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kimnlove56's reviews
679 reviews
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
emotional
informative
medium-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
0.5
This historical fiction feels like it glosses over what would have been more difficult details about what it would have been like to pass in early 20th century, working for a such a big personality and figure as J.P. Morgan. I don't need his fictionalized persona to be villainized or sainted, but the softening of the edges of his characterization felt, well, disingenuous. Overall, as a rah-rah story of a young black woman making well-deserved strides in a world not made for her (though at personal cost), it was satisfying. Otherwise, it seemed a shallow telling of a life story.
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
This is the second novel with autobiographical groundings I've read in the past few weeks. And like the other (Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being), this one uses magical realism to bend whatever truth is behind the story. The author is certainly not sugar-coating her story, but by adding the magical elements to the telling, she's able to ease us through the events in a way I found quite effective.
There are sections of the book that flip back and forth from two seemingly unrelated scenes, and in listening to the audio version of the book, it was a little difficult to catch on when this was happening. But that would be my only complaint.
There are sections of the book that flip back and forth from two seemingly unrelated scenes, and in listening to the audio version of the book, it was a little difficult to catch on when this was happening. But that would be my only complaint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Sula by Toni Morrison
dark
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
I've consumed all of Phoebe Robinson's books as audiobooks, and they seem particularly well-suited for the format. The audio books are read by Phoebe herself and coming from a podcast background, she imbues the experience with an engaging and fun voice. She's irreverently candid with her point of view, and while I don't always agree with her point of view (like, I don't follow her hard stance on matching underwear), she's always entertaining.
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
This started off as a dreary read, sure to be a slog to get through. The early chapters outlining physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the diarist's bullies, as well as her outward annoyance at her father's suicidal attempts, were relentlessly dark if slightly unbelievable in scope. But once it became clear that there was more going on in the relationship between what was written in the past and what was being read in the present, there was a real lightness to the material that kept me coming back to finish it off. The subject matter never really lightens up, but there begins to be a feeling of hope and peace woven through the latter stages of the book. Typically a story featuring a mysteriously self-altering found journal and/or quantum mechanic thought experiments and/or Zen Buddhist meditations would, almost by design, have me dismissing the book. The meta I-novel-ness, which has the author as a main character in this story, grounds the story when some of the fantastic elements could have it veering off into something entirely too unreal. Overall, not a book I should be into, but really enjoyed in the end. I could see myself adding a half star or more, as I continue to think this one over.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Bullying, and Sexual assault
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Of all the YA books I've read over the past few years, none more resemble the archetypical teen movie that crescendos with the ever-important prom scene. All the set pieces are there — choreographed dance numbers, meet-cutes, the cattiest of villains and most unexpected of allies, diverse energies personified as a quirky cast of friends, officiously blustery school administrators, even hints at what a soundtrack might be. No punches are pulled here. But all in the best possible way. It's a fun and engaging story, grounded with the challenges that you might expect a story with a black, queer protagonist in a largely-unenlightened midwest suburb to tackle. The dialog and narration are quippy and fun. It's a fairly light and empowering story, where it could have been self-serious. Supporting characters are more fun than relatable, the heroes are maybe more aspirational than believable, but it's the sort of story where you want to cheer for the protagonists, not necessarily use as a catalyst for self-realization. I was thinking 3.5 stars, but no, this is a solid 4.
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A solidly meh read — this book just isn't for me. I have no big feelings about a person's essence or soul. And I'm generally ambivalent to the role, present or future, of AI. What's left, then, is a story that takes its sweet time unfolding, with characters that are hollowly observed, and a protagonist that is intentionally detached. Just a whole lot of nothing for me to latch onto.
Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is latest in a mini-string of YA/younger audience books I've read this year. The YA + mystery/suspense categories tend to flatten out character development, and there was definitely some of that happening here. The underlying message of foregrounding Native experiences and knowledge are explicit in the book (coming just this side of knocking one over the head with the messaging), and saves a pretty standard "who can you trust" sort of mystery. The story touches on some weighty issues, and with all the murders and mystery and assault, it could have easily been dragged down into a gloomy read. But with entertaining characters and dialogue and some, it ends up being an enjoyable, if not entirely fun, read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault