burnoutbooks's reviews
140 reviews

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

me fr and that’s scary

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder and Rape

Life for Sale by Yukio Mishima

dark reflective fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

exquisite, horrifying, funny

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

pros: 

• catholicism 
• gin
• crazy 24 year old

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Jackal by Erin E. Adams

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.0

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

challenging dark medium-paced

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

5.0

incredible new addition to all time favorites list
afterword essay is also fantastic!

The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole

challenging dark fast-paced

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

5.0

last sentence amaaaaaazing

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

dark mysterious tense slow-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

5.0

perfect amazing flawless, no notes, will be an annual re-read, shirley jackson commands language 

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

dark emotional funny fast-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

that was a super fun whodunit! finished in one sitting, will read again

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

surprising and enjoyable with a pretty happy ending