josiemi's reviews
70 reviews

Shakespeare in a Divided America: What His Plays Tell Us about Our Past and Future by James Shapiro

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informative slow-paced

3.25

This collection of essays feels extremely academic and is a great academic resource, however, for the casual reader who is interested in Shakespeare and the impact of Shakespeare on different parts of global society, I found it to be a bit dry. Interesting information, but dry.
Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

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3.0

The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I’m not a huge science fiction reader, however I think this whole trilogy is brilliantly crafted and unlike no other. I think the times we’re living in, our relationship and understanding of AI, space, the universe, etc., feels very on the nose.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

As someone who majored in Chinese studies during my undergraduate degree, I am absolutely fascinated, obsessed, and engrossed by the parallels and references I can draw upon in regards to the Sino-Japanese Wars. I started the book feeling apprehensive and only somewhat appeased by the YA/PG feeling of the book not unlike “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent,” “Shadow and Bone,” etc. I do think some of the tropes of Rin feel a bit overplayed and familiar, but I loved the turns of darkness throughout the book and how Rin slowly and somehow all at once becomes a person I no longer recognized and that was… well, as a literary choice, wonderful. I love that she is a gray character; I love her, I hate her, she is human, but she is not; she is a powerful young woman with the world at her fingertips for better or for worse. 
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

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

3.25

I enjoy Makkai’s writing style and was interested to see how this mystery would play out. I didn’t find this book as engaging as Makkai’s other works and felt that it was a little too long and lost some of its steam around halfway through. I did find the social commentary to be interesting and the examination of how we as individuals remember things and experiences in life.
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

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

5.0

This book is beautifully written, exceptionally brilliant and tragic, and highlights what it means to love and be loved… the best and worst and hardest parts of loving someone.
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My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

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

4.0

This book is such a fascinating examination of relationships and how they change as people grow up. I recognize myself in characters and yet I don’t root for them. I love the portrayal of this complex female relationship that I don’t often see.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

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emotional
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

5.0

Rarities & Wonders: Plays: Special Edition Print Copy by Phillip Howze

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challenging inspiring fast-paced

4.25

I really enjoyed this collection of short plays and the way Howze follows non-traditional dramatic format. Howze gives us a format of modern-heightened text that evokes many other playwrights, but is feels true to Him and his identity.
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

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challenging emotional inspiring sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Pachinko feels like an epic. It’s storytelling at its finest. It is a reminder that every family is complex made up of tales and ordinary yet extraordinary people.