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howifeelaboutbooks's reviews
1772 reviews
Annie Bot by Sierra Greer
dark
emotional
informative
tense
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? It's complicated
3.0
Read this one in about a day - couldn’t stop turning pages to find out what might happen. I didn’t know what Annie might do at any given moment so it really kept me on the edge of my seat.
A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Read for Cozy Mystery Book Club and really drawn in by the sassy, independent heroine. I’m picky about historical fiction and wasn’t sure how this one was going to hit me but I think the historical elements were just enough to keep the story in a specific place in time while letting the characters and mystery shine. Looking forward to reading more of this series.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
4.0
This has been required reading for me in both high school and college. This time around, however, I was old enough and involved enough to actually understand and appreciate this book. So while I hated it in high school, my feelings have changed. It's very powerful, and I can respect and comprehend more of the history. The story, overall, is so fascinating that I had to research the actual events that inspired Morrison to write this. Reading it in a classroom setting helped me understand it, but it was so emotional that it will definitely be one I read again for pleasure. A true classic.
The Song Is You by Arthur Phillips
5.0
The tension is what this book centers around, and it's enough to make you hold your breath and hope for the best. But also, Phillips writes about music, and does it very well. I haven't read every novel ever written about music, but I've read a lot, and only a few were actually worth anything. Phillips portrays music honestly, without painting the songwriter as an Adonis or glorifying the groupie side of things. He focuses on the true grit of the music, the passion behind it, the passion created from hearing it.
The Sunset Limited: A Novel in Dramatic Form by Cormac McCarthy
4.0
This book was written in the style of a play, which was very effective because the dialogue was strong; I think including too much prose about setting and actions would have detracted from what was being said. As it is, the subject matter the two men were talking about was very deep, and there were a handful of times I had to put down the book and just think about what was revealed to me. I highly recommend this, though McCarthy and this style might not be as enjoyable to every reader.
The Wednesday Sisters: A Novel by Meg Waite Clayton
3.0
The story was enjoyable, but there was far too much backstory. The main speaker jumped around a lot from past events, to referencing present times or what she knows now, then going back to the past event. It disrupted the story a lot; it probably would have been a more enjoyable read if it was straight-forward chronological.
There was also a bit too much history, and that took away from the story. I found myself getting caught up in the story, then the next chapter would start by announcing the year, what the president was up to, what women were fighting for, etc. While I see how it contributed to the story, the author should figure her readers are smart enough to know any cultural references thrown in without having to explain them.
That being said, I did like the book. It was a bit long, a bit wordy (with the historical details), but parts of it made me cry, and parts were so beautifully written they took my breath away. The story stands strong but is not really unique, and it is written in a way that makes it hard to really identify with the characters. I had a hard time keeping their names matched with their personalities.
There was also a bit too much history, and that took away from the story. I found myself getting caught up in the story, then the next chapter would start by announcing the year, what the president was up to, what women were fighting for, etc. While I see how it contributed to the story, the author should figure her readers are smart enough to know any cultural references thrown in without having to explain them.
That being said, I did like the book. It was a bit long, a bit wordy (with the historical details), but parts of it made me cry, and parts were so beautifully written they took my breath away. The story stands strong but is not really unique, and it is written in a way that makes it hard to really identify with the characters. I had a hard time keeping their names matched with their personalities.