eddiemylove's reviews
74 reviews

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Oh wow. This one was tough. 

the parallels of Candy and his old dog being shot. How he wishes he could have been the one to do it. And Lennie and George- sickening, actually.

I almost wish there had been more time given to the characters but the writing is so concise that's kind of the appeal too. Very good one. 

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White

adventurous dark 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

4.75

I don't usually read YA but man this book. It's the first time I've ever felt really seen in a book in a few ways. With Benji's transness and ability to be himself and his struggles with faith and the community that was supposed to love him. And with Nick, being openly autistic to his friends but still struggling to unmask around them, this need to be a pillar of strength to those he loves most. 
This book was incredible intense and honestly made me anxious to read during some points but I found it captivating. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Gore

Moderate: Domestic abuse

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed this one! I just personally found Elin's jumping between basically opposite conclusions every other chapter a little exhausting and for me it made it hard to like her but! I liked the ending, though it did feel a little rushed 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Rape

To Pray as a Jew: A Guide to the Prayer Book and the Synagogue Service by Hayim Halevy Donin

challenging informative slow-paced

3.0

This wasn't the most interesting one for me but it was very well researched and detailed in the complexities of Jewish prayer. I'm still glad I read it

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman

adventurous funny medium-paced

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

5.0

This is the second time I've read this one and I love it a lot. 

Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life - In Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) by Sarah Hurwitz

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

I absolutely loved this one. The author's voice really spoke to me and, as someone very early on in conversion, it really confirmed to me that this is my path. Hurwitz is an incredible writer and everything about this book means so much to me. I can't wait to have it on my shelf. 

This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

adventurous emotional 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? No

4.25

I feel like this is one I would need to read more than once to fully get. The world building is a little confusing especially with how the book is formated to not include a lot of our protagonists in their own element. We have a basic idea though and that's really all we need. Blue and Red are so different from one another it's so fascinating how they connect and love eachother so deeply then. 
I LOVED the format of the letters back and forth. I think it really makes it so easy for the reader to see themselves in both Red, the overly paranoid solider at the top in the Agency who is incredibly lonely deep down, and Blue, the softer and more introspective of the two who is also lonely but is also able to find beauty in things like literature and art in this world. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

relaxing 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

The slowest slow burn I have ever read!

The Little Book of Jewish Celebrations by Ronald Tauber

informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.5

This one was a very easy to grasp look at all the holidays and life events in Judaism! I really appreciate the organized structure of it and the illustrations were just so pleasant too!

What Do Jews Believe? by Edward Kessler

informative medium-paced

4.0

Very informative! My favorite parts were the quotes and little stories in between.