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delightfulmayhem's reviews
82 reviews
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
This was the first western book I've read, and I was surprised at how much it got under my skin.
The story centers around a cattle drive that journeys all the way from the bottom of Texas up to Canada. You wouldn't think a cattle drive would be all that fun to read about however, in this story we've got cowboys, ranchers, cooks, farmers, horse thieves, Native Americans, sherrifs, and gunslingers. The cast of characters is diverse in both race and gender and everyone gets a good amount of screen time. This book is like a medieval fantasy quest novel set in the Old West. Larry McMurty does a phenomenal job at describing what living life during this time is like, and it was not a good time or place to live. It was nasty. He gets into the grittiness, the despair, and the drama of it so well.
The characters have so much depth. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters, Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae. These guys just don't get along, and yet they love each other and get along in the end. I loved every bit of dialogue between these two.
The only thing I did not like so much is the negativity toward Native Americans in the story and how they are branded as thieves and murderers. It made me wonder if Larry McMurty was a hater of Native Americans and Mexicans.
Keep in mind this book is rated R and does contain some content that may be triggering to some including sexual assault, misogyny, rape, death, injury detail, kidnapping, racial slurs, murder, torture, and gun violence.
Favorite Quotes:
• “If you want one thing too much it’s likely to be a disappointment. The healthy way is to learn to like the everyday things, like soft beds and buttermilk—and feisty gentlemen.”
• “If you only come face-to-face with your own mistakes once or twice in your life it’s bound to be extra painful. I face mine every day—that way, they ain’t usually much worse than a dry shave.”
• "My main skills are talking and cooking biscuits. And getting drunk on the porch."
• “You’re the only man I know whose brain don’t work unless it’s in the shade.”
• " The first difference Newt noticed about being grown up was that time didn’t pass as slow."
• “The eastern sky was red as coals in a forge, lighting up the flats along the river. Dew had wet the million needles of the chaparral, and when the rim of the sun edged over the horizon, the chaparral seemed to be spotted with diamonds. A bush in the backyard was filled with little rainbows as the sun touched the dew."
The story centers around a cattle drive that journeys all the way from the bottom of Texas up to Canada. You wouldn't think a cattle drive would be all that fun to read about however, in this story we've got cowboys, ranchers, cooks, farmers, horse thieves, Native Americans, sherrifs, and gunslingers. The cast of characters is diverse in both race and gender and everyone gets a good amount of screen time. This book is like a medieval fantasy quest novel set in the Old West. Larry McMurty does a phenomenal job at describing what living life during this time is like, and it was not a good time or place to live. It was nasty. He gets into the grittiness, the despair, and the drama of it so well.
The characters have so much depth. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters, Woodrow Call and Augustus McCrae. These guys just don't get along, and yet they love each other and get along in the end. I loved every bit of dialogue between these two.
The only thing I did not like so much is the negativity toward Native Americans in the story and how they are branded as thieves and murderers. It made me wonder if Larry McMurty was a hater of Native Americans and Mexicans.
Keep in mind this book is rated R and does contain some content that may be triggering to some including sexual assault, misogyny, rape, death, injury detail, kidnapping, racial slurs, murder, torture, and gun violence.
Favorite Quotes:
• “If you want one thing too much it’s likely to be a disappointment. The healthy way is to learn to like the everyday things, like soft beds and buttermilk—and feisty gentlemen.”
• “If you only come face-to-face with your own mistakes once or twice in your life it’s bound to be extra painful. I face mine every day—that way, they ain’t usually much worse than a dry shave.”
• "My main skills are talking and cooking biscuits. And getting drunk on the porch."
• “You’re the only man I know whose brain don’t work unless it’s in the shade.”
• " The first difference Newt noticed about being grown up was that time didn’t pass as slow."
• “The eastern sky was red as coals in a forge, lighting up the flats along the river. Dew had wet the million needles of the chaparral, and when the rim of the sun edged over the horizon, the chaparral seemed to be spotted with diamonds. A bush in the backyard was filled with little rainbows as the sun touched the dew."
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
The witty banter in this book alone brought me such joy. This book is so fun. The writing is solid and moves at a break-neck pace. The characters are very well rounded, relatable, and likable. There are enough twists to keep you reading. I haven't read anything else by Emily Henry, but it's clear that she has a very good understanding of this genre. The only thing that stops me from giving this book 5 stars, which doesn't have anything to do with the book or the story. It was just a very fluffy read for me. Again, it's not a bad thing. I enjoyed the read, I just didn't feel connected with it on a deeper level. That being said, this book does encourage me to explore Emily Henry's other works.
Favorite Quotes:
• “Maybe love shouldn’t be built on a foundation of compromises, but maybe it can’t exist without them either. Not the kind that forces two people into shapes they don’t fit in, but the kind that loosens their grips, always leaves room to grow. Compromises that say there will be a you-shaped space in my heart, and if your shape changes, I will adapt. No matter where we go, our love will stretch out to hold us, and that makes me feel like … like everything will be okay.”
• "That's the thing about women. There's no good way to be one. Wear your emotions on your sleeve, and you're hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn't have to tend to them and you're a heartless bitch."
• “The last-page ache. The deep breath in after you’ve set the book aside.”
