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bandysbooks's reviews
183 reviews
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
A couple months back, I found The Stationery Shop on the shelves of my local used bookstore. The cover was so stunningly beautiful that I picked it up without really knowing what it was about. Lucky for me, it is mostly a historical fiction set in Iran with some romance mixed in. The book follows Roya and Bahman as they witness political protests, attempted coups, and eventually fall in love with each other.
First of all, I really loved the way the author brought Iran to life. The setting is almost a character of its own as it is so present and involved in the plotline. I could fully imagine the stationery shop, the markets, and everything in between. It reminded me a lot of some of my own travels in the Middle East and I absolutely loved that sense of nostalgia from the reading.
Additionally, I loved Roya as a main character. She is clever, opinionated, and knows what she wants. She is a good daughter to her family and a loyal partner to Bahman when they fall in love. I felt a rapport with her immediately and continued to feel it throughout.
I also enjoyed the way the story was split between past and present. Sometimes when there is a split timeline in stories, one timeline is stronger than the other. That is not the case here. I loved both timelines and love the way the two timelines eventually come together.
My only real critique of the book is that the main source of conflict could've been so easily resolved. I won't give details here as I don't want to spoil the book, but suffice it to say, that you can't think about the conflict too deeply or it creates a bit of a hole in the story.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it without reservation to anyone who likes historical fiction and romance.
First of all, I really loved the way the author brought Iran to life. The setting is almost a character of its own as it is so present and involved in the plotline. I could fully imagine the stationery shop, the markets, and everything in between. It reminded me a lot of some of my own travels in the Middle East and I absolutely loved that sense of nostalgia from the reading.
Additionally, I loved Roya as a main character. She is clever, opinionated, and knows what she wants. She is a good daughter to her family and a loyal partner to Bahman when they fall in love. I felt a rapport with her immediately and continued to feel it throughout.
I also enjoyed the way the story was split between past and present. Sometimes when there is a split timeline in stories, one timeline is stronger than the other. That is not the case here. I loved both timelines and love the way the two timelines eventually come together.
My only real critique of the book is that the main source of conflict could've been so easily resolved. I won't give details here as I don't want to spoil the book, but suffice it to say, that you can't think about the conflict too deeply or it creates a bit of a hole in the story.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it without reservation to anyone who likes historical fiction and romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Classism
Fable by Adrienne Young
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Fable is a young woman who was abandoned on an island by her father. She’s survived by dredging the ocean floor and trading the things she finds. It’s been a cruel existence and she’s determined to find her father to claim her inheritance. She escapes on a ship and eventually befriends the crew and adventure ensues.
I really loved the main character of this story. She’s scared and wary, but also strong and self-sufficient. She’s survived on her own and developed a lot of useful skills. I appreciated that she isn’t just naturally gifted at everything. She’s actually had to develop all of the talents she has. That was super refreshing.
The world she lives in is also quite interesting. I loved the pirate vibes and the sense of adventure. I enjoyed how each island seemed to have its own culture. It kept things exciting.
My only complaint is that I felt like this book just cut off right in the middle of the story and that some of the details toward the ending were a bit rushed to accomplish this. It was minor though.
All in all, if you like fantasy, strong female characters, and adventure, you should check this one out!
I really loved the main character of this story. She’s scared and wary, but also strong and self-sufficient. She’s survived on her own and developed a lot of useful skills. I appreciated that she isn’t just naturally gifted at everything. She’s actually had to develop all of the talents she has. That was super refreshing.
The world she lives in is also quite interesting. I loved the pirate vibes and the sense of adventure. I enjoyed how each island seemed to have its own culture. It kept things exciting.
My only complaint is that I felt like this book just cut off right in the middle of the story and that some of the details toward the ending were a bit rushed to accomplish this. It was minor though.
All in all, if you like fantasy, strong female characters, and adventure, you should check this one out!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder
The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-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
This is a story that follows the members of one family over the course of roughly a year. Each family member is relatively dysfunctional and has made mistakes. Now, with things changing they are each forced to grow and change.
