doogsley's reviews
142 reviews

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

adventurous challenging funny 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

5.0

what can i possibly say? this is the unassuming and diminutive bilbo baggins’ baptismal adventure, a journey about overcoming and growing through both physical and psychological danger, told from one of the greatest voices in literature. soothing, charming, and simple in the best ways. and the poetry!! what a treat.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

dark emotional informative tense slow-paced

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

3.75

this story balances both dense academic literature and engaging storytelling masterfully. somehow, the massive amount of historical backtracking and linguistic research is delivered with vibrance, like your favorite professor lecturing their passion. rf kuang is clearly well-studied and filled to the brim with a white-hot justice, which i kneel towards.

however, i wish this book leaned a lil deeper into magical than historical. the magic was wedged into an already established history, rather than playing on its own inspired field. this led to some of the storytelling and worldbuilding feeling… mm, lazy, maybe? (eg: the industrial revolution is now… the silver industrial revolution!) i would've loved to see more play re: the silver magic system. another side-effect of this awkward shoehorning is how the characters ended up feeling too allegorical, rather than living beings. shocking things occurred and i didn't shed a tear - i felt witness to a paper dolls dancing on a stage. an important and sharp stage, for sure; it's just so heavy-handed at times.

the premise of babel is brilliant, especially as a linguist enthusiast. i adored the long-winded monologues of history and etymology. the lessons told are potent and relevant and powerful; i was constantly nodding along with kuang's mindsets and ethos woven throughout the story, especially the commentary on translation itself. the last 10% of the book was brilliant and heart-wrenching. i am glad i read it - it’s a a page turner and well-written - and will recommend it readily. but, PHEW. i wish the execution was a bit more nuanced. it'll be perfect on the screen!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.0

to anyone who Doesn't Get this book, its impact on the hunger games story, or why it was important to tell... do Not talk to me ✋ 

Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club by Roselle Lim

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

fun n fluffy! 💕 sweet n sugary magical realism featuring a quirky and vibrant cast. i wish everything was just slightly more in focus; the book got a lil too silly at times and completely took me out of the narrative during more solemn moments. the last 15% of the book truly flabbergasted me in the worst ways with super unsatisfying conclusions. however, this book features one of my favorite storytelling ingredients: delicious and dreamy paragraphs of food!! the word-painting was the strongest suit of the story. a lil palette cleanser for venusians.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

a thoughtful and complex character study on blundering, complicated, grieving humans, and how the little things can create magical momentum in the face of the (painful, achingly slow) mundane. plus a curmudgeonly and wise octopus! charming charming charming!! 🥹🐙💕 highly recommended for those who enjoyed the house on the cerulean sea. very similar vibes.

The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland - For a Little While by Catherynne M. Valente

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward by Britt Frank

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

springtime is always when self-help books start calling to me again. 🌼 i tend to err on the side of spiritual, but i decided to consult a more science-based read after a particularly ugly bout of seasonal affective disorder.

“stuck” is a motif that haunts me, and i feel like this book gave good insight as to Why it’s happening and some novel ideas on How to break the cycles. there’s also exercises at the end of each chapter, which seem useful to those who don’t do a lot of shadow work. there’s nothing superduper groundbreaking here, but it appeared to me in the right place at the right time.

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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

a delightful neurodivergent-coded “kind but never nice” fmc, a grumpy howlesque mmc, a lovable n funky side-cast, rolling regency-era banter, all inside a cozy faerie tale romantasy.

despite the conflicts, the story ends up feeling quite calm and grounded. this was a super easy and quick read, but i wonder how often i’ll think about this story. best enjoyed while listening to ghibli music with an extra big mug of tea.

Witch Baby by Francesca Lia Block

adventurous emotional 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

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.25

i was in a perpetual state of bleary-eyed happy tears for the last 70 pages of this book. such a sweet story, very thoughtful and kind and whimsical narrative, a modern bookish willy wonka. some may claim that this story is a predictable retelling - and perhaps it is - but i thoroughly enjoyed the ride and its tender aesops. highly recommended for big dreamers and people who wish during 11:11.