philip_bonanno's reviews
232 reviews

The Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta: The Celebrated California Bandit by John Rollin Ridge

adventurous tense 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

3.0

Wild but fun book about thieves and bandits of prospectors in 19th century California. A little hard to get into though

Edgar Huntly Or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker: Or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker by Charles Brockden Brown

adventurous dark 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

The prose are so fun. Gothic aesthetic. Absurd British people. It’s a good time.

The Salt Eaters by Toni Cade Bambara

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

Amazing. Trauma, healing, and so much literary skill.

A Marsh Island by Sarah Orne Jewett

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

Love a 19th century love triangle 

Two Years Before the Mast: A Personal Narrative of Life at Sea by Richard Henry Dana

adventurous slow-paced

2.0

Hating California is not a personality trait

The Marrow of Tradition by Sandra Gunning, Charles W. Chesnutt, Nancy Bentley

medium-paced

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

3.75

Chestnutt is cleverly playing on fears of the time which I enjoyed. Like many books of this era, editing was a big issue.

The Sea Birds Are Still Alive by Toni Cade Bambara

4.5

Life in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis

fast-paced

4.75

So good. One of my favorite things I’ve read from the 19th century for sure

Native Son by Richard Wright

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Undeniably a classic. Hard to get through because of the violence which is part of the point. Purposely uncomfortable. Extreme trigger warning for sexual violence and gender violence.

McTeague by Frank Norris

dark funny mysterious 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

4.25

This book is hilarious. Murderous dentist and his miserly wife make a funny book. Trigger warning for antisemitism and domestic violence.