graywild's reviews
680 reviews

Schrader's Chord by Scott Leeds

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-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? No

4.0

4 records played at the same time open a gate to the dead.  Bad news is if you play them then you start seeing dead people and maybe marked yourself for something bad.  Generally a great concept for a story and it is well paced. Ending is satisfying and not rushed.  Overall a good recommendation.

The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Listed as retelling of Rapunzel but it is really the story of Heloise who is a sorceress. She lives in a small village and her mother has died.  Her father is terrible and sometimes she has visions.  She eventually leaves to consult an elderly woman who lives in a tower named Gothel.  The actual part of Rapunzel doesn't appear until the very end of the book.  It was just ok for me.  Maybe a vacation read.

The Bog Wife by Kay Chronister

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

When I was about halfway through I was leaning toward a rating of 3 but the more the story went on it just went no where.  Weird family in a broken down house in West Virginia bordering on a hoarding situation.  Listed as horror but nothing really happened until the last 1/3 and even that was not really horror for me.  Don't waste your time.

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

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Memoir by Trevor Noah about his life growing up in apartheid South Africa.  He grew up very poor and was considered colored (not black or white).  He did a great job of explaining the very complicated system of South African apartheid and I do feel like I have a better understanding of some of the subtle issues in a complicated system.  Highly recommend.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

Part historical fiction/part ghost story.  Story of 12 year old Robert who is sent to a reformatory school (actually a prison farm) in 1950s Florida for kicking a white boy during a fight.  Lots of abuses and beatings as a power trip.  Twist in the story is that Robert can see ghosts of boys whose deaths at the prison were hidden.  Well paced and a clever way to tell the story of an abusive prison system. Recommend. 

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Retelling of the Island of Dr Moreau but from the story of his daughter Carlota. Generally good concept as the original is good.  Ending up be just ok for me.  Recommend as a vacation read. 

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham

adventurous challenging dark informative sad tense medium-paced

3.75

I am a big fan of space program in general and closely followed the shuttle program.  I was watching the launch live and certainly traumatic.  I know the program held alot of secrets but I was shocked at how early potential life-threatening problems were identified and subsequently ignored.  More politics around NASA than I realized.  Of course businesses want to make money and management decisions ignored potential disasters.  The book is science/tech heavy so if that turns you off probably don't read.  If you like space exploration I recommend.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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? No

3.5

7 students are transported to a castle via a magic mirror.  Each student has stopped going to school for a variety of reasons.  All have struggles with their mental health.  The story is fairly complicated and I don't want to give away any spoilers.  Over the course of a year they learn to open up and shared friendship with each other.  A decent story and the ending was not necessarily something I saw coming.  Recommend.

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

0.25

This is such a bad story.  None of the characters having any redeeming qualities.  The main 3 characters basically are a small cult.  Author seems to be obsessed with sex - sexual assault, sexual problems, obsession with breeding.  Ending was so odd - cannibalism not on my radar with all the other weird stuff going on.  Definitely don't recommend.

The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Great behind the scenes view of the TV show.  The book is a series of interviews will the major cast and important guest stars.  Also included are the creators, producers and writers of the show.  Pretty big fan of the show and there were alot of interesting insights scattered throughout the book.  Nice touch to have candid photographs taking by the cast.  Recommend for fans of the show.