ratgrrrl's reviews
1241 reviews

The Signalman: A Ghost Story by Charles Dickens

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

A true classic of a well written spooky ghost story and the most fun I've had with Dickens outside of A Christmas Carol. 
The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

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dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I feel like coming off the back of having covid and being in a really low capacity state with my chronic conditions and recovery I was in the most perfect place for this to hit like an absolute truck!

I remember enjoying it at uni, but I absolutely adored returning to it!

The subtle stifling and suffocating banal evil of the husband and sister, and the malevolent control they wield over her is incredible.

I love how clearly thoughtful and mentally robust the protagonist is and how she has to overcome the gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing.

The mycilial yellowness is profane and divine! 
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

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emotional informative reflective relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An ex-con, an ex-lepper, and a lonely schoolgirl walk into a confectionery...

This was a truly wholesome and unexpected treat!

A tale of bittersweetness that brings genuine heart, humanity, and suffering to an ultimately gloriously cozy tale.

There's just something truly special about the way this story promotes understanding and empathy for those who feel and have been thrown away by society.

I don't always get on with cozy, but this was sublime.