I thought this book was pretty interesting. All of the characters are highly dysfunctional, but still relatable. I personally felt frustrated with them on many occasions, but ultimately couldn’t help but root for them.
I did find the pacing a little bit slow. At times the story did drag a bit or get a little redundant, but it was a minor thing.
All in all, if you really like deep explorations of characters and their motivations, this is for you!
I thought this book was pretty interesting. All of the characters are highly dysfunctional, but still relatable. I personally felt frustrated with them on many occasions, but ultimately couldn’t help but root for them.
I did find the pacing a little bit slow. At times the story did drag a bit or get a little redundant, but it was a minor thing.
All in all, if you really like deep explorations of characters and their motivations, this is for you!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II by Iris Chang
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
How do you accurately rate a book of such importance? The Rape of Nanking is a moment in WW2 that has long been covered up, but should be taught and remembered. Upon Japanese invasion, the population of Nanking was treated to unimaginable horrors, wounds of which have lasted for generations.
I rated this book 5 stars because it presented the info in a way that was understandable. The author includes ample evidence for each claim and adequately paints a picture of China under Japanese rule. It’s important history and the author documents it well.
READ TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING
I rated this book 5 stars because it presented the info in a way that was understandable. The author includes ample evidence for each claim and adequately paints a picture of China under Japanese rule. It’s important history and the author documents it well.
READ TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Breathless by Amy McCulloch
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Ugh. I really, really wanted to love this. I was excited that someone who has actually hiked this particular peak was writing a mystery/thriller taking place on it.
What I got…I just…Let me start with the main character because she’s sort of a mess. So a team is being assembled to climb a death zone peak. Typically, you want people who are adequately experienced and self-sufficient (Yes, wildly rich but inexperienced people buy their way into teams sometimes, but that isn’t the case here). The main character, Cecily, is admittedly unexperienced. In fact, her only challenging hike ended in the death of another hiker and she’s still clearly traumatized by it. Yet somehow she’s still invited along to hike a peak that’s significantly more challenging and technical than anything she’s done previously. I could maybe look past some of this if she were a quick learner or relatively competent, but inexperienced. Nope. They’re literally trying to teach her how to complete maneuvers as they are climbing a potentially fatal mountain and she is constantly frozen by fear and self-doubt.
Then we get into the organization of the climbing team. It is in disarray for the entirety of the story. The leader of the expedition is barely with them. There are all sorts of issues that crop up that aren’t thoroughly evaluated or challenged. No one is aware of where people are. Emergency response is lackluster. It’s just messy.
And finally, experienced hikers start dying in ways that are questionable at the very least…but everyone just seems content to let it go. Maybe the high altitude is slowing everyone’s brains down? Again, they all have to be purposefully oblivious or else the plot wouldn’t progress.
I think that last line sort of sums all of the issues up for me. You have to ignore sooo many gaping holes in logic for this book to work. I can accept a few unrealistic details here and there, but when you anchor a book in reality then ask readers to keep jumping past plot hole after plot hole, it unfortunately just makes it a no-go for me.
I will try to end this with some positives. The description of the mountain was absolutely lovely. I could really envision the setting well.
I also really loved the portrayal of the Sherpas and how the author made sure to discuss the ethics of mass hiking expeditions and the impact on the Sherpa community. They are the backbone of high altitude climbing in the Himalayas and I’m glad she showed them proper respect.
And I also loved that she tackled the issue of sexism in climbing/hiking/trekking. There are so many amazing female climbers and many of them face challenges simply due to their gender. It wasn’t a main theme, but it does get touched upon a couple of times.
