villagrandres's reviews
34 reviews

V for Vendetta by Alan Moore

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense 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

Quite a nice depiction of anarchy and what it means to dismantle a totalitarian government. The character V is kept enough in the shadows that he remains interesting throughout. I found it hard to keep track of the side characters and plot lines, I think it didn’t help that many of the male characters looked the same. All in all, a great story. Looking forward to seeing if the movie does it justice!

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Really loved the writing! Such a way with words and does an amazing job with imagery. Also does a good job keeping things mysterious and withholding information to keep suspense. That being said, only reason it falls short of 5 stars for me is cause I was confused at some points and certain plots were lost on me. Maybe they’re expanded on in future books, but I’m not sure.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

A quick read that made me laugh on every page. I really enjoy how both sophisticated and mundane aspects of life are explained away with such creative solutions. Even though I originally listened to this as an audiobook some years ago and watched the film, I found myself surprised at how the story twisted and turned. Little asides about the galaxy were also very fun to read.

And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Truly a creative book in many senses of the word. Love how the author plays with the syntax to create tension and horror. The twist was also quite surprising, and landed well for me and didn’t feel shoe horned or unbelievable.

Blade Runner by Philip K. Dick

adventurous dark medium-paced

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

4.0

A very enjoyable book, the narration was quite enjoyable because of how distinct he was able to make each character. Not gonna lie some of the themes were lost on me and it took me over a month to finish, but it was still a very entertaining books with many twists I didn’t see coming. I would happily recommend this book to others even if I myself did not fall completely in love with it.

The Consequences: Stories by Manuel Muñoz

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I began this book unable to immerse myself in the stories. I found them to be too brief for me to care, and I did not see the meanings in the stories. But that did change towards the end,

as the stories became interconnected.

I grew appreciative of the syntax and the messages attempting to be conveyed. I think this is a great collection that captures the culture it sets out to do.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

5.0

An amazing feel good story that I absolutely fell in love with. The quips, narration, internal monologue, the mystery, the emotions, all driven by lovable characters made for an enjoyable read start to finish. I laughed out loud and shed some tears more than a few times while reading. Also nice that it comes with heartfelt messages for all to enjoy.

The Devil in the City of Angels: My Encounters With the Diabolical by Jesse Romero

dark inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

1.5

I think this book has cemented my stray from Catholicism. The book is centered around “spiritual warfare”, a concept in itself I am saddened exists in Catholicism. This concept fans the flames of an “us versus them” mindset - one adopted by many extremist religion folks to brush off mental illness (which is done multiple times in this book). Should not religion be a complete beacon of hope, something to help you cope with the unexplainable evils of this world? I don’t have all the answers to questions like this, and I don’t think I found them in this book. 
I also found the stories themselves just outside the realm of believability. For example, it is my suspicion that the exorcisms that felt like hours were actually 10 minutes or so, and seemed longer in the moment and when looking back on them. A small nitpick I know, but one that popped up in every story.
That all being said, the stories are entertaining and the writing is personable, authentic and not over produced. I have no doubt Romero is a good hearted man, as are many Catholics who read this book, I just see it as doing more damage than good.

Spider-Man: Fake Red by Yusuke Osawa

adventurous funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

A really fun read!! Really enjoyed the new takes on the established Spider-Man characters and storylines we know about. The story perfectly encapsulates the idea that anyone can wear a mask and what it means to be a hero, which I absolutely adore. Some of the dialogue was just a teeny bit too cheesy, so for me personally it’s almost shy of 5 stars, but I’m willing to look past it for spider-man. Overall I really enjoyed this book and hope that they make more!

Stars Above, Earth Below: A Guide to Astronomy in the National Parks by Tyler Nordgren

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

A beautifully crafted book. A guide book, a history textbook, campfire stories, and so much more all wrapped into one. The photos are breathtaking and the writing is nothing short of wonderful. I could sit here and logistically break down its benefits, but doing so would feel inauthentic - like dissecting the highlights your mother’s cooking. This book spoke to my heart, educated and inspired me. Very grateful to have read it and will be coming back to it over the course of my life.