safsaf118's reviews
227 reviews

French Milk by Lucy Knisley

funny lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.5

Part travel diary, part sketchbook. It was mostly just a recounting of her and her mom’s time in Paris and her occasional emotional meltdowns. Enjoyed it because I was basically living vicariously through her. My coworker lent me this book and told me her other works are stronger, but I wanted to start at the beginning . 

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

Okay, clearly there is something wrong with me because this is the second Joan Didion book that I read and it failed to move me like I thought it would. People have genuinely talked about how this book changed their life so I had high expectations. Don't get me wrong, her writing is obviously super strong and she details her terrible year while also reflecting on her past memories in a really powerful way. But it wasn't quite what I was expecting, I guess? 

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

dark hopeful 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

4.25

I could feel the world closing in on me as I read it. Tense and grim but Bridie was a breath of fresh air. 

Brother by David Chariandy

dark emotional sad 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

Ugh you know when you're reading a book and you know it has a bad ending but you can't stop reading it because you want to know just how bad it will be? That dread is the worst feeling in the world. It's just too depressing I can't deal with it or think about it. All the tender moments just hurt more.

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

emotional funny lighthearted medium-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

2.75

Interesting premise but unenjoyable execution. Not for me, but maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace. 

How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

Whenever I read a short story collection I remember why I don't like short story collections. But there were a few stories here that really stuck with me, but some of them were too depressing. 

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

5.0

SCREAMING CRYING VOMITING SHAKING CONVULSING DYING. Yeah, there are no words. Like I genuinely have never read something like this which is why I loved it so much. I was so engrossed in their world that I didn't want to leave. I don't think I can fully capture how much I loved this. How can you even describe this? Friendship, love, betrayal, video games, business partners. After finishing the book I just laid there to soak it all in. "Tell me I don't know you, Sam thought. Tell me I don't know you when I could draw both sides of this hand, your hand, from memory." 

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

4.0

I'm a sucker for memoirs and I love Star Wars so could this be any more perfect? It was super interesting to get a glimpse behind the curtain. Honest, funny, unflinching. 

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

dark tense medium-paced

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

1.0

Didn't get it and didn't like it. Very weird but in a creepy way and just gross. 

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

I felt like I couldn't really enjoy this because I kept waiting for it to all fall apart. The prose was really beautiful but I also found it hard to follow at parts. I distinctly remember that I was reading this during my lunch break at an Atlantic Superstore food court.