ramonaleanna's reviews
104 reviews

Dreamtigers by Jorge Luis Borges

challenging reflective

Latitudes Of Longing by Shubhangi Swarup

emotional slow-paced

3.0

Collected Novellas by Gabriel García Márquez

slow-paced

3.25

Chronicle of a Death Foretold was my favorite novella from this collection. The former two paled in comparison to One Hundred Years of Solitude's recollections of Macondo (this was the first story I read by him like many others) and I wonder if I would have the same opinion if I had read these first.  

Moondust by Thomas Burnett Swann

adventurous fast-paced

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

2.75

This was basically bible fanfiction but it was a fun, easy read. Perfect vintage paperback to pick up in-between heavier pursuits. 

Waiting: A Novel of Uganda's Hidden War by Goretti Kyomuhendo

tense slow-paced

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

4.0

Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I have the utmost admiration for this woman and what she represents. This was a wonderful, informative, well-written story, and one of the best autobiographies I've had the privilege of reading so far. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

adventurous challenging dark hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.75

What a great mystery! The only reason I am giving this 3.75/5 instead of higher is because anything having to do with physics and theoretical science is difficult for me to grasp (I'm sure some of it went over my head). It was refreshing to see a science fiction book originating from a different cultural setting and perspective and the author's note at the end touched me. 

The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Vol. 1: 1931-1934 by Anaïs Nin

challenging hopeful reflective slow-paced

3.75

Anais' style of writing has a lyrical quality, a lot of embellishment, without being vapid. I became fascinated with the way she sees things, her preoccupation with truth in contrast with the "fear of what happens to the truth in [her] mind, so fertile with inventions." She is a true pisces, a dreamer, and for that I love her despite her somewhat limited world-view. I do wish so much context of what was happening in her life wasn't edited out, like her apparent marriage and multiple affairs which were mentioned in other reviews and became ultra-apparent when the reader is plopped in the middle of her pregnancy and miscarriage toward the end.

Dancing On Our Turtle's Back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-Creation, Resurgence, and a New Emergence by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective

4.5

Sharon and My Mother-In-Law: Ramallah Diaries by Suad Amiry

dark emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5