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pandaorb's reviews
351 reviews
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was expecting more from this book. It feels for too short for the amount of characters introduced, and as a result I felt like the entire plot was glossed over as quickly as possible. There were also characters that I never really understood or reconciled with. For example, we got a small scene where Sabine voiced her inner thoughts, but it didn't help me empathize with her Cruella-esque behavior. Similarly, Schascha’s father behaved horrifically and everyone just... decided to brush it off after a half murmured apology? What?
I wish there'd been more depth rather than having a hundred problems instantly solved by a nine year old; and I felt like the mood of the book was so light that it was terribly jarring every time the tone got dark for a few pages. The flow did not work for me, but overall I could tell it was trying to tell a cute story.
I wish there'd been more depth rather than having a hundred problems instantly solved by a nine year old; and I felt like the mood of the book was so light that it was terribly jarring every time the tone got dark for a few pages. The flow did not work for me, but overall I could tell it was trying to tell a cute story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death of parent
What You Wish For by Katherine Center
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Death
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Azula in the Spirit Temple by Adele Matera, Peter Wartman, Faith Erin Hicks
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Can we start with the art? Let's start with the art. There were so many panels in this issue that I just wanted to set as a screensaver. Every moment was captured perfectly.
Now for the story - what a doozy! It felt just like an episode of the show, and it gave some insight into Azula's internal state. It's always great to see the spirits, especially in such an angst-ridden story as this.
Now for the story - what a doozy! It felt just like an episode of the show, and it gave some insight into Azula's internal state. It's always great to see the spirits, especially in such an angst-ridden story as this.
What Am I Thinking? : Having a Baby After Postpartum Depression by Karen Kleiman
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Pregnancy
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
3.25
This is my first book from Katherine Center. I'd seen it floating around on social media, and when my friends were discussing Center at the library, I scooched on over to the shelf and picked up this one. This didn't really land for me, and I'm not sure if it's the writing style or the tropes in this book being an absolute jumble of things I hate, so I'll have to try a different one after this.
I never really grew to love Cassie, and I especially never found any sympathy for Diana. Good grief, what a selfish woman. I did really like Owen (although I had to stop myself from gagging at the fact that Cassie didn't bother to learn his name until halfway through the book), but their romance felt very shallow. It was basically insta-love because he's hot and she's strong. They had very little foundation or growth and it felt ridiculous.
But Things You Save In A Fire was a quick and moderately enjoyable comfort read when I needed something light, so it has earned its three stars.
I never really grew to love Cassie, and I especially never found any sympathy for Diana. Good grief, what a selfish woman. I did really like Owen (although I had to stop myself from gagging at the fact that Cassie didn't bother to learn his name until halfway through the book), but their romance felt very shallow. It was basically insta-love because he's hot and she's strong. They had very little foundation or growth and it felt ridiculous.
But Things You Save In A Fire was a quick and moderately enjoyable comfort read when I needed something light, so it has earned its three stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Stalking
Moderate: Rape and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cancer and Suicide attempt
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Racism
Minor: Blood
The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
No. Nope.
I have a strict rule of putting down a book if I don't like it by 50 pages. Unfortunately for me, I started to get interested in this around page 47, only to quickly lose interest again. For 16 hours, this spectacularly narrated story could only be described as a glacially paced beast meandering between segments that I couldn't get enough of and segments that, frankly, should have been edited out entirely.
I'm working through Wheel of Time. I'm re-reading Stormlight Archives for fun. It is hard to convince me that I don't need any more characters or any more backstory about those characters, but wow, I did not need 90% of the backstory for 90% of these characters. If I hear the phrase "dot dot dot" one more time I will throw the nearest Tom Hanks movie I can find against a wall with all my limited strength.
There was a good story in here, heck, there was even a great story in here! But no editor did Hanks the favor of telling him what to cut so that the diamond would be visible without readers chiseling through layers upon layers of irrelevant character building. Tom Hanks is a successful actor. He should know that the finished product only needs to display the bits of the iceberg that move the story forward, however, he does not exercise this knowledge as an author, instead opting to drop the entire iceberg upon readers in the name of informing them about the reality of showbiz.
Big props to the talented cast of narrators who made it possible to get through this book. It was a pleasure to listen to every single one of you, Mr. Hanks included, but I can't bring myself to have even marginally similar sentiments about the contents of what you narrated.
I have a strict rule of putting down a book if I don't like it by 50 pages. Unfortunately for me, I started to get interested in this around page 47, only to quickly lose interest again. For 16 hours, this spectacularly narrated story could only be described as a glacially paced beast meandering between segments that I couldn't get enough of and segments that, frankly, should have been edited out entirely.
I'm working through Wheel of Time. I'm re-reading Stormlight Archives for fun. It is hard to convince me that I don't need any more characters or any more backstory about those characters, but wow, I did not need 90% of the backstory for 90% of these characters. If I hear the phrase "dot dot dot" one more time I will throw the nearest Tom Hanks movie I can find against a wall with all my limited strength.
There was a good story in here, heck, there was even a great story in here! But no editor did Hanks the favor of telling him what to cut so that the diamond would be visible without readers chiseling through layers upon layers of irrelevant character building. Tom Hanks is a successful actor. He should know that the finished product only needs to display the bits of the iceberg that move the story forward, however, he does not exercise this knowledge as an author, instead opting to drop the entire iceberg upon readers in the name of informing them about the reality of showbiz.
Big props to the talented cast of narrators who made it possible to get through this book. It was a pleasure to listen to every single one of you, Mr. Hanks included, but I can't bring myself to have even marginally similar sentiments about the contents of what you narrated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Funny Story by Emily Henry
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
5.0
Emily Henry delivers another addicting escape into someone else's problems, and once again gives us more than we bargained for. The protagonists are instantly loveable, and the 'voice' of Daphne is one that frequently elicited laugher raucous enough for my husband to give me a curious side-eye. Of course, because it's a Henry book, the humor is balanced beautifully with all the trappings of working through trauma. Funny Story was an absolute delight!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
One Beautiful Dream: The Rollicking Tale of Family Chaos, Personal Passions, and Saying Yes to Them Both by Jennifer Fulwiler
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
5.0
Jen Fulwiler's inspirational book turns our expectations for "having it all" upside down and backwards. This is a great read for anyone trying to balance the persuit of passions against the hustle of modern day life, and especially for parents. Jen's writing exudes a laid-back humor that makes this book all the more enjoyable to read.
P.S. I highly recommend the audiobook as she narrates it herself and her delivery is spot on.
P.S. I highly recommend the audiobook as she narrates it herself and her delivery is spot on.