frozencusser's reviews
289 reviews

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

2.0

Books like this are why I avoid realistic fiction. This story tracks decades of two people being absolutely horrible to each other while they make video games. The video games and concepts are described in a way as if the reader had never played a video game before yet the context-free vocabulary usage was extremely high level. There's only one kind, redeeming character and

they kill him off

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World by William H. McRaven

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challenging tense fast-paced

1.0

Heavy boot-licking boomerisms with a sprinkling of Christian Supremacy. At least they didn't use the word "warfighter" I'm glad it was short.

Deathworld 1 by Harry Harrison

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adventurous fast-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

This book felt like video game writing but without much character development. The main character seemed to be omniscient. Definitely fails the Bechtel test but likely passes the Sexy Lamp test as the lone identified female character has a role (but just happens to be the one that can't suppress their emotions).

Content Warnings

Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers

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adventurous informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An entry in the legendary "Big Giant Thing" genre of books set in Chambers' already rich universe. THere's an exploration of Not-Luxury, Gay Space Communism and what that might look like.

The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going by Ryan P. Burge

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challenging informative medium-paced

4.0

A Blink of the Screen: Collected Shorter Fiction by Terry Pratchett

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adventurous funny mysterious 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? N/A

5.0

This collection of stories was wonderful. It introduced new characters and worlds as well as told new stories from the Discworld characters that I love.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

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dark emotional reflective sad tense

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

1.0

I expected this to be a long-running analogy of the different parts of motorcycle maintenance and how they influenced one's personal philosophy. The author gives up on the analogy about 1/3 into the book. Instead he does a lot of complaining about "people." The author also does some classic boomer-style authoritative parenting and paints his child as whiny and uncooperative. There is an obsession with the concept of "quality" while being determined to not define what that means; I specifically dislike trying to re-define a common word to fit into a vague philosophical outline. The author treats a college class about ancient Greek philosophers as if it was some king of riveting debate that could cause someone real harm; the climax of the book is a lecture. This is the worst book that I have finished in a long time. Only the interspersed plot of a western adventure and the endorsement of author John Green kept me going. Now I'm re-evaluating what book recommendations I take from him.

Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites by Evan Dorkin

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-paced