What I got…I just…Let me start with the main character because she’s sort of a mess. So a team is being assembled to climb a death zone peak. Typically, you want people who are adequately experienced and self-sufficient (Yes, wildly rich but inexperienced people buy their way into teams sometimes, but that isn’t the case here). The main character, Cecily, is admittedly unexperienced. In fact, her only challenging hike ended in the death of another hiker and she’s still clearly traumatized by it. Yet somehow she’s still invited along to hike a peak that’s significantly more challenging and technical than anything she’s done previously. I could maybe look past some of this if she were a quick learner or relatively competent, but inexperienced. Nope. They’re literally trying to teach her how to complete maneuvers as they are climbing a potentially fatal mountain and she is constantly frozen by fear and self-doubt.
Then we get into the organization of the climbing team. It is in disarray for the entirety of the story. The leader of the expedition is barely with them. There are all sorts of issues that crop up that aren’t thoroughly evaluated or challenged. No one is aware of where people are. Emergency response is lackluster. It’s just messy.
And finally, experienced hikers start dying in ways that are questionable at the very least…but everyone just seems content to let it go. Maybe the high altitude is slowing everyone’s brains down? Again, they all have to be purposefully oblivious or else the plot wouldn’t progress.
I think that last line sort of sums all of the issues up for me. You have to ignore sooo many gaping holes in logic for this book to work. I can accept a few unrealistic details here and there, but when you anchor a book in reality then ask readers to keep jumping past plot hole after plot hole, it unfortunately just makes it a no-go for me.
I will try to end this with some positives. The description of the mountain was absolutely lovely. I could really envision the setting well.
I also really loved the portrayal of the Sherpas and how the author made sure to discuss the ethics of mass hiking expeditions and the impact on the Sherpa community. They are the backbone of high altitude climbing in the Himalayas and I’m glad she showed them proper respect.
And I also loved that she tackled the issue of sexism in climbing/hiking/trekking. There are so many amazing female climbers and many of them face challenges simply due to their gender. It wasn’t a main theme, but it does get touched upon a couple of times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Queerly Beloved by Susie Dumond
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-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? Yes
3.25
I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest romance reader, but I’m trying to mix it in occasionally. I work as a chef and the fact that this book is so focused on food was a big draw I convincing me to give it a try!
I’m not sure where exactly to start this particular review because this book was quite a bit different than I imagined. I expected a fluffy queer romance, but the romance was a very small part of the actual plot. The majority of the book is focused on Amy’s semi-closetedness and her struggles with being authentic to herself and to the larger queer community. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting.
As for the romance, it felt a bit generic. I mean there were parts of it that were cute, but we never learn much about Charley, the love interest. Also, so many of their interactions are awkward that you start to wonder where the chemistry is. Eventually, it does have that sweet ending though. Also, kind of annoyed that the very few sex scenes included were brief and fade to black. I don’t want smut necessarily, but it felt a little YA in terms of sex.
I will say there was also quite a disconnect in the timeline versus the dialogue. This book is supposed to be set in 2013 before gay marriage was legalized in the USA…but a lot of the dialogue reads as very now. For example, all of the characters introduce themselves with pronouns which I’m all for…but I don’t remember anyone doing that prior to a year or two ago. In fact, I still barely here it today.
That being said, I did find myself laughing at several points throughout the book. There were some generally funny points.
I also love how much food and food description was a part of this book! The cakes and pastries sounded genuinely amazing and a couple recipes were included at the end of the book! I’m looking forward to trying them.
And I did love the diversity of representation in this book even if it wasn’t quite as diverse as it could’ve been. I know that’s confusing. Let me explain. The author did a great job with LGBTQIA diversity as ther are characters of varying sexualities and genders throughout this book. That said, it wasn’t very racially or ethnically diverse. I suppose we can attribute some of that to the story being set in Oklahoma…but it’s a weak excuse. After making such an effort to be inclusive, I wish she’d gone just a bit further.
Was this the best queer romance I’ve ever read? No. Is it an entertaining enough, light read? Yes. I think it would be good for a day by the pool or beach.
