katrod's reviews
493 reviews

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

This book is an ode to storytelling, to the loneliness of the pandemic, to the bond between mothers and daughters, to nostalgia, and the beauty of the winding journey that is life. 

I just love the way Ann Patchett writes and I love the way Meryl Streep narrates.  I felt like I was really one of her daughters sitting in the tall grass by the lake, listening to her tell us the really story of her life.  I didn’t want it to end.

I really didn’t like one single plot point at the end, which ultimately kept me from giving it the full 5 star review.  I just don’t think if made much sense, and was a way to justify the ending, but truly other than that, such a wonderful book.  I could see myself rereading this on a long summer day when I’m feeling particularly nostalgic for my own past….

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

I don’t think I can rate this book.   How do you rate a book about every hour of one of the most horrific days in US history that you can remember?

It was graphic, and devastating, and a complete account from so many angles of 9/11 start to finish.  I think it’s important for us as humans to hear others’ stories and to tell them in order to heal trauma, but it wasn’t an enjoyable read by any means.

I can’t believe it’s been 22 years.  I’ll never forget that day.

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

My least favorite of her most famous 4.

I personally think you have to be somewhat interested in tennis to enjoy this book.  I’m also not a super competitive person so it was hard to stay engaged.  I wanted more depth… but it was literally just about tennis with a tiny sprinkling of feminism and a love story.  I was bored. I wanted more focus on Carrie’s growth and her relationships and less descriptions of tennis matches I couldn’t care less about 🤷🏻‍♀️

Very easily readable though, and if you like TJR’s writing style you’ll enjoy it.

I Could Live Here Forever by Hanna Halperin

challenging fast-paced

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

2.0

I was fully prepared to write a one star rage review for the majority of the book, but by the end I was willing to write something less scathing.  There were definitely some moments that the writing spoke to me, but I think the author missed the mark on the story and subject matter. 

In such a toxic relationship, there needs to be some sort of understanding of why the “victim” (Leah) falls in love and stays.  There was absolutely no charm from the love interest (Charlie) from the very beginning, just red flag after red flag to the point where I just felt repulsed by the whole thing.  I didn’t believe for a second that Leah would have been charmed by him or fallen for him so fast, which makes it that much more unbelievable when she stays with him. 

Did I have empathy for what Charlie was going through?  Sure.  But this story was less about his struggle with addiction and more about Leah’s struggle with her relationship with an addict, and it was just so toxic and unbelievable that I almost gave up on finishing several times. 

Halprin relied so heavily on the reader’s imagination as to why Leah fell in love… Leah and Charlie had no cute banter, they didn’t do fun things together, he didn’t take care of her or provide for her in any way, the only thing we got was that she’s attracted to him and likes when he plays the guitar… like seriously? That’s all it takes?  I just had no reason whatsoever to root for them.

I was also not shocked by the ending at all.  And to be honest, I just didn’t care at that point.  It just felt like with a such a sensitive topic, more nuance was necessary. 

The Attic Child by Lola Jaye

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I’ve been slacking on writing a cohesive review for this one… but here’s a note from my phone of random thoughts about the book. 

——

This one just wasn’t for me.  It felt like a weird mix better The Little Princess and Cinderella.  

I think it was just too depressing.  It’s not like I never read depressing books but maybe it’s that both time lines were just so disturbing?  Tooo similar?  Needed more nuance 

Also the audio needed a younger sounding male narrator.  I think because he sounds like such a grown man, it plays into the adultification of Black children and specifically, Celestine, who only ranges from age 11-14 in the book.  

Romance between Lawra and Monty unnecessary. 

I really like the age 19+ years of Celestine- his musings on the injustices in life and philosophizing. 

People keep being difficult and refusing to cooperate, then right after - they change their mind and agree to help out?? 😒  It’s too easy. 

Carmen and Grace by Melissa Coss Aquino

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Carmen and Grace follows 2 Puerto Rican cousins in the Bronx who have been abandoned by their families and taken in by a local drug cartel matriarch, Doña Durka.  The actions starts after Durka’s death with the two women dealing with the grief and the stress of their newfound positions in the drug ring, and their strained relationship with each other.  We go back in time and shift perspectives, but the pacing didn’t work for me. 

There was so much potential in this story, and I really did love some parts- but others felt much too dragged out and meandering.  An interesting story overall, and some beautiful passages and reflections. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was so gloriously fucked up.  It was horrifying, and yet I couldn’t look away.  I was so close to putting it down once I realized that Juniper was going to steal Athena’s manuscript because I knew I was going to have such bad anxiety and be cringing the whole book, but I’m so glad I continued.  

I was so utterly repulsed by the protagonist actions throughout the book, and yet there were certain times I found myself rooting for her not to be caught and in turn, questioning my own morality.  The hype about this book is true.  It’s smart, makes you uncomfortable in the best way, and is compulsively readable. 

There is no question that Kuang is a brilliant writer, and her razor sharp, satirical commentary on racism and the publishing world is a must read.

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced

I started reading Beyond the Wand because I was in a bit of a reading rut and I knew I needed something quick and easy. I’ve always loved the world of Harry Potter, and unfortunately, J. K. Rowling has tarnished that love over the last few years.  So this is a way to re-enter the Wizarding World without supporting her. 

Felton‘s memoir was overall enjoyable.  He took us through his years at Hogwarts, but also through his years prior, leading up to becoming Draco, and the years after, in which he struggles to find happiness and normality in post-Potter life.  

He writes with a surprising vulnerability, and I came away from it feeling a real sense of love and empathy for him.  I love his emphasis on mental health and his reminder to his readers to reach out to get the help you need before it’s too late.  My one real complaint is that he praises Rowling like 2 or 3 times, and I think it’s about time we separate the art from the artist in her case. 

This memoir won’t change your life, but if you have any interest in Felton, or learning about behind the scenes of Harry Potter, you’ll enjoy it.

Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand the Future by Yung Pueblo

reflective medium-paced

3.5

I listened to this on audio and it was like listening to daily meditation.  I didn’t necessarily feel like there was anything groundbreaking or really new for me, but it was a good way to put myself in a mindful headspace every day.  It would be great for people just starting on their spiritual journey. 

Black Sunday by Tola Rotimi Abraham

slow-paced

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

3.0

I liked the premise of this book, but it fell flat in its execution.  I felt like there were too many things that were glossed over and not fleshed out.  It lacked depth and seemed to not have a clear idea of the point the story.  As the reader, I walked away feeling very dissatisfied and like I couldn’t really tell you what this book was about.