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jwanz86's reviews
181 reviews
I'll Fly Away by Rudy Francisco
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
As a writer, it’s delightful, especially with the words defined and the poetical pictures Ruby paints.
The Private Apartments by Idman Nur Omar
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin
5.0
I read this in my African American Lit class back in college. Contextually, it's very fascinating to explore the parallels of identity, especially an oppressed one, and James Baldwin draws strong parallels in this story. The main characters draw you in and you start to see the complexity of who they are and who they are forced to be because of the time. Been awhile since I read this, but it always sat with me as a strong read. Check. It. OUT!
Entrys by Peter Bacho
4.0
Another college read! This unreliable narrator piece explores a young man who has a mixed race identity who goes on an exploration to find out who he is after leaving the army. It's a pretty twisted journey, as the narrator's perspective is all told through journal entries while other reports begin to draw inconsistencies. It's a fascinating dive into a coming of age tale of someone trying to figure who they are by exploring their various backgrounds.
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
4.0
A classic, twisted, and very uncomfortable unreliable narrator story about a man and his account of falling in love with a young teenage girl. (That alone, uncomfortable and kinda creepy to write.) If you are in the right space to read it, check it out.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
4.0
It's been a long while since I read this, but if you've read Hamlet (and even if you haven't), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead is a wonderful absurdist piece, a great introduction to it. I would check this out of you have an interest in absurdist work, enjoyed Hamlet or other Shakespearean pieces OR just want a great back and forth and dialogue.
Nemesis by Isaac Asimov
4.0
This was the first Asimov book I ever read and it was very intriguing. It's a part of a larger series, however this works really well as a standalone and you get instantly drawn into the characters and the world he's built. It's a dark but interesting one--not tooooo sci-fi-ish but very futuristic. Definitely recommended.