ourlamp's reviews
21 reviews

The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Wasn’t bad, just didn’t grip me. 

The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri

adventurous emotional tense 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

5.0

Didn’t shed a tear until the last paragraph of the acknowledgments, and then they wouldn’t stop flowing. I have so enjoyed sitting in this world with these characters, even in all their hard places. If The Priory is what introduced me to fantasy, then The Jasmine Throne is what got me hooked. These books will live forever in my heart. I look forward to returning to this beautiful and lovingly crafted story again and again and again. 

Frankenstein: The 1818 Text by Mary Shelley

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

State and Revolution by Vladimir Lenin

informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

This is my first true dip into communist literature despite my own beliefs (largely informed by Black revolutionary thought) being extremely left. It was a relatively quick read and I found myself surprised with how accessible it is. It was also quite funny in places, particularly where Lenin’s sassiness was on full display. 

Blood in My Eye by George L. Jackson

challenging hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

dark inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexual assault, Slavery, Police brutality, Trafficking, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, and Death of parent

Minor: Excrement

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Violence, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Minor: Homophobia and Kidnapping

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
Did not finish book. Stopped at 11%.

Only just now adding this though I stopped reading a long while ago. It was driving me up a wall just how frequently the author used “x said” after a piece of dialogue. 

Real excerpt:

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Maksim said. 
“It is,” I said.
“And depressing as hell,” Dave said.
“It’s Siberia,” Maksim said. 
“We didn’t realize Clara had a daughter,” Dave said. 
“Maybe he doesn’t want to talk about this,” Maksim said.”

It happens throughout the book, this is just the most egregious example I caught and it’s what ultimately made me put down the book. If it’s some sort of stylistic choice that I’m just not hip to, that’s fine. Still hate it. 

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Did not finish book.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5