iisrobot's reviews
125 reviews

Une forme de vie by Amélie Nothomb

dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.75

This kind of gave me IJBOL-itis. What was even going on 😭

The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

dark funny inspiring tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Fantasy has had a few misses for me lately. This was so good. It starts slow, because the direction is a little unclear. But then, the direction becomes unclear at the halfway point and thats when it just blows you out of the water. It was way too good. Very plot focused, the author was really good at telling instead of showing in a fascinating way. I had reservations about how he wrote women (still do), but he makes up for a lot of it after the halfway point. VERY excited to see where this will go, because it could go anywhere.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

5.0

Crying. It's simply too good. This is my third read-through. It feels like home.

One Day in December by Josie Silver

emotional lighthearted relaxing sad fast-paced

3.0

The book ended up winning me over, but the male pov was really cringe. The ending was a bit abrupt and lame. The oscar marriage was a bit unbelievable... The fact that her job is one of the main factors keeping her from moving to Brussels with him, but all she does is whine about it ijbol. Highlight was the friendship between Laurie and Sarah. 

Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion

funny sad medium-paced

4.5

They should add a mood called "vibey" because sometimes this book was vibey. Immediately want to reread the end took me by surprise. I'll let it sit a little, but will probably pick it up again next year. With a bookmark this time hopefully! 

Mon coeur à l'étroit by Marie NDiaye

tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Excellent livre. Il est difficile à déposer quand on lit, mais également difficile à reprendre quand on le lit pas. Je l'ai largement préféré à La vengeance m'appartient. On a vraiment très peu de réponses et le fantastique surréel vient s'installer on ne distingue pas le vrai du faux.

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.25

This takes what was good about My Best Friend's exorcism and takes it to another level. I just loved how Hendrix mixed the personal with the horror. It worked really well. Puppet/doll horror is not something I've ever read about. It was a fun ride.

The Angel Maker by Alex North

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The ending kind of ruined it for me. There was one question that barely got answered. One of the twists regarding the brother was also a biiiit contrived (even if you can see it coming a little). That being said, the mysteries were really fun and there were so many of them.

My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

medium-paced

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

2.75

Oscillated a lot between mid and good. There was some stalling and I had a trouble really assimilating the urgency of the matter. The ending weirdly made me almost cry.

Femmes silencieuses by Cristina Vanciu

emotional sad

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

5.0

Cinq étoiles qui se donnent facilement à un livre qui contient tant en si peu. Le style d'écriture est fortement saccadé ; je n'ai jamais vraiment rien lu de la sorte. Rappelant la poésie par moment, ce choix stylistique permet à la fois de décrire les tablées de manière imagée et les émotions vécues par la personnage principale de manière crue et poignante. Une autre grande partie du narratif provient également d'échanges par textos, qui bien que toujours saccadés, contrastent avec l'écriture descriptive évoquée précédemment. Avec ce contraste (même sans compter les propos affreux de l'interlocuteur), l'autrice laisse s'installer un profond sentiment d'inconfort. 

Cette critique est déjà assez longue et j'ai assez parlé de l'élément le plus marquant du roman, mais j'ai également apprécié en découvrir davantage sur la culture roumaine.