cclift1114's reviews
1319 reviews

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

It was surprising how much Keegan could fit into such a short book. I felt like I was able to get to know Bill and his family and his troubles fairly well in a few short chapters. I also appreciated the hopeful note with which the book ended, given some of the serious adversities that the characters were facing. 

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Going a bit out of order, I read Revenge of the Tipping Point before this one and enjoyed some of the insights in the book. Reading this one now, it was interesting to see some of the connections and conclusions that Gladwell came upon over two decades ago. I feel that many of these are still worth considering and are intriguing, but it is important to keep in mind that some of the studies and research put forth in this book have since been shown you have been based on bad science (such as the Stanford Prison Experiment). 

A Wolf Steps in Blood by Tamara Jerée

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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 writing in this book is often incredibly beautiful, feeling more like poetry at times with how it flows. The story is also one of beauty, as Yasmine works through her doubt towards self-discovery and self-acceptance. I do feel that perhaps the story was a bit rushed, especially when it came to the romance, and would have appreciated a bit more build up and development. 

Nothing Like The Movies by Lynn Painter

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-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

3.0

I simultaneously liked this book more than the last one and was incredibly frustrated by it. It was cute, but it was somewhat maddening how long it took for Liv and Wes to find their way back to each other. 

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

4.5

I’m not sure where recommendation to read this book came from, but I think it may have been some type of “Fiction Books to Read that are Very Appropriate for the Times” list, and, if so, this book fits. It did start off a bit slow, but the very direct messaging about the patriarchy, and the perhaps slightly more subtle criticisms of capitalism, consumerism, nationalism, racism and colonialism, all of it was incredibly well done. The whole book ends up being an allegory for the dangers of following the status quo when it comes to all of these things. Also, I don’t want to give spoilers, but dang, that was one of the boldest endings for a novel I’ve seen in awhile. 

Ireland by Frank Delaney

adventurous emotional informative inspiring 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? No

4.5

Delaney’s writing (and reading, if you listen to the audiobook, which I recommend) is beautifully done in this book. In it, Ireland’s history becomes vivid and living. Delaney tells the country’s tales through the lens of a young man fascinated by these stories, and by telling his story, demonstrates how the cycle continues. I am glad to have read this after visiting Ireland as I could follow the steps of our main character and the histories told by the traveling storyteller. 

Prisoner of the Lycan Prince by Amy Pennza

dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

3.0

After reading the first book, I was afraid that anything else in this series might be an exercise in masochism. While this one wasn’t great, it was a marked improvement from the first. (I suppose that that’s not saying much, given that it could hardly get worse.) 

Anyway, there were several things that I did appreciate about this book. One, Harper actually got to have a personality as compared to Abby in the first one. I also really liked the misfit mystical creatures that lived in the maze and how they got along with Harper. The friendship between all these characters was cute and I appreciated having that and not just the romance between Harper and Einar. 

I still wasn’t a fan of how quickly the romance developed. It was rushed and felt very awkward, especially with the whole centaurs scene. I needed more of a transition period in the enemies to lovers storyline. 

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Robin Wall Kimmerer does something brilliant here again, as she did with Braiding Sweetgrass. This time, with this collection of essays, things are even more easily accessible to the reader, as she walks briefly through the idea that our society based on scarcity economics is a falsity, and that a gift economy in which we value what we receive, build community and give back in the ways we can, can be achieved. 

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

challenging dark reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

I don’t think I exaggerate when I say that this is the kind of book that could (and should) be read and discussed in literature classes because of how reflective and meaningful it is about our society. While it feels like it should be set in some dystopian future, Adjei-Brenyah constantly cuts in with asides about US history, government, law, and politics (many of them from the recent past), to remind you that this take on the prison and “justice” system isn’t such a far-fetched concept. 

Rules for Ghosting by Shelly Jay Shore

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

This book, with its unique representation for the LGBTQ community and for Jewish people, and with the fun and complications of the main character being able to see ghosts (in particular the ghost of his boyfriend’s dead husband), is cute and messy and heartwarming and just such a nice read.