berlylovestoread's reviews
276 reviews

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

challenging dark emotional informative sad 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

3.0

Dark, slow, sad. 

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 100th Anniversary Edition by L. Frank Baum

5.0

Love & Saffron by Kim Fay

relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

A short, sweet novel made of letters between two women one in her 20s and one in her 60s. They share their most private thoughts & stories and inspire each other after the younger writes a fan letter to the author of a favorite column in the newspaper. Easily read in one afternoon. Recipes included. 

The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison

emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

I really struggled with the rating but in the end I can't go higher because I put this down to read a couple other books due to the library sooner and wasn't in a hurry to go back. AND, I easily put it down and just didn't want to pick it up with urgency. 

HOWEVER, the beginning is great. The end is beautiful. And there is more honesty about what 7 decades together looks like and what it takes to be together in the end with love. 

Cue the tears.

By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

funny lighthearted fast-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

3.0

Clever ways to make this a modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. So many of the Disney tie ins -- Lumiere is the password to the internet, for example. Definitely worth the read when you want a relaxing, closed door romance with lots about books.

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

dark emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.5

I felt there was a slow start to this book and I even thought about DNFing it. But I had read a couple very intriguing reviews so I picked it back up and pushed through the early bits that, to me, dragged on. Once more characters began yelling their part in the tale and I saw how characters were woven together in this tapestry of lives it became so interesting. Cate Kay and the other women she was before was so forgiving in the end even as she searched for forgiveness. A great book to read for a discussion/book club pick.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Tried again after years & years. It's fine. An interesting to look at the "wild" '20s and some oppulent characters. Just not my favorite classic.

Saving Noah by Lucinda Berry

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.0

Main character is a mother. Her son has admitted to touching children. This is about her, their family and what happens after. VERY hard to listen to this book. Still a well written book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide

Life in a Jar by Jack Mayer

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

The ties between small town Kansas and Poland show just how tied all people around the world are. If we have young people and teachers who keep history alive we have hope.

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Court, crime, racism, country & people divided. A good look at what was happening. A little sad but overall well done. Recommend.