thebookishepicure's reviews
338 reviews

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-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

4.25

Tara by Koral Dasgupta

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

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

3.75

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad fast-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? It's complicated

4.25

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I have no words to describe perfection because that is what this little novel felt like. I've read a lot of reviews but no number of reviews could prepare me for the experience. 

Though named Giovanni's Room, the book is about an American David living in Paris who is grappling with his sexuality. He loves men and hates himself for it. He's with Hella but while she is away in Spain for a few months, David meets Giovanni, an Italian Bartender and his life takes a significant turn. 

The narrative is infused with regret, guilt and shame stemming from David's his inability to accept his love for men and his betrayal of Giovanni. The constant flashbacks as David recounts his experiences and shift to the present while he contemplates his motivation and fears only emphasizes how the past affects the present.

Baldwim relies on using realistic and revealing dialogue to reveal the characters inner thoughts and emotional development. Baldwin's characters are deep which makes their story relatable. 

The title Giovanni's Room, to me feel, like the walls we raise around ourselves as we try to live up to societal conformity as David did while trying to be his true self. The sense of isolation is pervasive, seeping out of the pages entrapping not just Giovanni and David, but you, the reader as wellas Baldwin forces you to feel the tension, tragedy and inner demons eating up the main characters.

Baldwin captures the complexities of human experience and forbidden love profoundly.  But don't take my word for me. You can only feel it when you read it for yourself.

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

All the Lives We Never Lived by Anuradha Roy

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense medium-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

4.0

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

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

4.25

The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

Namesake by Adrienne Young

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-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

4.0