julargett's reviews
54 reviews

Animal Farm by George Orwell

reflective tense fast-paced

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

2.0

I think the book for it’s time would be good, but I think the totalitarian/communism paradigm has been stressed so much about this book, and the allegory is in black and white for the reader, so it kinda takes away an element of analysis and interpretation that I enjoy in a book. Obviously Orwell is great though.

The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself by Sean Carroll

hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

2.5

The Awakening by Kate Chopin

3.5

Very good. While short, the novel was very slow, which made the length of this enjoyable. However, I think if the novel was a little longer some of the other characters could have been developed more. I found myself feeling like I lacked information on certain character relationships. I think Edna has every right to feel stifled within her marriage, however I do feel for the hurt she inevitably inflicts on her family. I think this novel while feminist in its 19th century era, is really a piece about the ways in which 19th century society inhibits women and drives them to this place of madness and mental illness.

1984 by George Orwell

5.0

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

5.0

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

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

4.75

thou mayest

The Plague by Albert Camus

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

My least favorite Camus novel, probably because the plot felt so intertwined with ideas similar to Covid. It’s cool when you consider it’s allegorical implications. The characters felt more lovable in this novel compared to Camus other novels.

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

3.25

A slow start for me. My favorite character was Quentin and that section was really fantastic. A great read, but not necessarily my favorite.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

I just finished this novel and so my head hurts just a little. The ending was really perfect and the way Márquez tells this story is thought provoking for sure. A new favorite.