devan's reviews
142 reviews

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book weaves together many characters into a flawless story about generations of girls, women and people that have been “othered “. I enjoyed reading this so much! I would gladly reread this book!

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

emotional funny lighthearted 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

5.0

First, I listened to the audiobook and it was everything I love in an audiobook. It had direction and was engaging and used sound effects. The two voice actors were brilliant.

As for the actually story, it was wonderful! You can’t help but love the main character even in all her flaws. I loved the plot devices and how Angie Cruz unraveled the story. I highly recommend you read this book and I’ll go further and suggest you listen to the audiobook with a friend. 

I shook my head, laughed, smiled, cried and enjoyed the whole thing!

The Echo Maker by Richard Powers

challenging 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

1.0

This book was slow and for seemingly no reason. The premise seemed so good but I was bored from the start. Didn’t connect or even like any of the characters and the plot seemed to wind but never went anywhere.

Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky

dark inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

Thought-provoking an eloquent

Ain't Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds

fast-paced

4.75

 Beautiful work of art!

Bewilderment by Richard Powers

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Beautifully written. I loved the main characters and the sense of imagination and wonder.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

medium-paced

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

I can’t say I liked the book or hated the book. It’s not as creepy as I thought it would be or as captivating. It was rather dull and certainly the writer does not much care for women. The ending was ridiculous and ruined the whole book for me.

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

informative reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

Show Me a Sign by Ann Clare LeZotte

hopeful 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

3.5

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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

5.0

This is a beautiful and heart wrenching story. I loved the characters deeply, despite their flaws. The challenges they faced were heartbreaking. The author brilliantly passes back and forth between 3 storytellers, each voice distinctive and sad in their own way. Yet the hope and love that pushes them through is remarkable. It is not an easy read because of the hard topics it addresses but once I got into it, I could not put it down.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Child abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Addiction, Death of parent, and Islamophobia