lisabage's reviews
528 reviews

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

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adventurous emotional medium-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

This prequel to The Pillars of the Earth was like returning home to learn all about your grandparents over summer vacation. Spanning a decade, it follows several characters through the turn of the tenth century in England. There are Viking raids and bad antics by church people. There are royals and lepers. So little happens in a day and so much in a decade! Recommended for those who want a long but simple, comfortable read.  
Two Old Women: An Alaskan Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis

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adventurous emotional hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love when you find an amazing book for vacation. I loved this story of finding family, whether from old connections, new friends, or even a mysteriously intelligent octopus narrator. Highly recommend this one for anyone looking for something heartwarming and creative. Amazing especially as a first novel for this author!
Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

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

2.0

Not the right book for me. I enjoyed the interesting first person snarky narrator, but couldn’t get interested in any of the characters. The mystery was good so if you are into plot driven twisty turns mystery, it could really work for you. Just didn’t work for me. 
The Measure by Nikki Erlick

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hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Everyone gets a string that tells you how long you’ll live. Multiple storylines emerge as people come to terms with the ensuing decisions. Great premise and solid character development. The middle got a bit preachy in my opinion but the way the stories develop and intertwine kept me reading. Interesting way to reframe prejudice, and a different take on the question of what a life well lived really means. 
The House at the End of the World by Dean Koontz

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

3.5

Solid Koontz. First I’ve read in awhile but the style and voice are very much the same as they always were. I appreciated the strong female characters in this one, and nice to see a fox instead of his normal dog as the grounding force. Plenty of suspense leading up to the monsters and a nice relaxing end after all the action. An easy and suspenseful read. 
My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones

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

3.5

Great concept and some interesting plot lines. I had a very hard time getting into the story though until about half through. Downloaded the audiobook and doing a read along made me finish though. 50-80% I was all in, but the last 10% was strange again. Something still stuck with me enough that I plan to try book 2 of the trilogy. I do love all the slasher film trivia sprinkled in. 
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 35%.
Bored
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

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adventurous dark fast-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? No

4.0

A woman comes home after her parents die to settle the estate with her brother. But the family estate includes more problems than she’s prepared for. 
I enjoy the humor and wit that comes with Hendrix’s retro inspired horror. It’s the perfect blend if you want scary but not too scary. This is more of a Chucky-in-a-dysfunctional-family drama than a haunted house book. A solid pick for me. 
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

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funny 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

4.0

A fun romp through an alternate world full of Godzillas. The author wrote this as a quick fun change of pace after the pandemic. And it reads that way. It’s a bit corny and predictable but a lot of fun.