robi_locksley's reviews
33 reviews

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.

This is one of the absolute worst books I have ever tried to read. Putrid garbage 

Babel by R.F. Kuang
Did not finish book. Stopped at 26%.

I lost my copy. I'll get back to it when I find it 

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.

I lost my copy. I'll get back to it when I find it 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Confessions by Kanae Minato

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

The Wife by Meg Wolitzer

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

One of the few cases where the movie is better. Though there are some changes made in the film that almost seem to be an inside joke with those who have read the book.

Joan's complaints about her husband and men in general, while entirely warrented and not anything I disagree with, are incredibly repetitive. Almost shallow in a strange way. 

Her complaints about other women are just downright hateful. The internalized misogyny is frustrating, especially since it goes almost entirely unexamined. 

There is an utterly bizarre disdain for Finland, its people, and its culture, that goes throughout the book. 

The prose is largely good. It is sometimes beautiful. At other times it is very try-hard. 

It wasn't a particularly enjoyable read, though it wasn't really bad either. As I said at the beginning, the film is probably the best way to experience this story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Xenophobia

Normal People by Sally Rooney

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America by Ijeoma Oluo

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

The Library of the Dead by T.L. Huchu

adventurous dark funny informative mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0