jbrombach's reviews
127 reviews

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story by Jacob Tobia

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I laughed, I cried (happy tears; sad tears; angry tears), and boy, did I /relate/ in some several places. Where I did not relate, I felt. I understood. I heard. Because after all, I don't have a penis. My non-binary story is not the same. But I have never felt so validated (emotionally). I think this is a book everyone should read. 

Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us by Rachel Aviv

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

The Desert Prince by Peter V. Brett

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

It's nice to read a book with an intersex character's POV. Brett continues to write page turners with interesting characters and tense, eloquently unfolding plot. 

That being said, I was surprised by the shift from a third person pov style with several characters' viewpoints to first person and only two POVs. The warded man only had three POVs though (i think), so I hope he adds more - but then again, it was a page turner either way, so who am I to tell an artist how to do their craft? My other complaint is that I'm not particularly fond of Darin's abilities. They're something other than just disappointing or underwhelming... Something I don't quite have the words for yet. Not exciting to read about, is maybe the most apt I could say. I like Darin himself. If anything, maybe it's just the word choices given to his powers that i don't like. 

The Core by Peter V. Brett

adventurous dark emotional tense 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

5.0

The Skull Throne by Peter V. Brett

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-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

5.0

The Daylight War by Peter V. Brett

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

The Desert Spear by Peter V. Brett

5.0

Educated by Tara Westover

4.0

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

3.0