bestja01's reviews
271 reviews

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

4.5

It’s a complicated and unique world, and it took me a minute to understand it and get invested in it- but once I did, I fell in love with the characters and was on the edge of my seat. You learn quickly that no character is safe, which keeps the stakes high throughout. Fascinating plot, very unique world-building, and surprisingly funny prose. I could get bogged down in some of the action scenes (they were sometimes hard to follow) and had some trouble keeping track of the secondary characters (even with the helpful naming systems), but I found myself deeply enthralled by the story.

The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket by Benjamin Lorr

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

Incredibly well-written dive into the massive system that is the grocery industry. It is thoughtful and specific but coming from a place of curiosity instead of contempt. There are a lot of horrifying details throughout the book, all relating to these massive systems that govern our entire existence with us hardly noticing them. It makes you think a lot, makes you feel helpless, makes you feel wonder, and makes you want to find a better way forward. Of course, the point of this book is that a new way forward is a lot bigger than the individual, but there’s always hope.

Trust by Hernán Díaz

mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

This book surprised me and took me on an unexpected ride. I loved the way questions were slowly answered as the picture grew clearer with each section. The fourth section was not the huge reveal it seemed to be intended as, but I thought the writing of that section, and all four sections, was quite beautiful and unique. The third section was the most captivating. I’m all, it was a great story and one that makes us challenge our ideas of what is truthful and the power of a well-told story.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

A beautiful story with engaging and dynamic characters. I’m not a gamer but I was still able to connect deeply with the story, and I loved the writing and the way the relationships developed throughout the book. 

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Wow, she had a rough childhood. It was a great memoir but very hard to read in some sections. Kudos to her for being so open and vulnerable in this book; I hope she continues to find healthy ways to recover and reclaim her agency.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I keep trying to get into Colleen Hoover’s books, but I can’t quite connect with them. I definitely was intrigued by this book and wanted to keep reading, and the twist at the end really got me, but I was very frustrated by the one-note-ness of Jeremy and Lowen throughout most of the book, and I don’t think the ending made up for that. Interesting plot and premise, and some good parts, but not my favorite.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

challenging funny medium-paced

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

3.25

Definitely a farce, with some very funny moments. The main character, Ignatius, is absolutely insufferable, but that’s the point. It was a slow read but fun, and I liked the way everything came together at the end without rewarding/excusing the behavior of the characters.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Beautifully written book that explores institutional poverty, the opioid crisis, and the struggles and heartbreak of ultra-rural Appalachia. A deeply sad story with a bit of hope at the end, with characters you love and want to succeed despite everything stacked against them.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.75

Beautiful story with beautiful characters; it broke my heart in ways I didn’t expect, but it also made me fall deeply in love with these characters. An absolutely beautiful experience.

City by Alessandro Baricco

challenging slow-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

4.0

Weird book, but good. Witty prose, very stream-of-consciousness writing, and a lot of meandering thoughts on life and the world all revolving around two peoples’ fantasy worlds as they try to figure out their real lives. Strange book, but with a lot of beauty.