bellatilford's reviews
67 reviews

The Wicked King by Holly Black

3.5

it was well written and entertaining at parts the plot twists were good but i think i took too long in between the last book and this one. i was pretty confused at parts and overall it took me two months to finish which is a pretty good indicator that it wasn’t my fav. not sure if ill read the last book of the series great last 30 or so pages 

The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

the ending was beautiful oh my goodness. a wonderful plot line and set of characters. learning the origins of the story being in the authors sons friends death makes it even more powerful. the teacher student relationship was unnecessary and really weird and his family relationships confused me at times. 

Education and Social Change: Contours in the History of American Education by John L. Rury
Did not finish book. Stopped at 73%.

read for class

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

i listened to the audiobook version read by trevor noah and i think hearing his voice telling his story really added to this. this was undoubtedly 5 stars. it is so funny and interesting. he picks out such engaging stories from his childhood and reflects so engaging about them. loved it

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

adventurous mysterious reflective sad tense 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? No

4.25

i thought it was well written and a very interesting concept behind the book. parts were a bit confusing in the beginning but it gets explained. parts were just very hyper specific about not particularly engaging topics, but overall it was definitely a good book

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

adventurous dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

i thought this book was very well thought out and planned, however there were times it felt a little drawn out. the endings parts of the book as they solved the mystery were particularly interesting. i didn’t find the characters really likeable they were alright but they frustrated me more than anything. their flaws are definitely a big part of the book.

i really liked the way the author pulled together the two main characters story to come meet in the middle. i liked that he started them separate i thought that was very creative 

Meet the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing 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? No

5.0

such a sweet book a quick read and the illustrations were great it had some very insightful commentary on the current focuses of the human race (money, productivity, power) whilst still being told in a playful and entertaining way. i specifically love the writing style

Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

i was iffy about this book at first. it’s just very tense and the relationship between elena and rita, specifically the way rita treats elena can make it a tough read at times. but oh my goodness the last hour of this book was amazing. the way that everything is tied together makes the whole read worth it. elena is a wonderful and human protagonist <slight spoiler> there is a large theme throughout the book regarding the use of others body’s as your own and taking away others autonomy. there are so many well-placed examples. everything in the book feels incredibly intentional and well-planned 

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

i think the book was well written and interesting except i think it was highly overwritten. it’s not so much that the lines were overwritten but the plot as a whole went on too long. then near the end it was a quick wrap up of everything. i wish it had been more concentrated. the very beginning of the plot was the most interesting part to me.  it wasn’t a waste though. it was definitely a cool book with well written characters. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

a classic for good reason. i don’t love classic books, but this was beautifully written. sometimes the plot and descriptions dragged on too long but it was a powerful read. especially when you consider the time it was written, the book is even more of a masterpiece