mili_starling's reviews
49 reviews

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

dark emotional reflective tense 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

5.0

Gripping and thrilling, even having watched the films, I was enthralled from the first page and still taken in by a few twists. 

I found it to be a thought-provoking exploration of the boundaries of science that’s still extremely important today. 

The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu

adventurous challenging emotional 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

5.0

I found the second of this trilogy to be gripping, thrilling and thought provoking. I thought it showed the ugly side of human nature coming out to fight for survival in an emotive and realistic way. 

I enjoyed the scientific parts even not having previous knowledge of them. I felt like they were generally easy to follow and in keeping with the tone of the story. 

 I also enjoyed reading from Luo Ji’s perspective, the unlikeable, unlikely hero. I know some people dislike the general 1-dimensionality of his wife & child but I read that as a character flaw of his. He was self-absorbed, and even if he loved them, I thought it a realistic portrayal for his characterisation. 

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

adventurous mysterious 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? Yes

4.25

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced

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

5.0

Letters from the Ginza Shihodo Stationery Shop by Kenji Ueda

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Mina's Matchbox: A Novel by Yōko Ogawa

emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri

emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

Babel by R.F. Kuang

adventurous challenging informative reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

Jaipur Journals by Namita Gokhale

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

5.0

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.75