frugal_library's reviews
145 reviews

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

I am so in awe of Susanna Clarke's ability to paint a picture and create a world. Each room, statue, and tide was described so clearly that you could feel it. So much of this story lives inside Piranesi's own mind, and in his writing, so it's very easy to feel connected with him because it's all written in such an intimate way. 

Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas

emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

I didn't get it at first. This book is about being Black, queer, and religious in America and I am only one of the three. The way Thomas writes feels like you're listening to a good friend tell a story, which made it all feel digestible, even if the stories weren't about something I can personally relate to.  There were parts that really stuck with me, like the anecdote about the gay baseball team. Most significant though, was the final chapter about pride. The whole thing felt a little despairing and melancholy, but when you make it to the end, you really do see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thomas and I have a couple things in common: first, that Whitney Houston is the groundwork for most good things, and second, that maybe there is some hope that this world could be better some day. 

Meet Me in Atlantis: My Quest to Find the 2,500-Year-Old Sunken City by Mark Adams

adventurous informative slow-paced

2.5

Either this book was really boring, or I was just not in the right headspace to really get into it. I may have been slightly ambitious embarking upon this journey, considering I don't particularly like most nonfiction. This was a lot more math and science and less fantasy and myth, so I think that's what really threw me. I ended up skimming a lot of it to get it over with, but maybe I'll do more research and revisit it someday with more intention. 

Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jenn Bigelow

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.25

I went into this thinking that a sweet little book about a family that lives on a farm would make me happy. I was right, but I was also very wrong. This book has a happy ending, but there are some parts that were difficult to read. The way that this book is written means that it's not super descriptive about the hard things, but you feel very connected with Hazel and how she processes the big events in her life. Bigelow writes about some very hard subjects (tw: miscarriage, minor mentions of transphobia and suicide) in a way that is digestible for younger readers while still being honest. My heart was breaking for Hazel pretty much cover to cover. That being said, the undertone here is one of hope and love. Would recommend for the young and the young at heart. 

The Backstagers #1 by Rian Sygh, James Tynion IV

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious 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

4.5

This was really cute! My inner high school theatre kid loved everything about it and I'm absolutely going to continue with the series. 

Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin

inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Wow this was cute. If you're a fan of cheesy rom-coms, this is the book for you. It follows the typical "they fall in love, happy times, third act breakup, grand gesture, happily ever after" thing, but honestly I'm not mad about it. I was more mad about the main character (who owns a bookstore!!) genuinely hating books. Once she explained why then it made sense, but it was still a major thing about her that annoyed me. Elsie was actually the best character and you can't change my mind. 

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown

challenging emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

I don't think this book fits into 2023, but it was wildly ahead of its time for the 70s. A very large percentage of Rubyfruit Jungle was genuinely uncomfortable to read. Slurs left and right, racism, homophobia, the whole 9 yards. All that being said, I think that it's an important work and it deserves the place it holds on the shelf of queer classics. 

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The main character of this novel is an asexual Lipan Apache girl who can talk to ghosts. What an absolute wildcard of a character. I've never read anything like this before, and I don't have a lot of additional knowledge about the Lipan Apache people. I do know that a lot of Indigenous tribes have incredibly strong connections to both nature and their ancestors, which made every magical, mystical second of this book feel so real. The fact that this was Darcie Little Badger's fricking debut is astounding to me. 

Giant Days, Vol. 1 by John Allison

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found this whole story kind of dull, but I'm not opposed to reading more of the series. I think it's a really good depiction of how college students act and think, even if it could've been a little more interesting.

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

emotional hopeful sad medium-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

4.25

TJ, you've done it again. My poor fragile heart can only take so many of these stories. The relationship was so beautiful, but that was largely second to how dynamic and vibrant every single character was. Even the tea shop patrons had stories and development. This book was so good at making you fall in love with all the characters and then ripping your heart out one by one as they go on their journeys. Also makes you think about death and dying a lot, so be prepared for that.