ryraeriv's reviews
19 reviews

Sleepwalking by Meg Wolitzer

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challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

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

4.0

This is a heartbreaking, and at times heartwarming, story of a woman who tries to find meaning in a world she can't understand. Keiko Furukura has worked her whole life at Smile Mart, a convenience store that brings her peace and joy. She is torn between doing the work that gives her meaning and conforming to her family and society's expectations of her. As an autistic person the feeling of otherness that Keiko must navigate resonated with me, and I cried within the first five pages of this book. 
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Two Moons: Stories by Krystal A. Smith

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adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

A wonderful collection of speculative fiction stories that focus on love, healing, divinity, femininity, among a multitude of other things. Simple prose and narrative structure help the stories to be easily understood but at times can be too basic. My personal favorites include Anyone Out There, Two Moons, Life Cycle, and Cosmic. 
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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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

3.5

This book is an immersive experience. Moody and atmospheric, the setting is one of the most important aspects, taking on a life of its own and becoming a character in its own right. With some of the richest descriptions I have ever read, this books travels through the creation of Le Cirque Des Reves, the lives of the people that make it possible, and the magic that binds them all together.  It took me awhile to get through it, because while this book is rich and vividly detailed, it is not driven forward by plot, instead lazily meandering its way to its final conclusion. While interesting, it does not demand attention, and often times, wasn't compelling enough for me to want to continue reading. There was no urgency to The Night Circus. 
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Chilling Effect by Valerie Valdes

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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

3.75

Chilling Effect is a fun romp through space that follows Captain Eva Innocente and her crew as they try to make money, survive, and kinda, save the universe.  All in all, this is a fun, light-hearted book with a very interesting concept that doesn't take itself too seriously. The main character verges on unlikable, swinging wildly from self-pitying to brazenly reckless, but she also has some wonderfully funny and honest moments. The plot is fast paced and keeps you engaged but some aspects of it seem unnecessary and add little to the development of the story. A large chunk of this book relies on a version of the miscommunication trope, which I personally detest, but it definitely made me feel things. The side characters can come off as a little one dimensional in scenes but they serve their purpose and the diverse array of representation (race, gender, sexual orientation, alien species) is a definite bonus. Valdes manages to build up a sci-fi world that is well thought out and easy to understand without spoon-feeding every aspect of it to the reader. This book was worth the read and makes me want to continue on with the series. 
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The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

This graphic novel was a beautiful exploration of one family's interactions told through both their lives and fairytales that parallel their experiences. It talks about sexuality, immigration, loss, love, and the intersection of different identities that can occur within one family and within one person. The Magic Fish is hopeful, sorrowful, and emotional as it dances and weaves its way to its ultimate conclusion. 
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Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

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The Princess Bride by William Goldman

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

3.0

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

3.5

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