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the_midwest_library's Reviews (796)
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I picked this debut litfic up in a Barnes & Noble preorder sale kinda on a whim. I am so glad that I did.. I absolutely loved this.
This is a story about motherhood and girlhood through the lens of flawed parental figures and there's a strong thread of trauma and how that informs a young girl's journey into adulthood. I thought the writing was exceptionally lovely, I really liked the characters although most of them take a backseat to our main character. This story feels like it could almost be a memoir in the style of literary fiction. I don't know how much of the story is self insert but the way that the story is told is quite beautiful. For a debut novel I thought this was fantastic and I'll be curious to see what this author writes in the future.
This is a story about motherhood and girlhood through the lens of flawed parental figures and there's a strong thread of trauma and how that informs a young girl's journey into adulthood. I thought the writing was exceptionally lovely, I really liked the characters although most of them take a backseat to our main character. This story feels like it could almost be a memoir in the style of literary fiction. I don't know how much of the story is self insert but the way that the story is told is quite beautiful. For a debut novel I thought this was fantastic and I'll be curious to see what this author writes in the future.
funny
informative
medium-paced
Thank you to Jamie and MacMillan for sending me a copy to review, I had such a fun time with this one.
I am not super familiar with the author but let me say, after this I am a big fan. Not only is this one of my favourite subgenrea of nonfiction- a micro history but this was so freaking funny. If the prose and humor of this book don't work for you, then you won't enjoy this. But if you enjoy the humor from page 1, and are curious about hot dogs and what they say about us culturally, socially and morally then buckle up.
This is one part memoir almost, as we see a glimpse behind the curtain of the author's relationship with her partner and herself as she travels across the country eating and reviewing hot dogs.
I thought the presentation and commentary was fresh and engaging and overall I quite enjoyed this one.
I am not super familiar with the author but let me say, after this I am a big fan. Not only is this one of my favourite subgenrea of nonfiction- a micro history but this was so freaking funny. If the prose and humor of this book don't work for you, then you won't enjoy this. But if you enjoy the humor from page 1, and are curious about hot dogs and what they say about us culturally, socially and morally then buckle up.
This is one part memoir almost, as we see a glimpse behind the curtain of the author's relationship with her partner and herself as she travels across the country eating and reviewing hot dogs.
I thought the presentation and commentary was fresh and engaging and overall I quite enjoyed this one.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Mark please baby. What are we doing here? I don't know how he turned such a promising series into ...this. Book 2 was already a big bloated by timelines and POVs and so we added a new POV in this one...and let me tell you, it was not necessary imo. The writing can be beautiful at times and some of the characters I did enjoy once, but this was painful for me. Book 1 is so good ....idk where it all went wrong. Also the name of this book is exceptionally clingy imo and matches the vibes of this book.
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
I was a bit let down by this one. The entire book is a bunch of emotionally immature people who are VERY British, in the sense that they seem completely repulsed by having open communication with their friends and partners. There were some good moments in this, but comparing this to Sally Rooney feels criminal. This is also contemporary fiction vs literary fiction imo, the writing was nothing special and it felt more of a "fun beach read" or something you'd grab at an airport more than a piece of literary fiction you would deep dive into.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I saw Rachel speak this week for the release of this book, and while I haven't read her other series it is on my TBR. After listening to her discuss this new world, I decided to dive right in.
There is just so much to love in this world, the atmosphere is great, a little Gothic, a little wispy, dark and a bit moody. The main character has agency, and is very capable, this is no helpless maiden.
The plot is interesting, although a bit YA for my taste, and a teeny tiny bit predictable. Nothing wrong with that but I would just manage expectations. I think this is more of a fantasy romance than romantasy-which is fine for me. The romance is good, lots of tension and I enjoyed the male character.
Overall a really fun read and a great read for in between chonky fantasy!
There is just so much to love in this world, the atmosphere is great, a little Gothic, a little wispy, dark and a bit moody. The main character has agency, and is very capable, this is no helpless maiden.
