avieherman's reviews
111 reviews

Eliza Hamilton: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton by Tilar J. Mazzeo

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Stayed up late reading this, it was spectacular and very narrative-based and super accessible and readable. The stuff about the Reynolds’s Affair was absolutely fascinating and groundbreaking. I especially appreciated the authors note at the end. 

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

dark funny hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

I love Ann Patchett. Again, understated and glorious. Setting becomes a character. I spent the whole book waiting for something to happen/change and then in the final pages, when it did, I said “no, wait! Let it go on how it was!” Which is exactly where she wanted you as a reader. 

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett

emotional reflective fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I love Patchett’s fiction. Her handling of ordinary, dysfunctional families is tender, understated and elegant. I found the pace of this novel much faster than Dutch House. 

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

dark funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Twisted and brilliant. Holds up a wild and wonderful mirror to our world. The whole idea of women being owned seems horrifying and was also true in the not-too-distant past. Deeply true and insightful. A quick read, but would have loved it as a short story written with the skill of The Enormous Radio or The Yellow Wallpaper. 

Tits Up: What Sex Workers, Milk Bankers, Plastic Surgeons, Bra Designers, and Witches Tell Us about Breasts by Sarah Thornton

funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.0

Absolutely fascinating. 

Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as If Your Life Depended on It by Chris Voss

informative fast-paced

4.5

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Fantastic book. I love the narrative style that kept switching perspectives. At the book’s opening, I wasn’t sure of the writing m style, it felt overly formal and perhaps pretentious, but it grew on me quickly and felt like it fit the narrative well. Dark and deep and sad, while being intensely hopeful and light and inspiring, with plenty of levity.  Layered and lovely. 

Funny Story by Emily Henry

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-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? Yes

5.0

Loved this. Haven’t been disappointed by an Emily Henry book yet. Definitely the same vibe as Book Lovers and Beach Read, though a little less on the literary nose.

Obsessed with the way the end circled back to the beginning, best last line I’ve read in a long time.

Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

This book was fine. I appreciated immensely what the writer was trying to do and I think it’s an important and eye-opening topic, but, as so often with books I’ve read that are not-quite-literary, it didn’t quite fulfill the promises it made/meet expectations. I loved the beginning and felt that it grew progressively less interesting and effective.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Slow and understated but enjoyable and deep read. Sped up and got more interesting as it went on. Enjoyed it.