anna_curlyquotesediting's reviews
192 reviews

Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

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

3.0

A solid three. Of course, I haven't read the main books of the Twilight Saga since I was a young teenager over a decade ago, but it was still kinda fun to read Twilight from Edward's POV. Nice to see him get some kind of personality even if his personality left a lot to be desired. I've never been a fan of the "tortured brooding soul" guys and oh boy is Edward that trope.

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The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 1: Ocarina of Time Parts 1 & 2 by Akira Himekawa

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adventurous lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

It was nice to read a manga based on the first Zelda game I played as a kid. I don't think any additional lore the manga adds is considered canon by most of the community, but it's a fun read. Simple. The art style fits Ocarina of Time really well.

Marked down only for some weird translations and basic/surface-level writing.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 13%.
Didn't like the narrator's voice and found the one-up-sounding parts annoying. "While my classmates did this, I did this" and other things. I'll try the paperback version and see how that goes.
Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

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adventurous emotional tense 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? No

5.0

Overall? Loved it.

Just one, pretty minor, complaint: the first 30% or so of the book was mostly fighting and battles, which made the book drag. It could've done with some condensing without losing any substance.

I remember hearing in the past that many readers didn't like how the series ended. Personally, I like the ending. Everything gets tied up, but the bow is messy in a good way. Things aren't perfect; things can still go wrong.

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Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

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adventurous dark tense slow-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

5.0

About the same pace as the previous book, Eldest, but Brisingr was definitely more character-focused.

Eragon does a lot of learning in this book. He grows up more than he did in Eldest, and I was glad to see him becoming more adult and growing into his own power as well.

Some of the series' biggest reveals are in these pages.

Overall, another great installment to The Inheritance Cycle! 

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Eldest by Christopher Paolini

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adventurous mysterious slow-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

5.0

Eldest is much slower than Eragon, but it felt right. Necessary, even, after the upheaval of the first book. Eragon had some much-needed growing to do, and he got to do it. Which is a bit too convenient, but eh.

Eldest has a lot more lore. Like a lot more. I was happy to read through and be with Eragon through his (almost) book-long training montage, but many won't be so content. If you're only here for the action, you won't get much until the final few chapters.

It was interesting to see the new POV, and I'm glad it was included. It made for nice breaks in Eragon's slower, more cerebral, story.

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Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia Nagoski, Emily Nagoski

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hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

This is a book everyone should read, to be honest. It's geared toward women and (sometimes) hetero couples, because that's where most of the research is right now, but the authors acknowledge that and move forward smoothly and inclusively as best they can.

In some ways, I feel like I understand myself a little better now. And I feel inspired to be kinder to myself as well. I'll make friends with my crazy woman in the attic. Or at least try.

The audio quality was very good. I'm glad the authors were the readers, as I felt it added to the experience.

My one complaint was almost every time the word "patriarchy" was said, the authors would also add an "ugh" before continuing. It was funny the first few times--and I totally agree: patriarchy = ugh--but it got old pretty fast and would break my concentration.

I'll still be getting a physical copy of this for myself so I can take notes, highlight, and input my own comments.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini

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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? No

5.0

I will always love this book.

Eragon shaped so much of my love of fantasy books and, later, my own writing.

The main characters learn and grow; they have flaws. And the book has real stakes.

My one complaint is that Arya's character is kinda flat, but she did spend most of the book unconscious, so I'll give her a pass for now. 

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I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

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emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I'll be thinking about this book for a long time. There's really not too much more to say.

This book was heartbreaking. It was honest. It was real. It is 100% worth reading, for everyone. Either as a way to glimpse a life, glimpse part of someone else's experience, or understand your own.

McCurdy did an incredible job as narrator.

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Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 18%.
I didn't really enjoy the previous book, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, but I figured I'd give this one a shot before calling it quits.

Really it's more of the same. No real connection to the other books and no real character arcs. So I'm stopping now.