emma7377's reviews
42 reviews

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

From the first few pages you immediately feel so much empathy for Charlie. I was on the verge of tears many times throughout and sobbed at the end!! This is one of those books that makes you really care for its characters and miss them when you finish it. 

The book is a series of Charlies reports, documenting his experience during and after the experiment as his intelligence begins to grow. The gradual progression of his grammar and language in these is perfect! I loved how his entries slowly became these really beautiful and insightful reflections that reminded me a little bit of Good Will Hunting and that famous speech Robin Williams gives. 

In my top 3 modern classics for sure!!!

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

4.75

oh how i longed to give dorian gray a hard slap and long talking to

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

5.0

cant believe its taken me so long to read this

i understand why people say its slow and i guess thats true, it is slow BUT slow does not equal uninteresting. i honestly loved all 500+ pages of it.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i only partly agree with the overall philosophy but it was mostly just the main character’s personality and the way he viewed the world which was really interesting to me. he was also at times quite relateable. 

this book also prompted me to search up the last guillotine execution in france AND IT WAS 1977??!?!!! WHAT THE FUCK??!?!!

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

As I was reading I kept on forgetting that this was published in 1951. The way he describes women and their struggles feels so unlike other 20th century books written by men that I have read. A good example is 1984. The way john windham writes women is nothing like that. The narratar doesnt even initially see his love interest as a love interest, seeing her for who she is. They are first and foremost companions, not lovers. Also Bill is just truely empathetic and human, but also is very logical I think, which makes his perspective so satisfying to hear. I love him. 

Also two thirds through I switched to audiobook so I could multitask and there is one on youtube which I would really recommend narrated by Sam West. He’s so good.

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

i love my bible fan fiction

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark reflective slow-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

confused by the pacing of this one but I liked it regardless 
more importantly, anne hathaway is playing rebecca in the movie adaptation and i’m SO excited

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

tragically beautiful

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

theres always one shit book in even the most amazing trilogies thats all i’ll say

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

adventurous dark emotional sad 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? Yes

4.75

suzanne collins is a genius and anyone who tells you differently probablly just hates teenage girls 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️