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srm's reviews
1151 reviews
Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics by Joe Klein
emotional
funny
informative
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? Yes
4.0
Somehow, I'd never read this, even though I've always been a fan of the movie. Election season inspired me to final check it out, and it's an often funny, but also often troubling look at American politics. Glad I finally checked it out.
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide
The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25
First of all, this only took me so long to finish, because other things and WITMonth popped up. I was incredibly excited to get back to the world, especially the growing relationship between Lin and Jovis. It's dark and interesting, and I dig the magic, so don't think I don't like this series, even though I'm about to get distracted by other reading again, so it will be a bit before I can get to book 3.
A Taste of Torment by Stacey Trombley
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Exciting magic school romantasy with some enemies to loves as the topping to this delicious cake. I really enjoy Candice and Jarron, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with their relationship in the rest of the series!
The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage by Jonathan Turley
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.25
It's hard to find someone who is more of an authority on the First Amendment and freedom of speech than Turley, so the information is excellent. As a book, I felt it got off to a slightly slow start, but it eventually started firing on all cylinders for me, and I especially enjoyed the chapter on free speech in academia.
Olav Audunssøn: III. Crossroads by Sigrid Undset
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Olav's journey continues, although hugely changed from the first two books. He continues to be a fascinating character, and Undset's writing about late-Medieval Norway rich and interesting.
There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Quirky and episodic, a woman cycles through multiple jobs as she tries to recover from burnout. Well written ad translated.
The Hole by Pyun Hye-young
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Tense with a lowkey, creeping sense of dread, the novel looks at what happens when a man is severely injured in a car accident and needs constant care, but the only person available is his mother-in-law. The writing and translation are topnotch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Medical trauma, Car accident
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity
The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
I really wanted to enjoy this, but finding it at best mediocre is not going to get me through the next 35 and a half hours. The writing is at best meh, and this is my fault for not reading the description, but idgaf about food. Stories that revolve around how much people love food are so freaking dull to me. And did I mention the meh writing? And the longer I spend with the characters, the less I like them.
Tongueless by Lau Yee-Wa
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A fascinating look at the world of Hong Kong teachers and the tension Western influence and growing pressures from mainland China. The main character, Ling, a contract teacher at a school transitioning from Cantonese to Mandarin instruction, is incredibly compelling, even if she is not terribly likable. The writing is fantastic, as is the translation, which does a wonderful job getting across the linguistic differences between when characters are speaking Cantonese and Mandarin, and their level of proficiency with each.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide