valhalla915's reviews
178 reviews

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

adventurous mysterious 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

4.5

I’m so glad I went into this book without any knowledge of it! It was an interesting, reflective, and mind bending book that I really enjoyed! It was hard to get into, as the first few chapters have a disconnecting feeling but after I got over it, it was a really well written book with lovely surprises!

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

adventurous medium-paced

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

5.0

I truly cannot state just how amazing this book is! The science, adventure, and story are all second to the truly amazing characters of the book that you’re rooting for the entire time. I cried at the ending!

MUST READ AS AN AUDIOBOOK!!

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

A wonderful dive into indigenous wisdom and practices with a focus on plants. Kimmerer has a vast knowledge on plants and indigenous culture which truly shines in this book and shows her love for Mother Earth. 
My favorite chapter was Collateral Damage, truly an inspiring and thought provoking piece. 
Long and at times repetitive, but overall a wonderful book that has me thinking about reciprocity more than I thought I would. 

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Weird, and weirdly addictive! 
Read in a couple hours because I couldn’t put it down! It provides an interesting light on someone who feels at odds with the world and the expectations set by society. 

In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

A very funny look into Australia and the many important features of it (time to book a flight)! Bill Bryson knows how to write a good travel book!! 

Not as good as A Walk in the Woods (though that would be hard to do). It feels choppy and distracted at times. I also find the Aboriginal aspects of the book to not have been done with a lot of respect to the Aboriginal people, hence the low rating.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Oh my gods!! What an amazing book. Truly a classic gothic novel that leaves you turning the pages without care for the time! 
The characters are so well written, the plot so well thought out, the action so well described that you can imagine yourself in it, and the scenery so beautifully rendering an image that you could mistake yourself for having visited these places you have not. 
Will be rereading this many times to come! 

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami

inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

A great memoir from a well known novelist. Truly a unique perspective on running and the shift one goes through as they partake in more and more runs. Enjoyable, though I could have done without the occasional mild fatphobia (hence the .5 taken away)

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan

inspiring 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

Cute book about how life keeps moving, even when it feels like it stops! I always love a found family story and this one is no different! 

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I understand how this will be a future classic! Imagining the underground railroad to be an actual railroad system is genius and impactful! 
A great historical fiction that makes you think about the horrors of the past and the kind of spirit people had to have to get through it all.  

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa

funny hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

A cute story about saving books and finding purpose after grief! An easy read that’s enjoyable with a nice cup of tea!