urbansailor's reviews
8 reviews

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is one of those books where you frequently need to pause and stare at a blank wall for a while and just think. Heavy discussion about death and helped me process a lot that I have had trouble working through. Beautiful poetry. Super well built characters. Definitely something I’ll pick up and reread in the future.
The end took me by surprise, but now I don’t think it could have ended any other way than his death.
It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

PERFECT down to the last sentence. Anyone struggling to figure out what they’re doing with their life needs to slow down and read this book. 
The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Go to review page

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective tense fast-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

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Go to review page

4.5

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Go to review page

4.5

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Go to review page

adventurous challenging reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

At its core, this book is a sharp political satire, and I think it nailed that. It explores the idea of uniting people by creating a common enemy and the dangers of willful ignorance, both of which feel highly relevant to current events. While the pacing was slower than I typically prefer, the book’s relevant themes kept me engaged. It doesn’t shy away from the good, the bad, or the ugly - no sugarcoating, just raw, unfiltered honesty. The writing is descriptive and unapologetically direct, making for a painful but necessary read.