casey_larsen's reviews
168 reviews

Bride by Ali Hazelwood

adventurous dark funny 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? No

4.0

I flatout refused to read Bride for quite some time just because it's very outside my usual romance realm and the whole omega-verse aspect made me fear that it'd be too many chilly peppers for my liking, as I'm definitely a fluff > smut girly. Much to my surprise, I liked Bride almost as much as I've liked the rest of Ali Hazelwood's titles.

In total, there were only 3 (maybe 4?) graphic sex scenes, which obviously weren't my favorite, but like the rest of Hazelwood's titles, also weren't meant to be the focus of the book. I really liked that Hazelwood's main character, Misery, was a computer science gal, so even though she was a vampire, she still fits within the STEM-inist universe Hazelwood has created. I also really liked that even though the main characters were vampyres and werewolves, it wasn't so fantastical that it became the absolute main focus. It was more like a classic power struggle between 3 groups and then a "forbidden" romance involving a person who happens to need blood to survive and a person who happens to be able to shift into a wolf.

Much like Hazelwood's other books, it kept me hooked and made me laugh with the main character's zingers sprinkled throughout. I also appreciated that this one didn't have the "copy and paste" feel Love on the Brain and The Love Hypothesis had. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Bride and will continue to auto-buy Ali Hazelwood!

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.

I'm not currently in the right mood; I thought I wanted a mystery when I started, but that clearly wasn't the case. I do plan to come back and read/reread, but I also kind of want to read Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone before doing so.

Narcas: The Secret Rise of Women in Latin America's Cartels by Deborah Bonello
Did not finish book. Stopped at 27%.

Not in the right mood, but I do want to come back to it and re-listen when I'm in more of a true crime mood.

Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

I think the tagline on the cover sums it up more succinctly than I ever could, "A gay fantasia on national themes." Some of those "national themes" are covered a bit more in depth than others, namely the AIDS crisis, but those "others" are by no means diminished. Kushner does an incredible job of covering a lot of ground with not a lot of space (or time, since this is a play meant to be performed).

It does end on a sort of cliff hanger, but I'm sure it will be resolved in Part 2.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this play, and if given the opportunity, I would see it performed live. 

Our Town by Thornton Wilder

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

I had heard of Our Town before but had no idea what it was about. After both reading and watching it, I can say that I quite liked it, even though it's definitely out of my realm of what I usually gravitate towards.

The play has an overall theme of there being a fascination in the ordinary, especially when it's not one's own "ordinary." And to view everyday human life as "ordinary" and simply dismiss it is a disservice to humankind. So, take the time to look around you, add your play about an average small town and its people to a time capsule, and recognize that there is something extraordinary even in the ordinary.

My rating is based on the fact that I definitely enjoyed watching more than reading, which makes sense for a play, and the lack of diversity was a bit disheartening; however, that's easily remedied based on casting choices.

The Grip by Marcus Stroman

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-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 Grip is a semi-autobiographical book from Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman about a kid who loves baseball. But it's also a story about a kid who struggles with anxiety in the form of a jeering teammate and "assessments" that will determine his place on the baseball team. Stroman weaves a heartwarming story about a kid who overcomes the struggles of anxiety, learns the importance of mental health, and discovers what it really means to believe in yourself.

This book is best suited for 4th to 7th graders who may struggle with their own kind of anxiety, specifically those who take part in a sport or who are regularly in a competitive atmosphere. The message may be considered a bit simplistic for adults but is perfect for those just discovering the affects of the world around them and how it personally pertains to themselves.

It was very sport-centered and about a soon-to-be middle grade boy, so it wasn't the easiest book for me to personally relate to, hence the four stars, but the message was sound considering its intended audience.

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.

I waited too long to continue reading and have to restart.

Mightier than the Sword: How the News Media Have Shaped American History by Rodger Streitmatter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 55%.

I was reading this for school.

A Force for Good: How the American News Media Have Propelled Positive Change by Rodger Streitmatter
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.

I was reading this for school.

Trifles by Susan Glaspell

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I read this play for my drama literature class and enjoyed it. Even though it was written in 1916, I think the content translates well to today. Reading plays is not my favorite acitivty: I prefer to see them actually performed, but for my purposes, it was easier to just read it.

As for recommendations, I'm not sure who I would recommend to, as there aren't too many people out there reading one act plays, but it does provide a great example of female solidarity.