loves_nurse's reviews
83 reviews

The Chronicles of Prydain, Books 1 & 2 by Lloyd Alexander

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

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

2.75

It's a fun tale, and has human moments with lessons to be absorbed from characters , but often the story relies on gendered patriarchal undertones to get us to through the endings.  Lloyd Alexander keeps me interested such that I read the next book immediately because  I DO care abt the characters and I am vested in the story.

Hella Town: Oakland's History of Development and Disruption by Mitchell Schwarzer

informative slow-paced

2.0

This was THE driest, blandest, factual telling of Oakland. Not a single bit of color woven into the imagery of The Town. Sigh. 

Feminism is for Everybody by bell hooks

challenging hopeful reflective slow-paced

3.75

Basic concepts and introductory information. Touchs on intersectionality, but there are other sources that go more in depth. A good book to have in your repertoire of knowledge, but not all encompassing.

Mary Poppins Opens the Door by P.L. Travers

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.0

This was a struggle to tell the difference between book 2 and 3. This book uses dated language and patriarchal circumstances to tell the story of Mary Poppins coming back to her Banks Family.  Mary is more contradictory in this book. 

Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers

adventurous lighthearted slow-paced

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

2.5

Mary and the children have better adventures in this installment, but Mary runs hot and cold and obstinate and generous without seemingly having a pattern to it. She's more strict but encourages imagination thru aggressive nanny roles. I don't know. I enjoyed my time with this book but it has dated speech and references and the patriarchy in the background themes.

Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

adventurous slow-paced

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

2.5

Perhaps I am too much of a bitter curmudgeon to enjoy the love story portion of this book?  The MMC feels like a fantasy boyfriend of a young teen girl. (Nothing inherently wrong with that, it just wasn't a character I particularly cared for or about).
The idea and premise of the book/tale is really great and I enjoyed the story, but this sequel is slow moving and was a trudge, for me, to get thru. 
I do think I would have enjoyed this book much more as a younger person. I did enjoy my time with this book and I will be interested in other works from this author.

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

challenging dark reflective medium-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

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

challenging funny hopeful informative inspiring relaxing slow-paced

4.75

Enjoyable explanation of the Tao thru the actions of Pooh, Ru, Piglet, Rabbit and Eeyore. 

As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

challenging sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

This is a traumatic story woven from the horrors of war in Syria. The cadence of the writing was off putting to me. Somehow the writing was molasses slow, but the action of the story was frenzied and frighteningly fast (as befitted the time and place of the story). I'm glad I read it, as it has inspired me to learn more about Syrian culture and its history, but the book itself felt clunky and I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over again. Perhaps that was intentional, as the people surviving trauma are often caught in a cycle of hardships that repeat and repeat and repeat.

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

dark slow-paced

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

2.75

SK in his early era! Love to hear his early voice in his writings. This book was a bit long winded for me. And perhaps I'm viewing thru the lens of forgiveness-nostalgia also when I say it's not worth a re-read for me, but Im glad having read it and look forward to his next one. He has written far better books than this one but I don't regret my time with it.