bestja01's reviews
266 reviews

Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

It's a book about parking lots and it's FASCINATING.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

4.75

Loved these characters, and couldn't put the book down. Lots to think about, and a fascinating way to explore colonialism and exploitation through a framing device of historical fantasy, and also a fascinating deep dive into the power of language. The last third broke my heart a bit, but I'm glad I read it.

The Flames by Sophie Haydock

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dark emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

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

3.75

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

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lighthearted medium-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? Yes

4.0

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe

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challenging informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote by Elaine F. Weiss

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challenging informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

5.0

Absolutely fascinating look into an era of history I knew very little about- and I’m so annoyed I knew so little about this movement that changed the world! These women were very imperfect but very determined, and they changed history- and we owe it to them to remember them.

The First Bad Man by Miranda July

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challenging mysterious medium-paced