imperfectcj's reviews
2149 reviews

The Room by Jonas Karlsson, Neil Smith

funny mysterious slow-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

4.0

It's bizarre books like this that make me want to live in Sweden (or anywhere in Scandinavia). I would love to see if the off-the-wall perspectives in Scandinavian fiction are universal within the culture, if they'd be accessible to an ex-pat, and if they would make up for the climate being as near the opposite as possible to the weather in San Diego (which has, unfortunately, become my baseline). This book is delightfully weird.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

I've yet to meet a time travel storyline that doesn't become tedious at some point, and this one is no exception. However, it's less tedious than most, and I really like the premise and the tie-in to actual historical figures. The steamy bits are nicely written but maybe a little more detailed than necessary for what the book is meant to be, but I really like the characters and was disappointed to say goodbye at the end. 

Where You End by Abbott Kahler

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.5

This one has promise, but it doesn't quite hit the mark for me. The twin thing gets pushed a little too hard in some places then nearly abandoned in others (as is one major character). There was one more twist I was expecting that didn't happen, and some of the seams between story elements are showing. I do appreciate the attempt to make the characters nuanced rather than all-good/all-evil, but I suspect this is one I will forget I've read.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

funny hopeful sad fast-paced

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

3.5

This one had me at the Oscar Wilde quote in the front of the book. While it's a little superficial at times, the humor is excellent and tempered well with moments of authentic-feeling connection. I enjoyed laughing out loud and then tearing up, and I appreciate what Rowley has to say about the role that acting can play in giving one the opportunity to feel, explore, and express difficult emotions in a controlled environment. 

The Morningside by Téa Obreht

hopeful reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.0

It took me a while to get into the world of this novel, and I'm not sure that I ever completely got my bearings. The writing style is lighter than the story, which is continually unsettling. It reminds me a little of Poor Deer and other novels narrated by children navigating grown-up worlds. I'm not sure I was in the mood for another dystopian novel, but these days, I want to know that life goes on even after things we take for granted fall apart.

Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.5

I liked this one better than I liked Manhunt, but Felker-Martin doesn't present a very well developed, cohesive idea of who the villain is, which, given the nature of the main antagonist, might be a silly thing to write. The characters are more developed in this one than in Manhunt, and I cared more about what happened to them, but I still found the novel wordy overall and tedious at points, especially in the second half.

The Clocks: A Hercule Poirot Mystery by Agatha Christie

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

Well, I liked this one quite a bit! I find it amusing how Poirot has started acting a little like Miss Marple in this one ("Now, what does that remind me of?"). The political intrigue subplot felt unnecessary and a little like Red Scare Era propaganda, but otherwise, this mystery was delightful to read. 

The French Art of Living Well: Finding Joie de Vivre in the Everyday World by Cathy Yandell
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.

It doesn't feel cohesive---jumps around too much---and I don't find it alternately uninteresting and jealousy-inducing.

Big Time by Ben H. Winters

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No

2.5

Although I enjoyed this novel, and I like reading a story about a hero at the FDA (they do so much to keep us safe), I found the story itself to be a little flimsy. The motives of the bad guy never quite ring true for me. It seems more like a collection of elements and character types mixed together than it does like a cohesive story. I found it fun to read while I was reading, but I don't think this one is going to stick with me.

I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I wonder if this novel would have hit me quite like it did if I'd read it before January 20, 2025. Because right now it feels practically prophetic. But in addition to being prophetic, it's also a beautiful story of persevering through hardship and maintaining integrity (defined in this case as acting in alignment with one's core values) in a world geared towards profit and self-interest at all costs.