Scan barcode
lindsaygp_reads's reviews
52 reviews
Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 25%.
This book had a moment or two where my interest was piqued but overall it was just too slow. The heroine was boring and felt like a side character in her own story. The writing was also pretty meh.
The Shining by Stephen King
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
***This review is going to have spoilers throughout***
Let me start by saying that The Shining is an absolutely incredible novel— I was not a fan of the Kubrick film at all and everything that it was lacking was here in King’s novel. The slow degradation of Jack’s mental state from loving father to crazed murderer feels well-paced and horrifying. By chapter 12 I felt like I had an excellent understanding of each of the characters.
What I have an issue with and why this book gets 4 stars and not 5 is largely because of parts of this book that simply did not age well. Uncle Stephen loves a magical negro trope, the racial slurs (especially frequent toward the end), and the nonchalant and frequent usage of the term “schizo”— just to name a few. I found myself having to remind myself a lot that this book was written in the 70s... One section that particularly floored me was the doctor’s office chapter where the common idea was that children can either grow out of schizophrenia or grow into it, and that it can also cause… autism…… the groan that I groaned….
The yucks aside, I do love how much we learn about Danny and his shine, that Wendy has it too, but that Jack has none— that in all of his fighting and beating and scraping to be special and unique, Jack is the only one in the family that is painfully normal. The moment where we learn about Jack’s sick satisfaction that Wendy’s novel isn’t picked up paints such a gross picture of the man he really is beneath his curated “press perfect smile”.
The insight into who Jack and Wendy are and were before Outlook is so detailed and intimate. I haven’t read a King novel in years; I think I forgot just how good he is at his craft. The reflection on their marriage, on their parenting, on the trauma that they brought into parenthood— and how Wendy tried to break it all off just before their stay at Outlook, is devastating as it is relatable. King’s personal reflection on addiction and the pressure to remain sober is written so well that I feel like I understand the disease better— and I’m literally a child of an alcoholic.
While parts of this book aged like milk, the majority of it really shines (pun intended) and I’m glad I read it. It was so well-written, descriptive, terrifying, and well-paced. I’m looking forward to reading Doctor Sleep in 2025 and hopefully Uncle Stephen will redeem himself of some of the yuckier choices he made in the 70s.
Let me start by saying that The Shining is an absolutely incredible novel— I was not a fan of the Kubrick film at all and everything that it was lacking was here in King’s novel. The slow degradation of Jack’s mental state from loving father to crazed murderer feels well-paced and horrifying. By chapter 12 I felt like I had an excellent understanding of each of the characters.
What I have an issue with and why this book gets 4 stars and not 5 is largely because of parts of this book that simply did not age well. Uncle Stephen loves a magical negro trope, the racial slurs (especially frequent toward the end), and the nonchalant and frequent usage of the term “schizo”— just to name a few. I found myself having to remind myself a lot that this book was written in the 70s... One section that particularly floored me was the doctor’s office chapter where the common idea was that children can either grow out of schizophrenia or grow into it, and that it can also cause… autism…… the groan that I groaned….
The yucks aside, I do love how much we learn about Danny and his shine, that Wendy has it too, but that Jack has none— that in all of his fighting and beating and scraping to be special and unique, Jack is the only one in the family that is painfully normal. The moment where we learn about Jack’s sick satisfaction that Wendy’s novel isn’t picked up paints such a gross picture of the man he really is beneath his curated “press perfect smile”.
The insight into who Jack and Wendy are and were before Outlook is so detailed and intimate. I haven’t read a King novel in years; I think I forgot just how good he is at his craft. The reflection on their marriage, on their parenting, on the trauma that they brought into parenthood— and how Wendy tried to break it all off just before their stay at Outlook, is devastating as it is relatable. King’s personal reflection on addiction and the pressure to remain sober is written so well that I feel like I understand the disease better— and I’m literally a child of an alcoholic.