I’m not sure where exactly to start this particular review because this book was quite a bit different than I imagined. I expected a fluffy queer romance, but the romance was a very small part of the actual plot. The majority of the book is focused on Amy’s semi-closetedness and her struggles with being authentic to herself and to the larger queer community. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, just not what I was expecting.
As for the romance, it felt a bit generic. I mean there were parts of it that were cute, but we never learn much about Charley, the love interest. Also, so many of their interactions are awkward that you start to wonder where the chemistry is. Eventually, it does have that sweet ending though. Also, kind of annoyed that the very few sex scenes included were brief and fade to black. I don’t want smut necessarily, but it felt a little YA in terms of sex.
I will say there was also quite a disconnect in the timeline versus the dialogue. This book is supposed to be set in 2013 before gay marriage was legalized in the USA…but a lot of the dialogue reads as very now. For example, all of the characters introduce themselves with pronouns which I’m all for…but I don’t remember anyone doing that prior to a year or two ago. In fact, I still barely here it today.
That being said, I did find myself laughing at several points throughout the book. There were some generally funny points.
I also love how much food and food description was a part of this book! The cakes and pastries sounded genuinely amazing and a couple recipes were included at the end of the book! I’m looking forward to trying them.
And I did love the diversity of representation in this book even if it wasn’t quite as diverse as it could’ve been. I know that’s confusing. Let me explain. The author did a great job with LGBTQIA diversity as ther are characters of varying sexualities and genders throughout this book. That said, it wasn’t very racially or ethnically diverse. I suppose we can attribute some of that to the story being set in Oklahoma…but it’s a weak excuse. After making such an effort to be inclusive, I wish she’d gone just a bit further.
Was this the best queer romance I’ve ever read? No. Is it an entertaining enough, light read? Yes. I think it would be good for a day by the pool or beach.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing
Minor: Sexual content
Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Going into this book, I had never actually read a cozy mystery before, but I was super excited to give it a try! I was especially excited because this book looked to have awesome Filipino representation and imo, that is a voice that has heavily been missing in mainstream literature.
Let me start by saying the food description was probably the strongest part of this book! I was sooo hungry after every chapter. Not only were there traditional foods like adobo, kare kare, sinigang, and more, but there were unique twists on dishes too like calamansi ginger icebox pies and ube crinkle cookies. I wrote down at least twenty dishes to cook at home because this book had me so inspired.
I also loved the characters in this book! Every single person was so vivid and relatable and I loved the incorporation of Tagalog words into the dialogue. Some of the titas in this book reminded me so much of the titas and lolas I grew up with in my neighborhood. Really great characterization.
Where this book lost some points for me was in the plot. Since it was a cozy mystery, I wasn't expecting anything crazy intense or deep, but the overall concept for the murder and investigation was just a bit convoluted, I suppose. I still enjoyed it, but I did have to actively stop myself from questioning parts of the book and just let myself enjoy it.
All in all, this was a fun read and the food description alone is enough reason to read this! Pick it up if you want something light and enjoyable.
Let me start by saying the food description was probably the strongest part of this book! I was sooo hungry after every chapter. Not only were there traditional foods like adobo, kare kare, sinigang, and more, but there were unique twists on dishes too like calamansi ginger icebox pies and ube crinkle cookies. I wrote down at least twenty dishes to cook at home because this book had me so inspired.
I also loved the characters in this book! Every single person was so vivid and relatable and I loved the incorporation of Tagalog words into the dialogue. Some of the titas in this book reminded me so much of the titas and lolas I grew up with in my neighborhood. Really great characterization.
Where this book lost some points for me was in the plot. Since it was a cozy mystery, I wasn't expecting anything crazy intense or deep, but the overall concept for the murder and investigation was just a bit convoluted, I suppose. I still enjoyed it, but I did have to actively stop myself from questioning parts of the book and just let myself enjoy it.
