ghess's reviews
153 reviews

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

Who put tears in my sci-fi book?

"You do not write you life with word, the monster said. You write it with actions. What you think is not important. It is only important what you do."
 

"I'm sorry for telling everyone about you mum.
I miss being your friend.
Are you okay?
I see you. 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

sad slow-paced

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

2.5

Feels like 400 pages were only an introduction.

The story is sad, there is nothing hopeful here, just pure sadness. So if you like sad stories, you may enjoy this one? Eeeeehhhhhhhh, keep in mind it was boring. 

I almost stopped reading a few times, but I had hope it would be worth as it is a pullitzer winner, but no. Not even sure I want to watch the TV series now... 

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar

emotional lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.5

A good love story told in a sci-fi environment with everything you ask for:

time-travel, meaninless war, distinct races, etc

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced

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

4.5

Books that I want my daughter to read. 

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.5

Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert

slow-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

2.5

Too slow. Felt like an introduction to a history we sadly will never read. 
The plot was cool, but damn it took too much pages for something to happen. 

How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie

informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

Nice tips and boring read. 

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.75

This was a good read. 

Cem Anos de Solidão by Gabriel García Márquez

adventurous challenging medium-paced

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

5.0

It is difficult and confusing to read but you can't put it down. 
There isn't a big plot or anything like that, it is "just" a story. Very very well crafted and told. 

There are almost no dialogues, but still you don't get tired of reading... I don't know, there is something different about this book, it has everything to be slow and boring, but is the exact opposite. 

A Philosophy of Software Design by John K. Ousterhout

informative reflective fast-paced

4.0

Good book to everyone, but specially for junior devs.
Very straight to the point, but lacks a bit on diversity of examples and they are too focused on OOP, even though they are still valid on other perspectives too. 

Overall great read.