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writesdave's reviews
360 reviews

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Kent Haruf's spare and simple prose, his ear for the clipped Midwestern dialect of Colorado's eastern plains, and his keen eye for the setting that reflects the dialect and prose carry this second installment of the Plainsong series. This book brings forward a couple of the main characters from the first book and adds a couple interesting folks. But everything I mentioned at the outset carries the book, because the plot just... lacked... something. It's still a compelling study of rural America facing problems you think only affect the inner city, and people just living their day-to-day. Beautiful writing, as I said.
hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

“You’re a reader, you live in the South, you need to read Flannery O’Connor.” Okay, box checked. She introduced me to some of the most fucked up characters in the history of American literature. On the other hand, a fucked-up reaction to a fucked-up situation doesn’t necessarily make someone fucked-up. Nonetheless, O’Connor’s beautiful prose requires a strong mind and soul.
challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging funny informative reflective fast-paced

Fun, insane chronicle of the best attempt at football outside the NFL. Proves beyond a doubt that just because someone has money doesn’t make them good or smart. Also, I wonder if Pearlman’s anti-Trump fervor colored his writing, but then Trump torpedoed the league without a doubt. Anyway, well worth a read for anyone who wants to own a whole sports league.
adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

Four stars is the sum of the parts, some brilliant works, others less so. Highly entertaining compilation nonetheless.
adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Picked this up a loooonnnnggg time ago and whiled away many a train ride with these stories. Much recommended.
challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
challenging dark informative reflective sad fast-paced

Absolute takedown of Chicago’s political icon and his Machine. Too bad it didn’t make a damned bit of difference, and Chicago’s picture remains in the dictionary next to the word “corrupt.” Nonetheless, today’s journalists would do well to jettison their access journalism for Royko’s philosophy of coverage without fear or favor.