petrichorandcoffee's reviews
475 reviews

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

Well done, interesting mystery with a satisfying conclusion. It was fast-paced and easy to read with writing that drew me in. I don't give if 5 stars because of the continuous use of the word "Indian" associated with stereotypes/acting as though Indiginous folks are just characters in a horrible poem. There aren't any "Indian" characters, so no overt racism toward anyone in the story, but there are these continuous references that are racist. There is also the use of the antiquated, terrible expression "the n****r in a woodpile" used twice. 

Embodied: An Intersectional Feminist Comics Poetry Anthology by Ruth Awad, Rosebud Ben-Oni, Kenzie Allen

4.75

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

5.0

Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds to Hillbilly Elegy by Meredith McCarroll, Anthony Harkins

informative reflective

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

medium-paced

3.25

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous challenging emotional tense

5.0

An excellent conclusion to a wonderful trilogy. I did not know how Roanhose would find a satisfying conclusion with so many compelling characters and moving pieces, but she did. My only small complaint is

I felt it took too long for Serapio to realize Balam was his father. I felt like there was a moment that was supposed to be a reveal for the reader, but it had been ovbious for a long time before that.

I'm still rating it 5 stars though because it is a wonderful book, masterfully wrapping up a beautiful, complicated story with nuanced characters. I have recommended this trilogy to many and will continue to do so.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, and War

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories by Tim Burton

dark fast-paced

2.75

Beautifully made book, lovely to look at and hold, and I really really like the concept of unsettling short bedtime stories for adults. I just found the rhythm of the poems to be off (aiming for a Dr. Seuss or Shel Silverstein feel but missing the mark because the singsong feeling was lost at a clearly attempted but unsuccessful rhythm scheme). Truly cool concept and I'm happy to have read it and to own it, I just felt like it missed the mark of what it could have been.

4000 Miles by Amy Herzog

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

After the Revolution by Amy Herzog

challenging reflective medium-paced

5.0

Truly phenomenal. Challenging and excellent work.