moonbeammckenna's reviews
79 reviews

Kapitoil by Teddy Wayne

adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

LOVED IT 

lost me a little in the middle but the ending made up for it and more. I didn't know books could have such satisfying foreshadowing without being a murder mystery -- and the characters! Wayne is a professional at showing and not telling. the way he developed the relationships between Karim and Rebecca and Mr Schrub and even Darron and his father was thoroughly and masterfully done -- I can't even describe how well it was written. new favorite author, I think.

Apartment by Teddy Wayne

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

it took ten minutes to stop crying, 30 minutes to lay comatose on the couch processing everything, and another ten minutes to order the rest of Teddy Wayne's work online to be able to get up and on with my day. maybe I'm being dramatic but -- that was incredibly heartbreaking. 

just, heartbreaking. to be put in the shoes of someone who loves and feels so much respect and emotion for someone only to have that person think you're kinda worthless was almost too much for me. fricking fantastic.

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

five stars is the least I can do for a book that literally blew my mind. a review by Jim Britell of the Whole Earth Review on the cover says "from now on I will divide the books I have read into two categories -- the ones I read before Ishmael and those read after."

pretty much sums it up

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

adventurous informative fast-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

3.25

good book! if you wanna read a 500-something page story problem then this book is for you, babey. but yeah. first science fiction book in a while and it didn't disappoint in anything except literary prowess. 

All's Well by Mona Awad

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring 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

5.0

What a whirlwind of a book, damn. My copy has an interview from Mona Award in the back about the themes and ideas she wanted to incorporate and I love it when books have stuff like that because I can get concrete answers to my questions, especially this book, which took me so long to read because I was analyzing the shit out of it. My favorite aspect was the relationships between women - how cruel we can be to each other in power dynamics and the ways cruelty can endure in friendships. I don't think I'll ever forget this book.

Luster by Raven Leilani

4.0

good book! very interesting plot and I loved the ideas the author explored as someone who is touch deprived and mentally ill. the way she writes is mesmerizing -- I couldn't stop having to put the book down and repeat some sentences over and over again. one thing is I don't know why the review on the front of the book said it was "fan-yourself sexy"; yes there was sex in this book but it wasn't arousing. which is kind of a weird critique but the sex is portrayed as something the main character uses to exist, and it's kind of abusive sex at that. which may imply the author meant to use it as something different and I just didn't get it. anyways. good book.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

4.5

LOVED IT best book in the series so far, I love how you can see the author getting comfortable with the world and the characters and letting his creativity flow. 

Eldest by Christopher Paolini

adventurous inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.5

LOVELY the end was when it really picked up and it was phenomenal. I do wish the pacing was spread throughout the book more so I didn't have to wait till the end to revel in the book, but I did really like how relaxing it was to read. ellesmera is lovely and the author did great at describing everything. nice. 

Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

4.5

Irina is neck and neck with the bitch from my year of rest and relaxation as Worst Main Character Ever. I hate her so much lol -- she is intolerant of everyone and judgemental and elitist and cocky and absolutely horrid and I love her. what troubles me the most is how much of myself I see in her -- she's the parts of me that I try to hard to change. very interesting insight, to be honest. the story was a little bland but exciting and I'll allow some blandness because it was a book about a horrible little photographer spinning wildly out of control. What does a girl have to do to leave a mark on this world ?

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

3.5

great book! surprisingly easy to follow and absolutely ridiculous. nice.