callikat's reviews
378 reviews

I learned a lot reading this book. I think it's especially interesting to read something that was written in real time (the book even finished before the verdict was in). It really gives a snapshot of the public perception at the time (and honestly its interesting to see how even back then people had that "fake news" mindset). It is very factual, not a lot of analysis, but I actually didn't mind that too much. He's an investigative journalist so his job is to uncover the story; I don't need to be spoon-fed his opinion on why it happened. I'd love to read other books that dissect why it happened or understanding the perpetrators more, but I'd read a thesis or novel instead. My only real critique was how little we heard from the Vietnamese people. There were a few really interesting parts on how American GIs misunderstanding the culture just led to the further dehumanization and hostility towards the Vietnamese, but even the chapter on Vietnam's response was only like 5 pages. Maybe he didn't have access to those kind of interviews though. Either way I thought it was a really important read.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

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reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi

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mysterious tense fast-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

3.75

I really liked this thriller. It was an interesting and easy read for me, which I think is a testament to the writer's style. I guessed the twist pretty early on, but I actually liked that! The fact that there were context clues peppered throughout the text (

her never going to his office, who doesn't have Facebook in this day and age??, the guard dog

) made it much more enjoyable. I hate when books have a "twist" that came out of nowhere and hinges on the narrator straight up lying the entire book. This book didn't do that! You can have an unreliable narrator AND still not give away the twist!

I really like all the little details (buying milk with furthest expiration date, doing the laborious clicking along a google maps road to find the exact house, complaining about having to walk up 3 flights of stairs because there's no elevator).

I think this is a fun thriller to read on a snowy day (which I did, haha)!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC!

My Ántonia by Willa Cather

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reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

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reflective sad 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

4.5

Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

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mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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callikat's reviews 378 reviews

callikat's reviews
378 reviews