moonbeammckenna's reviews
79 reviews

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

3.75

yes I am trying to reach my reading goal two days before it ends but this book was pretty interesting! it felt like a religious metaphor, or reaching nirvana or something. but in a kind way. will not be applying to any part of my life, thank you. 

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No

3.5

hmmmMMhMmMmmmmmmMMMM I don't think I liked it. it ended on a very disgusting note and the whole thing was wonderfully written -- Ive never seen metaphors ring with so much truth and personification. I didn't find it all that interesting besides the descriptive writing. an alright book, nice and short. 

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I believe I just found my new favorite book. Every once in a while I remember why I'm addicted to reading and it's because I'll finish a novel and have to set it down and deal with the place it has set in my heart, and the hole there, now that it's over. And then I'll read another 100 terrible books looking for that feeling again -- and I finALLY found it lol.

I loved everything about the book -- the research alone that had to have gone into writing it is inspiring and dizzying. I love how it brought me to places that aren't often settings for books (or maybe I'm just uncultured lol) like Istanbul and Hungary and Bulgaria and I ADORED how I could look up online the buildings and monasteries they visited and see it for myself. 

The characters had a lot of depth and personality -- it felt like they were all real and independent of the author, if that makes sense. It was confusing at times having the bulk of the story be a letter from her father about the past, with other's letters and stories in THAT letter.  Though it wasn't too bad, and I actually enjoyed having to keep my brain on for the whole book. 

The plot frickin slapped; THAT'S how you write a vampire story. The way Kostova masterfully revealed details and wove romance and dread in there was fantastic. I'll admit it did slow down a little too much at times, and I often had to backtrack several chapters (and sometimes like half the book) to piece together what was actually happening and to be able to follow along with it. In the books defense though, that may just be my lizard brain trying to comprehend things. 

All in all -- absolutely lovely. This book is the reason I'm not going to reach my reading goal this year and I'm not even mad. 

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

haunting and intoxicating. I don't think I'll be able to get it out of my head. the way eugenides writes about the Lisbon girls is mesmerizing and satisfying and the way he makes the whole book seem like one of my memories is amazing. 10/10. damn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous

medium-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? Yes

4.0

what a weird mf book. I liked it -- couldn't put it down, actually -- but what a weird book. if it's really a memoir then the author is a piece of shit, and if it's fiction then it's a work of art to be revered and a good look into narsicism (narssicism? narcissism. it's narcissism.) anyway probably won't read the second one but a very good read.

Kingdom of the Feared by Kerri Maniscalco

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

4.5

GREAT END TO THE SERIES AJJCKAIFJKAKCKAOIG 

I will say the smut at the beginning dragged on for a bit too long, not that it was BAD smut (in fact it was quality af) but I waited six months for this book to come out and would have appreciated a little more plot at first. let's get the ball rolling and THEN you can get your dick out.

but other than that I loved it, nice relaxing read to get me out of my reading slump

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

adventurous funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25

boyfriend convinced me to read and it was bETTER THAN I HOPED FOR. will definitely try to finish the rest of the series when I get all the other tbr books out of my system. parts seemed rushed and not thought out at times, but the ending especially was riveting and interesting and page turning. nice.

I Love Dick by Chris Kraus

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

This is a very interesting and thought provoking and reflective book, and I don't know about the plot line haha but the author did an amazing job writing and portraying the characters as real people with personalities and thoughts and interactions or whatever idk. I was surprised it was a work of fiction after I read it, as there are so many real life examples and stories and parallels in it that do not seem fake. maybe she had to market it as fiction or risk getting sued lol. 

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey

funny 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 cute little romcom to get me out of a reading slump. hopefully it did the trick, also Tessa Bailey's stuff is always a good read. 

Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh

adventurous dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.0

whaaaaat the fuck just happened lmao. I feel like if I didn't get COVID and have to move to a different state while I was reading this book I would have liked it more, but also it was quite slow and tedious to read at times and get I still really liked it, I think. what a strange book. still a huge fan of moshfegh.