rivertonrat's reviews
135 reviews

Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

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

3.75

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

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funny 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? No

3.0

Quick read. Mixes 21st century feminism with mid-20th century misogyny.  Cartoony characters... Super smart, super good looking, athletically gifted, etc, precocious kids and dogs. Equal rights in the workplace has transformed into a new issue:  dual incomes are now required for a modicum of security in the United States, but the infrastructure required to support such an economic model (i.e. affordable childcare,  subsidized parental leave, strong workplace protections, etc) have yet to materialize. Admittedly, this is not the point of the book as it is pretty light and breezy, but  it seemed kind of glib - 4 year old is self sufficient, plus a neighbor magically appears for child care, for instance. 
The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation by Cory Doctorow

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hopeful informative fast-paced

4.5

Berlin Game by Len Deighton

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong about the Future of Transportation by Paris Marx

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

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4.0

I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom by Shannon C.F. Rogers

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Young Adult book about a teenager grappling with her mother's death. The family includes her father and brother. Everyone deals with grief differently and puts a strain on her relationships both at school and with her family.  The story was well told and engaging.
Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ryan Estrada

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medium-paced

3.75

Graphic novel about student protests in South Korea. I found it a bit difficult to follow
Worm: A Cuban American Odyssey by Edel Rodriguez

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emotional hopeful informative tense fast-paced

4.5

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0