goodwitchclover's reviews
70 reviews

The Daily Show (the Book): An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests by Chris Smith

funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

While a bit over-reliant upon simply interviews, this is an excellent and amazingly comprehensive account of Jon Stewart’s tenure at the Daily Show. As someone who really likes and is interested in political comedy, it was a great read!

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

Not only is it a story of power and oppression, but it is an insistently human story, showcasing Snow’s frame of mind as he descends deeper and deeper into justifying his horrific actions.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

5.0

This book is like if Willy Wonky was a genuinely caring man, who approached his role as the gamemaster/“host” of the kingdom with a focus on empathy and compassion as the main drivers of his life. It’s genuinely so heartwarming.

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

If you’re able to put aside Obama’s role in the historical and modern spheres of powers as an ultimate protector of the status quo, this book is a genuinely good read. However, it stopped on a very odd point, and the lack of a second book to finish his term after over four years makes this one feel very oddly unfinished.

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

As long as you overlook the bump of Markus’ arc, Light from Uncommon Stars is a book that will reasonable with any trans person on a primal level. The motifs of music as a tool for self validation and exploration and expression are so wonderfully beautiful, and the ending sequence on the stage might be the best section of prose I’ve read in years. Please, give this book a go. It stands out in so many amazing ways.

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

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

If there could ever be a mascot for cosmic time-travel sapphic stories, this would be it! Unfortunately, it was too slow to get there to make it in time.

Love and Gravity by Ari North

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

4.0

As a sequel to Always Human, it’s certainly worthy of closing out the story. It left me wanting more, to be frank, but I think that’s my genuine connection and love for the world and the story talking more than anything.

Always Human by Ari North

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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

4.5

This is part one of one of the cutest sci-fi saphhic stories I’ve read. I love the disabled representation, and the flaws each character has are very real and personal(and also a little bit targeted!)

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

adventurous emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

I always knew Trevor was a pretty good comedian, but his genuine approach to his own life with the candor that he shows in this book was genuinely great.

The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

One of the few books to ever make me cry. This book—which, to be clear, is a true story—choses to prioritize the humanity in both of the people it tells the story of. It is such a beautifully empathetic approach to this tragedy, and I would really encourage anyone and everyone to give it a read.