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ellieb_reads's Reviews (186)
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Absolution is a beautifully-written, character-driven novel that wasn’t what I expected, but that I really enjoyed all the same. From the title and the description, I expected the story to center on some major transgression committed by the main characters. Instead, this was a much more subtle commentary on who we help, and how, and why. It touches on white saviorism, religion, privilege, and war, primarily through the actions of two military wives in pre-war Vietnam. Their characters are flawed and very human, and author Alice McDermott is incredibly effective in giving them a lot of depth and development. I think I would have liked the book to stay in the Vietnam setting for longer, but I was pleasantly surprised by the change in the narrative in the last third of the book.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Another Riley Sager that I read in one sitting, again because I was too spooked to go to bed without knowing the conclusion. I’m a little befuddled by the 1 and 2 star reviews on this one. Different books serve different purposes, and I, for one, don’t require literary genius from my thrillers. I just want to be entertained with solid writing and storytelling! And this was an excellent thriller, one where I thought I had it figured out multiple times, and multiple times I was wrong. There is a paranormal aspect, which is not usually my thing and is the main reason this gets 4 stars instead of 5. It does kind of come out of nowhere, and I think the plot point would have been better with a little more build up (although I may have opted not to read if it was obvious that there were ghosty themes because I am a scaredy cat). But I thought that and other unexpected twists made for a really exciting page-turner that gave me just what I was looking for - a good time.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book was very different than my typical reads, and it was a really interesting change of pace. It’s a dystopian setting, centered around food - there isn’t any with real taste left, unless you’re part of the 1%. Zhang’s descriptions of food, cooking, and eating were so gorgeously written, and I found myself regularly reflecting on how lucky I am to eat with enjoyment and not simply for survival. The book was a bit tedious at times, and there were several spots where the plot felt especially slow and I was impatient to move on. But I liked the conclusion of the book and found it very thought-provoking and emotional.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
A thriller I simply couldn’t put down - and that’s not hyperbole, I read the entire thing in one evening. I really don’t get the reviews who found this “predictable.” Maybe I’d be a terrible detective, but every time I thought I had this figured out, a new plot twist changed my mind! The main character was super interesting, and at times somewhat of an unreliable narrator, which I loved here. As Chloe is doubting the people around her, you the reader are wondering if you should be doubting her. Knocked off a star on this one because I felt Willingham’s writing was glaringly weak, and specifically very repetitive. Noticeable word choice oddities popped up often (“crank the engine,” “a tear erupted,” “snaked my arm”), and I swear she uses the word “flicker” like 100 times. Sometimes eyes are just looking, not flickering! Still, the storytelling was excellent and I thought it was a well-constructed whodunnit that kept me guessing all night.
challenging
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This was a heavy, devastating, brutal book, but one that is beautifully done and worth the emotional weight. I wasn’t expecting so much magical realism in this novel, and at first I was unsure about it. But after adjusting to it, I found it a really compelling and unique take on a story of slavery. The symbolism and imagery in the novel were very powerful, and I think I was drawn in more because to the exceptional writing, and less because of the plot or characters. There were a few points where I was confused by some characters - for example, it was a little hard to follow who was Mama, who was Aza, and who was Mama Aza. And I found the ending a little abrupt and would have liked to follow Annis for a little more time after her escape. But overall, this was a beautiful and challenging read, and I’ll be adding more from Jesmyn Ward to my reading list.
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I typically enjoy plot-driven fiction more than character-driven, but this was a really lovely book! The Vulnerables is a story about loneliness and writing, set during the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Nuñez brilliantly captures the feeling of the time and the odd things that became normal amid the uncertainty. Throughout the novel, there are quotes from famous writers that connect to reflections and observations from the narrator (who seems based on Nuñez maybe?). Not much really happens in the book, and I probably would’ve rated it lower if it had gone on for another 50 pages. But it’s a quick, emotional read, and I found myself surprisingly engaged from start to finish.