chloemakesbooks's reviews
712 reviews

The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World by Daisy Dunn
Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.

So boring. Not actually women focused, because we don't have the history to support it. Poorly organized. 

James by Percival Everett

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Beautifully done, deep and compelling. Loved the philosophical bent and classic adventure feel. References to Voltaire and of course Twain were masterful.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.0

Light on plot, heavy on loveable characters. Cozy, but needed more worldbuilding. 

Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century by Alice Wong

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Clubland: The Fabulous Rise and Murderous Fall of Club Culture by Frank Owen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.

Couldn't keep track of who was who and frankly didn't care. 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

Incredibly saccharine but satisfying nonetheless. Rough timing, reading it the week of the election, but hopeful anyway. 

Empty Theatre by Jac Jemc

challenging emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Listened on audiobook at 1.5x. I loved the literary aspects of this- the way the entire book read like a stage play, the blending of truth and assumption, the excellent writing style (if a bit slow here and there). Definitely reminded me of The Great. Very compelling snapshot in time, richly drawn characters. I wanted a bit more context, maybe an epilogue- oddly, the only character you really get this for is Wagner, which is the only character I didn't really need it for. Excellent meditation on power, wealth, character, sexism, family, and mental health. Didn't like the very last bit; wish it had just ended ambiguously.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Drug use and Rape

Mister Magic by Kiersten White

dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

Honestly I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. It was an interesting commentary on religion and nostalgia, even if the plot didn't quite hang together. Loved that it was mysterious more than scary. I think it would have served the metaphor better if

Val been able to get her sister out of the pocket dimension.

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam M. Grant

informative fast-paced

3.0

This book was fine. The footnotes were some of the most interesting things. Ultimately a collection of aphorisms the author thought were compelling with some pop psych data to back it up. There was an unresolved underlying tension between the traditional markers of success (wealth, fame, promotion) and the intangible measures of success. 

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

Cute, laugh out loud funny. Good world building, great characters. Plot was a little thin but had a decent twist. Very enjoyable!