burnedstory's reviews
186 reviews

The Begum and the Dastan by Tarana Husain Khan

emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Khan tries to do too much, in too little time and it botches everything. There are three different stories and not one lands as impactfully as it would had Khan focused and crafted just one.

We know the characters like we know our neighbours, we know them like historical figures, there is no show and all tell. 

Women telling women stories is my favourite thing in this world. With our three leads we do see how they are similar in their characteristics and their tragedies if you will.

There is not much to say cause Khan didn't let anything develop to such extent that you would talk about it.

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

3.5

I love the format of the story, I wish it was longer though. The author walks on a very thin line between coming off as preachy and being idealistic. Favourite part was when the idealism of the character was challenged but it didn't quite land for me. There is definitely no subtlety, everything is pretty much served on a silver platter for the reader. Very skillfully the author has managed to potray reading and readers in the rise of capitalism. 
Thank you to the translator for keeping the Japanese words that really don't have an English counterpart.

Summing it up
Was it great? No, but it was good.
Would I pick it up again? Yes, very much so, it's a very comfortable read and cherry too in a way.

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

dark emotional informative 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I have no understanding of how to put words to my thoughts about how I feel about this book. I don't know if I am sad, shattered, angry or frustrated. The intensive research Collins has done is visible in the story. Frannie is a real gray heroine, you can dislike her or love her but you will find in you anger for her. 

Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing 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

3.5

Felt like reading a well written Bollywood comedy. Don't expect everything to make sense, it's an Indian family, nothing makes sense, it's just what it is. Laughed out loud so many times, what a fun read.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The last two acts make it worth suffering through the first act and most of the second. The premise is so beautiful but the execution is so not beautiful. I wish Rio could pack the same pinch in the first half the way she did in the second half.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.5

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

Sometimes there are books, you read and love so much you do not have words to express why you you love them so. Lessons in Chemistry is one such book for me, I can't even begin to gather what I would ever say to explain why I love the story so much.

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

slow-paced

3.5

Felt like a fever dream

Jujutsu Kaisen, Vol. 19 by Gege Akutami

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

5.0