katiey's reviews
54 reviews

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

challenging dark emotional reflective tense 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

4.0

What a powerful book. The actions of the Nazis and the events of the Holocaust and the concentration camps told from the perspective of a child give them a powerfully new and emotional twist. It’s a simple story, of friendship and childhood ignorance, but an important one that hits you emotionally. Perfect for a younger audience. 

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.0

Entertaining and fun to read! The mix-up of characters and misdirected love and affection is fun when it all comes together in the end. Not my favorite play of Shakespeare's, but up there! 

Educated by Tara Westover

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

This is such a worthwhile read. It took me a bit to get through the first 1/4 of the book, adjusting to the writing and the depth of the things that happen in the novel. It's very dark and difficult to read, especially initially, and I had to take short breaks in reading because of the emotion. The writing is vivid and immerses you in the tension and difficulty of her childhood. It made me reflect upon the value of education and how lucky I am to be a person with access to education. I also really valued the commentary on feminism, the healing process, and family. An incredibly impactful read and brought up a lot of emotion in me. I only didn't rate it 5 stars because it was so emotionally difficult to read throughout, but it is so worth reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Blood, Car accident, and Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Antisemitism

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.0

I think this book would be a fun read if people just want to enjoy a romance. I was really excited about the concept (especially because I loved One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston) but I was not expecting the pacing and the way the plot laid itself out, and it felt off and not paced well for me personally. There’s a lot of quirky, millennial-esque humor, which isn’t bad in places but also bothered me in others. The overall theme of grief was very prevalent, and I felt that it was done well in some parts but was a little too on the nose in others. The book did surprise me with its plot twists and reveals! It also had a nice message at the end. While I had a lot of nitpicks for the book, it was overall fun and very fast paced to read. 

Othello by William Shakespeare

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This play was definitely interesting to read. I really enjoyed Emilia's character and the commentary on women's role in society and in a marriage. It's a very dramatic play, almost reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, but with a more impactful message and commentary throughout.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Everyone should read this book. It is written in a vivid way that makes the strange world and characters jump out and feel so real. I love how the way it is written truly makes it feel like the main character telling her story to someone. In some ways a cautionary tale, as well as a reflection on patriarchy and control of women, it is an important story to be told and to be read. This book pulled raw emotion out of me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infertility, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Alcohol

All of this content is important to the story told in this book, and helps it to feel real.

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

adventurous emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed this book overall. It was somewhat slow at parts, while at the same time the overarching mystery and plot seemed to go by quickly. It was a fun read with a good historical commentary on women and intersectionality in the time period, with a nice ending. Worth reading, and I would recommend it for a young adult/teen audience ! 

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

dark funny reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

An interesting commentary on race and religion and could be interpreted a variety of ways. Interesting characters. Not my favorite from Shakespeare, but interesting. 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed this mystery, I was surprised at the end, and I can see why it's one of the most popular of all time. The characters and setting are so well done that you can feel immersed when reading it. If anything, it would have been nice to

see the reveal as part of the events of the book rather than in the epilogue

but I still really enjoyed the ending. Definitely a different writing style than I'm used to, which is to be expected with a book from a different time. It's interesting to read about the different censorship issues involved with book and to keep that in mind while reading.