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thebakersbooks's reviews
263 reviews
Rules For Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
There were times when I found the mode of storytelling frustrating; I even told my wife "I wish this were a novella." However, I'm used to a certain Western method of structuring books and that was getting in my way of what I eventually did, which was enjoy the pace and rhythm very much. The slowness of the book is sometimes the point and the emotional payoff of the end is more than worth any tedium. What an excellent and appropriate book for our times. I appreciate the hope. Also the mourning and anger.
Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers by Ibram X. Kendi, Zora Neale Hurston
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Well told, well recorded. Excited to read the original (non-kids') version once my library acquires it because I don't love how much Kendi inserted his voice into this reinterpretation, including his *personal preference* for capitalizing 'white' (as in white people) in addition to Black. Since 'Black' wasn't a term used in the book, there was just a lot of capital-W whiteness going on.
The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
2.0
Author overdescribes everything, which sucks since he is also a misogynist who seems to have a problem with fat people. Haven't seen that level of fatphobia directed against a child character since Harry Potter. Really happy the Lockwood & Co Netflix series did better by George.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
From Below by Darcy Coates
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.5
An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pedophilia, Racism, Violence, Slavery, Death, Blood, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Classism, Grief, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Blood, and Torture
Minor: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Homophobia, Body shaming, Abortion, and Forced institutionalization
The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0