• “I read once that sunflowers always orient themselves to face the sun. That’s what being near Charlie Lastra is like for me. There could be a raging wildfire racing toward me from the west and I’d still be straining eastward toward his warmth.”
• “A reminder that there are things in life so valuable that you must risk the pain of losing them for the joy of briefly having them.”
• “A good bookstore,” Charlie says, “is like an airport where you don’t have to take your shoes off.”
Favorite Quotes:
• “Maybe love shouldn’t be built on a foundation of compromises, but maybe it can’t exist without them either. Not the kind that forces two people into shapes they don’t fit in, but the kind that loosens their grips, always leaves room to grow. Compromises that say there will be a you-shaped space in my heart, and if your shape changes, I will adapt. No matter where we go, our love will stretch out to hold us, and that makes me feel like … like everything will be okay.”
• "That's the thing about women. There's no good way to be one. Wear your emotions on your sleeve, and you're hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn't have to tend to them and you're a heartless bitch."
• “The last-page ache. The deep breath in after you’ve set the book aside.”
• “I read once that sunflowers always orient themselves to face the sun. That’s what being near Charlie Lastra is like for me. There could be a raging wildfire racing toward me from the west and I’d still be straining eastward toward his warmth.”
• “A reminder that there are things in life so valuable that you must risk the pain of losing them for the joy of briefly having them.”
• “A good bookstore,” Charlie says, “is like an airport where you don’t have to take your shoes off.”
Where Winter Finds You by J.R. Ward
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? Yes
3.0
As much as I love the BDB series, I did not particularly enjoy this [Christmas Special] novella as much as the other books. I'm glad that we got a good wrap-up to this couples story that was so tragic in their earlier book. However, I was just not moved by this book. The concept of their romance is beautiful, but the way it was executed was dull. There was more dialogue that seemed to drone on rather than any actual events happening. Nonetheless, it was still a nice read knowing that Trez got his happy ending.
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to love this book so much. The beautiful cover art was what initially attracted me along with the magical title. The book description captivated me as soon as I read it. So many things grabbed me in the synopsis: "seductive magical underworld," "power-hungry scholars," "fickle gods and family curses." Yes! Sign me up!
Unfortunately, I found that the story lacked in a few major areas. The world building was minimal and written in a sort of ethereal style, which was very beautiful and poetic but made it hard to feel interested in what was happening. I was disappointed that the main character, Violet, never stood out or took a firm shape in her personality. The romance was rushed and was more of an undertone throughout the book. It felt a lot like being lured by a small, wilted carrot.
Overall, I wasn't moved by the story and really struggled to finish it but it wasn't a bad book.
Unfortunately, I found that the story lacked in a few major areas. The world building was minimal and written in a sort of ethereal style, which was very beautiful and poetic but made it hard to feel interested in what was happening. I was disappointed that the main character, Violet, never stood out or took a firm shape in her personality. The romance was rushed and was more of an undertone throughout the book. It felt a lot like being lured by a small, wilted carrot.
Overall, I wasn't moved by the story and really struggled to finish it but it wasn't a bad book.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
4.0
One of my favorite things about this book is the relationship between Will and Louisa. I went into this book expecting it to be a romance book and though there were romantic aspects in the story, it is more about two completely different people from two very different worlds being put together to share life experiences. The friendship that developed between the two was so beautiful, and I love how much they grew on each other. The funny thing is , it wasn't until about halfway through the book, during the scene where Will gifts Louisa the striped tights, is when I made the connection to the movie. The rest of the book wasn't the same for me after that. Not in a bad way, but since I saw the movie ages ago, I kept relating back to it as I read, and I did enjoy the first half where I was in the dark more. Either way, I highly recommend it.
The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Blood Traitor by Lynette Noni
adventurous
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? No
5.0
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book is about a young woman named Daphne, who is stranded in beautiful new city without friends or family, working a dream job as a children's librarian (that barely pays the bills). She finds herself drawn to the charming, chaotic Miles, who seems to be the perfect antidote to her buttoned-up personality. With their unlikely friendship blossoming, they concoct a plan to present a perfect facade to the world, but as they spend more time together, the lines between reality and deception begin to blur. 'Funny Story' is a perfect fit for readers who adore lighthearted, humorous, and emotional romance novels with a touch of wit, particularly those who enjoy forced proximity, fake dating, and friends-to-lovers tropes, and are looking for a joyful and uplifting love story.
Favorite quotes:
-“You can't force a person to show up, but you can learn a lesson when they don't."
-“Life’s short enough without us talking ourselves out of hope and trying to dodge every bad feeling. Sometimes you have to push through the discomfort, instead of running.”
-“Things go smoother if you don’t let people get a rise out of you,” he says. “If you give them control over how you feel, they’ll always use it.”
-“You can’t untell someone your secrets. You can’t unsay those delicate truths once you learn you can’t trust the person you handed them to.”
Favorite quotes:
-“You can't force a person to show up, but you can learn a lesson when they don't."
-“Life’s short enough without us talking ourselves out of hope and trying to dodge every bad feeling. Sometimes you have to push through the discomfort, instead of running.”
-“Things go smoother if you don’t let people get a rise out of you,” he says. “If you give them control over how you feel, they’ll always use it.”
-“You can’t untell someone your secrets. You can’t unsay those delicate truths once you learn you can’t trust the person you handed them to.”