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phoebebird's reviews
59 reviews
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? No
4.0
Roman Fever and Other Stories by Edith Wharton
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
3.5
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed this read. It is dark academia with a fantasy twist, and I thought it was fairly well done and a refreshingly different take. I appreciated Ianto and the Fairy King being two different entities, rather than being one and the same, as it added more depth to the Fairy King’s evilness. I think the limitations in writing and plot development can be chalked up to me not being a huge fan of YA in general. I do wish there had been better world-building. The faux-England would have been interesting to explore further, but as it was it felt like Reid didn’t feel like coming up with a whole new world so she borrowed English culture and took away the setting in time. I also felt that she couldn’t keep her focus; the theme bounced between warring countries, ethnic tensions, gender discrimination, and fantasy adventures. I must also add that the obsession with arm hair, though not detracting from the overall experience, was certainly odd. Not a reread for me, but book snob complaints didn’t really hinder my enjoyment.
You'd Look Better as a Ghost by Joanna Wallace
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The twist was absolutely unexpected and the plot as a whole had me on edge. The only thing I disliked was the bereavement group scenes. They felt repetitive and unbearable and took away from the book as a whole. Otherwise, really enjoyable dark comedy.
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 19%.
This book was so slow and it felt like I was dragging myself through it, forcing myself to read it. I know books can be slow in the beginning but it felt like more than usual. I also got tired of the constant name dropping of random people.
The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
I enjoyed this read. I’ve always been interested in the Romanov sisters and this certainly gave me the information I was craving. Everything was thoroughly researched and mostly well written. I felt that Olga and Tatiana dominated much of the text and the younger two, Maria especially, could have done with a bit more focus but this may be the limitations of sources. Overall an enjoyable read if not very unique.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0