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teresarosereads's reviews
163 reviews
The Hobbit Illustrated by the Author by J.R.R. Tolkien
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
I hadn’t read this book since elementary school so I wanted to reread it before diving into LOTR for the first time. I thought it was really funny and a fun adventure! My favorite part was definitely when Bilbo met Gollum in the caves. Also Gandalf is sassy as hell and I love it😆
I got to listen to the last 100 pages via the audio narrated by Andy Serkis and it made the experience even better! He did such a great job bringing the voices and story to life. I could picture everything so vividly listening to him tell it.
I did feel like the story moved slowly at times but I understand that the writing style was probably intended to be read slowly and thoughtfully. At the same time there were a few parts where I actually wanted more details than what we got. I also felt like some things happened a bit conveniently but I get that it’s a children’s book at the end of the day and isn’t supposed to be overly complicated.
Although I liked some parts more than others, I think that overall it was a cozy and fun adventure story set in a vivid world, and I loved seeing Bilbo’s journey going from not wanting to leave his hobbit hole to being an important part of an epic adventure!
I got to listen to the last 100 pages via the audio narrated by Andy Serkis and it made the experience even better! He did such a great job bringing the voices and story to life. I could picture everything so vividly listening to him tell it.
I did feel like the story moved slowly at times but I understand that the writing style was probably intended to be read slowly and thoughtfully. At the same time there were a few parts where I actually wanted more details than what we got. I also felt like some things happened a bit conveniently but I get that it’s a children’s book at the end of the day and isn’t supposed to be overly complicated.
Although I liked some parts more than others, I think that overall it was a cozy and fun adventure story set in a vivid world, and I loved seeing Bilbo’s journey going from not wanting to leave his hobbit hole to being an important part of an epic adventure!
A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.
I was planning to push through and give this book a full chance, but I got distracted from reading by school for a month and now all my motivation to finish it is gone😭
I appreciate what this book was trying to do in giving voice to the female characters of a classic like Arabian Nights, but the style just wasn’t for me. It felt like one of those books that is mostly focused on having flowery, beautiful writing but feels like nothing is really happening in terms of plot which I don’t tend to like. I also didn’t like how many things were unexplained (at least not up to the part where I stopped) in terms of how the magic worked which I also don’t like in books. I like to know exactly how the magic works and it’s limitations.
In terms of Arabian Nights retellings, I liked The Wrath and The Dawn much better!
I appreciate what this book was trying to do in giving voice to the female characters of a classic like Arabian Nights, but the style just wasn’t for me. It felt like one of those books that is mostly focused on having flowery, beautiful writing but feels like nothing is really happening in terms of plot which I don’t tend to like. I also didn’t like how many things were unexplained (at least not up to the part where I stopped) in terms of how the magic worked which I also don’t like in books. I like to know exactly how the magic works and it’s limitations.
In terms of Arabian Nights retellings, I liked The Wrath and The Dawn much better!
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
This book was an absolute masterpiece and I have a feeling it will stick with me for a very long time. Yaa Gyasi is an incredible storyteller and I will be picking up everything she writes in the future.
(I seriously can't believe I let this sit on my tbr for like 7 years. What was I thinking??!)
(I seriously can't believe I let this sit on my tbr for like 7 years. What was I thinking??!)
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
3.75
I think I liked the first book slightly more but this one was still really enjoyable! Wendell and Emily still had me squealing and kicking my little feet. I also loved the faerie creatures we met and the portion where the characters were actually in faerie.
My only complaints were that I wanted more Wendell than we got, the side characters weren’t as memorable or prominent to me as in the first book, and the middle felt slightly dragged out.
Regardless, I can’t wait for the third book and I will be thinking about Emily and Wendell for a long time coming🥹❤️
My only complaints were that I wanted more Wendell than we got, the side characters weren’t as memorable or prominent to me as in the first book, and the middle felt slightly dragged out.
Regardless, I can’t wait for the third book and I will be thinking about Emily and Wendell for a long time coming🥹❤️
I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 36%.
After attempting to read this one both audibly and physically I’ve decided to dnf. I’ve enjoyed other books in transcript format but in the case of this one I was bored and found it monotonous to get through considering the transcripts weren’t broken up by the author’s own thoughts or reflections very often.
I think the author was very brave to share these conversations with the world and I’m glad that other people were able to gain something from it. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.
I think the author was very brave to share these conversations with the world and I’m glad that other people were able to gain something from it. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.
Looking for Alaska by John Green
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book holds so much nostalgia for me and completely tugged on my heartstrings🥺 I’m so glad I decided to reread it. It’s definitely one of my top favorite John Green novels.
Everyone's a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too by Jomny Sun
5.0
This book was wholesome and deep and adorable and completely melted my heart. It’s a quick read but it holds so much meaning and I instantly fell in love with it.