linlinlin's reviews
273 reviews

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward

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challenging dark emotional inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A classic style, modern American horror/thriller novel that I almost put down in disgust at the first big twist. Keep reading though! (unless you're the kind of person who should probably avoid the horror section altogether) This is so cleverly written and had me flipping back and forth to figure things out; probably deserves to be read at least twice. 
I have a loved one with DID so I was FURIOUS at the plot twist, ra ra I'm so sick of horror writers depicting mentally ill people as serial killers and villains etc when they're subject to so much violence. I'm really glad I stuck with it. My loved one didn't read it so I don't know what the DID perspective on it is, but I was really pleasantly surprised by the happy ending for Ted and the efforts to depict DID reasonably and accurately by Ward. A lot of the contents around DID was stuff I already knew but worth reading if you don't.
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Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A pleasure to read a thriller that isn't American or yeah noir (Aussie noir). More like this. Highly recommended for anyone craving to read about anywhere else than Illinois or Melbourne or something 
Roger Crenshaw: The Wolves of the West by Taylor Titmouse

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

5.0

local scholar does research 
I'll Leave You with This by Kylie Ladd

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

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3.5

Finally a Novik I actually liked! Recommend this if you struggle with her other books. I still find her work scanty on details but this was fun! I've always wanted to enjoy her books considering the tremendous significance she has as a historian and archivist. 
A Dream of a Woman by Casey Plett

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A quiet little dream of a book, Plett is such a fine writer. Reminds me of Proulx. Even if you're not interested in LGBTQIA issues, this book stands perfectly fine on its literary merits (and has significant resonance if you do care about LGBTQIA stuff). Also refreshing to read about Canada; Plett follows in the footsteps of Jiaqing Wilson-Yang really beautifully in the small town Canada trans femme memoir vein. Fuck! Get your life! 
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Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

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4.5

A really tough and interesting read. I came into this fresh out of Crying in H-mart by Michelle Zaunter, a lot of the discussions also reminded me of I'll be Right There by Shin Kyung-Sook and Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah- loneliness and aimlessness in modern Korean society, the role of women in society. A lot to learn and observe and think about. I loved that this book had footnotes, however- it makes sense considering its context. 
The Lost Pianos of Siberia by Sophy Roberts

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inspiring relaxing slow-paced

5.0

A perfect travel book (makes you want to go to Harbin in the 1930s, I'm planning my journey by train to Akademgorodok) and also a perfect non fiction book (you can flip to a random chapter and enjoy yourself, which is important quality of non fiction for me). Some really sublime descriptions. I borrowed it but will definitely buy 
Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle

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challenging dark inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

reminded me of Tanis, of my own childhood. We grew up on different continents but there's a thread running through my whole life and so much media I consume that's about that suburban malaise, the spiritual and cultural and often financial poverty of late stage capital and how it flattens us, what this and the colonies do to children and the normal rites of passage. 
In the Dark Spaces by Cally Black

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adventurous hopeful inspiring sad 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? No

5.0

If you grew up rewatching Titan AE and Treasure Planet obsessively and dreaming of space you will LOVE THIS