While parts of this book aged like milk, the majority of it really shines (pun intended) and I’m glad I read it. It was so well-written, descriptive, terrifying, and well-paced. I’m looking forward to reading Doctor Sleep in 2025 and hopefully Uncle Stephen will redeem himself of some of the yuckier choices he made in the 70s.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Toward the end of the book there are a slough of racial slurs. Use of magical negro trope.
When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I am a big fan of big beautiful poetic/lyrical language, so there was a lot in the writing that I was a huge fan of. The first quarter of the book feels VERY different from the rest of the story, where the beginning feels a lot more like a fantasy forward book with political intrigue and secrets, but as soon as Raeve leaves the city it pretty quickly switches over to a romance centered romantasy book, and while I loved the romance in this book the switch did feel a bit abrupt.
The relationship between Raeve and Kaan is delightful and toe curling— I love how he crawls for her but also pushes her, refuses to let her waste herself away and continue forgetting who she is, who they are to each other. Their intimate scenes together are steamy and playful that lean into need.
I loved Veya, she reminds me a lot of Jenny from Outlander and I really enjoyed her scenes. Her relationship with Kaan feels very relatable and real. The pain she carries from their father is crushing. The little time that she does spend with Raeve felt important and tender (like putting a bandaid on a fresh paper cut) and I really wish there was more!
I think that what keeps me from giving this a full 5 stars is that I wish we had the opportunity to understand Raeve better, earlier. **MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD** I also really fucking hate getting a character who very vocally does not want children and then getting a surprise pregnancy or a forgotten child. As a child free person, I find it beyond annoying and borderline insulting. The only way I am justifying this in my head is that Raeve did not want children but Elowyn did, and based on the epilogue, she is perhaps more Other than she realizes. Also, it’s unclear to me if Kaan knew that she was pregnant when she left, so perhaps it is a surprise to them both, which I will have to sit with a while to know how I really feel about it.
The next book needs to be here immediately because I have so many questions about what is happening with Raeve and Elowyn, and if this Other is just another part of them both or something bigger.
The ending was both satisfying if a little jarring in terms of where we are in time and how Raeve/Other is getting around like this, and the political implications of torturing and killing Kaan’s bastard of a brother. Because in the chapter right before it’s all talk about keeping him alive and why she can’t tear out his throat, but then there she is immediately after.
My hopes for the next book are more consistency with the blend of fantasy and romance, but even still this book is probably my favorite of the year.
The relationship between Raeve and Kaan is delightful and toe curling— I love how he crawls for her but also pushes her, refuses to let her waste herself away and continue forgetting who she is, who they are to each other. Their intimate scenes together are steamy and playful that lean into need.
I loved Veya, she reminds me a lot of Jenny from Outlander and I really enjoyed her scenes. Her relationship with Kaan feels very relatable and real. The pain she carries from their father is crushing. The little time that she does spend with Raeve felt important and tender (like putting a bandaid on a fresh paper cut) and I really wish there was more!
I think that what keeps me from giving this a full 5 stars is that I wish we had the opportunity to understand Raeve better, earlier. **MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD**
The next book needs to be here immediately because I have so many questions about what is happening with Raeve and Elowyn, and if this Other is just another part of them both or something bigger.
The ending was both satisfying if a little jarring in terms of where we are in time and how Raeve/Other is getting around like this, and the political implications of torturing and killing Kaan’s bastard of a brother. Because in the chapter right before it’s all talk about keeping him alive and why she can’t tear out his throat, but then there she is immediately after.
My hopes for the next book are more consistency with the blend of fantasy and romance, but even still this book is probably my favorite of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
The Prestige by Christopher Priest
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book broke me in half. It is so beautiful, powerful, and deeply sad. This story of passion turned estrangement to friendship— it tears at your heart. Well paced and very thoughtfully written.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of my favorite books of all time that I take with me anytime I travel. Beautiful writing, tragic father/son story, and a heart wrenching thriller of a story about teaching your child how to spot the good people who carry the light so that they can live long after you’re gone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 60%.
I had to pause so often because I kept crying and reflecting, but will absolutely come back to this! The writing is gorgeous and her grandmother’s story is fascinating.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
A gorgeous and heartbreaking story.