thekuster's reviews
397 reviews

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective fast-paced

3.75

An emotional, but also at times funny and uplifting look at this pandemic… that unfortunately we’re still in the midst of. Hopefully someday we can finally be in the position to “look back” on it all.

The Girl Aquarium by Jen Campbell

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challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.75

Although I enjoyed the rhythms and sounds (especially the poems written in Geordie dialect), I found it really hard to connect and ultimately conjure up the imagery with most of the poems in this collection. It felt like the words were constantly just slipping through my mind, not anchoring themselves at all - I would read and reread sentences and entire poems, but still feel like I couldn't grasp it properly. There were specific sentences and excerpts that came across beautifully, but overall I'm afraid I came out of this like stepping out of a fog. Ultimately an interesting but difficult read for me, but I will continue to enjoy Jen Campbell in other written and spoken mediums.

Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Hannah Martin, as our protagonist really started out for me as someone who I couldn't identify with and was rather unlikeable as well, but Taylor Jenkins Reid has always had an ability to make me care about people I don't necessarily like. Even in Daisy Jones & The Six, a novel which I loved - I can remember disliking about 75% of the characters, but still caring nonetheless.

This is a slightly older TJR novel - published in 2015, but her ability to carve out real, tangible relationships is already there and in full force. The first few chapters took longer to get into and this was definitely not my favourite of her novels, but you can't deny that TJR can weave a great, heartfelt narrative and will probably always stay on my to-read lists.

Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective 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

4.5

Honestly, just so heartwarming - I am confident I had a smile on my face the entire time I was reading this. Such wonderful representation of a truly supportive, communicative and loving relationship - these two make my heart sing!

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

What a curious and wonderful novel! I started reading this having completely forgotten what the synopsis was about and found myself in a strange and mysterious world, lead along by an odd protagonist. The atmosphere reminded me a lot of Madeline Miller's Circe, but overall the narrative was more fantastical and less mythological.

It felt so easy to care about Piranesi as he seemed so clever yet innocent like a child. He lovingly guides the reader through his World - with the House, its rooms and statues feeling like characters too. I only wish I could also venture to his World and see it's gorgeous vastness with my own eyes. Very likely one of my favourite books of the year!

Princess Princess Ever After by K. O'Neill

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced