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crusoe's reviews
181 reviews
Het toevallige leven van Justin Case by Jenny de Jonge, Meg Rosoff
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
In the category: Can middle aged women stop writing about the sexuality of teenage boys, please?!
This is a very strange novel. But aside from some neat prose, it isn't a very good one. The way the book has been written also dates it tremendously; not because the events of the book link it to a specific time but because of the way it talks about Justin's mental health and the occasional homophobic joke.
All in all, this is pretty much a nothing burger of a read.
This is a very strange novel. But aside from some neat prose, it isn't a very good one. The way the book has been written also dates it tremendously; not because the events of the book link it to a specific time but because of the way it talks about Justin's mental health and the occasional homophobic joke.
All in all, this is pretty much a nothing burger of a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Car accident, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Vomit, and Medical content
Jagersgoud by Philip Reeve
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
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
Predator's gold isn't as good as mortal engines, mainly because the world-building was so damn compelling in the first part!
However, this story is still very solid with great (new) characters, fun twists and turns in the plot(Hester being Valentine’s daughter! Tom being shot by Polei!!) and some rich new information about the world.
I especially liked the detail of Uncle's network and the rise of the Green Storm. I need to get my hands on the 3rd and 4th part so I can continue living in this world for a little while.
However, this story is still very solid with great (new) characters, fun twists and turns in the plot
I especially liked the detail of Uncle's network and the rise of the Green Storm. I need to get my hands on the 3rd and 4th part so I can continue living in this world for a little while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Slavery, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Vomit and Death of parent
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Not the most interesting classic book I've listened to this year but it's a neat little insight into ancient warfare.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I like Sense and Sensibility less than Pride and Prejudice but more than Emma which is slightly tedious.
In general, I love the twists and turns of Austen's novels. However, the unexpectedmarrying of Lucy to robbert was a bit much. I also think this specific novel might have benefitted from a unhappy ending for the sisters to showcase how their flaws prevent them from finding happiness.
In general, I love the twists and turns of Austen's novels. However, the unexpected
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
4.75
Dagboek van een halve indiaan by Sherman Alexie
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? No
3.5
I DEVOURED this book. It's a fairly short and easy read, and feels like a mix between diary of a wimpy kid (for a slightly older audience) and more serious middle grade books like the Perks of being a wallflower.
There's a really good balance between the awkward lighthearted shenanigans that inevitably come with being a teen and the frictions that arise from being poor, native American and (initially) kind of a loser. The main character knows really well how to put his frustrations into words while also not wanting to be stuck in the condition he finds himself in.
There's a really good balance between the awkward lighthearted shenanigans that inevitably come with being a teen and the frictions that arise from being poor, native American and (initially) kind of a loser. The main character knows really well how to put his frustrations into words while also not wanting to be stuck in the condition he finds himself in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content and Car accident
Summerland by Hannu Rajaniemi
challenging
mysterious
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
3.5
I adore the worldbuilding of Summerland; its strange technologies and mathematical/geometric architecture, the way the dead have built their own society... I just couldn't care less about the plot.
Let me be frank: I have never liked warstories and a coldwar spy mystery just does not keep me entertained. Because of this, the characters and eventual 'twist' with CAMLANN fell flat. It's a personal preference but I would've preferred to see the story set in a different time.
Let me be frank: I have never liked warstories and a coldwar spy mystery just does not keep me entertained. Because of this, the characters and eventual 'twist' with CAMLANN fell flat. It's a personal preference but I would've preferred to see the story set in a different time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Terminal illness and Torture
Minor: Alcoholism
The Adventure Zone: The Suffering Game by Griffin McElroy, Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy
adventurous
dark
funny
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
I adore this series; both the podcast and the graphic novels, and the graphic novels are such a beautiful and creative adaptation that allow me to relive the whole story.
That said, I think this arc may be weaker than the previous ones. Idk, it's been a while since I've listened to the podcast but it feels like parts of the suffering game were skipped to place more emphasis onthe grand reveal of the hunger . It makes sense why but it feels like I'm missing out on some fun mechanics of the game.
That said, I think this arc may be weaker than the previous ones. Idk, it's been a while since I've listened to the podcast but it feels like parts of the suffering game were skipped to place more emphasis on
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Grief
Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wayward son is kind of a shit sequal.
The bigges issue is that the original appeal of this series is a) the fun magical world that doesn't take itself too seriously and b) Baz' and Simon's relationship. This sequel doesn't give us enough of either.
Instead, Wayward Son feels like patting between book one and book three. I enjoy the discussion of the fallout on everyone's (mental) health and the relationship troubles of Simon and Baz, but Rainbow: where's the plot, love? There isn't any! And the book takes forever to get to the sliver of plot it has. It's very unsatisfying and makes that I don't really want to read the third book (even if I'll probably try because 'in for a penny, in for a pound').
The bigges issue is that the original appeal of this series is a) the fun magical world that doesn't take itself too seriously and b) Baz' and Simon's relationship. This sequel doesn't give us enough of either.
Instead, Wayward Son feels like patting between book one and book three. I enjoy the discussion of the fallout on everyone's (mental) health and the relationship troubles of Simon and Baz, but Rainbow: where's the plot, love? There isn't any! And the book takes forever to get to the sliver of plot it has. It's very unsatisfying and makes that I don't really want to read the third book (even if I'll probably try because 'in for a penny, in for a pound').
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, and Murder
Coffee and Summoning Circles by AuthorShen
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Coffee and summoning circles is a perfectly solid collection of short stories. While there's a throughline of stories focused on coffee and magic, stories are very diverse and the tone shift between them can be extreme at times.
This was a fun read with neat LGBTQ+ and disability rep which makes it a good choice when you have an hour or two to spare.
This was a fun read with neat LGBTQ+ and disability rep which makes it a good choice when you have an hour or two to spare.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death and War