whoischels's reviews
107 reviews

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

challenging dark mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

A horror fairytale. Explores questions like: Can you love someone despite them being a monster? Can you love someone despite being a monster? Is embracing the monster within yourselves the source of real love? 

Khaw writes gore and body horror in a tenderly visceral way. Beautiful prose containing several levels of fantasy allegories about queerness.

The Shining by Stephen King

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

2.5

This is the first Stephen King book I've read. Thematically, it tries to do a lot and doesn't quite pull it all off. Themes of alcoholism, how children deal with trauma, race, hints of dealing with gay feelings (these last two are where it really lacks cohesion). The way I see it, if you're going to write with the general bluntness that King uses, you don't really have the leeway to hint at so many disparate themes. On the one hand, I understand the desire to introduce a lot of heavy ideas into your work even when you are writing for as wide of an audience as possible, but on the other, I prefer to rate books on how well they pull off whatever it is they're trying to do. The mix of heady psychosexual themes and pulpy blunt writing sort of turns me off. 

Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD by Jesse J. Anderson

informative inspiring lighthearted

4.0

I read this because I really like this guy's productivity app. Good book full of short ideas for hacking your tendency to procrastinate. Quite useful.

Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski

adventurous reflective tense medium-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

4.0

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

dark reflective tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Government in the Future by Noam Chomsky

informative slow-paced

3.5

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones

dark mysterious tense 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

3.5

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

emotional reflective fast-paced

4.0

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

adventurous emotional medium-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

4.0

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

funny hopeful medium-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

4.0

Never read this when I was supposed to. I was mainly surprised by how damn funny it is. Just chapter after chapter of characters being catty to each other. Great stuff.