cobraforhire's reviews
167 reviews

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous dark emotional 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? No

2.0

It’s somewhat interesting. Very repetitive. If you thought the earth seed shit was boring in the first book, you’ll hate this one.

Chopsticks in The Land of Cotton: Lives of Mississippi Delta Chinese Grocers by John Jung

informative medium-paced

2.25

Poorly organized and repetitive book on a mildly interesting subject.

The Story of San Michele by axel-munthe, axel-munthe

adventurous informative mysterious fast-paced

5.0

This fucking book. 

The author is a doctor, psychiatrist, architect, classicist, animal rights advocate, diplomat, professor, patron, and can talk to goblins and gorillas in a variety of languages.

He researched rabies, hypochondria, therapeutic hypnosis, pasteurization, fought a plague, and time travels to boss his younger self around.

It’s one hell of a ride.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

It’s fun speculative world-building, but the actual story is a little ho-hum.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

North Woods by Daniel Mason

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Imagine ghosts pounding butts in your bed. Scary.

The Water Statues by Fleur Jaeggy

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

Some great sentences. Some cool, drunk snails. It’s a bit like reading a dream. What does it mean? Something, probably.

The Restaurant of Many Orders by Kenji Miyazawa

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.5

Fun little story. Good to read around a campfire maybe?

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

adventurous dark funny tense 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

4.0

This book is the reason you can pick “it’s complicated” when rating books on here. It’s more of a novelization of a death metal album cover than anything.

An Empty Room: Stories by Mu Xin

mysterious relaxing

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

3.5

A phone scammer recommended this book. I’m glad as shit that I read it.

Serotonin by Michel Houellebecq

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

A book about a man with no libido who is obsessed with sex.