imperfectcj's reviews
2149 reviews

The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God & Other Stories by Etgar Keret

dark funny fast-paced

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

4.0

A short book of very short, very off-the-wall stories. These stories each take a little random idea and answer the question, what if this little random idea happened in real life? Delightfully bizarre.

Haven by Emma Donoghue

reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

The sense of isolation and the double-edged sword of obedience are strong in this novel. The sound of the waves comes through the writing. The pace is slow, and the interactions are frustrating as we follow the development of relationships through hardship. I appreciate the reflective nature of this novel even as I'm not sure I would recommend it except in specific circumstances. 

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

I irritated my spouse and confused my teen and the cats by staying up very late to finish this one. It's not that it's spectacular, but I did find it gripping, and I just didn't feel like stopping reading. Yes, the men in this are all douchebags (at best), and it is annoying how much the women put up with, but it feels not-untrue to me the way that people contort themselves to meet expectations and to try to stave off rejection. It's kind of like a dark Steel Magnolias.

Playground by Richard Powers

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I have very strong, mixed feelings about this novel. On the one hand, it's beautiful, focused yet expansive, easy to get lost in. One section had me in tears, which rarely happens for me when reading. On the other hand, I feel cheated. I will not go into details, but I do not like how the story wraps up. So, 99% I loved, 1% really pissed me off. 

Poor Deer by Claire Oshetsky

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

A poignant exploration of how a child reacts to tragedy and draws conclusions about responsibility and the role that adults play in this process. My family experienced a loss when I was just shy of 4, and the ways in which Margaret attempts to make sense of her loss and the ways that it reverberates through the years feels true to me, although the circumstances were quite different.

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

There is a lot going on in this novel. I'm not totally convinced of the motivations for some of the characters' actions, but it's a diverting story to read. I'm intrigued by the trope of the insidiously close-knit village. I see why authors keep coming back to it (and not just because it gives them a controlled environment with a limited cast of characters). It's interesting to explore how people justify their actions and defend/blame one another.

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

There's not a lot I can say about this one without giving spoilers, but I can say that I really appreciate how it's written, and I'm looking forward to discussing the ending with my book club. It's not my favorite from the #tob25 shortlist, but I do like it.

Kill Creek by Scott Thomas

3.0

Although it's a little clunky in places---the POV in the first section switches so often and with so little difference between character voices that it's hard to keep track, and sometimes the plot twists make the story feel a bit like riding in a car with an automatic transmission driven by a two-footed driver---the story overall is enjoyable. I love that it's set in Kansas. What a lovely change of pace!

Colored Television by Danzy Senna

4.25

I really enjoyed this one, but I had to read it quickly because the MC is so relatable that I felt guilty every time she made a cringey decision. It's sooo SoCal and reminds me why I'm treading carefully in the showbiz-adjacent world I find myself skirting. The whole industry feeds on people's insecurities and the seductiveness of being seen as clever, important, special. I also love that it's a GenX story. 

Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte

challenging dark fast-paced

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

3.0

Oh...kay. So, this is a...book. Longish, loosely interconnected stories that work to varying, universally cringey degrees, and do a self-consciously meta thing that doesn't really work for me. I'm intrigued by the form, and the characters are definitely complex underneath the stereotypes, so I am curious to read other work from this author, even as this one feels kind of hit-and-miss.