arnoles's reviews
41 reviews

White Tears by Hari Kunzru

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

5.0

I sometimes really struggle with books that leave a lot of things unexplained, so at first I was leaning more toward the 4 star range. However, I have not been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it. It was absolutely captivating, a ghost story predicated on true, real life horror. The several different timelines bleeding together were all compelling and the last 10% or so of the book tied them together in a way that was simply genius. I really enjoyed the writing style, very matter of fact and frank. Yes, there are many unexplained elements, but there's still a clear resolution to the story -- therefore, for me, this is a 5 star read.
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Trust by Hernán Díaz

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challenging mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.25

As I was reading the book, I didn't think I was really feeling it and thought, ok, this is kinda dull. But, for a 400 page book, I read it in not that many sittings. When I finished, I realized I actually had really enjoyed it! It's definitely a book that takes some reflection to fully appreciate and I feel like the concept is truly unique and well executed.
The Old Place by Bobby Finger

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emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a very cozy, sweet, sad book with characters that felt incredibly real. I enjoyed it a lot.
The Immortal King Rao by Vauhini Vara

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challenging mysterious 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? Yes

3.25

I was really excited for this book because it has a lot of elements I normally love: multigenerational family story, multiple character perspectives, mystery, etc .... But it just kinda fell flat. I didn't find myself really caring about the characters or seeing the through line in all the different timelines and perspectives. I also feel like the very end of the book was where I started really feeling interested, then the plot became rushed and the book was over. I also feel I d left with just too many unanswered questions and didn't feel satisfied by the end. I do the find the concept of a "techno state" fascinating and absolutely terrifying, but the execution wasn't there for me.
Iris Kelly Doesn't Date by Ashley Herring Blake

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

3.5

I sadly have to say this was my least favorite of the Bright Falls series. I just really didn't connect with Iris's character and actually found her a bit annoying. Her Big Challenge that every romance protagonist has to overcome seemed too contrived to me, and the fake relationship trope in general isn't my fave. That said the spicy scenes in this book were great and I did like Stevie's character very much!
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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

4.75

I absolutely loved this book - it was a page turner I found hard to put down. At the same time, it was very hard to keep reading. Elements of the book for the definition of "dystopian" but much of the book is not far off from our reality. The surveillance society and corrupt prison industrial system of the US is reality, hammered home by the footnotes. The book is beautifully written and the use of multiple character perspectives was really effective. My one quibble is I would have liked to see a little bit more of the relationships developing among the characters, especially the main two women.
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-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

3.75

This is a cute, fun read. There's a little bit of a dark element to the book and I still haven't decided if the author knows she's writing something very lighthearted and low stakes, or if she is trying to go for a more dark fantasy vibe. The series doesn't seem to commit either way. This book felt a bit less cozy than the first one but also not tense, scary, or suspenseful at all. It also dragged a little bit. But overall enjoyable.
After Sappho by Selby Wynn Schwartz

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emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I definitely liked the spirit of this book and learning about these women. However it just was a little ... Dull. I'm not really in my intellectual reading era right now so this book just didn't hit for me. Still, the writing was very beautiful and I appreciated the concept 
Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen

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dark

0.0

This book was absolutely not for me. I should have read more about the book before I read it because I was expecting a fun, quirky, Sasquatch lesbian "finding myself" type of story. Instead it was super gory and we never even got any type of actual fun. Am I supposed to think it's funny or cute that people that the main women consider to be "useless" get sent up the Mountain to be killed in horrible ways? I feel the same way I do when I accidentally watch a movie that's too scary for me. Mad at myself for staying til the end and not looking into it more beforehand and completely confused as to why anyone would want to make or would enjoy consuming something like this. I hated, hated, hated, hated, hated this book. 
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0