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sandro_reads's reviews
84 reviews
The Body in Question by Jill Ciment
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
It’s rare that I feel a book should be considerably longer but The Body In Question had such promise that was left unfulfilled.
[Minor Spoilers] Broken into two parts, the first of which keeps both the murder trial and the affair between our narrator and a fellow juror at such a surface level, it was hard to get invested in either. While the second part felt cruelly rushed given the delicate subject matter.
[Minor Spoilers] Broken into two parts, the first of which keeps both the murder trial and the affair between our narrator and a fellow juror at such a surface level, it was hard to get invested in either. While the second part felt cruelly rushed given the delicate subject matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, and Death
My Murder by Katie Williams
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Part-thriller, part-sci-fi, My Murder was an unexpected surprise of a book and I would recommend going in with as little knowledge of its plot as possible.
Williams elevates this genre mash-up by dealing with the issue of what makes us us beautifully. I do wish the ending hit a bit harder but a fun ride nonetheless.
Williams elevates this genre mash-up by dealing with the issue of what makes us us beautifully. I do wish the ending hit a bit harder but a fun ride nonetheless.
The Girls by John Bowen
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Girls is written with such detached simplicity that the gruesome events can be read with a wink and a nod.
It all feels very English and a bit of a chore to get through - even at its short length.
It all feels very English and a bit of a chore to get through - even at its short length.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
hopeful
informative
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
3.25
I saw Clover repeatedly compared to Eleanor Oliphant (which I loved) and I was looking for a hopeful read to close the year. But, where Eleanor is a three-dimensional character that elicits a full range of emotions, Clover feels flat.
The premise of a death doula who acts on the regrets of her patients has promise (especially once Claudia appears) but rather than allowing us to draw insight from the story, we are force-fed platitudes like a self help book on grief with an all too tidy resolution.
The premise of a death doula who acts on the regrets of her patients has promise (especially once Claudia appears) but rather than allowing us to draw insight from the story, we are force-fed platitudes like a self help book on grief with an all too tidy resolution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Set in Ireland, The Bee Sting is a family epic told through the alternating POVs of each member. The children, Cass and PJ, instantly drew me in with their funny, coming-of-age-ness but then Murray hits the brakes…
Imelda’s sections are told without any punctuation (can this trend please end?) and Dickie’s story slowly spirals from bleak to bleaker - making me FEEL the 650 page length.
It does come back in the last fast-paced 50ish pages but, by then. I wasn’t sure that I cared enough.
Imelda’s sections are told without any punctuation (can this trend please end?) and Dickie’s story slowly spirals from bleak to bleaker - making me FEEL the 650 page length.
It does come back in the last fast-paced 50ish pages but, by then. I wasn’t sure that I cared enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5
I only have a passing memory of Huckleberry Finn which I wish I had reread prior to James to better see how they interconnect.
James deserves the praise heaped upon it. It’s just so clever in the way it spins a different take on the old South through familiar characters and how much of our history still reverberates today.
James deserves the praise heaped upon it. It’s just so clever in the way it spins a different take on the old South through familiar characters and how much of our history still reverberates today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Murder
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? No
3.5
I wanted to like Black Cake more and, judging by the reviews, my thoughts of it are in the minority.
But, while I loved reading about the history and culture of the Caribbean Islands, the sprawling amount of (underdeveloped) characters were unnecessary and major plot advances were just too convenient.
But, while I loved reading about the history and culture of the Caribbean Islands, the sprawling amount of (underdeveloped) characters were unnecessary and major plot advances were just too convenient.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
dark
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? No
2.25
Another “scariest book I’ve ever read” over-hype from TikTok.
Incidents is told from the perspective of a child (one ridiculously astute at times) who repetitively pretends she’s asleep to “overhear” the adults talking.
The adults are insufferable. Bad decisions stretching a meandering plot - with the mother being the true horror of the book.
With all of that said, there are some creepy moments with Other Mommy that could work far better as a movie.
Incidents is told from the perspective of a child (one ridiculously astute at times) who repetitively pretends she’s asleep to “overhear” the adults talking.
The adults are insufferable. Bad decisions stretching a meandering plot - with the mother being the true horror of the book.
With all of that said, there are some creepy moments with Other Mommy that could work far better as a movie.
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.5
My brother and I recently lost our father and although that is where the similarities with the plot of Intermezzo ends, I felt an obvious connection immediately.
This is my second Rooney novel and I’m officially a fan. You can almost feel the characters’ breath rise from the page. Brothers, Peter and Ivan, alternate POVs - each with a style of their own - as they examine grief and relationships.
I did find myself drawn more to Ivan’s linear voice over Peter’s stream of consciousness but I will not soon forget either.
This is my second Rooney novel and I’m officially a fan. You can almost feel the characters’ breath rise from the page. Brothers, Peter and Ivan, alternate POVs - each with a style of their own - as they examine grief and relationships.
I did find myself drawn more to Ivan’s linear voice over Peter’s stream of consciousness but I will not soon forget either.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
Math and baseball are not topics I would ever gravitate towards but, The Housekeeper and The Professor is such a lovely story about found family that one can get swept away amongst the prime numbers and batting averages.