tracithomas's reviews
986 reviews

Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

This book is so haunting, when I got about 50% in it really clicked for me and I couldn't help but feel chilled by it. Such an inventive way to fictionalize history. Super stylized which I liked a lot. The repetition pays off but did feel tedious in sections. I was surprised by how well the passes at humor worked out in this book, they are surprising and land.

One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

This one is fantastic. Some really beautiful and sharp writing on empire and the hypocrisy that makes empire possible and powerful. It’s smart how he anchors the book with Gaza and genocide and circled back through both personal essay, cultural touchstones, and other examples of empire sacrificing humans to save itself. The moral clarity is refreshing as hell. 

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

adventurous slow-paced

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

2.0

I wanted to like this. I did not. This was an idea in search of a book. I didn’t think the author had much to say but just seemed to enjoy writing about these characters. 

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell

informative lighthearted fast-paced

2.0

Look, Malcolm Gladwell can turn any antidote into a compelling argument for just about anything. He does that again and again in this book. However, as with all of his books, the logic and research do not back him up. He makes up ideas and then takes large leaps of logic to make them true. I find his books fun to read and infuriating to think about after the fact. This one follows that pattern for sure.

God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer by Joseph Earl Thomas

dark funny fast-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? Yes

4.0

This is a sort of stream of consciousness book. It is wildly creative and so voicey. Voicey is my favorite. The book has a lot of sex talk which is always hard for me (a prude) but it is well done. It is funny and fucked up and Thomas has such a unique and singular voice on the page. There were parts where I would zone out on the audio and think thats the nature of a book like this, but it didn't always hold my attention. 

Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley

dark reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

There were parts of this book that really worked. Parts that didn’t. Overall I think Crosley hits on the friendship well and the grief of friends. Also the ways those who lose a loved one to suicide rack their brains. Personally I loved the glimpse into book publicity life and mindset. 

Nothing Fancy: Unfussy Food for Having People Over by Alison Roman

informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

Alison Roman has top tier recipes. Her food pretty much always turns out good. Her writing style is so cutesy though, it grates. 

Conclave by Robert Harris

mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I liked this book for the most part. It has lots of twists. The second half was really fun and wild. I finished the book and was like "what in the hell" (though I did guess the twist with about 50 pages left) It also has so much on vestments and scripture and the murals, which sure, but not needed to that extent. The book attempts to do some things (which I won't say bc spoilers) but also, it is pretty racist and all sorts of phobic. Tough to overlook that. Still a wild ride.

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story by Pagan Kennedy

dark informative fast-paced

2.0

This book was a bit all over the place. The stuff on Marty Goddard and the rape kit was good and really engaging but the narrative structure was wonky and a bit confusing. What I really didn't care for in the book were the pieces of memoir that Kennedy added in about her own sexual abuse. It felt like a totally different book. The clarity of vision was not there. I also think because this book came from a successful piece in the NYT Kennedy just added to the book whatever fit instead of really fleshing out a strong book that added (personal or not) elements that were missing from the article. My sense, this could've just stayed an article. 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

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

3.0

I read this book as a kid and loved it -- i just reread it with my kids on audio and found there was hardly any there there. The book felt so disjointed to me. We spend way more time with Charlie pre-factory than I remember and that part drags and then we're hardly in the factory at all. It is a cute story but as an adult it didn't hit the same. The main lesson seemed to be don't be spoiled and listen to adults, which sure, and also, you never know, stay the course.