mlsweeten's reviews
229 reviews

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

challenging dark slow-paced

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

3.75

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

emotional 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

3.5

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

I found this book to be both sad and fascinating. I asked myself lots of questions while reading this. Most of my questions were eventually answered. It’s about relationships but among an unusual group. I don’t want to say more than that but it’s definitely a thought provoking read. 

Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

adventurous hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-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

I liked this one so much more than the first of this series. I find Penelope and Eloise to be my favorite characters. Colin could be jealous and temperament in this book but also protective. I’m glad he finally came to see Penelope as more than a wallflower. Also, Cressida as a villain brought much suspense towards the end. I had to keep reading to find out what Penelope would do. 

Pretty Little Pieces by Carmen Schober

reflective medium-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

3.0

This is a Christian romance book which I didn’t realize when I bought it, but it’s all good. I didn’t mind the messages about God that were mixed in with the story, but wasn’t expecting that. The story takes place in Tennessee where Georgina, a television show designer, finds her career and personal life falling apart. Then she meets Cassidy, an ex-military recently sober good guy who sweeps her off her feet. He’s about to leave on a mission to El Salvador while Georgina’s former boyfriend and business partner try to derail her ambitions. There were lots of minor characters, more than necessary, to keep track of. Overall, it was a cute romance book that made for some light reading. 

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

adventurous dark tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

At first I thought this would be something like The Hunger Games but then it turned more into Beauty and the Beast. It was okay but I didn’t love it. Feyre’s family wasn’t great and Feyre is often foolish. Tamlin releases her to go home to protect her, but by doing so, he makes it impossible to break the curse and puts her whole world in danger. Much of it didn’t make sense to me. But I’m not much of a fantasy reader. This was a bit far from reality for me, but it was mostly alright.  Even the parts where she was home with her family was still other worldly. The last chapters were the most disturbing but the ending was satisfying. 

Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King

adventurous mysterious medium-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

3.75

A bit of a slow read but I do enjoy this series. This one takes us to Monaco where Mary, with a bit of help from Sherlock, must find out what their former housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, is up to. Especially after a young man is shot in her apartment and Mrs. Hudson is arrested. I enjoy the details of their lavish lifestyle. 

The Liars' Club: A Memoir by Mary Karr

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

Books like this actually do give me hope that kids with difficult childhoods can grow up to be successful adults with normal lives. A few parts of this book made me feel nostalgic for my own childhood. Like Mary, I lived in Colorado when I was about 10 and my brother was 12. Being generation x kids, we’d run all over and explore caves and play in the woods with no adult supervision, and we survived. I also used green stamps from the grocery store to buy presents for my family. Mary seemed like a fun and daring kid. Other parts of this book are simply tragic. Horrible what some kids have to endure. What made this memoir different than others that are similar was the humor that she included. While her parents were far from ideal, she handled the adventures pretty well and obviously had love for her family. Well, maybe not her grandma…

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

emotional 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

4.0

This is about the complex relationships between mothers and daughters made especially more difficult from growing up in different countries. The mothers all experienced tragedies in their home country of China, and still cling to their Chinese traditions and beliefs. The daughters are more American in their way of life but still carry the emotional baggage passed on to them from the previous generation. I had to write down notes about each character because at times it’s difficult to keep them all straight. I could sympathize with the mothers but could relate more to the daughters who often felt they were not good enough in the eyes of the women who raised them. 

The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith

adventurous lighthearted relaxing 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? No

3.25

This is always a fun series. The writing and storylines are simple, often repetitive. But the characters are so lovable. This is a good series to read if you want something light and don’t want to think too much. I also enjoy reading what it’s like to live in Botswana.