jenwestpfahl's reviews
303 reviews

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

emotional 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

5.0

Stunningly beautiful.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Incest, Racism, Rape

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown

challenging informative medium-paced

5.0

Read this slowly, with time to reflect as you go. It’s a lot of big thoughts to take in. 

Rootwork by Tracy Cross
Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.

It was slow and boring and I didn’t really care what happened next (since 1/3 in nothing has happened yet).

History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

What in the world was this?? It was like two books in one - one was sort of decent and the other was bizarre. And I don’t o wo what the point was. And the ending took a sharp left turn that I can’t make heads or tails of.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death

Moderate: Sexual violence

A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life [With DVD] by Parker J. Palmer

informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

I’d give it more stars if I can. A must read for anyone in a position to hold space for others’ truth/souls.

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

lighthearted 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

2.5

I liked the concept but it just fell kind of flat for me. I skimmed a lot of the parts about Bomber/Eunice and many of the short stories because they didn’t hold my attention. I can’t pinpoint anything I specifically didn’t like about the book, but it was just meh.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Infertility, Infidelity, Suicide

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

emotional fast-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

4.5

I don’t know why this was labeled funny here in StoryGraph. It’s bittersweet and real and ultimately uplifting, but it’s not funny. 

I was rooting for Eleanor despite not really liking her for most of the book. The way she thought every awkward interaction was the other person’s fault when she was the one out of step with social norms was understandable but irritating and yet oddly endearing. And her friendship with Raymond develops perfectly.

I saw the twists coming - one from early on but the other not until a couple chapters before she figures it out - but her realization of them was compelling.

This story was well-written and well-paced and I devoured it in two days.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Suicide attempt

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

A masterpiece. Go read it. One of the rare books I would consider reading a second time.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I know it’s meant to be inspiring but it wasn’t to me. Cheesy and annoying or maybe even cloying would be more apt descriptions.

I like the message about going on a journey to discover yourself and your purpose and that doing so can help you appreciate the life you choose to lead. But the Wizard of Oz has that same message in a much more entertaining package and without hitting you in the face with it every three pages.

The mixing of language and traditions from different faiths was kind of interesting but I felt like it didn’t all add up to anything. Maybe it was a way of showing the commonalities among us - like when one person says the universe is aligning to help them, is that much different than saying the Grace of God has helped them through a tough situation?

So I guess there was some thought provoking ideas here. But it just didn’t really “work” for me as a whole.

Homecoming by Kate Morton

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I somewhat agree with those who said the book within the book was an issue. I found some of what was included in that book to be hard to believe (that he would include it) but it didn’t bother me enough to affect how I enjoyed the book. The identity of Jess’s father was more of a stretch and so unnecessary and cheesy. I’m glad that wasn’t a big part of the story.

I did guess the broad strokes of the mystery fairly early on and some more details as it went on. A few details still came as a surprise. I think we were meant to figure some things out before Jess did though. It kind of builds the anticipation of her realizing what we already have.