zoltar's reviews
41 reviews

Then the Fish Swallowed Him by Amir Ahmadi Arian

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson

dark reflective sad 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? No

4.0

This book reads like a long poem, with every line a gut punch. 

I felt the desperate sadness of the narrator. I read this book in my own Brooklyn apartment. Seeing the names of familiar places in such an unfamiliar context was fascinating. I recommend this to anyone living in Brooklyn now. Take time to remember the people who form the history of your places. Recognize them. 

The Quite Nice and Fairly Accurate Good Omens Script Book by Neil Gaiman

funny hopeful fast-paced

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

5.0

I love Good Omens more than a lot of things. This story has been in my life for nearly a decade now, and every time I come back to it, I find something different. 

The script book was such a beautiful and satisfying way to continue experiencing Good Omens. I love these characters. I love Neil Gaiman’s voice coming through in its unique way. I love the nods to the late great Terry Pratchett. I love the differences between the show and the script and the book. 

I laughed. I cried. I loved it. 

Circe by Madeline Miller

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

500 stars. My favorite book ever, right now. It took the place in my heart of East of Eden. It was long and epic and covered this unfathomable span of time. I knew the ending was coming, but it still surprised me. I love Circe. I feel like I know her. 

How to Set a Fire and Why by Jesse Ball

dark sad fast-paced

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

3.0

This was a quick story that read like a found journal. It was sad, but I felt the pace was too fast to really dwell on any of the things that were happening. But I suppose that’s how Lucia wanted it. It feels like a very small world, but a cruel one

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Upstairs House by Julia Fine

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I read this book in three days. The narrator was so coherent and intentional. The characters felt real. I love a book that takes place introspectively in a characters head. In this book, we are in the head of an unreliable narrator. 

Stay Up With Me by Tom Barbash

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips