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chardavidson's reviews
50 reviews
The Green Mile by Stephen King
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I had a hard time getting into this book, and I thought it was a difficult world to be thrown into at first. It was just a lot of men talking in jail. Descriptions of the different jailers and how they are all different (but pretty much the same). I kept picking the book up and putting it back down. But finally, as the story started to get going… I began liking it more and more. It became almost a drama! I loved the choices King was making and I appreciated that the book was no longer about 1 thing. Instead, it became adventurous and important and all the loose ends were tied together in the end. I’d love to see the movie, it feels like a good book to become a movie. And everyone says so! Anyways, slow getting started, but an easy finish.
Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I read this on a cruise and it was perfect for just that: light summer reading. It was fast paced and exciting, while still having those dark themes I love. Though it wasn’t of the highest quality, I loved it for what it was and I had a great time reading.
Beer in the Snooker Club by Waguih Ghali
emotional
informative
reflective
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
5.0
I am so lucky to have read this book while living in Egypt. It gave me such a new perspective of this country and the struggles they've faced. While being so specific to Egypt, Ghali also manages to discuss universal themes of angst, purpose, and activism in a beautiful, understated way. I loved this book and all the things it made me think about in my own life.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I’ve heard a lot about how this is similar to The Secret History. It is, I guess, but only if you just read descriptions of both of these books and didn’t actually read them. This book is way more lighthearted, fun, full of pop culture references. It reminded me of a Community episode that went a little deeper than normal. I loved it! I was kept at the edge of my seat the whole time. It was such a mystery, and also a great coming of age novel that had an ending I really vibed with. Yay all around!
What Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
Honestly this guy was super annoying. I respect Buddhism but it is definitely not for me. At least, not the way Khyentse describes it. He makes wild generalizations about the modern world, and I couldn’t follow his “easily digestible” analysis of the 4 truths. There are definitely some statements he can’t back up. It was far easier for me just reading Siddhartha in high school.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I liked parts of this book. Certainly the exposition is entertaining, and the given circumstances are creepy. But I think the author relies on these things too much, focusing on what we already know is there, like the little beady eyes of the animals in the manor. Little beady eyes can only go so far, when you’ve mentioned them over and over. They lose their creepiness after that... and the book loses it’s subtlety. To me, this book tries too hard to be a ghost story or a gothic novel when I often felt the author leaning towards love. That’s not a surprise, as she mentions in the description a narrative of love, but with it is her promise of a gothic novel. I think she would have done better to write what she really wanted to write, some gorgeous LGBTQ+ historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, and Sexism
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A super cool and mysterious gothic novel! So easy to get lost in. I loved the history sprinkled throughout, and the biology/botany too. I love to learn while I'm reading in a subtle way, which this book does perfectly. The plot is captivating, and there are so many beautiful descriptions of this old English house, and every so often there's a cool fact or tid bit of information that I didn't know and so very much appreciate! Major themes of green and eugenics. This book is creepy, crawly, and fascinating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
The Stand by Stephen King
adventurous
dark
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
4.5
I liked it but wow! It was a lot to get into. The pace gets quite a bit slower as you reach the middle of the book so this one took me while to finish. But, it was very comforting to pick up the book and enter a world I’ve spent time with. It’s a chaotic, dramatic, and adventurous read. I’d recommend to those with time to kill!