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caroline_mclaughlin's reviews
58 reviews
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
For a look into the women’s perspective of the Iliad, this book sure focuses solely on the mens story! I wish a personality would’ve been given to Briseis or that we could have seen her life after the tragedies, rather than simply getting the same story yet again just with more British slang and the slightest shift in perspective. Also, I will never get over the part where Achilles is grieving and his tears and “piss” join with the salty ocean water.
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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
The concept is so intriguing and the characters are set up to be so interesting and lovable but unfortunately the tedious prose, underdeveloped/sudden relationships, and repetitive nature of the book made it a lot less enjoyable
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I wanted this book to be so much more than it was. An interesting concept squandered by mediocre writing, an ending predictable from just reading the book jacket, and a main character who avoids making any decisions for herself despite decisions/regrets being the central theme.
Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Really liked some stories, and others were misses. Overall, felt like a collection exploring the idea of “choice” and the gray areas that surround it. Favorites were Semplica Girl Diaries, Escape from Spiderhead, and the title piece!
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I would usually not say this, but just watch the TV show! It removes most of the offensive elements and it’s way easier to follow.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Maybe would’ve rated it a little higher if not for the worm scene
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Infidelity
Pastoralia by George Saunders
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Seemed like a fun read but was bogged down by political ramblings and uneven characterization. The dialogue was pretty realistic and enjoyable for the most part, but many of the characters still felt flat. Rather than getting to know anyone through scenes or interactions, a lot of early parts in Alex and Henry's relationship happen "off screen" and are summed up within a paragraph. These short blurbs of info about Alex or Henry would have been more interesting to read in full instead of the many political conversations that occur throughout. I also found it really difficult to reconcile the descriptions of Alex's personality and goals, with his actual actions. For being described as so eager to change the world, this feels more like a buzzword to refer back to for a quick joke or to give him some blanket sense of depth and purpose that isn't supported by his behavior. I wanted to enjoy this so badly, but found myself very bored throughout most of it, and had to stop myself from skimming just to get to the scenes with Henry, Nora or June!