jayalex_8's reviews
97 reviews

Wool by Hugh Howey

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

A very tense, thrilling read!

Orlando by Virginia Woolf

adventurous lighthearted reflective medium-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

5.0

Fantastical, thoughtful, and funny, Orlando is a classic that doesn’t feel like it. I found Woolf’s musings on time, biography and age surprisingly intriguing and complementary to the explorations of sexuality, gender and gendered society(ies). The novel flies through the ages leaving the imagined reader to ponder whether Orlando really is 400 years old, or if time simply ‘shrunk’ to fit within her thirty six years. An excellent experimental novel of many exquisite passages that I am sure many readers before and after me will continue to return to. 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.5

A thrilling, tense, classic murder mystery. Christie never disappoints!

Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins

dark emotional inspiring 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? No

4.25

The Presentation Of Self In Everyday Life by Erving Goffman

informative reflective slow-paced

2.75

An interesting dive into the analogy of ‘all the world’s a stage..’, but ultimately limited by its publishing era and author’s over assertiveness of his white male american perspective. There are some interesting points about the dramaturgical analysis of social interactions, especially about the roles of performer/s, teams, audiences, and those ‘disruptions’ which constantly seek to tear down these socially constructed roles and arenas of performance. 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.5

Vinegar Girl: The Taming of the Shrew Retold by Anne Tyler

funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

3.25

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Other Stories by Nikolai Leskov

funny reflective fast-paced

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

4.0

A fantastic collection of short stories from Leskov, English readers will appreciate his allusions to many classical English works. Whilst ‘Lady Macbeth’ earns the titular story position, all of the other stories contained within were equally enjoyable and many great passages I have dog-eared for my commonplace. A fine writer that I will look to explore further. A collection of translation and other notes at the back, from translator McDuff, are useful and informative. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Murder

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

Green Rising by Lauren James

adventurous hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

3.0