The plot is interesting, although a bit YA for my taste, and a teeny tiny bit predictable. Nothing wrong with that but I would just manage expectations. I think this is more of a fantasy romance than romantasy-which is fine for me. The romance is good, lots of tension and I enjoyed the male character.
Overall a really fun read and a great read for in between chonky fantasy!
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 rounded down
This series was interesting, it's def a debut and I'm excited to see what the author writes in the future. The magic was really cool, and the world was fresh and for the most part interesting. I also quite liked the characters.
But the plot in all 3 of these books was watery, and very meandering for me. What was there was solid, it just felt like we spent a long time getting to this place and frankly it didn't feel that high stakes.
I had a good time. I'm excited to see what is next for this author but this series isn't my favourite per se.
This series was interesting, it's def a debut and I'm excited to see what the author writes in the future. The magic was really cool, and the world was fresh and for the most part interesting. I also quite liked the characters.
But the plot in all 3 of these books was watery, and very meandering for me. What was there was solid, it just felt like we spent a long time getting to this place and frankly it didn't feel that high stakes.
I had a good time. I'm excited to see what is next for this author but this series isn't my favourite per se.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Okay so let's talk good and bad. The good: the world is fun, the characters are pretty solid, especially our main MC, and the politics are really intriguing.
The bad (for me): the guns, oh boy I'm not a big guns in fantasy gal, and this is a bunch of male characters doing literal cocaine and shooting guns. Which the gun sequences super cool, I get it I really do. But I simply do not care about them.
The writing I wasn't super into as well, it's entertaining but the prose is a little choppy for me and the one real female character is super cool but has literally no voice. So she felt pretty underdeveloped. I won't be continuing in the world but I see why this is a loved series. I've heard the second trilogy is PHENOMENAL but I'm just not willing to read another 2 books to get there as I've never been a big fan of civil war reenactments.
The bad (for me): the guns, oh boy I'm not a big guns in fantasy gal, and this is a bunch of male characters doing literal cocaine and shooting guns. Which the gun sequences super cool, I get it I really do. But I simply do not care about them.
The writing I wasn't super into as well, it's entertaining but the prose is a little choppy for me and the one real female character is super cool but has literally no voice. So she felt pretty underdeveloped. I won't be continuing in the world but I see why this is a loved series. I've heard the second trilogy is PHENOMENAL but I'm just not willing to read another 2 books to get there as I've never been a big fan of civil war reenactments.
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I feel like I'm almost there and I almost get this. This book is dripping with lust, and manipulation, focusing on a bizarre cast of characters. The book feels gossamer in how the setting is described, like clutching at most trying to figure out what's going on. The story was compelling. Super fucked up, super weird. I kinda like that. I kinda disliked that.
dark
informative
medium-paced
Well this was an unfortunate but really good read. Very short, exceptionally impactful. I'm haunted by the fact that the author isn't even teaching in the US anymore and fled to Canada. Every single thing discussed being things I see weekly or daily in the current political reality of the US was haunting. A must read for those wanting to remain conscious and strive for change.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really get Heather O'Neill in a fundamental way. This is my second book by her, and it did not disappoint. The way she writes actually complex women (girls) is phenomenal. I understand why her books don't always hit for everyone, but for me they are exactly what I want out of literary fiction.
This is the story of a country at war, a small flamboyant nation who made enemies on all sides of itself and soon found it under siege. Art, music, creation, counterculture were the specific "Threats" this nation imposed and we find a young girl carving her own path in this war torn state. But this book is somehow, light, in an unexpected way. Speculative magic is woven throughout the story and it gives the story a fairytale like feel (a fucked up fairytale lol). I think I enjoyed when we lost our heads a smooch more by this author but both were exceptional for me.
This is the story of a country at war, a small flamboyant nation who made enemies on all sides of itself and soon found it under siege. Art, music, creation, counterculture were the specific "Threats" this nation imposed and we find a young girl carving her own path in this war torn state. But this book is somehow, light, in an unexpected way. Speculative magic is woven throughout the story and it gives the story a fairytale like feel (a fucked up fairytale lol). I think I enjoyed when we lost our heads a smooch more by this author but both were exceptional for me.