thelifeoftabia's reviews
57 reviews

20000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

adventurous informative inspiring slow-paced

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

1.75

Thought it was going to be more about out of this world monsters of the sea, but it was more like a researchers notebook of real creatures and places. Forced myself to finish but it was boring.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

adventurous challenging dark informative slow-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? It's complicated

2.25

I felt kind of lost in the beginning and then when the real story begun, it felt like whiplash because of all the time jumps, forward and backwards. Not terrible but wouldn’t recommend unless you’re really into history, and a super quick read.

Grimm's Fairy Tales by W.C. Grimm, J.L.C. Grimm
Did not finish book. Stopped at 66%.

The fairytales were so boring. It felt like the same couple of tropes over and over again. I just couldn’t suffer anymore.

They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective sad 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

4.25

Absolutely read! It was so good, although I had kind of a hard time getting into it at first (impatient). It’s a really short book so you could read it in a day. Great characters, lots of reflecting about how everyone reacts to death and dying differently. A sweet journey between these 2 boys and a gut wrenching feeling of doom because you know what’s coming yet are still holding out hope. 

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel

adventurous informative reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

Good lord, every book club ever needs to pick up this book. Even if you aren’t into art and museums, you will still find this book interesting. The journey you go on with the characters has a deeper meaning when you realize this was someone’s real lived experience. And just like in real life, not every question is answered. There’s still so much we don’t know. I’m impressed by Stephen and it’s really up to the reader to determine what they think his problem is, if he has a problem at all, and there’s just so much thought provoking rhetoric from professionals. I cannot rave about this book more without spoiling it, but it is definitely a book worth reading.

The End of Alice by A.M. Homes

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I would love if I could scrub this book from my memory. The sinister nature of being in the mind of a pedophile is somewhere I never want to be again. I’m rating it a 3 however, because the writing is good and keeps you on your toes, the dark side of humanity is out on full display and it’s not something we are used to seeing, and the last bit of the book is something that, unfortunately, stays in my mind. Not for the weak of heart, very graphic details. Read something cozy after to make you feel better.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

adventurous lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

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

2.5

It was a quick and easy, cute halloween book. But I feel like the peak is reached too fast and the big reveal
at the end comes across as kind of dull compared to other events in the book.