fjerda's reviews
33 reviews

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

The Mezzotint by M.R. James

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

a fun little story I read in a bus journey. I love the Victorian tendency toward talking to the reader so casually! 

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

‘We used to think she would turn up one day and say it had all been a test.’ Porter knows grief intimately and was able to make my chest feel heavy with a talented ease. The book is bitter and the book is hopeful. A rewarding read. 

I would recommend annotating as you read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer by Wendell Berry

funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.75

Berry, even in the 80s when he wrote was woefully and at times charmingly outdated. But he strayed too far into anti-feminist rhetoric for me, punctuated by a fair amount of bad faith arguing that gets incessant and sometimes borders on offensive. I love his poetry but not his theory, as his defensiveness takes away from his point.

The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.0

Pullman has crafted an intricate world so beautiful and sinister that I adored the read. Although perhaps not a strong as the first book in terms of plot, the descriptive language is effortlessly and incomparably luscious.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, and War

Just Kids by Patti Smith

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.25

Patti Smith writes with all her vulnerability on show and that makes the read an incredibly intimate one. She loved her world and her people so palpably that it was immediate on the page. 

The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

This short story is wonderful and heartbreaking. Wilde has a wicked wit and pulls the heartstrings while making the story compelling for children. This is a worthwhile classic.

God's Architect: Pugin and the Building of Romantic Britain by Rosemary Hill

adventurous challenging dark funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.75

Rosemary Hill has a fabulous, witty and wry voice that makes the book extremely readable despite its complex and extensive subject. Pugin is such a vivid presence and so are the other architects, adversaries and family members written about. I was so invested and I am so thrilled I got the opportunity to read about this  ridiculous, little man.

Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

I really adored this anthology. He pinwheels so quickly from extreme self hatred to god-like narcissism, it’s a sight to behold 

The Skeleton's Holiday by Leonora Carrington

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense 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? No

4.0

fun little book! weird little book! very odd.