teslacannon's reviews
212 reviews

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad slow-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

4.5

Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

3.0

Strong women, delicious food, and a fun short ride. Too many characters to juggle for one little novel and the reveal ended up being the quickest part of the book. 

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

challenging emotional medium-paced

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

3.0

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

emotional hopeful sad 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? It's complicated

3.75

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

Lots of feels.

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

challenging dark reflective sad tense fast-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

3.5

The rating is not higher because I’ve already forgotten three out of the seven stories, with the last four being most impactful for different reasons. Each were well written think pieces with something to offer, but I don’t think any story will stick with me, or that I will revisit them.
I typically go into a book having not read any review, synopsis, or any expectation beyond title and cover. I thought this would be more of a f the cops book, and stories related to that. This is not the book’s fault, of course, but perhaps not what I was in the mood for at this time.

The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country by Amanda Gorman

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Read every line twice and then listened to it. Every line is something to soak in. 

“We are striving to forge our union with purpose.
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.
And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.”

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Taking on the Plastics Crisis by Hannah Testa

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

I read this after the Pocket Collective’s Gender Binary book. I’m heavy into ecominimalism, so I didn’t read this to learn. I read to enjoy the story of a young WOC making waves (pun intended) in her community, which I did. Hearing young, passionate people take initiative is the best part of the book. 

However, the tone wasn’t always consistent. A book like this obviously needs evidence to back it up, but there were sections full of research, which would’ve been great if it wasn’t half baked. Not every situation needs to be fully explored and caveated because that would obviously make this book much longer. However, her editors could have had her touch on some considerations that exclude disadvantaged people from this movement (ditching single use plastics can be difficult, costly, or impossible for some). 

Not trying to bash on a child because I don’t know her background and I’m sure she has more knowledge than she could pack into this little book. I hope she continues to inspire.

Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping by and Get Your Financial Life Together by Erin Lowry

challenging funny informative reflective medium-paced

2.5

Read every chapter instead of skipping to the ones based on my financial mindset like the author suggested. Even though I already have an emergency fund, no student debt, or any financial issues, I read these things anyway in case it can help me to be a resource to someone else. It’s for beginners, but I did learn a few things and got some financial resources. I’m 24, and I still felt the audience was for younger people. 

Preachy in a weird “millennial” way. Some sentences read like a parody because she’s trying so hard to be young and relevant with her phrasing/jokes. Her chapter titles are condescending as well, as if fellow millennials have a spoiled, child like mindset. 

I’m never interested in situational examples because obviously they won’t mirror my exact situation (and they don’t have to, but they often don’t enlighten me in any way). That means I did a lot of skimming.

Comes from a privileged background, so it will probably be discouraging for people who didn’t have good role models, or an accessible financial blue print. She has proactive solutions, but not many for people who may be over 30 and in some real shit. Can’t recommend.