sarahxify's reviews
692 reviews

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

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? Yes

3.0

I really liked the story of the Marriage Portrait, it was intriguing and i enjoyed reading from Lucrezia's perspective. But i find the reading experience of this novel to be suffocating: it's drowning in adjectives and luscious description, to the point that i feel I'm wading through sweet syrup to get to the story beneath.

Happening by Annie Ernaux

challenging emotional

5.0

In the Days of Rain: A Daughter, a Father, a Cult by Rebecca Stott
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.

This was just dragging on and on. The writing was quite nice but it seemed to just be circling and circling around her family and the past and present. It touches on the brethrens for a bit but then goes back out to other things in her family, and it just feels like it's going to take forever to get anywhere. 

Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany
Did not finish book. Stopped at 24%.

This book was pretty disjointed and just didn't grab me at all - started it a couple of times to no avail. 

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

slow-paced

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

2.5

The writing is luscious, but i found the story itself to be pretty underwhelming. Learning the background of these characters didn't work for me or convince me of their relationship - i found it both unbelievable and bizarre, particularly the way that they reconnected in the present day. 

With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial by Kathryn Mannix

4.0

Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Someone Who's Been There by Cheryl Strayed
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.

I don't like the way she answers letters by telling a story about herself. Reminds me of being part of a disjointed conversation, where the other person isn't really listening. Not to me at this moment 

Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejidé
Did not finish book. Stopped at 44%.

Was reading this super slowly and had to take it back to the library 

The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner

adventurous

• 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

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

challenging informative slow-paced

5.0