krammedshelf's reviews
653 reviews

The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar

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challenging mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
I decide not to leave any rating because I need to read more about Iran history, especially during Islamic Revolution, as this book tackles it. I understand there's nuance and compliance regarding the topic, and I don't think it's my place to talk about it more. 

So I'm going to talk about Shokoofeh Azar's writing because it's amazing. Mixing Iranian's mythology and folklore to further describing the life condition of the characters post-Islamic revolution is a brilliant idea, but reading The Enlightenment of a Greengage Tree feels like a never-ending nightmare. Partly because the book has dreamlike elements, but the story itself is anything but "dreamlike". If you know what I mean?
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

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adventurous reflective relaxing fast-paced
The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani

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

2.75

Well, That Was Unexpected by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Blood Feast: The Complete Short Stories of Malika Moustadraf by Malika Moustadraf

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challenging dark reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

Fake It Till You Bake It by Jamie Wesley

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3.0

it's really cute but i just feel like the romance between the main characters are a bit rushed so yeah.. not really my cup of tea </3
The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enríquez

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2.5

i love some of the stories but i got immediately disappointed toward the end since the author uses T-slur A LOT.. so yeah 
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A Mosque in the Jungle by Othman Wok

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Woman Running in the Mountains by Yūko Tsushima

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

4.0

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The Terracotta Bride by Zen Cho

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75