mlsweeten's reviews
164 reviews

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

This book is about a family of four sisters, their parents, and children and their broken bonds. I liked the comparisons to Little Women, although it was repetitive.  I couldn’t like Rose or Julia because they lacked compassion and wanted everyone to live according to their plans. William had an emotional breakdown but he was never abusive to Julia and yet she treated him so badly. Sylvie was my favorite character. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

emotional hopeful 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

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

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

4.0

A humorous book about the haves and have-nots and marrying into a family different from your own. This wealthy family was not evil but they were certainly spoiled and short sighted. I felt bad for Sasha most of the time. Many of the problems this family had could be found in any family, not just one with lots of money. They were all flawed but did their best to keep up appearances. 

Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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? Yes

3.75

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

emotional hopeful sad 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

4.5

This is the first Colleen Hoover book I’ve ever read and I was curious to see what the hype was all about. This was a very emotional book about forgiveness and how one careless decision can change your life forever, and the lives of people you love. I wanted to keep reading to the end and had a hard time putting this down. 

The Villa by Rachel Hawkins

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a whole book in two days but this one had me hooked. Lots of twists and betrayals. Don’t let the pretty cover fool you. The Italian villa is lovely but this is a dark tale. 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

adventurous dark tense fast-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? No

4.0

The characters are diverse if you consider humans, demons, vampires and werewolves as diverse. The characters were at times likable but there are so many twists that they aren’t always what you expect. This isn’t the type of book I would normally read but it sure kept me interested and entertained. I felt sympathetic towards Simon who was loyal to his friend but felt taken for granted. 

Selected Poems and Letters of Emily Dickinson by Emily Dickinson

challenging inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.5

I was more interested in the poetry than the letters. Her poems have a consistent rhythm so I find reading them to be relaxing and soothing. While they appear simple, some of them really aren’t. She writes a lot about nature and death. Some seemed very abstract but my favorites are a bit more personal. 

“I shall know why, when time is over
And I have ceased to wonder why;
Christ will explain each separate anguish
In the fair schoolroom of the sky.” 

Maya Angelou: The Complete Poetry by Maya Angelou

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

I like that many of her poems are straightforward but also raw and brutally honest (after all, poems should evoke some kind of emotion.) She covers topics of aging, abuse, racism, and sexuality.  But my favorite passage: 
“I note the obvious differences
Between each sort and type. 
But we are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.” 

Virgil Wander by Leif Enger

hopeful 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

4.0

This is certainly a slow read that is character driven. There’s not a strong plot but the characters make up for that. Really it’s about the rebirth of people in a dying town. If you like this book and have never watched a season of Northern Exposure, you should give it a try. The vibes are similar.