All in all, this was a fun read and the food description alone is enough reason to read this! Pick it up if you want something light and enjoyable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Murder
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I may be a bit biased because I work as a chef professionally, but I absolutely adored this book. Stanley came across so likeable and I left this book feeling like I had a good understanding of who he is. I really related to his love of food and I appreciated his inclusion of food based memories and family recipes. This is, in my opinion, what a good memoir should be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers and I’ve been seeing so much hype surrounding this book, so I finally decided to check it out. A Flicker In the Dark follows a main character who’s father is a convicted serial killer locked up in Angola State Prison. Years after his conviction, it seems a copy cat is on the loose and may be targeting the MC.
The plot of this story was fairly solid. I enjoyed the story and felt engaged throughout even though I found the ending quite predictable. I was able to guess what was happening about halfway through the story. That said, I still felt interested in how things would resolve.
The main character was well done. She’s pretty obviously traumatized by being the daughter of a serial killer and I think that her reactions to the new murders seems realistic for the most part.
All in all, I found this an enjoyable enough thriller. Not the best I’ve ever read, but solid enough to recommend to other readers.
The plot of this story was fairly solid. I enjoyed the story and felt engaged throughout even though I found the ending quite predictable. I was able to guess what was happening about halfway through the story. That said, I still felt interested in how things would resolve.
The main character was well done. She’s pretty obviously traumatized by being the daughter of a serial killer and I think that her reactions to the new murders seems realistic for the most part.
All in all, I found this an enjoyable enough thriller. Not the best I’ve ever read, but solid enough to recommend to other readers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.0
Together We Burn features a young female character who is the heir to her mother’s flamenco legacy and her father’s dragon fighting legacy. When tragedy strikes, she must face the dragons she’s feared to save her inheritance. In order to learn how, she solicits the help of a retired, disenchanted dragon fighter to train her.
I really wanted to love this book, but it ended up just being okay for me. I had issues with the characterization, the setting, the plot twists, and the pacing.
First of all, the setting. The country in the story is called Hispalia and is pretty much Spain. I don’t really understand the point of making up a country if it’s literally going to be a country that already exists. I kept waiting to see what would differentiate it from Spain and it’s never really made clear…aside from dragons existing.
Second, it’s incredibly hard to relate to or feel sympathy for the main character. Her father is a famous dragon fighter and initially that isn’t so bothersome…but then they talk about how the dragons are treated and it makes it hard to feel any sympathy for anything bad that happens. Additionally, the MC comes across quite entitled. Clearly, she comes from a rich family and I can see how that would make her out of touch…but at times she comes across as spoiled and inconsiderate.
Third, I was able to figure out who the bad guy was pretty early on. I also figured out what would happen when the MC faced a dragon. It just felt like a pretty predictable plot. Add to it pacing issues and it gets kind of difficult to stay engaged at points.
All in all, I think the idea was good, but the execution was a miss. There were definitely moments of engagement that I wish the author would have built upon more. A quick enough read if you want something fairly light about dragons.
I really wanted to love this book, but it ended up just being okay for me. I had issues with the characterization, the setting, the plot twists, and the pacing.
First of all, the setting. The country in the story is called Hispalia and is pretty much Spain. I don’t really understand the point of making up a country if it’s literally going to be a country that already exists. I kept waiting to see what would differentiate it from Spain and it’s never really made clear…aside from dragons existing.
Second, it’s incredibly hard to relate to or feel sympathy for the main character. Her father is a famous dragon fighter and initially that isn’t so bothersome…but then they talk about how the dragons are treated and it makes it hard to feel any sympathy for anything bad that happens. Additionally, the MC comes across quite entitled. Clearly, she comes from a rich family and I can see how that would make her out of touch…but at times she comes across as spoiled and inconsiderate.
Third, I was able to figure out who the bad guy was pretty early on. I also figured out what would happen when the MC faced a dragon. It just felt like a pretty predictable plot. Add to it pacing issues and it gets kind of difficult to stay engaged at points.
All in all, I think the idea was good, but the execution was a miss. There were definitely moments of engagement that I wish the author would have built upon more. A quick enough read if you want something fairly light about dragons.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism