Scan barcode
eggbeater's reviews
1125 reviews
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
My father and my uncles grew up in Des Moines in the 1950s, so this was a treat for me to get a better idea about how they lived back then. I definitely felt transported back in time. The writing was vivid and humorous and not always sensitive. Life in Iowa was pretty great for straight white boys without disabilities in the 50s, and that jives with what my father told me. It made me feel closer to my family. Bill Bryson obviously had a nice childhood and is very nostalgic about it, which is sometimes a relief to read about in a memoir. I'm glad somebody did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Ableism and Homophobia
The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
This thriller has a lot of insight and heart. Jasmine is an amazing character.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
This historical fiction novel was excellent! It took me a moment to adjust to the writing style and to keep track of the multiple characters and storylines, but once I really got into it, I was hooked. It was quite a harrowing story and it made me cry a couple of times because I was very attached to the characters' outcomes. It was worth it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I was a little bored until the end and it seemed pretty long.
Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
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
5.0
"It isn't just taking a life that destroys a people. It's taking their history."
This book was amazing! I was captivated by the storyteller's hypnotic prose in this Baba Yaga Russian fairy tale retelling from beginning to end. I thought the theme of generational trauma and memory was very prevalent with regard to how people are being educated in schools today.
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I found the most interesting and well written parts of this memoir to be the beginning, where RuPaul writes about his childhood, and the ending, when he writes about the person he eventually became. I was really impressed with his evolution and I wished he'd focused some more on the person he was after he became an older adult, rather than only the journey that led him to change. That person seems really fascinating.
Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders by Kathryn Miles
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25