bwandyn's reviews
175 reviews

Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II by Lena S. Andrews

adventurous informative medium-paced

3.5

Born to Be Hanged: The Epic Story of the Gentlemen Pirates Who Raided the South Seas, Rescued a Princess, and Stole a Fortune by Keith Thomson

adventurous funny informative slow-paced

2.5

A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck

emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.5

The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm by Dan Charnas

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.5

A template for musician biographies to come. Not only the story of Dilla, but the somewhat abridged histories of his city, his musical gear, his family, his influences, his contemporaries, his record labels, and his fans. Paired with musicology lessons and exercises to learn Dilla’s sense of rhythm and apply it in an academic sense, Dilla Time offers a familiar understanding of the rules we know, and the rules he broke.

James by Percival Everett

adventurous funny fast-paced

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

3.75

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

Blood Meridian; or, The Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy

adventurous dark funny tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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

adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.25