bdingz's reviews
383 reviews

How Dogs Learn by Jon S. Bailey, Mary R. Burch

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 29%.
I’ve already read The Culture Clash which is more helpful and thorough.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Poor Things by Alasdair Gray

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny medium-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? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed this more than I expected. The bait-and-switch near the end really threw me through a loop and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Threads: A Poetry Collection by Jeffrey Round

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Paladin's Grace by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 9%.
I got distracted by other books and my NetGalley ARC expired before I had a chance to get back to it. Oops! It didn’t grab me but I think it’s probably a fun read.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Go to review page

Did not finish book. Stopped at 12%.
I’m just not in the mood for this and I have to return it to the library in a couple of days. Maybe I’ll return to it another time.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

Go to review page

adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Go to review page

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

3.75

This is one of the strangest books I’ve ever read.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny 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? Yes

5.0

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston is a delightful tour through Europe with Theo and Kit, two exes who never really got over one another. I am not a huge romance reader, but I am drawn to McQuiston’s work because of how they write bisexual characters with such care and attention. On that front, this novel certainly didn’t disappoint! Worth noting that it is more explicit than their previous romances, so be aware of that if that’s not something you’re into. Personally, I really enjoyed it. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Go to review page

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

4.25

June Hayward is an absolute trainwreck of a protagonist, like a teen in a horror movie who makes incomprehensible decision after incomprehensible decision. 

That said, some of June’s emotions—her anxiety, her grief, her feelings of inadequacy—are relatable. I think that’s what makes this book readable despite being about someone so awful. It’s also part of what makes it uncomfortable. 

This is hard to rate because I don’t know if I can say I fully enjoyed reading this, but it was well-written and I was engrossed. A wild ride for sure.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings