beccaj11's reviews
58 reviews

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk

challenging dark reflective sad medium-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

3.0

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

The Hobbit: or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious tense 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? No

4.0

Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I see why people compare this to The Night Circus. Its world building style and premise (at its very bare bones) are similar. But it is a vastly different story. The sinister nature of the plot surprised me. I felt as tense and off kilter while reading it as Scarlet felt playing the game. 
I think the book was vivid, well-written, creative, and gripping.

However, I was not sold on the ending. I can’t explain without giving spoilers, but I just found it hard to accept and felt like it lacked sincerity. The whole last scene with the struggle and the domino of plot twists was just too much.

The Memories Between Us: Love Across Parallel Universes by K.V. Peck

adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Fans of the movie Interstellar will love this book! Just when I thought I could predict where this story was going, it swung me in a new and far more interesting direction. I love the mix of scientific elements, which were explained over the course of the book so it wasn’t too much at once and easy for anyone to follow. Joshua’s philosophical contemplation of fate and love held a grip on me, especially in the second half of the book when the pieces start to come together. 

I highly recommend this book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Dementia and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Stalking

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Racism, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, Violence, and Mental illness

Minor: Suicide and Slavery

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5