emilyceratops's reviews
206 reviews

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? No

4.0

Quite enjoyed reading this, particularly enjoyed seeing characters interact with each other over time. Parts made me cry, and some parts kicked me in the chest. 

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Very cute, left me wanting more!

Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So

informative lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Interesting to read about the Cambodian diaspora in America. I'm of Chinese descent and grew up in Australia, so parts were intimately relatable as an Asian kid growing up in a white country. 

I enjoy short stories as a way to get a little snapshot view into the characters' lives. I can't say I particularly liked or disliked any of the characters, but that doesn't change how I did enjoy reading all the stories.

Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

5.0

I loved this book SO much. For me, friendships have been the relationships that I've always wanted to prioritise and champion. My friends have meant so much to me, and have made me who I am and who I will be and who I have been. It's always lovely to read about how this type love can be important, when a lot of the narrative in society says that your romantic relationship is the most important. 

I don't want to have children, but I found the passages on pregnancy to be the most moving. 

Excellently written - I was already recommending the book to people before I'd finished. 

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

adventurous challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.0

I wanted to like this book more than I did. Ending felt a bit cliche, characters felt a bit flat. At times it felt like it was being sad for sadness' sake, and grotesque for the sake of being grotesque.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Car accident, and Death of parent

Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom

adventurous challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

Pretty good! Made me think a lot about death and consent after death. It was interesting to read about how different countries classify anthropodermic books. I also enjoyed discussion on the relation between doctors and patients now and in the past.

Ace: What Asexuality Reveals about Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative medium-paced

4.0

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

lighthearted mysterious slow-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? No

3.0

After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid

relaxing slow-paced

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

2.0

Just a bit boring. There were some nice bits but didn't really keep my attention, but it was an easy read. 

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional slow-paced

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

3.0

It was ok. It was a great premise but the execution was a little lacking. I didn't find the characters to be particularly three dimensional, and the plot wasn't quite exciting enough to really grab me.