rwalker101's reviews
648 reviews

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Most of the criticisms of this book are valid, the bisexuality-as-a-shocking-twist thing especially. But also, the entire time I was listening I couldn't help but luxuriate in the Charade 1963 vibes it was giving. And after the awful time I had with Memory Man I think I deserve this.

Memory Man by David Baldacci

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0

 jfc dude

Edit: Okay now that I've had time to sleep on it, I'm going to write a real review.

First, let me ask you a question.

If you are writing a book about a detective who can remember everything, except the incident that caused his remembering in the first place, where would you hide your killer in his memory? Perhaps in that self-same incident? Or would you do it in a random moment, out of a million random moments?

Which one is more narratively satisfying? And now which do you think Baldacci opted for?

Add on top of that Baldacci's attempt at a conversation surrounding American gender & identity politics (which is reductive and lacking nuance, even for a book published in 2015), and you'll get a book that disappointed me in every shape imaginable. Which is a real shame, because the first third was so tight. Tense, atmospheric, mysterious, all of the things a good thriller should be. But the unraveling of the mystery left me feeling disappointed, then bored, then frankly a little pissed off.

Rarely do I come away from books feeling I've wasted my time, but I've come away from this book feeling that I've wasted both my time and my sanity. 

I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt by Madeline Pendleton

hopeful informative inspiring

4.0

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious 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

20020: An American football story by Frank Bi, Graham MacAree, Jon Bois

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

dear mr bois i would very much like to read 20021 if you every want to publish it please and thank you

17776 by Graham MacAree, Jon Bois

funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

For non-book records, review text and ratings are hidden. Only mood, pace, and content warnings are visible.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

2.0

 unfortuantely, i think lo is my least favorite of ware's protagonists so far. 

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

hey question, what if the plastics from mean girls hid a body? great, now what if they were british and 75% less interesting? what's that? you lost interest?

there were some parts towards the end that were really poignant, but it was such a slog to get there that i just didn't care anymore.

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

dark sad slow-paced

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

3.0

Zero Days by Ruth Ware

dark tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Honestly, this would have been 3 stars were it not for the end. I kept hoping there would be a last twist that would make the plot way less impersonal to Jac. There was not, but then there was a baby, and that made it all that much worse.