otherwordy's reviews
196 reviews

Andromeda by Therese Bohman

emotional reflective sad slow-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

5.0

I really liked it, but I hesitate in recommending it because I know this book won't have broad appeal. For one thing, nothing is resolved in this book at all--it's more the equivalent of a masterful writer diving into the minds of her two protagonists. For another, the plot was not even a factor, and almost "nothing happens" and as much as this is what made this book good for me, I know it will be what others might not like about it. The divided POV was a compelling (and heartbreaking) way of showing how the same events experienced in the same space at the same time with others could look, feel, and mean so differently to each one.

Inhabiting the Negative Space by Jenny Odell

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

The Vegetarian by Han Kang

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeanette Winterson

dark hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung by Nina MacLaughlin

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

The Wild Huntress by Emily Lloyd-Jones

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense 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

5.0

A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy by Nathan Thrall

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

The Braille Encyclopedia: Brief Essays on Altered Sight by Naomi Cohn

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0