mgris's reviews
129 reviews

Los hechiceros días de Shirley by Elisabetta Gnone

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-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? No

3.5

Cozy cozy cozy. Unexpected nuggets of emotion, but nothing too dramatic. Reads like a treasure hunt.

Pebble in the Sky by Isaac Asimov

adventurous inspiring mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

The dialogue is clunky, and the exposition too. But it's Asimov, you know? As usual, brimming with fun and interesting ideas. I kinda wish the time travel plot was more relevant, though. Also, I thought it was funny how racism and the wish for genocide saved the day in the end.

The Dandelion Girl by Robert F. Young

emotional mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

Very sappy, but in the exact way I love. I probably made some embarrassing noises when the twist was revealed.

King Henry VI, Part 2 by William Shakespeare

adventurous funny fast-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

3.5

Never really read Shakespeare, so I'm starting chronologicallly. I feared it would be boring or difficult, but it was surprisingly engaging. Also, very witty.

The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors by Dan Jones

informative medium-paced

3.0

Mostly read it in order to get some context for reading Shakespeare, but it was a surprisingly fun read. The eternal anglo might be his own worst enemy, after all.

La fórmula preferida del profesor by Yōko Ogawa

emotional inspiring mysterious 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

4.0

Seriously cute and sad, like most of the best stories. It's too late for it now, but maybe if I'd read it 10 years ago I would have developed interest and passion for mathematics.

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Seriously cute and sad, like most of the best stories. It's too late for it now, but maybe if I'd read it 10 years ago I would have developed interest and passion for mathematics.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

adventurous inspiring 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

4.5

Long John Silver will never die.

Niebla by Miguel de Unamuno

challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Very very funny. Very very meta. Very very sad.

The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence by Carl Sagan

informative inspiring medium-paced

3.75

Many of the theories and ideas are of course outdated, but his level of insight towards where science would advance is astonishing. There's also a section in which he describes primitive videogames which is very cute and a little quaint (he praises pong for being able to teach newtonian physics in an intuitive and elegant way). More than anything, it's just an enjoyable read. Carl was a true scientific communicator.