eeviee's reviews
971 reviews

This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality by Peter Pomerantsev

Go to review page

informative
Quite an informative read and it surprised me how much the author knew about Philippine history. I just know this will step on some very delicate pearl-clutching hands and unstained toes.
The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin

Go to review page

emotional informative lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book is a somber telling of a grandaughter's task to travel with her grandparents to their motherland after living in Japan for 50 years due to Korea's civil war. There is something about how this book discusses age and culture that strongly resonates with me as an Asian of heavily mixed descent. Although it may be short, I think the author did well in fleshing out each character's dilemma: the gap between the granddaughter's understanding and the grandparent's experience, the language barrier that hinders their communication, and the cultural differences that render their intent lost in translation. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a light, eye-opening, and informative read.
Woom by Duncan Ralston

Go to review page

dark sad tense fast-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

2.75

Perhaps I've read too many manhwas and mangas with far more shock value than this, but somehow it made me feel increasingly dirty than creeped out. Major content warnings are provided by the author at the outset. Will be tagging them here as well. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.75

The author is right to say they have a theory about houses. There is something unique about each house, and every crevice has its own haunting. Hacienda spoke to my Filipino heart and reminded me of home, all the folktales my small town brought me up with. Although it doesn't scare nor creep as much as it perhaps intended, it did bring up some disturbing themes of classism and abuse, which is where the true horror lies. 
End of the World House by Adrienne Celt

Go to review page

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

2.5

Discombobulating
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective 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? No

5.0

A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective tense 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? It's complicated

3.75

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

Go to review page

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense 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

3.75

One word I would say about this book is that it is ambitious. It tells the story of an entire crew grappling with a seemingly ominous threat throughout their voyage, and the subsequent deaths surrounding it. The book makes use of a lot of the inconveniencies in the 1600s to further the plot. If you like And Then There Were None, you will enjoy this.
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan

Go to review page

funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

There is a lot to unpack with this book despite how easy and tongue-in-cheek it tries to sound. Our main character is a passive one -- indecisive, unsure, and most of the time, judgemental. Which is someone I wouldn't have a hard time identifying with. I'm not quite sure where I sit with this. On the one hand, it did manage to make me laugh, and the relationships in this book were tackled quite expertly. On the other, it hangs in the delicate balance between being overtly unaware of its racist remarks and just trying to represent the modern 20's edgy humor. I don't know, and I probably never will. The one thing I did like about this book was (surprisingly) Julian, and that's not saying much.