theshelvesofschae's reviews
197 reviews

funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a fantastic cast of characters, each enjoyable and comforting. The dialogue was so life-like and the world of the novel really immerses you in the societal expectations and gossip. I read this for homework, so it might've dissuaded me from fully enjoying it, but when paired with Joe Wright's 2005 film I grew to appreciate the written work even more so.

Violeta by Isabel Allende

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emotional 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

4.0

I appreciated the writing style and the moving story of Violeta, but there were moments where I began questioning if I ever really knew her as a person. There were times that I felt very detached emotionally from her as a narrator.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

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emotional reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

I found this to be fairly well-written with a decent flow. I finished the book quickly because the story grabbed me from the start, but I did find issues with its philosophy and strict world building. Pretty fascinating concept though.

The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

I love Janice Hallett's creative writing style, it is so different and refreshing!

Love & Saffron: A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Love by Kim Fay

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emotional inspiring lighthearted 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? No

4.5

It was a quick read and a heartwarming story. I enjoyed how Kim Fay created two different writing styles for the characters, so their personalities came through in their letters.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Deserted Island Diary Vol. 5 by Kokonasu Rumba

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It had its moments! I would've loved to see the Paradise Planning team be used more in the stories.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Deserted Island Diary Vol. 4 by Kokonasu Rumba

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

It might be recency bias, but this might be my favorite installment of the series yet. It was much funnier than what I remember of the others (that I usually read at the start of the year for the past 2-3 years). I felt like Kokonasu Rumba really upped the humor here. It was so much fun!

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

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dark mysterious medium-paced