel so many emotions. I can't imagine the amount of work that went into it, given the vast amount of Shakespearean literature and references. I've never read a debut novel so profound as this one. 

I do wish Wren and Alexander had the same depth that was given to the other characters; I didn't really remember much of them after I put the book down (it felt like they were whittled down to "unstable emotional wreck" and "unstable gay drug addict"). Aside from that, I wholeheartedly loved this story and am satisfied that the author tied up the loose ends while still leaving the ending up to the reader's imagination.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

I didn't know so many commas could be in a book; the amount of run-on sentences annoyed me to no end. I also don't understand why the vast majority of MLM books are overrun with completely insufferable characters, but considering the time period this was written in I guess it's fitting. 

I was not a fan of the writing, the characters, nor the story. I appreciated the complex message Baldwin was trying to convey and I understand why people enjoy the book, but it was not for me. There was nothing moving nor memorable about it. 

Ariadne by Jennifer Saint

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

"I would not let a man who knew the value of nothing make me doubt the value of myself."

This was a superbly written book that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time - despite knowing Greek mythology and most of what was going to happen. 

I love that we got Phaedra's perspective in addition to Ariadne's; it made the story much more nuanced and kept my attention in a way that just Ariadne's POV wouldn't have. I also really appreciated how Saint explored motherhood in so many different ways and provided real insight into all the characters' emotions. She even made me start to like Dionysus a little bit....

No part of this book fell flat for me, and I adored the ending. Saint kept her writing simple while still allowing for complexity and minute details; she really did this story justice.

Miss Major Speaks: Conversations with a Black Trans Revolutionary by Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

The introduction was a bit dense, but after that the conversation flowed smoothly. This is a great work for people who want to become more educated on issues that transgender people face, specifically Black trans women. I would call this more of an introductory text because it is all Miss Major's thoughts, opinions, and reflections - it doesn't go super deep into the more complex stuff she references. There were many enlightening comments and I appreciated hearing her perspective on various issues in the transgender community (I especially appreciate that she discussed the hate we still receive from other TLGB people).

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

Simple, easy to read, and written like a stream of consciousness.

Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth

tense fast-paced

• 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

5.0

This retelling of Antigone is amazing. The dystopian twist is easy to connect with and makes the themes and message more palatable for younger readers (or those unaccustomed to the writing styles of plays/classics). Roth stayed true to the story while still making a work that can stand on its own, even connecting it to current political and feminist issues. 

You don't need to have read the original play to connect with this story, but I would recommend it as it makes it easier to understand both versions on a deeper and more nuanced level. 

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

lighthearted reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.0

This book is very overhyped, in my opinion. The beginning was insanely slow; I didn't start getting sort of into it until around chapter 12, which is basically halfway through the book. 

I hated how the narrator was rambling and going on so many tangents; I was constantly losing track of the point she was trying to make. Her reflections on her childhood and past relationships were so...dull. I forced myself to keep reading because I assumed there'd be something redeeming about it eventually, but suffice to say there wasn't. 

The last couple chapters were good because they cleared up most of what happened when she was a kid (and reading them didn't feel like I was aimlessly dragging my feet through the mud), but the ending disappointed me. I feel like so much more could've been done with it - it fell really flat. 

I think if I had gone into this with lower or no expectations I would've DNFed pretty quick. But, as is, I was expecting something heartfelt and memorable, and this story didn't hit that mark for me.

The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells

emotional hopeful sad 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

5.0

This book was a poetic and shattering work about grief, love, and learning to live the life you were given. It was intricate and beautifully worded; I loved the premise and the characters - I felt at home in this book. The ending was wonderful and wrapped up the main character's internal conflicts so well. I particularly enjoyed that many loose ends were tied up with allusions instead of the author outright telling us what happened; it made the story feel much more intimate. (My only qualms were with some of the grammatical choices, but those don't at all diminish the quality of the story and message.) 

"'What would be the immutable part of you? The bit that would stay the same in every life, no matter what course it took. Are there elements in us that survive everything?'"

"I pulled the mask off the face of Fate, and all I found beneath it was chance."