joemkl's reviews
193 reviews

Finale by Stephanie Garber

medium-paced

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

3.75

A great ending but the pacing felt very off to me. 

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

mysterious 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

4.75

So, so good. Pacing was a little off occasionally so not a five star but my god it was close 

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

Think The Night Circus x Hunger Games. I started reading it and when I finished it it was suddenly 2AM. Delightfully mysterious and so many twists. If you enjoyed Piranesi you'd like this too.

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.

I tried to read this, I'm just not a play person, perhaps I'll try the audiobook 

Ship for Brains by Brian David Bruns

funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

Black Moses by Alain Mabanckou

dark funny sad slow-paced

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

3.25

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

adventurous reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

This book, to me, isn't as good as Tiktok made it out to be but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read and I absolutely adored the twist.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

funny relaxing sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty and Classism

This Much is True by Miriam Margolyes

funny slow-paced

4.5

Some of the language that she uses is dated and may be considered problematic, but given she's eighty and an avowed socalist, it feels like it isn't her intention to be like that and she may just not no better. That aside, this book is amazing, it's absolutely hilarious and her anecdotes are spot on

Living and Dying on the Internet by Alex Day

medium-paced

3.75

The writing is pretty good. Seeing a different side to things is interesting. It doesn't excuse what happened, but a view into that mind is interesting.