rlpietraszek's reviews
132 reviews

How I Won a Nobel Prize by Julius Taranto

dark emotional funny 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

A fun read, the point gets lost in over-analysis of the character motivations, and there’s a little **too** much detail around the physics. However, enjoyable none the less

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.

Just don’t love this sort of retelling, didn’t find the premise compelling

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

My least favourite of her books so far, the author self-insert was so obvious as to be distracting. The romance felt shoe-horned in, unlike “Normal People” in which it is both compelling and heart wrenching. You didn’t really know why the characters wanted to be together. However, her prose is always fantastic.

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Amazing for a debut, felt rushed at times and slightly shallow at others, but the characters are compelling the whole way through, and you definitely root for Frances and Bobbi

Normal People by Sally Rooney

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Shockingly raw and honest, beautiful prose, I finished it in one night. Compelling characters, amazing novel.

Circe by Madeline Miller

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

Easily one of the best written books I have ever read. Her command of language is second to none. For fans of Greek myth or historical fiction, I can think of no better book to recommend.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced