sandro_reads's reviews
84 reviews

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

5.0

The author, Kaveh Akbar, is a poet which is immediately apparent by the beautiful prose throughout Martyr. I found myself constantly pausing to let sentences sink in as Cyrus ruminates on meaning, purpose and art. 

I have already reread the last two chapters and can see multiple interpretations and I imagine revisiting this book again and again. 
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My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

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

4.75

It’s odd to say you love a book that is so horrifying and uncomfortable. But, My Dark Vanessa, told in the first person through a split timeline, perfectly captures the layered emotions of someone who was groomed starting at 15 years old.

I also find it so fascinating when a book fully embraces another novel, in this case Lolita, with references to characters and quotes, thus expanding both fictional worlds. 
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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

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

4.0

Project Hail Mary puts the science firmly in Science-Fiction so there is a lot of [insert theory, theory, solution] repetition but told in witty, first person narration that has a lot of heart. 
Something Wild by Hanna Halperin

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

4.0

Something Wild is a heavy read exploring the family dynamics between Lorraine and her two daughters, Nessa and Tanya. 

Although no one comes off all that likable, it is a brutally honest look at familial roles and how trauma affects everyone differently.
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Lost Man's Lane by Scott Carson

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

It’s rare that a book can evoke both laughter and fear which is a testament to how grounded the story feels in the wonderful cast of characters.

Masterfully written with the perfect mix of nostalgia and tension, Lost Man’s Lane is a coming-of-age tale with a touch of supernatural/horror in the vain of Stephen King.

SPOILER-ISH
My one minor complaint is when an author has a character reveal the full backstory which could have easily been shared much earlier.
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The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 20%.
As someone who does not normally read non-fiction, I was excited when this came up as a book club selection because it sounded fascinating. 

This book though was not. I struggled to get into it or retain any information as it read like a text book. I may revisit as an audio book in the future. 
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

3.5

Despite a predictable reveal and heavy-handed message of acceptance, Razorblade Tears is reminiscent of the unlikely buddy movies of the 80s - packed with funny one-liners among the action and gore. 
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My Best Friend's Exorcism by Grady Hendrix

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

3.5

After a number of heavy subject reads, I was looking for a palette cleanser and My Best Friend’s Exorcism was the perfect camp horror escape.

Having been around the same age in the 80s as our protagonists, I relished the referenced song lyrics, turns of phrase and long forgotten brands - wrapped into this coming of age story about friendship. 
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Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

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reflective sad 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

4.75

Time moves fluidly in Giovanni’s Room. The narrator, David, spins a circular tale of desire and shame that encapsulates internalized homophobia and gender norms of the 1950s but still feels daring by today’s standards. 
The Door by Magda Szabó

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challenging reflective sad slow-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

The Door reads like a fable of sorts - a tale of the growing friendship between a writer, Magda, and her almost mythical housekeeper, Emerence.

It’s a challenging relationship filled with literal and figurative doors that will confound and haunt. 
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