the_ukrainian_one's reviews
155 reviews

James by Percival Everett

4.0

I am… conflicted. 

I think I overhyped James for myself after seeing the acclaim it received. 

Was it devastating? Yes. 
Was I giggling? Yes. 
Was I deeply moved? Yes. 
Was it easy to read? Yes. 
Was it engaging? Yes. 
Do I think it’s an important book? Yes. 
Did I enjoy the characters? Yes. 
Did it make me THINK? Absolutely. 

And yet, did it stick the five star landing? Not for me 

I wish there was more introspection from James. Those were my favorite parts. 

VERY solid 4 stars. 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

4.5

This book snuck up on me. It was just fine for a while and then… and then I was getting emotional and hanging on every word. It’s seemingly nothing mind blowing at first, but the tenderness and the love in the face of the horrors does a number on you, especially towards the end. 

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

3.0

Beartown by Fredrik Backman

5.0

It started slow, like a cold seeping into your bones, and then before I knew it, Beartown had its claws deep in my soul. 5 stars. Cried more times than I care to count.   Heartbreaking topic, masterfully executed. 

It hurts good. Another book worth slowing down for. 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go stare into the abyss for a few days

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

3.5

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

4.0

It’s really hard to follow something like Cerulean Sea and this didn’t quite measure up. And while the rhetoric in this book is one I agree with, the magic, the elegance of the book was lost in how hard it was being pushed. I had a hard time getting through the middle part of the book. 

That being said, the kids are still hysterical and TJ Klune is a damn good writer. 

The Songbird & the Heart of Stone by Carissa Broadbent

4.5

Poor Things by Alasdair Gray

3.75

Voyager by Diana Gabaldon

4.0

The Christmas Fix by Lucy Score

2.25